bikes and bakugans

When we were in Ponca City this past weekend we stayed with Brandon's parents. On Saturday morning, Tom, the man who trims their trees, hangs their christmas lights and does other outdoor odd jobs for them from time to time showed up! Tom began trimming the trees and bushes in the front yard and, of course, Ash and Maddox were very curious! They went outside and watched Tom work. As the bush limbs piled up on the ground Ashtyn decided he wanted to help out!! He began picking up the discarded leaves and limbs and putting them in the back of Tom's truck. When the job was finished Tom surprised Ashtyn by paying him $4 for his help! WOW! Ash was sooooo excited! He came running in announcing that he had been paid for his work! I guess we can consider this his first real job! Anyway, Maddox hadn't stuck around outside to help. Instead he had gone to the basement to watch Star Wars (surprise surprise!) and so when he found out Ash had made actual money he was a bit disappointed. Being the wonderful big brother he is, though, Ash noticed Maddox's feelings and shared his bounty. He gave Maddox $2! So nice!

Last night, the boys pocketed their $2 each and we took a trip to Wal-Mart. Maddox quickly picked out two one-dollar coloring books but Ash wandered around having a hard time choosing something that cost only $2. He kept going back to this one toy inparticular called a "bakugan". We have never seen the bakugan cartoon but Ashtyn's friend, Seth, is into it and has alot of the toys and so Ash has been wanting one for a long time. The bakugan is sort of like a small transformer in the shape of a ball. When the small ball shaped figure touches something this is magnetic it pops open revealing the creature inside. When Ashtyn couldn't choose something within his budget, Brandon and I decided to surprise Ashtyn by allowing him to buy a bakugan (which was above his price range) but we wanted to reward him for sharing his paycheck with his little brother! Ash was very excited and has clung to his new bakugan ever since! In fact, last night when we got home from Wal-Mart, the boys wanted to ride bikes! Ash stuck his magnetic bakugan to his bike and rode up and down the sidewalk! He was proud to give his new toy a ride!

Maddox couldn't give his new coloring book a ride but he had fun on his spiderman scooter following brother around and sometimes even leading the way!

This morning on the way to school Ashtyn said "When I grow up I want to be a worker!" I asked him what kind of worker he wants to be and he said "The kind like that trims the leaves at Noni's house! I want to be him!" It was sweet to hear that he has a dream!