I think Ryan has been hearing me talk about the similarities I see between him and dad. Lately, he has been asking me, "Who's more like Daddy? Me or Todd?" I try to give a politically-correct answer: "You're both half Mommy and half Daddy." Or, "You are both like Daddy in different ways." I can tell that it makes Ryan feel good to be like his dad. It is sweet. I really don't want to say something or make comparisons that will hurt Todd. But the truth is, sometimes it amazes me to see the similarities between Ryan and Brett.
Some similarities are physical. Both of the boys have blue eyes like their dad. But Ryan's hands are Brett's--big palms and solid fingers. Todd has longer, thinner fingers--perfect for the piano. Ryan's toes are also just like Brett's. He can spread his toes out like Brett. Ryan is proud of this skill, and thinks it's so funny that I can't control or spread out my toes at all. Poor Todd has untalented toes like Mom. Ryan has pointed out that even his belly button is like Brett's "Grand Canyon" belly button.
More than the eyes, hands, and fingers, I continue to marvel at Ryan's curiosity. He approaches things just like Brett. I have mentioned before how Ryan will quickly lose interest in toys or board games. But he can spend forever looking through a junk drawer, playing with a gadget or some other thingamajig. Before we left on vacation, Oma gave the boys some money to spend. After a trip to Walmart, Ryan spent the next week begging me to take him back so he could buy something he saw there. He was relentless. He was thrilled when we finally went back and he bought his prize--a small LED laser pointer/flashlight combo.
While we were at the rodeo, I thought of something else. Neither of my boys likes to be in front of a crowd. But while Todd is shy and a quiet talker even one-on-one, Ryan has no problem striking up a conversation with a stranger. Brett gets sick at the thought of talking in front of a group, but has no problem one-on-one, even with people he has never met. On the plane ride out here, Ryan is the one who told the missionaries in front of us, "Hi. We're Mormon, too." At the rodeo, Ryan jumped right up by himself to get the autograph. He also made friends with the kids behind us. At the parade this morning, Ryan asked the man next to us to pet his dog. Todd and I are much more likely to sit back and keep our questions to ourselves rather than approach a stranger.
Ryan also has a little of the wild in him. He will try a crazy stunt. Just this week Uncle Mike was telling the boys about how he remembers Brett wanting to try out the bark shock collar they had for their dog. After trying it on the low setting, Brett asked him to turn it up higher. And higher, until it hurt. Would Todd do this? No. Ryan thinks fire, fireworks, and the like are cool and exciting. He would love for me to give him free reign to experiment with these things. (No on your life!) Todd approaches life with more caution (like his Mom).
I find the differences and similarities in people an exciting thing to observe. I hope that as I continue to observe my boys that I will be able to see more ways that Todd takes after Brett and Ryan takes after me. I also hope to see ways in which they are uniquely themselves.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Rodeo Cowboys
We have been in Utah doing lots of fun activities for the past two weeks. Maybe I can post pictures. This week the boys and I experienced our first rodeo, the Lehi Rodeo Roundup. We bought our tickets a week ago and have been looking forward to it. I thought it was a lot of fun, and I think the boys did, too. I missed the memo that I needed to curl my hair, put on a fun top, and wear my jeans, cowboy boots, and hat, of course.
I was quite impressed with the participants, including the rodeo royalty who rode their horses around the arena between each event carrying a flag/banner of one of their sponsors. There was one girl who was flying each time she went around.
I was also impressed with the cowboys I saw both in the arena and in the stands. I didn't realize I was such a sucker for strong, good-looking, country cowboys. But they were everywhere. Sadly, there were two injuries in the rodeo. Both of the guys were able to walk out, but I wonder how serious the injuries were. I hope they are okay. Although I just admitted to being a sucker for a nice cowboy, I really wouldn't want to see my man competing in a rodeo.
The boys also enjoyed watching the motorcross riders doing their stunts and crazy jumps. (Another activity I wouldn't want to watch my man doing.) While they were clearing the equipment from the stund riders there were some rodeo princesses signing autographs. We were only in the second row and Ryan hopped down and got in line with the other kids to get an autograph. Another part of the fun and excitement.
Ryan asked if we could go see the rodeo again tonight. Tempting.
I was quite impressed with the participants, including the rodeo royalty who rode their horses around the arena between each event carrying a flag/banner of one of their sponsors. There was one girl who was flying each time she went around.
I was also impressed with the cowboys I saw both in the arena and in the stands. I didn't realize I was such a sucker for strong, good-looking, country cowboys. But they were everywhere. Sadly, there were two injuries in the rodeo. Both of the guys were able to walk out, but I wonder how serious the injuries were. I hope they are okay. Although I just admitted to being a sucker for a nice cowboy, I really wouldn't want to see my man competing in a rodeo.
The boys also enjoyed watching the motorcross riders doing their stunts and crazy jumps. (Another activity I wouldn't want to watch my man doing.) While they were clearing the equipment from the stund riders there were some rodeo princesses signing autographs. We were only in the second row and Ryan hopped down and got in line with the other kids to get an autograph. Another part of the fun and excitement.
Ryan asked if we could go see the rodeo again tonight. Tempting.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Marry Someone Nice
This afternoon the boys and I were discussing our up-coming vacation, including my brother's wedding. I told the boys that they would be getting a new aunt, Aunt Sherree. Ryan asked if they would call her Aunt Sherree when they met her (before my brother gets married). Ryan suggested that maybe he would just call her Sherree until they were married. I told him he could call her Aunt Sherree from the beginning. Ryan agreed saying, "Yeah. I don't think she'll mind. I think she's probably nice." I told him that I was sure she was nice. James is so nice; there's no way my brother would marry someone who isn't nice too. I went on to say how great it was that the people in my family married such nice people. I started listing examples: Dave married the very nice Amy; Don the nice Kerri; Lisa, the nice Mike. Ryan interrupted, "And Daddy married someone really nice, too."
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Same But Different
Today during church I couldn't help but notice how my boys entertain themselves in such different ways, indicative of their different personalities.
Ryan is quite the snuggler, and having his mother sit still for a full hour invites his attention. Today was no exception, and for most of the meeting Ryan was leaning against me or had his arm around me. Ryan also spent some time doodling. This, naturally, led to taking apart his pen, playing with the insides, putting it together without the grip, playing with the grip, taking the pen apart again, and finally assembling it back properly. Next, he investigated my pencil case, saving a piece of gum for after the meeting, straightening a paper clip, twisting it around, breaking it in two, and he finished off by playing with two thumb tacks.
Todd loves games. We have two small dry-erase board notebooks from the Dollar Tree. They were Christmas presents from my nieces. These notebooks are perfect for church. The past few weeks Todd has tried to initiate a game of hangman with me or Ryan and has ended up frustrated when neither of us would play. Ryan simply isn't that interested. I try to tell Todd that I will play a game with him at home, but when I come to church I want to listen to the message. Playing hangman is a little too distracting for me. Todd will often ask me to come up with a page full of math problems for him to work on. It used to be addition or subtraction. These days he asks for multiplication problems with a few division problems thrown in for fun. Today Todd used the dot-to-dot page in his wipeable notebook to make mazes. He still wanted to play a game with me, but it wasn't that distracting because it took him so long to create the maze. I was able to do the maze pretty quickly and without talking. The first few mazes Todd made were pretty simple. Then Todd had to make it more challenging, similar to a video game. First I had to get the shield, then I could go back and make it through the poison traps without getting killed.
Despite their differences, Todd and Ryan can play together nicely. Sure, they have their moments when they need a break from each other or when they are interested in doing different activities. More often than not, they realize that having a brother to play with is a great thing. This morning while I was getting ready for church the boys built a blanket fort in the family room. Since it has turned out to be a day of non-stop rain, I am glad that I let the boys keep the fort up. They have been playing together for the past hour since lunch--speaking kindly and fairly softly, cooperating with their plans and games, and using their imagination.
Watching them and listening to them play together warms my heart. I am so grateful that they are so close in age (16.5 months) and that they have continued to be buddies. My hope for them is that they will continue to be great friends as they get older--especially in high school when differences can drive people apart so easily. As adults it can be easier to recognize the value in having people who approach the world from a different perspective. I hope that each of my boys will appreciate their differences and see the strengths and value in his brother.
Ryan is quite the snuggler, and having his mother sit still for a full hour invites his attention. Today was no exception, and for most of the meeting Ryan was leaning against me or had his arm around me. Ryan also spent some time doodling. This, naturally, led to taking apart his pen, playing with the insides, putting it together without the grip, playing with the grip, taking the pen apart again, and finally assembling it back properly. Next, he investigated my pencil case, saving a piece of gum for after the meeting, straightening a paper clip, twisting it around, breaking it in two, and he finished off by playing with two thumb tacks.
Todd loves games. We have two small dry-erase board notebooks from the Dollar Tree. They were Christmas presents from my nieces. These notebooks are perfect for church. The past few weeks Todd has tried to initiate a game of hangman with me or Ryan and has ended up frustrated when neither of us would play. Ryan simply isn't that interested. I try to tell Todd that I will play a game with him at home, but when I come to church I want to listen to the message. Playing hangman is a little too distracting for me. Todd will often ask me to come up with a page full of math problems for him to work on. It used to be addition or subtraction. These days he asks for multiplication problems with a few division problems thrown in for fun. Today Todd used the dot-to-dot page in his wipeable notebook to make mazes. He still wanted to play a game with me, but it wasn't that distracting because it took him so long to create the maze. I was able to do the maze pretty quickly and without talking. The first few mazes Todd made were pretty simple. Then Todd had to make it more challenging, similar to a video game. First I had to get the shield, then I could go back and make it through the poison traps without getting killed.
Despite their differences, Todd and Ryan can play together nicely. Sure, they have their moments when they need a break from each other or when they are interested in doing different activities. More often than not, they realize that having a brother to play with is a great thing. This morning while I was getting ready for church the boys built a blanket fort in the family room. Since it has turned out to be a day of non-stop rain, I am glad that I let the boys keep the fort up. They have been playing together for the past hour since lunch--speaking kindly and fairly softly, cooperating with their plans and games, and using their imagination.
Watching them and listening to them play together warms my heart. I am so grateful that they are so close in age (16.5 months) and that they have continued to be buddies. My hope for them is that they will continue to be great friends as they get older--especially in high school when differences can drive people apart so easily. As adults it can be easier to recognize the value in having people who approach the world from a different perspective. I hope that each of my boys will appreciate their differences and see the strengths and value in his brother.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Bad Guys and Good Boys
[A morning conversation with Ryan.]
Ryan: When I was little I used to think that no bad guys lived in Florida.
Mom: What do you think now?
Ryan: Bad guys can live anywhere. Even in jail. Like they might try to knock down the door or something to get out.
On a happier note, I just thought of another benefit of not having a very large home. The first and foremost benefit is that there is less to clean. I struggle enough as it is. Another benefit is that I pass by the boys' bedrooms on the way to my own. Were that not the case, I might miss out on glancing at them as I pass by multiple times each night after they have fallen asleep. The boys sleep with their bedroom doors open, and I love to see them sprawled out or sweetly snuggled in their covers.
Ryan: When I was little I used to think that no bad guys lived in Florida.
Mom: What do you think now?
Ryan: Bad guys can live anywhere. Even in jail. Like they might try to knock down the door or something to get out.
On a happier note, I just thought of another benefit of not having a very large home. The first and foremost benefit is that there is less to clean. I struggle enough as it is. Another benefit is that I pass by the boys' bedrooms on the way to my own. Were that not the case, I might miss out on glancing at them as I pass by multiple times each night after they have fallen asleep. The boys sleep with their bedroom doors open, and I love to see them sprawled out or sweetly snuggled in their covers.
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