The Legacy of the Big Wheel

If you’re a child of the 70s like me, you probably remember well the plastic tricycle known as the Big Wheel zooming around every corner of the neighborhood.  Big Wheels were a national phenomenon.  It seemed everyone had one, including my youngest brother Michael, who is a child of the 80s.

Big Wheels were fun and because they were so low to the ground, it was hard to fall off. Or if you did, you didn’t fall very far. I remember my brother used to delight in pedaling fast, then turning the steering wheel quickly to put the trike in a 360-spin.

My parents are not particularly sentimental people, but my brother loved his Big Wheel so much that they decided to save it.  They put it away in the attic and there it sat for a long time. Twenty years.  Then I had a little boy and my folks remembered the plastic tricycle hidden away, pulled it down, and dusted it off.

That afternoon, we were all gathered my parents’ house and Dad said he had a surprise. We went out front and there was the old Big Wheel.  Michael smiled in remembrance and Cory took it for a spin.  And we all felt a little sentimental after all.  The Big Wheel had made a comeback.  At least in my family.

I used Echo Park Paper on this layout, a few different collections, mostly Splash, Country Drive and Happy Days.  The wording on the page says -  Generation to generation: my Big Wheel keeps on rolling.

I wonder what the vintage toy of 2012 will be.  Any ideas?

The Days of December Daily

I’m having such fun with my December Daily and have surprised myself with just how much I am enjoying this process. It makes me smile to mark down a little something each day. Life with a toddler seems to pass by in a blur and it’s really refreshing to pause and reflect on the day.

Day 1 is the only entry that isn’t a two-page spread. Here I wrote a little note to welcome December and to say how much I’ve always enjoyed the holiday season. I added this little pic through our window from the outside looking in to literally give a peek at our life.

Day 2 tells the story of being just a little over-ambitious with the Advent calendar. My son, who’s 2, love blocks and puzzles and I thought the Lego City advent calendar would be right up his alley. Sure, the box said it was for ages 5 - 12 but I thought, how hard can a Lego project be? Um, turns out, pretty hard! Definitely not suitable for a 2 year old. I could foresee a meltdown every day: his and mine! So, we boxed that baby right back up and went to plan B. (See Day 4 for more on the story).

On Day 3, we went to the annual Christmas luncheon at church. I used the program as my page insert. It was a little too narrow, so I added a bit of pp down the side. On the right, I wrote down who sat at our table and journaled about the program. I added a couple photos I took with my iphone, including one of Cory outside on the swing set afterwards.

By Day 4, I had found a good alternative to the Lego advent calendar. Now, a small stuffed mouse and some candy canes are marking the passing days. This calendar is from 1987, I believe, and is one my Mom used when my youngest siblings were tots. I looked online to see if I could find more information about this specific calendar, sold by Avon, and was astonished to see several sellers on ebay asking more than $100 for this “vintage” item.

If you have a December Daily, feel free to link yours in the comments. I'd love to see it!

Supply list:

Echo Park: Holly Jolly - 6x6 pad, 12x12 collection kit, chipboard, stamps; Metro Dots and Stripes - 6x6 pad, 12x12 collection kit; Season’s Greetings 12x12 collection kit, chipboard, brads; Everybody Loves Christmas 12x12 collection kit.

American Crafts: Album

Ali Edwards: calendar overlays

Hambly: Transparencies

Bo Bunny: ribbon

Fancy Pants: ribbon

Cosmo Cricket: tiny type

Jenni Bowlin: letter stickers

Martha Stewart: kraft tags

The Twinery: twine

Making Memories: Buttons

My Mind’s Eye: Stamps

Ranger Industries: Ink

Sewing Machine: Bernina
Kit club: Studio Calico