I just looked it up....it was Robert Frost, actually, who wrote the "fences" quote. There goes all my credibility.

Josh, The Boy Next Door

We've never formally met the backyard neighbors except for an incident a few weeks ago when Josh and I were hiding in the closet with helmets, listening to tornado sirens, while Greg was atop Joshua's swingset fort with a video camera. The backyard Dad did come out to see if Greg was catching the ACTUAL twister that had been spotted near us (yes he did catch it - if you think I'm kidding, come watch the video). So they probably chalked us up as irrational and didn't bother telling us their names. Good call. Anyway, yesterday there were bubbles and little girl squeals coming out from that yard and I watched Joshua run and find his new mega-bubble wand, climb up the fence and offer the girls more action. He stood up there quite a while waving out giant bubbles for them, keeping the squeals afresh. I believe it was Mark Twain who said "Fences make good neighbors". Maybe so, but climbing the fence with big bubbles might make it even better.

Feathered Friends

We are expecting! We have been getting into bird-watching around here because, well, you just can't help it. They're all up near the house all the time doing the funniest things - especially now in nesting season. My friend Lorri has been helping me learn different birds and how to attract them. She even gave me a handmade birdhouse. We've had alot of tire-kickers for the birdhouse (no lease agreement yet) but it turns out all you need is a covered porch. That, and a tolerance for bird mess at your front door. This could be the deterrent we've been needing for those door-to-door solicitors (neighbors come through the garage way, you know). I'll keep you updated on our little situation. I wonder if they need bird birthing classes...

Good Reads

Every night after kisses and prayer Joshua turns on his bed lamp and wants to read a few books. He likes for me to pick them out for him and inevitably one of these is in the selection. They're excellent. If you're looking for some new material, both of these have great pictures and stories. Another younger child favorite (not pictured) is 'Song of Night' by Katherine Riley Nakamura. We still quote the sweet lines from that book. I think they're all online finds only now. Anyway, we still keep a child monitor on in Josh's room and its precious to overhear him reading these and others so expressively now. For those of you who were wondering, yes, every age has something you love more than ever!

Special thanks to Grammy, Aunt Bea and the Bullards for these book gifts!