Take the Long Way Home

We certainly did. But it was worth it. And I'm such a good boy in the car these days that mommy and daddy hardly even notice I'm back there. Right. But it was worth it as I said because we took Uncle David to the airport. And not the airport near my home, this was the airport near Nana Mary's home. Yup, we went and visited Nana Mary. Everyone was there like Uncle Thomas and Aunt Becky and my new cousin Colin! We took a trip over the bridges and through the tunnels to see a school Uncle Thomas might go to for studying law. I guess that's where people learn about what's right and what's wrong. Maybe Uncle Thomas could come back here when he's done and help me because lately I've been having a little trouble keeping track of what's right and what's wrong. Hey, I'm just a kid. Little slack? At least I know mommy and daddy still love me.


Daddy had me make a wish and throw a penny into a fountain. My wish was to keep the penny. Thanks, daddy. Guess that one didn't come true. And there was all that money in the fountain. That's a lot of people who didn't wish for the same wish as me. So that got me thinking. Not really about wishes, or pennies, or fountains. Just about stuff. I like to think.


So like I said, I'm getting better at taking trips in the car. I was serious when I said mommy and daddy hardly notice me anymore when I'm in the back. Speaking of the back, here's a picture I took with daddy's phone. Now you can see what I see in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Evidently Mr. Giambalvo's An Educated Man

Well yes I am, or, getting there to say the very least. What's that phrase people usually say? Something about being like a diaper - soaking up all the information you can get? So that's me! All this knowledge out there and it's all for free. The best part, all you have to do is ask, "why?" You can ask why to just about anything. You can even ask why after you get a response to your first why. It just keeps going. Like the other day. We took this trip to Nana Mary's for the holiday. Everyone was just so happy to see everyone and of course Nana Mary was so happy to see me. In fact, she was so happy to see me that she made it a point to see me every morning around 7:15 while mommy and daddy were happy seeing the other side of their pillows. But the other day, while we were visiting Nana Mary, we took a trip to the beach. I was thinking this would be great because I love the beach and I was all ready to get out my shovel and bucket and swimsuit. Nope. Sorry. Didn't happy. Why? Apparently people don't do those kind of beach things when it's cold out.


Oh and then we went to see my cousin Andrew. We had a great time over there even though Aunt Linda didn't let us play with the treadmill. So I found other things to play with like the pinball game. I had never seen a pinball game before. There's this little silver ball that rolls around and you tap the buttons on the side to keep the ball from falling into the bottom. Daddy said I play a mean pinball. Why? I guess because of my supple wrist.


Then we had everyone over to Nana Mary's for some singing. All I kept hearing was that some woman named Carrie Okie was coming but she never showed. Anyway we sang. Nana Mary and Aunt Linda dressed up for their singing. Even baby Lauren got into action with the dressing up. Daddy sang a couple times but he didn't sing any of my favorites. Maybe he saves those for when it's night-night time and he's laying next to me on the bed. But the best part was when I got a chance to sing with my cousin Andrew. Oh I was belting out the hits. I sang the ABC song, Bear Went Over the Mountain and the Taxi song with daddy. Someone said I'm a natural. Why? Maybe it was the way I was winning over the crowd. They love me, they really love me.


It was a good trip and the best part is, we get to go back in just a couple days. Why? Another holiday. Oh, and wait till you hear who's gonna be there. Uncle David, Uncle Thomas, Aunt Becky and my new cousin Colin! I can't wait. I think Nana Mary is already cleaning up the rooms getting ready for us. Taking my hat off to Nana Mary for all she does to make our visits memorable in LANDEN'S WORLD!

F is for Fall

I'm learning my seasons and the thing about fall that I'm not too thrilled with is the wearing of jackets. Not a big jacket fan. But, gotta stay warm. Don't want to catch a cold. Or the flu. I had a flu shot. That wasn't much fun. Here I was all excited about getting some gummi bears from daddy when Nana Mary comes out of nowhere and gives me this poke in my arm. Tricky, tricky. It's okay, I didn't take long to forgive her.


But not all is lost with the changing of the seasons. I've still had a couple chances to get the old big wheel out. Daddy usually lets me ride it all the way to the playground and then I zoom around the basketball courts. That's if there's nobody playing basketball.


We still take walks in the fall. I like that especially since I'm actually walking a lot more. I still do the stroller once and again but I'm mainly a walking man now. We live in a great neighborhood for walking.


Everyone came to visit for Lauren's bath at the church. It was great having everyone here for a couple days. We sure did have fun. I still wonder what it would be like to have family just down the street, but, for being a couple hundred miles away we sure do have family come around often. That's fine by me! Enjoying the long family weekends in LANDEN'S WORLD!

I Love Birthdays

Especially when they're mine! That's right, I celebrated another birthday yesterday and this time I turned three. This was a very special birthday because Tutu Kathleen came all the way from Hawaii and my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather and Barb came from Florida. That's a lot of miles all to see little old me. So the day started off with a surprise because daddy told me it was a stay home day for him and he wouldn't be going to work. Those days are the best! I still had to go to school but daddy came to school and surprised me with cupcakes!


After school, daddy took me to Chuck E. Cheese so of course my day just became one of the best days ever. We did all the usual stuff like skeeball and football and basketball and filling up our soda. After that, we came home and that's when I saw Tutu and my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather and Barb. Plus all my friends came over to help me celebrate. So that's when the day officially became the greatest day ever. Tutu helped me open up my presents.


I really had a great time with grampa and Barb. I can't believe he's 96 years old. I don't know what's more surprising - the fact that he's 96 or that there are numbers that can go that high!


But probably the best part of the birthday was the gift from daddy. He made me this video. Thanks, daddy and I love you. Being thankful for a loving daddy in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Landen Turns Three! from Brian Giambalvo on Vimeo.

Thanks, Martha

Martha let us vacation on her vineyard and boy did we sure have fun. It wasn't just a vacation, it was also a family reunion as my aunts, uncles and cousins were all there too! I couldn't believe how many people we had sleeping in this house. I had my own bed in the same room as Nana Joan. We were great roommates! So the interesting thing about this trip is we had to take a boat to get there. I had never been on a boat before. And this wasn't any ordinary boat - it was a ferry. We drove our car right up onto the boat!


Our time on island (I learned that saying from Uncle David and Tutu Kathleen) was spent mainly doing all the same fun stuff that I do at home. But I got to do it with my cousins! The beach was so close to our house. I had a great time playing in the water. Don't worry, I didn't go in too far. Someone was always there to play with me and keep me safe. My cousin Kristen and I had some fun together.


We rode a lot of bikes during our vacation. I usually rode with my cousin Ava but every now and again we'd split up into our separate spots and get super cozy.


Now here's something that I don't get to do at home too often. Actually, I don't think I have ever done this at home. I got my first tattoo! I was thinking about getting something that really expressed who I was or showed something that was really important to me - maybe the engine Percy, the Wonder Pets logo, a little bowl of chicken and rice. Then I thought why not a little butterfly? I like butterflies. So that was that.


I think the thing I liked most about our trip was how beautiful it was on island. There was water everywhere, so many beaches to play on and the weather was amazing. I really hope we go back again sometime soon.


The end of the trip kind snuck up on me. The last thing I remember was coming back on the ferry and then . . .


Remembering the great times I had with my family on Martha's Vineyard in LANDEN'S WORLD

"I Don't Like My Hair Down"

That's what I said today as my daddy was taking me to the playground and before I knew it we were at Lulu's getting my haircut. It's like one minute we'll be doing one thing and before you know it, the next minute we're doing another. I like it - it keeps me on my toes. So remember last time I got my haircut? Yeah, I wasn't all that happy with the decision. It's not that I didn't want to lose my hair, just the whole process of sitting in the chair, sitting still, wearing the smock. Not so much my style. Well not anymore because I was the best kid in the lot today at Lulu's. You had one kid on my left crying over this and another kid on my right crying over that but not me! Acting like a big boy here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Continuing Down the East Coast

Mommy took me and baby Lauren down to the Carolinas to visit more of my family. If you can't tell, we're all about family - family visiting us, us visiting family, families growing. No, our family is not growing. Calm down. Our trip started in South Carolina a little over a year after my last trip to South Carolina. Everybody was there and we had the best time!


I was so busy doing so many things. I'm starting to think a lifestyle involving multiple sports is in my future. First I like to start things off with a few swings of the golf club. Some look at my swing and think it a bit odd looking. Perhaps it's the way I hold the club. Perhaps it's the way I face the ball. Perhaps I don't really care what my swing looks like because golf is so much fun! I mean even if I don't make it as a golfer I would still be happy just watching the balls go into and out of the giant ball machine! Thanks, Randall for all your great tips on the game.


Our trip then moved to North Carolina and the mountains. When the sun goes down and we have to leave the golf course I like to switch over to my next favorite sport - football. I think what I like most about the sport is the goofy looking ball you use. Sure golf balls have those funny little bumps in them but a football? Nothing else looks like a football. My hands are a little small so I can't quite hold it right but clearly after watching me play golf you'll realize I'm not about doing things the right way. Thanks, Jake for staying up late with me and playing some football.


Next is swimming and what can I say about it? No, I'm serious. What can I? I don't know how to swim so I can't really say much about it. But floating around aimlessly and splashing in the water? Oh I could talk about that for hours! Put those swimmy things on my arms and I'm golden. But you already knew that. So let this simply be a reminder - I like the pool!


Thanks, mom for such a great time in the Carolinas. I had such a good time and am looking forward to it again next year. So that's New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin and Hawaii. Slowly closing in on all 50 in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Nana Mary Was There!

We went on another road trip, this time down to Cape Charles. Yes I knew we were in Cape Charles just as I know I live in Brooklyn. So we went down to Cape Charles and Nana Mary was there! Okay, okay, of course she's gonna be there because she lives there but can a boy have a little excitement? I've been liking all this Nana Mary time.


This trip was by far the best trip of them all, and it wasn't even Christmas! Where do I start? Well one of the huge highlights of the trip was this treasure hunt I went on with Dylan and Andrew. There was this pirate ship that Uncle Terrell saw in the water and one of the pirates came onto the sand and buried his treasure and we had to find these clues and the X marked the spot and we dug up the treasure and IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Since the three of us were part of a team, we divided up the loot evenly and there was just so much stuff. I really hope the pirates come back next time. Do pirates know where Brooklyn is?


We also spent some time at the pool and you're never gonna guess who can swim. Go ahead, guess. Yup, that's right. I can swim! Mommy put these things are my arms and whadya know, I was floating. We had the best time together playing in the water and swimming around. I know my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather loves the water because he lives on an island. And my grandfather, well daddy tells me he was a swimmer back in high school. And my Uncle David, he was also a swimmer in high school. And daddy, well daddy wasn't exactly a swimmer but he was on the diving team in high school. Pretty sure you gotta swim to do that. So it's in my blood.


Another great trip down along the eastern shore. I can't wait to go back. Looking around for more of Crabby Joe's treasure in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Nana Mary Was Here!

I had so much fun when Nana Mary was here. I wish she could have stayed longer. Her visits are always a good time for me because it means I usually don't have to take a nap. One of the days she was here I took her to Chuck E. Cheese so she could see my newest favorite place to hang out. She did lots of the games with me, helped me collect my tickets and then feed them to the ticket muncher. That's one of my favorite parts.


We also just mainly played around with Nana Mary while she was here. See, one of the big differences between when we go to visit Nana Mary and when she comes here to visit is that when we're at her place she sometimes has other stuff going on. And that's fine but when she's here she is all about us. That's what I like - just me, my sister, and Nana Mary.


And I can't forget to mention all the cool stuff Nana Mary brings with her on her visits. All the toys and bubbles and toys and bubbles. Looking forward to another visit very soon from Nana Mary in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Attention Campers, Please Welcome Our Newest Camper

I'm going to camp! It's the best, really it is. There's so much to do and the teachers are really nice and I get to play with all the toys.


I do all sorts of fun activities like painting, take walks to the park, sing songs and make necklaces. I really like making the necklaces. I've made two already! I have to get up and out of the house a little earlier than normal but it's for camp! I love camp!


After camp, mommy and daddy usually have something really fun planned for me. Some days when the weather is yucky out they'll take me to Chuck E. Cheese and I'll do the skeeball.



Other days we'll just walk across the street to the library and play in the fountains outside. I like the fountains because the water is really cold and I can take off my shoes and put my feet in the water.


Looking forward to my next day of camp here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

My Gift Is Your Day, And This One's For You!

Today was daddy's day. I think that means daddy has two days: his birthday and today. That's pretty cool. He deserves it. Well once daddy finally woke up, I ran into the bedroom and wished him a happy Father's Day. There was a street fair in town so we walked up and down the avenue looking at all the cool stuff for sale. They were selling food, clothes, food, toys, food and we even saw some people selling food. I spent most of the time playing with the toys.


I just want to say that even if there weren't toys to play with at the fair, I still would have had fun because I had my best friend with me. I love you, daddy. Wishing all the daddys a happy Father's Day in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Top 10 List: All Around Favorites

Someone asked me a question the other day. They said, "Landen?" I said, "Huh?" They said, "Landen, what do you like to do?" And so that got me thinking. There are a lot of things I like to do. Pretty much anything I'm doing is something I like. There really isn't a time, well, unless I'm getting a timeout. But other than that, I'm a happy kid so I'm happy doing just about anything. But if I had to, if I had to narrow it down to the top couple things that I like the most, well I suppose that list would look like this.


#10 - I like getting into things I shouldn't get into. Oh come on! This is good times. And you know I get a reaction from my mommy and daddy when I do this so this one has gotta be on the list. Unfortunately, that reaction can sometimes lead to a timeout so I can't put it too high on the list. But a list has to start somewhere so it will start here. I once grabbed the sunscreen from the stroller and started putting it on. Hey, I'm just trying to help out.


#9 - Playing in the lobby. We have a lobby in our building and sometimes mommy will let me go out there and play. Sometimes my friends will even be out there playing so we'll have a little fun together. And sometimes, just sometimes, I'll bring a toy or two into the lobby. I like to push the limits sometimes and see what I can get away with in the lobby. Like riding my tricycle around. Kinda relates to #10.


#8 - Bubbles. Bubbles are cool. They just hang there in the air and have all these cool colors in them. Plus they come in all different sizes. Big bubbles, little bubbles, really huge bubbles. What's not to like? I'm getting pretty good at blowing my own bubbles. It's all in the lips.


#7 - Riding the train, riding the train, riding the train. Yahoo! Now this I've only done once but it was so cool that it became an instant classic in my book. I have got to get me one of these. My friend Nicholas turned two a couple weeks ago and I went to his birthday party. Would you believe he had a real train that I was able to drive? Well of course you would because here's the picture!


#6 - Ice cream. One might think - this boy sure does talk about ice cream a lot. Doesn't he ever get sick of it? Um, it's ice cream. Gosh, I even feel guilty putting ice cream so low on the list. I don't want to offend ice cream but I do have other things that I like more. Did I just say that? Ice cream, I love you!


#5 - Playing with my friends. Nothing beats this (well okay four things do but I really like playing with my friends)! Friends are good for all sorts of things. They can play cars with me. They can watch movies and dance with me. They can go to the zoo with me. They can share deep conversations with me. And like my friend Mia, they can let me pull them in the wagon.


#4 - Playground, drinking fountain, daddy. This one is sort of a lot of favorite things all grouped into one. Obviously the playground would be on the list. Come on! Slides, swings, ladders, jumping, swinging. Playgrounds have it all. And one thing all playgrounds have is a drinking fountain. Forget the drinking part. I just like playing with the water! And who better to get all soaking wet with than my daddy. What's really fun is putting your finger over the water hole and pressing the button. We got some good distance with that shot!


#3 - Mommy. She's special because she does so much for me. I mean that's a list right there. Let's see - sign me up for camp, sign me up for school, sign me up for music, sign me up for swimming, sign me up for soccer. Oh and one of the coolest things she does that daddy certainly would never do, she lets me have my paci on the couch. That's me mum!


#2 - Did I tell you I went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time? Hmm, well, I went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. I know! It was amazing. See you get these tokens and then the tokens let you play the games and the games spit out these tickets and you put the tickets into this machine that chews them up and counts them for you and you get your magic number and that magic number tells you how many prizes you can get. And just in case daddy forgets how much I loved Chuck E. Cheese and want to go back, every night before I go to bed I remind him that I want to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Honestly, I do!


#1 - Baby Lauren. I kind of wanted to put Chuck E. Cheese at the top spot because then maybe daddy would really get the hint that I want to go back but I think Baby Lauren is starting to read and I know we have to share a room together and I don't want her to throw her paci at me in the middle of the night. But seriously, I do love my sister. And I think my most favorite thing to do is take a bath with my sister. Here, let me explain it to you. I could be eating ice cream while riding a train that blows bubbles with my friends at Chuck E. Cheese when mommy says, "Bath time for Lauren" and I'd come running. Counting them down in LANDEN'S WORLD!