All Boy

One of the interesting things about raising children is seeing them become little people, with their own unique personalities that develop before your eyes.  My two boys, raised 18 months apart, could not be more different.  It's easy to see God's hand in all of it.  Noel's ideal day would be staying in his pajamas all day long and lounging about, watching TV, playing computer games and hanging out with his self-proclaimed "best friend":  me.  Jonah's ideal day would be going from one scheduled activity to the next with a huge group of friends, from sun up 'til sun down.  The boy never tires.  If I had two Noels, we'd never get anything done.  I'd spend the whole day dealing with tantrums that are the result of trying to get them out of the house.  If I had two Jonah's, I'd already be dead.  From exhaustion.  Luckily, I have a Jonah and a Noel.  One serves as a calming influence, the other as the pep squad leader.

They have two friends in the ward whom they love.  They all share a love for adventure and, well, being boys.  The other day we headed out to the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve.  Our friends were old pros, but we'd never been.

Here we are being instructed by our good friend, Ian, about the many animals we may encounter on our explorations.  Ian knows more about birds than I know about. . .pretty much anything.  He also appears to be quite an engaging instructor, as seen by the looks on the boys' faces.  You can also see their "pets" under their arms, which they're sadly coming to the realization will be their only pets, until they're adults and don't care that their parents won't come visit them because they have a dog.

Lila loved it.  Because she loves everything.

So determined, yet so carefree.  P.S.  Apparently wetlands are real pretty.

Thank you, boys, for showing us a new spot that we loved.  And most of all, thanks for being such great friends!