Some Traditions can't be Beat!

Traditions reign big in our family! We have many of them throughout the year... many were alluded to in my post on the Empty Nest... and so it is fitting to know that they live on even after the nest is empty. One of the most fun, active family things we have done for years... we think it started about 1996 or so, is to bike ride on Labor Day weekend on the Cheyenne Greenway with our good friends the Guidices. We remember days of all eight of our kids wizzing along the trails, many a great picnic at Mylar Park, pulling Karen on her bike with a chain, the rings course, the picture in the tube over the interstate, good hollering in the tunnels, icys and licorice at the Loaf and Jug, stops at Barnes and Noble for reading pleasure, someone whinning about something and much more....
The Gangs all here... well, sort of.... With Karen

Yesterday the tradition lived on even though the Kirkbrides and the Guidices didn't have even one single kid at home.... Charlie carried on the lonetradition (oops- with guest Hannah who was home)last year. So we borrowed the Pollocks (Tyler, Syndee, Kyle, Ryan and Mytchell) plus their folks, of course, to carry things forward for us. We ate are Culver's and even the Berry's joined us! Karen and I had many a chuckle to see the kids do so many of the same things our kids did along the way.... the boys out in front most of the way... no hands bike tricks, amazing rings feats, even one tired one by the end and more. After the first week alone without Charlie...it did our hearts good....

Mini Mytchell helps to keep the Tradition alive....

Ryan with an eye for the rings

Syd loves her rabbits!
News Flash: Don G. got a new bike.... no more orange 10 speed from the 70's with balded tires. Now his bike has fat tires, is a sporty silver and folds in half.... some are taking it hard!

Don and the collaspable bike!