Shannon Phillips

Today Robin’s school held a neat fund-raiser: called the “Big Wheel-a-Thon,” it was structured as a race with the kids doing laps on their Big Wheel bikes. The idea was that you’d sponsor your kid, pledge a dollar a lap or whatever, but in practice nobody was keeping track of how many laps they actually completed. It was more a “donate what you feel like” kind of event: and the race had only winners.

Here’s Robin coming around the bend:

Unlike most of the other boys, he’s perfectly happy to ride on a pink bike. I, um, may have told him that the pink ones go faster.

Here’s a close-up of our little athlete:

Davy wanted to get in on the action too, but he was confined to the lower playground:

They also had face-painting, games, food, art projects, and lots of fun stuff. And Robin’s Nanita was in town to cheer him on, so that made it extra special. Robin’s been spoiled for grandparents lately: he was thrilled to see his Pappy and Nonna last weekend, and we even drove down to Pleasanton on Mother’s Day so the boys could spend a little time with his great-grandparents. (The “awww” moment during that visit was Davy, toddling straight up to his great-grandfather with his arms raised high: Pick me up, Grandpa Wayne!) These kids, they love their extended family so. much.

Though I have to say, that boy bullies his Nanita mercilessly. After we got home from the park, it was all: “Mom, I want to play Angry Birds on your computer!”

“No, not right now,” I said. Next thing I know? My mom has pulled out her Kindle, downloaded the app, and Robin is curled in her lap happily playing Angry Birds: Space.

“I love you, Nanita,” he said contentedly.

“Will you always love me?” she said.

“Yes,” he said, emphatically.

I don’t think it’s that his heart is easily bought. I think he just knows love pretty well, being surrounded by it and all. He recognizes it quickly, returns it easily, takes it for granted but renews it inexhaustibly. Him and his brother both: they’re sweet little boys. They know a good grandparent when they see one.