Briggs - May Wk2

Briggs,

Time is flying with spring weather turning to summer and days getting longer.  Time is being spent more and more outside versus inside making life joyous yet challenging to maintain a balance.

What's Happening
Two Saturdays ago, the whole family got bikes and went on our first official ride! Settergrens showed us the ropes as we headed to the Coon Rapids Dam.  Griffin and you sat so well for the five mile bike ride there.  Once you heard the water gushing over the dam, you begged to get out but we had to wait until we had lunch.  Of course, you chowed down on Settergren's cantaloup.  I swear I could pack a chocolate cake and Stacie pack carrots and you would still opt for the carrots.  It is the Stacie effect!  On the way back George and you rode your bikes quite a ways.  We were so proud of you having a blast pumping your legs to the top of the dam to throw off sticks and stones.

I painted my toes pink this week for the first time in a long time.  You were very interested that I had put paint on my toes, and you wanted the same. I explained that boys don't paint their fingers or toes. You seemed to take that all with stride until you looked me square in the eyes and said "God painted my toenails silver." I cracked up laughing and agreed.  Since then you have said it a few times!

We made windmill flower planters with Settergrens at the Home Depot kid workshop.  They gave you a pack of green beans to plant; however, you had a much different idea for planting as you wanted WORMS.  You searched my hostas for the squiggly worms and luckily found a couple exclaiming each time - "look how cute he is!" I am loving this bug/worm/insect phase!

We learned about bear sloths recently and how they can close their nostrils and suck with their mouths with such great force to get ants out of logs.  We tried this technique by transferring marshmallows with straws to bowls.  I had a mom fail as the marshmallows were jumbo sized and it was too difficult to suck them up, so we ended up eating way more than we should have!

Ready, aim, and fire! You have been learning how to get a better shot by taking your squirt bottle and shooting bubbles out of the air.  My hope is one day that you can have your own BB gun and hunt the trees like your Dad and uncles.

On Saturday we had a fantastic adventure at your first bike race! I discovered a store in St. Paul called Seven Spokes Bike Shop that holds monthly Strider races. Settergrens and I entered all the kids in their respective age divisions.  Oh man, you were amped to race with George around the cones.  When the time came you had the biggest grin on your face as you weaved through the course estatic to be riding with your best friend! Three times around the course you flew.  Although you didn't come in first you made it in the top 1/3 of the pack.  We were so proud of you not being nervous and listening to directions.  Hopefully your love of biking and competitiveness will continue on for a long time.

Mother's Day was just the other day and you boys pulled out all the stops. Dad had you boys make cards. He asked for you to keep it a secret, but your tender heart couldn't do that and you instantly told me that you made a lion card and Griffin made a sheep card.  I was surprised since I did not know this was happening! You even went as far to tell me that Dad hid them in the third draw in the downstair's bathroom vanity.  Luckily, I had enough restraint where I didn't peak.  On the actual day you were so excited that both of you paraded into my room to showcase your creations!  The whole day you proclaimed it was a special so we should do various activities such as eat at a restaurant or buy flowers. Griffin, Daddy, and you made me feel so special!!

Working On
We are working on not interrupting people during conversations. This is so hard as we do want to hear what you have to say but the constant yelling of MOM or DAD while we are talking will have to start ceasing.

Zingers
"This is sooooo AMAZING!"- Referring to painting with celery

"You could find better while playing hide and seek." Referring to when Dad asking how he could be a better dad
"Cori. We went to a restaurant as a family on Mother's Day. Mom, Dad, Griffin, and Briggs. It was called TACO BELL. I ate meat and cheese." Randomly talking to our neighbor Cori
"I am going to ride in the middle of the road to protect Evelyn." Referring to helping Evelyn stay towards the side of the road versus running into the road.

Prayer
Dear Lord - We love how you want to apply what you learn to real experiences, whether it is catching spiders in spider webs at parks, sucking ants or marshmallows with our mouths, or creating the couch into a giant volcano with hot lava.  May you always be able to apply your learnings to your everyday adventures and conversations.