March 19, 2005

  • What a day!  This evening Dmitry and I (Don's back was hurting so
    he decided to stay home) headed off to help Joe Waybourn celebrate his
    16th birthday.  It's actually on Monday, but the party was
    tonight, hard on the heels of his and Dan's first soccer game with the
    team they've joined.

    Unfortunately, their team lost, 11-1.

    On the bright side, it was our very own DAN who scored that solitary goal! 

    After we'd been there for a bit, Dmitry came in, urgently requesting I come outside . . . he had something to show me.

    Puzzled, but willing, I was led outside into the backyard, where I was astounded to see this:



    Dmitry was riding a BICYCLE!   
    Dan had accomplished what we'd been unable to do . . . not only get him
    on one, but riding it.  Granted, he couldn't get going without
    Dan's help ("I can't move!") but once underway, he looked good. 

    Dan is a heck of an athlete, all things considered.  He recently
    earned his purple belt in karate, scored a goal in his first American
    soccer game, and taught Dmitry how to ride a bike.    

    Tell you who didn't need any lessons on how to ride a bike, and that's Joe, who was zipping madly around the backyard:

    Then it was inside the house for presents and birthday cake, where Joe received a cool hunting hat:

    Happy birthday, dear Joe!  We're so glad you're here as you turn the Big 1-6.