Johnny and the neighborhood girl

We live on a cul-de-sac filled mostly with retired couples. There are a couple if families with high school or college-age kids, but mostly, they're people with grown children. Except for one family who has a nine-year-old girl (we'll call her C) and a two-year/old boy. 

Johnny is infatuated with C. When he goes outside to ride his bike he has taken to asking, "I wonder if C wants to ride her scooter!" So finally, we went over to her house where I coached Johnny through asking if she should come outside to play. It was adorable. 

C's dad: Hi Johnny.

Johnny: uh.... Uh... My bike goes so fast!! It takes rocket fuel! 

Me: Do you want to ask if C can come outside? 

Johnny: I'm riding my bike! Does C want to ride her scooter?!?? (Spoken at the loudest volume possible.)

C: I have some homework to finish and then I'll come outside. 

Johnny: Okay!! 

And then C came out and ran around with Johnny and Hank and played along when they "fixed" their bikes and used tools with them. It was adorable. 

Until Johnny says, "C, do you want to come in my house and see my stuff?" Before I can step in and say "uh, that's not a good idea" because our house is a MESS, C has said "Sure!" And they've taken off for the door. Whoops. 

Since then, I've been trying to talk to Johnny about asking me before inviting people into the house and also not just knocking on C's door whenever we're outside... especially when I'm trying to get packed up so we can go somewhere. Because that's happened. 

It's fun to see him want to be around someone and interact with her so effortlessly (kind of). He's been a pretty independent and introverted kid, not liking large crowds and hiding in his room when parties get to be too much for him. Turns out he does enjoy people and is flexing his social muscles. 

C is untangling Johnny's shoelaces from his bike pedal. Afterward he said, "Thank you, C!" and pedaled off. It's nice to see him learning manners too. ;)

Go Fish!

When we went to Oregon for my cousin's wedding in May, my mother-in-law got the boys a special "Go Fish" deck of cards. We didn't end up playing it on the trip, but we've played it plenty of times since we got home. And it's hilarious. 

Hank and Johnny don't hold the cards in their hands. Instead, they lay them flat on the table, facing up of course, and the game ends up being pretty fast since, you know, there aren't many secrets. Hank will take a look at Johnny's cards and say, "So, Johnny. Do you have a.... starfish?" And Johnny will look at his cards splayed on the table, pluck up the starfish and exclaim, "I DO! Here you go!" And both boys will be all surprised and excited. It's adorable.