Nothing like a brother

During the summer months things stay relatively quiet at the Siebert house.  Last summer I was very intentional in that I wanted the boys to depend on and appreciate each other more.  This summer is no different.  The boys have spent countless counts at Froggie Island building bridges and catching frogs.  Today Nick decided he didn't want to go to Froggie Island, despite Jay's pleas to go.  The rule is the boys can't go without a buddy.  Jay sulked around the house and I suggested he call a few boys from the neighborhood and see if they could tag along with him to Froggie Island.  Jay said he had no interest in calling anyone else, his brother was his first choice and there was no one he likes to hang out with at Froggie Island, other than Nick. I thought that was so sweet coming from Jay.  I shared Jay's comment with Nick and like a true younger brother, he grabbed his fishing net and the boys were off to froggie island together.  Jay was all smiles.  On another note of brotherly love, Nick is scared of storms.  He developed a fear of them about 2 years ago while watching the news of the tornadoes that hit Oklahoma.  He absolutely hates storms, especially at bedtime.  Last night as he was going to bed a storm was brewing.  Mike and I went to bed and a few minutes later we heard talking coming from Jay's room.  Mike went to check on the situation and found both boys cuddled up together in Jay's room.  Jay invited Nick to spend the night with him in his room.  Neither of them had movies or electronics, it was just two brothers chatting away or rather one older brother trying to distract his younger brother from a storm.  I have to be honest, it isn't often that Jay goes above and beyond for Nick.  In fact just earlier in the afternoon Jay had chewed up all of Nick's "Big League Chew" he received at a birthday party.  Jay does things to Nick to just aggravate him but last night I was proud of my eldest.  Like I always say, if both boys can get over their personality differences, they love the same things and slowly but surely are learning to love those things together.