Empty Threats, Witty Comebacks

I remember as a kid really being against the idea of learning to ride my bike. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my dad first tried teaching me to ride said bike by pushing me down the hill in our backyard. At any rate, my family worked pretty diligently one summer to coerce me into riding my bike, especially since my younger brother was confident on two wheels well before I was. "We're going to take our bikes to Belk Park, and you'll be stuck at home alone," threatened my dad.
"I don't care," I recall saying. "I can run fast. I'll just run along with you."

It's funny how these childhood recollections are regurgitated through the mouths of my own young ones. Tonight, Auden made a huge mess while I was reading The Hobbit to Logan. Threw playing cards all over the floor. "Now you have to clean them up," I said.
"No," he whined. "There's too many."
"If you don't pick them up, then you have to stay home alone while Logan and I go to Chicago." (My Wise-Enough-to-Know-Better Mom self knows making empty threats is the wrong way to go, but my Lazy Mom self sometimes gets the upper hand.)
"No, I'll just drive your car."
"You don't know how to drive. Besides, we'll be taking my car...to Chicago...where you won't go if you don't pick up those cards."
"That's Ok. I will run."
Ha.

He's learning...

Auden's learning the classic chicken butt rhyme... Here's how it goes, according to him:

Guess who? 

Chicken butt.

Summer is off to a wonderful start...and it's not even officially here yet.

Logan's almost riding his two-wheeler by himself.

We camped out in the back yard...and didn't cheat by going inside to sleep around midnight like we did last year!

We made s'mores...damp firewood be damned!

We put in a lovely flower garden in the back.

We found the first lightning bug of the season.

We've harvested and cooked kale and broccoli from our garden.

In general, we're loving life!

Two-wheelin'

By the way, Logan's learning to ride his bike, sans training wheels. He does really well until the neighbors cheer him on and he jerks his head in their direction, along with the handlebars...
We're hoping that before summer is out, he'll be going solo. At least, I think that's what we're hoping...

To Boston, to Boston...

So summer vacation has begun! My school let out a full week before Eric's, so the boys and I decided to take a road trip to Grammy Renee's for Memorial Day weekend. The weather was sunny, the family time was lovely. The boys got to play with a marble chute set that used to be my brother's--great fun to build and to watch. The red-throated hummingbirds were at the feeders. Grammy and Papa read oodles of books to the boys and bought them new jammies. They were supermen. with capes. Greggie helped assemble Lego creations. Great-Grandma and pa Kop dished out their own thawed and sugared blueberries, which the boys devoured in seconds. Great-Grammy O. had everyone over for a barbecue. Aunt Marlene doled out goody bags and called out the numbers for BINGO with Auden. Nick and Laura showed their competitive nature. Uncle Rod teased. Tyler showed off his mad poi skills.

When we returned, Eric had brought home a turtle and bull frog to live in our pond. Both have taken their own road trips by now. He had also been hard at work building some cabinets in our kitchen...He's a Gemini; that's all I can say about that.

So now, we're gearing up for our summer trips, starting on projects we've put off during the school year. I've been doing some research on our destinations: Boston, Concord, Amherst, Salem. We also need to reassemble our basement, which is still a partially carpeted disaster after the 48-hour rainfall we had last month. And the boys' room will be repainted soon...once we've decided on a color. What do you choose when you're splitting the room--one side Batman; one side Spiderman?

Today we went to Hadley's graduation party. The boys had a blast with the trucks Karen picked up for them, and they had a blast with Hadley, Paul, and Paul's girlfriend. We reminisced about how the family has changed. It was years ago at Christmas when the now-graduates and college students performed a play they had written themselves, as well as some musical numbers. I suppose our boys will have to carry the torch :)

Tomorrow, what will it be? The zoo? We shall see!

Funny story: Logan weighed himself at Grammy O's.
"Mom, what's 4 and 0?"
"That's forty," I replied.
"I wonder what my belly weighs...What's 2 and 0?" (I'm not sure how accurate Grammy's scale actually is.)
"Well, 4 and 0 is forty, so what could 2 and 0 be?"
"Hmm, that must be twoty."
Hahahaha.

Easter

It was a cold Easter this year, but a fun one nonetheless. Thanks, Auntie Jackie, for having us over! Here are some photos from the weekend:

Happy birthday, Logan!

How have you grown so quickly!? I love your curious mind and sensitive heart. I hope you keep both traits with you your whole life long. Your friends and family, near and far, helped make your birthday special.

We had an early birthday with mom's family, after braving a blizzard on the way there and staying over in a hotel. Good thing there was a swimming pool! Then you shared cupcakes with your friends at school. You wished for a scooter...and got one that evening at Chuck E Cheese's! Such a crazy, fun time you had with Jeff flying around the play tunnels and video games. Then we spent some special time with Grammy, Papa, and Uncle Greggie.

Happy birthday!

We love you, love you, love you!

Proud Moments

Logan's pretty excited about turning five. The birthday party, the cake, the friends and family, the presents, adding another digit to his age. He's been bombarding me with questions about his age in relation to his brother's, as though he's making sure that he will always be the older brother...."So, when I'm seven, how old will Auden be?" I gave him the first five answers or so, but now he's on his own. Working on the math skills... :)

Anyway, I've been a little stuck when relatives are asking what to get him for his birthday. He's really excited to get clothes this year. (Is he five, going on 60?!) "Long-sleeved shirts" (he really means short-sleeved shirts) and shorts are on the list. As for toys, he's non-committal. We stopped by Grammy Sue's yesterday for a short visit, and she asked what he wanted for his birthday. His reply? "Eh, I get what I get and I don't throw a fit." You know, he can be pretty sweet sometimes.

As for Auden, we've ventured out to some stores, church, and to a friends' house for a play date, and he's acting like he's solidly potty trained now. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I'm starting to feel relatively confident that I've bought our last box of diapers. Ever.

And tonight the boys were listening and singing along to Logan's preschool songs--his Jolly Phonics (Some British songs--get the pun?--that take them through the alphabet), days of the week, the colors and the months in Spanish, etc. We sat down to read some stories. Logan wants to sit, not by me, but by his brother. "I love you, Auden. You're my best buddy" "I wuv you, too, Yogan." It's moments like these that bring me sanity and melt my heart.