A Mom of Boys

• Bug Club: Our daily investigation for bugs brings endless delight to the boys - as for me, well, I'm trying to buck up. We identify colors of the bugs, compare sizes, point out the antennae ... smashes them (all Danny), sends them rolling down the slide (again Danny), safely cups them in his hands (Ryan), and becomes sad when bugs fly away (Ryan).

• Garbage Truck Junkies: For over two years now we have come to anticipate Thursdays. For one, the garage gets cleared of its fragrance: Eau de Diapers. Secondly, to these boys the squeaky brakes of a garbage truck are much sweeter than an ice cream truck's blaring of "The Entertainer." Week after week you could find us all perched at the front window waving to the garbage man. He really must feel like a million bucks at our house as the boys cheer rowdily at his efforts. On warmer days, we take Thursdays one step further. Loaded in the duo glider, Ryan and Danny get up close to the garbage trucks. You'll hear Ryan shout, "Follow! Follow!" And that we do through the neighborhood. Yes, I know its route.

• Flies: We don't use fly swatters. We don't need to use fly swatters. Ryan, along with his apprentice Danny, have a perfect track record for catching flies. Ryan's record stems from last summer and has proven golden to the present day. First Ryan playfully befriends the fly. Then with karate kid like precision and patience he grasps the fly by its wings. He alerts us of his catch and we proceed - fly in hand - to the nearest door. At the open door, Ryan sets his fly free.

• Cars: Ryan and Danny have an affinity for all things cars. In a parking lot it is essential to touch as many tires as possible. I am relieved to say that we have set no car alarms off to this point. At home the boys park their play cars and trucks many, many, many times each day. If one car is missing from the bunch Ryan will be sure to ask where it is. It's uncanny. Another, and the most amazing of the examples, is Ryan's talent of pointing out similar vehicles. For example, Ryan knows Daddy drives a Taurus. From a grand distance he will spot and tell us if he sees "Daddy's car." If this particular Taurus which he has hunted down is not tan like Daddy's he will further explain that it is "Daddy's car, (color) though." Also in his repertoire of cars is your car. "What?" you say. It's true though. If Ryan has seen your car but one time and took the time to study it, then he is pointing it out to me daily. He notices and identifies the subtle differences between similar models. Truly he must have a future with cars.