Homework Helps and other short stories

Adam once again had a miriad of homework to accomplish. Greg and I were both losing our patience as it had already been a hour long cry fest of how homework was not good. Adam was on a worksheet that names all the continents and oceans, including some islands. Adam constantly struggles to identify Africa so Greg turned to him as said its where all the lions, giraffe's, etc. come from. Adam delightfully says "the zoo!". D'oh! So we talk about it and get it figured out. Then came an island off the east coast of Africa (any guesses?) Greg turns to me as asks if that's where the movie was based off of and again Adam says "oh dad, c'mon, you know that. It's Madagascar!!!" This time he was right. One again Greg saved the day and the homework's evil plan of testing our patience was finally over.

Greg and I were able to ditch the kids with the neighbors for a little bit and get out. We had to deliver some turtles to a friend. (we were the middleman) So we took the opportunity to go. This just happens to be the friend that stores Gregs quad too so it became too convient to just go for a ride while we were there. Our friends generously agreed to keep Sariah for about 15 minutes while we went for a ride. It was a great time. I was at the wheel with my man holding on tight as we were cruising along the trails at about 9pm. While we were riding the battery started running low and the head light went out. Greg and I switched places since he knew the terrain and I got the job of holding the flashlight way above my head to illuminate the way. We got to our friends house, checked on Sariah, changed the battery on the quad and then went out again. Again I was at the wheel but instead of turning right I was told to turn left. Mistake #1. We got to this spot and I stopped because I couldn't see a trail. Greg told me to go right between these to mounds of dirt. Now take in mind the area we were riding in was where the developers of the neighborhood ditched all the excess dirt. There were everything from huge mounds to little bumps. Anyhow, I couldn't see the trail so we decided to switch and let Greg drive. Mistake #2. Greg guns it and we shoot off into the dark unknown. We are bouncing all over the place. Greg is giggling and I am holding on for dear life. He pulls up to the edge of a drop and I beg him to not go down. He sweetly says ok and backs up. Then we come up to another spot where I couldn't see the other side and without hesitation Greg guns it and down we go on this huge drop. I'm screaming my head off and he is in hysterics. We get to the bottom where I have a few choice things to tell him but before I can get anything out he whips around and starts going back up the hill. Now I am not exaggerating. It was really steep. Even he said it was probably too steep after the fact. So we are on our way up the hill and I am shouting, pinching, pulling, doing anything to keep him from going up. We were just about to the top when the bike decides it just can't crest the edge. We are just sitting there and I am leaned forward holding onto the Greg's shorts at his knee screaming my head off. Not only was it dark, we are stuck on the top of a very steep incline but we are just stopped as Greg decides what to do. He puts it into reverse and calmly says this is the only way and back down we go. We got to the bottom and I was shaking so bad. Plus I was really mad at him for doing it. He decides that probably enough excitement and we head back. I asked him if that's where he has taken our boys riding and he says yep but that he's never done that particular hill. He did tell me of a story of something similiar happening with him and Zach only he got off the bike and was having Zach pump the gas to help get over the edge. Mistake #3--don't let the boys go riding without an adult present.