We're off like a herd of turtles

This story actually comes full circle...it will make sense...please stay focused.

In March, Grandma Jeanie came to visit about a week before Sam's 1st birthday. She bought him this....(Ya'll gotta git a "Grandma Jeanie"...she buys the COOLEST toys!)

But it wasn't much fun...

until today...

Today this "Turbo Turtle" proved to be a fantastic investment...not for a 12 month old...no...a fantastic investment for an 18 month old...funny how interests change in a few short months. 6 months ago, Sam couldn't even walk. He couldn't climb stairs. He couldn't tell you what a dog says (they say "Bow wow wow"...but that's a whole 'nother post with yet another frustrating video to load....soon, people, soon) Heck, he could barely pull up on Mr. Turbo Turtle only to have the toy go spinning off in another direction (followed by much crying and usually big sister stealing the rolling terrapin right out from under him)....Oh, but now!!! Glorious now!!! Mr. Turbo Turtle is turning out to be LOTS of fun.

With all this newfound joy over a set of Turbo Turtle wheels...can you IMAGINE what our life will be like when he's 16??...let us begin praying now...

During all this Turbo Turtle fun...Brooke came over. If you haven't met Brooke, when you come to visit, you'll meet Brooke. She lives about 3 houses down from us. Brooke is 7, she's in 1st grade. According to Grace, if Brooke says it, then it MUST be true. She really is a most darling child. She has that little lisp that comes with many missing teeth and she is learning to ride her bicycle with no training wheels. She is kind and tells funny stories. She is imaginative and tolerant of my younger children. You must meet her. Really, you must. So Brooke came over...she showed me how she could ride with no training wheels--well sorta, it was more like falling with no training wheels...but she'll get better, it takes time. And then she told me (remember, she's 7...her conversations are often random!) that when she and her dad go on a trip he says, "We're off like a herd of turtles"...I thought it was fitting...seeing as how Sam was having all this newfound fun with his rolling hard shelled buddy. He wasn't really getting anywhere...Sister's tricycle is MUCH faster...but he can try now. Oh you better bet he can try, and he DOES try...Folks, he's off...like a herd of turtles.

All good things must come to an end, however...and that helmet was just too tight...he understood that without the helmet, he couldn't ride the Turtle and he was fine with that. Happy to ride another day....Just get that thing OFF his head! NOW!