June!

 We've been busy finishing up a few big projects before summer greets us head on. We have a few more. And when is there ever not something to get done? It never ends.

We had papa helping us finish up the backyard fence last weekend. We just need to build gates now! We've stained both decks and need to still touch up in a few spots, but we're glad to have that done. In between we've been nurturing our garden, playing outside, doing vintage farm and teaching Morg how to ride his bike without training wheels. He was so nervous at first, but I promised him once he got it down, he could pick out a new book. That was all it took. He tried and tried and tried and 45 minutes later, he was riding around with no problem. We were in the church parking lot so he had lots of room to ride. We only hit one car! He also got pretty skilled at swinging his leg around to catch himself whenever he fell. Yesterday, he mastered learning how to turn and now he just needs to learn how to start himself without help! He is so proud and so am I. I about broke my back helping him learn! Daddy came to the parking lot soon after and we had a moment of pride! It's so exhilarating hitting new milestones with your children. I very vividly remember my dad running behind me and my pink bike I got for my sixth birthday. Now I have a bike-riding boy of my own!

Morg and I have been reading Boxcar Children at night and we finished the first book! We're looking forward to buying the next one on the list. I felt like my mom so many times. She read to us for days on end. It's one of my sweetest memories. I keep being reminded of childhood memories so much lately.I think it's probably because Morgan is at the age now where he's starting to make memories he'll remember into adulthood. I remember so much about being six. He's not quite there yet. He's "five and a half", he says. But I remember being his age and moving to our Meridian house and meeting all my best friends that I still consider best friends to this day.

Morg continues to surprise us with his thirst to learn new things. He's been so chatty lately, especially on the phone with grandma or papa. Yesterday he was talking to papa and I heard him pause and say, "Did you know ketchup has GMOs in it?". Proud mother moment. Except when we're at the store, he's constantly looking at other people's carts and telling me they aren't buying healthy food. Danny would never care! My boys are so opposite.

Danny is anxious for his birthday. Yesterday in church, he was looking at the program paper, pretending to read it and he said, "It says tomowwow is Danny's birtday. Deeee end.". This was during the closing prayer. It was so funny!

According to him, his birthday wishes are...."cake, miffins (muffins), cupcakes, sprinkles, ice cream, cookies, presents, balloons and grandma lorrie and grandma stacy."

He is such a sugar-aholic, always wanting cookies and always sneaking into the pantry to eat cake sprinkles from the bottle. Every day he asks if he can go fishing, vacuum (lawn mower) and noisy (trimmer). He always wants to go fishing with not just dad and morg, but with Gary, too. Daddy cut some branches down with the chainsaw a few weeks ago and it blew his mind. Now he's added 'cut the trees down' to his daily list. He asks at least twenty times a day. He wants to work work work instead of play! In church, to keep him occupied we draw pictures of lawn mowers and trimmers. He is obsessed. 

Also, he's a little naughty. This chapter never closes. This morning I heard him yell, "I color on the couch, mom!". Sure enough he had. On our leather couch in the basement. I'm obsessive about keeping pens/crayons/markers high up. He rarely ever has them in his grasp. This is why. I usually am quick to anger (surprise!), but this time I just cried. I think it surprised both boys. Morgan ran over to hug me and rub my shoulders. He kept saying, "I'm sorry this happened, mom. It's my fault. I should have been watching Danny." Morgan is always so sweet when he knows I'm sad. I had some leather cleaner upstairs and I ran to get that and surprisingly it came off fairly easily. I have no idea how. It was an ink pen. And lots of scribbles all over the seat of the couch. After it was cleaned, we promptly went upstairs for discipline. My kids don't usually do things like this. I hope this doesn't start a trend!  Danny boy!!!! You crazy child.