So sad...

Chugger-dude, for the past few years, has had the truly, most-awesome bike:  a little red BMX that has carried him from Kaysville to West Jordan, all around every town we have lived in, including multiple trips to Macey's, the Library, and the swimming pool.

He loved his bike.

The intention was that the kids could take one last ride to the DI before we left, where they would leave their bikes for other kids to use and enjoy.  Well, with one exhausted mom and one busy day, it didn't happen, so we hurriedly loaded up the bikes and took them to the DI.  Chugger-dude was in a state of shock, not realizing what was happening fully, apparently, because after the man chucked his bike into the back of a trailer with the other bikes, Chugger-dude looked at me with tear-filled eyes and said, "But I thought I was going to be able to ride it one last time!"  That turned into multiple pleadings of getting the bike back, storing it, and enjoying it when he got back: "I have seen lots of big kids riding on little bikes!"

I felt like the worst mom ever, as I hugged my little boy and whispered meaningless words of comfort in his moment of true sadness.  He really did have a connection with that bike, so many memories, so many stunts...He was so proud of all the things he could do on it, and all that he had done with it.  I know I have a picture of it somewhere, but it is amidst the stored things at my parent's house, and not accessible for him to even see it.

Q-dawg and I are thinking of getting the kids bikes for Christmas if things work out here, but we need to wait and see.  They have a ksl.com equivalent here, with a bunch of wonderful options.  I hope we can find one to fit the bill of a replacement of the most wonderful boy bike ever.

Lek's "50-miler" temple bike ride

Q-dawg planned out an awesome route for Lek's "50 miler" that turned into a 65 mile bike ride around the valley...but what an experience! 
So, on August 25, Q-dawg, Lek, Avot, and I went along with Lek to complete his biking merit badge. (He's so close to his Eagle!)

Here are some snap-shots...we did it! 

We also decided it was our equivalent of the "vision hike" we have for our youth group for a few reasons:

-it pushed us more than we thought we could go, and, doing that really hard thing, we learned more about ourselves and our abilities...much like we can in our studies and finding our mission

-we were all at different levels, but we all eventually got there...just as some people are just better than others at math, science, etc, but we can all do what we need to to "arrive home"

-there are places of spiritual rest after climbing the summit (all the temples are on hills of varying steepness...check out Q-dawg's elevation map below!).  Some can bike all the way up (Q-dawg) and some walked most of them (myself :)...), but if we keep at it, we can do it.

The route, with the elevation chart below--the narrow spike was the Draper Temple...yes, I walked most of it, and then pressed hard on the brakes all the way down, my protective instincts for me and the baby kicking into overdrive...Q-dawg raced the cars :)

Reflection pool shots at the Salt Lake temple--#1!

Q-dawg was horrified that I was cleaning off my fingers in the reflection pool.  I am not very good at "saint" protocol, evidently

This is the top of that "first" steeper hill...we forgot to get a picture at the bottom, so here is the view from the top.  Quinn told me to look happy.  I tried :).

Snack time at the top!

This view makes this part of the leg much more ideal. Draper Temple #2!  Avot's pose below shows how I felt

 

Jordan River Temple #3...almost done!

 

Final Temple--Oquirrh Mountain!  Time to head home...

Home at last...

We did it.  Q-dawg wasn't even sore...a quick shower after and he was good as new.  Avot and Lek were alright, albeit a bit sore and drained for the next couple of days.

As for me, I have a new appreciation for electrolytes in drinks for cramps in my thighs.  Oh my goodness, cramps can hurt!  Imagine charlie horses all throughout your thighs, lying there, pregnant at 1 am in the morning, and needing to go to the bathroom...horror!  It was a long night :).