Landon has been asking to go to the 'big track' for a few weeks. He is talking about the real motocross track in Spokane. They usually have open practices on Thursdays and Fridays and some weekends. Luke called to ask when practices were and it turns out it was a race weekend....so, after riding his motorcycle for about a month, we took him to his first race! As we pulled up the signs were a little ominous. Apparently Motocross is dangerous?!
Landon was very excited. We pulled in and parked next to a family with a 5 year old son who was here for his first race too. Landon and I hiked to the top of one of the Jumps to check out the course. One lap is 1.5 miles. When we arrived they were selling t shirts to benefit a fellow motocross kid who broke his back riding!
Thank goodness our new friends had a daughter and 2 lab puppies...which entertained Josie all day!
They let all classes practice for 10 minutes in the morning....Landon took off like a flash, but he had never been on a motocross track before and the Jumps were pretty big because it is the same track the adults ride on. He took off going super fast and came to the first jump...well, he didn't land it and flipped over his handlebars and landed in the mud....
He was not excited....Tears were falling and he wanted to quit and go home!..He got back on and rode a little ways...but fell again and was having a complete meltdown....So, he didn't even make it a quarter around the track and we had to walk his bike out. When we got back to the truck his new little friend was in tears too! Both boys wanted to go home! Apparently Kohen had a bad practice round too. I took this picture of Landon and Luke in the tunnel as they were walking off of the track...Luke was trying to console him:)
We gave landon some snacks and a juice box for giving it a try. We figured we had to pay to get in so we might as well stay and watch the other motocross competitors....He was so sad.
Turns out, when you are under 6 years old and you enter a race...no matter what, you get a trophy. So I told Landon and his friend that if they just made an effort to try again they would get a trophy....I had them convinced.
They lined up at the start....
It was going so well....and then the gates dropped...The kid next to Landon drove right into Landon and then Landon fell....I thought that would be the end...but he got back on his motorcycle and continued on.
In Landon's race parents are allowed on the track to help assist the kids...Well, I can't run as fast as landon rides his motorcycle, so between Luke and I we tried to cover the whole track so we could help landon when he fell...but it was about 85 degrees out and the track was huge. Landon did pretty well. He fell a couple times and then got stuck in the mud:) He started to get the feel for the track...Nevermind me telling him to 'go slow'...I was nervous. I took this video of landon and at the end of the video I captured one of the other kids in his group. There were some pretty good riders out there...
Landon made one whole lap before he got stuck in some more mud and decided he was done with that race:) I was proud of him for trying and he did a great job. His friend, Kohen also did well and finished 2 laps. The boys both received their trophies and were beyond excited!
Landon's friend Kohen was from Wenatchee. They had to leave before the day was over so Landon and I went and watched the 'big kids' race.
Come to find out there was another race that afternoon....Landon was all in and wanted to win another trophy...In the meantime...I realized I accidentally locked the truck with the keys in it...Landon's gear was in the truck and the next race was less than an hour away! I had the announcer make an announcement that if anyone had extra gear that would fit landon that would be helpful. Within a minute, we had riding gear! Everyone there was really friendly. Luckily, we got the truck unlocked and Landon's gear out before his next race...He was starting to get cold feet and using 'not having his own gear' as a reason he couldn't race again...Luke got him all lined up again and he was next to the same kid as last time...Luke told him to just let that kid go, and then just pass him. The second start was way better! As in any sport..there were over zealous parents yelling and getting really intense at the start.
I took off running...and Luke took off on his mountain bike. The first Lap landon fell a couple of times, but kept at it!
Landon made both laps! On his second lap he didn't even fall:) He got the checkered flag!
We were so proud of him. He was proud of himself too and was so excited to make it to the Checkered Flag!
By the end of the day we were tired, hot, sunburned and so proud of our little boy...and relieved he didn't break any bones:)
Turns out he actually placed in the second race! He took 5th out of 6:)....So not dead last!
Landon said that it was fun and he wants to do it again! It was a rough start to our first Motocross race..but ended pretty well. We all went to Dairy Queen to celebrate a great day.
The sky was really pretty when we got home.
Landon's teacher sent me this email. The school has PACE awards every few months. The kids get selected for awards if they display certain characteristics. Not all kids get them. I think Josie has been awarded 2 in her years from kindergarten to 4th grade.
Sometimes I question my parenting and sanity with Landon...He is a good boy, but not always 'thankful, or grateful' at least at home...So we were really proud of him for being so good at school. Turns out Josie is getting one too this friday! I am not positive what her characteristic is, but there will be an assembly on friday and we will find out.
A while ago when Josie had her blood vessel removed from her face, I told her she could get a mini lop eared bunny for a reward. Well, her friends bunny was supposed to have babies, but never did...then we were supposed to meet a lady last night, but she cancelled on us. So I found a lady on Craigslist who had holland lop eared bunnies for sale. So, I surprised Josie and picked her up at school. Luke met us and we drove to Rathdrum, Idaho...about 45 minutes away to pick up 7 week old Henry.
Henry is a Holland Lop bunny. They stay little and only grow to 3 or 4 pounds. Being that Henry is still young, we will keep him in the house for a while...Eventually Luke will build a hutch outside for him. He rode on Josie's lap in the truck on the way home:)
The lady who we bought him from said they like stuffed animals. So, she gave us a pink one:)
Lila and Josie were feeding him flowers in bed:)
The kids only have 5 and a half days left of school. My parents are going to come into town this Friday to watch the kids get their Pace awards and then hang out for the day.
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