As many astute people noticed yesterday, bike time for Alexis is a bit like the Princess going for a leisurely ride in her chariot. As her trusty steed Mr. Husband drags her around, she puts her feet up, sips a little premium beverage, reads a book or two or ten, and is always accompanied by at least one of her best friends. Of course Alexis is a demanding Princess and requires just the right books, just the right water vessel, and as a safety-minded sort of Toddler, she insists that Baby Shell not just accompany her, but that she do so while seat-belted into the chariot. It is The Law.

This evening was no different. As we rolled down the bike trail, Alexis jibber-jabbered to her Baby Shell, all comfy and cozy in her chariot. As we hit the home stretch, nearly back to the car, Mr. Husband and his Princess were well in front of me as my bike has suddenly caught a case of The Stupids. I don't really know what its major malfunction was, but the chain kept slipping causing my feet to suddenly lunge off the pedals. Since I don't really think a face plant into concrete would improve my appearance, I opted to slow down and try to be careful.

I am officially extremely grateful that my bike caught The Stupids. If it hadn't? I totally would have missed an exchange by two people who were lounging around on the trail (OF COURSE they weren't walking. Why would anyone WALK on a bike/hike trail?). As I slowly rolled past them, I heard the two women disagreeing.

"Did you see those two babies in that cart?" one woman asked.

Her companion replied, "That wasn't two babies, that was a baby and a doll."

"No, that was two babies."

It was the Toddler and her doll, but you just KNOW I was totally laughing that somebody thought Baby Shell was a real kid. That, my friends, is absolute proof that I need to buy a scary doll.