Summer Fun

Well it's really starting to get HOT around here. As I get older I have found that I hate the hot summer months, but at least the boys don't seem to be bothered by the warm weather. In fact they love it. We have the "pool" (small plastic kiddie pool) filled up and they love to splash around in the water. Luke is getting bigger every day and starting to hold his own with Dylan. Of course Dylan is still bigger and more able to do everything, but we are constantly amazed at everything Luke attempts to do to keep up with his big brother!! I was the oldest and I am just starting to get a glimpse of what it is like being the younger sibling. However Luke is a very strong-willed kid with a positive attitude, so hopefully he'll persevere without too much trouble. Lately they have been playing together a lot more. Their favorite game is chase, scream and giggle; which goes something like Luke chasing Dylan (who is holding the wanted object), while screaming/shrieking and they both giggle uncontrollably. The game usually entails running wildly around the house. While it's so cute to watch, I'm just waiting for someone to get hurt (all fun & games until someone crashes into the wall or falls on their face or worse). So I have to be the bad guy (a role I have learned to accept as part of parenthood) and slow things down when they get too rowdy. Yesterday Luke had the wanted object, and he motioned to Dylan like "here you want it?"; but when Dylan reached out to grab it, Luke pulled it away with a smirk of pride and accomplishment. It was so cute to see him be the one in control; he got a big kick out of it (although minutes later Dylan was successful at snatching it away from him). Luke is a great sport, so he wasn't really phased and continued playing (I think he may prefer to be the chaser).

Luke is also starting to understand most of what we're saying. I ask him to do things and he responds. He's not really talking yet; although when asked what a cow says, he replies "Boo." Dylan is the King of Why? He is so curious about everything and asks a hundred questions. I love that he is thinking about and understanding everything on a deeper level, but the questions are starting to drive me crazy!! I can't even answer them half the time! I'm learning that often the best way to respond (and get him to stop) is to let him come up with the answer. He has also started "reading" to us. Really he has memorized his favorite books; but it's great to hear him tell the story in his own way. They are both changing constatly, it's really difficult to chronicle everything here.