Eastern Shore Style

I took a trip to see Nana Mary and she certainly knows how to do things right in Cape Charles. There were toys, a table that was my size for eating and drawing at, PLAYDOUGH!, and a little couch just for me with Elmo on it. I could not have asked for more. Oh and we went to the pool too! Such a good time. Getting there can sometimes be a bit boring but mama does a pretty good job of entertaining me from the front seat, as long as she's not busy telling dada to slow down.


Now wait, the trip gets even better. My aunt and uncles were there! Let's see - there was Aunt Becky and Uncle Thomas and Uncle David. I always have such a good time with them. And we're always so busy - playing in the backyard, reading books, wrestling, having screaming contests. This is when I was enjoying some quality bonding time with Uncle Thomas.


And it gets even better yet. I went swimming in the bay! Oh my gosh the waves were so much fun. Each time a wave would come, dada and I would scream as the water would splash our faces. We really had fun out there and out there really means OUT THERE! I looked out and all I saw was water, water, and more water.


Better yet. I really had fun with the Abby. I see dogs all over the place back home but I'm usually in my stroller and don't have a chance to play with them. Abby was right there for me to play with and that meant a lot. So much that I gave her a kiss to say thank you.


I know I'm only, what, not even two? But I do know how to appreciate some of the finer things in life. I mean I have a pretty nice ride in my Bugaboo, I am quite the little traveler (Hawaii, Florida three times, Chicago twice, South Carolina twice, Virginia three times, LA three times and hey I'm there right now), and my parents really are all about me because when I look around all I see are pictures of, yep, me! So yes, it's good to be me but I try not to let it get to my head because at the end of the day, nope, wait, I'm still me! Hey this is a pretty good deal. Sitting back, relaxing, and taking it all in, in LANDEN'S WORLD.

In My Mind I'm Going To Carolina

In my mind I'm still in South Carolina. I had the best time with my aunts and uncles and Nana Joan. Oh and Skip, the dog, wow we had a good time together. Skip would follow me around everywhere! But let me just tell you this, dogs don't like it when you pull their tails. I certainly learned my lesson.



There was this tractor in the garage and every morning they'd pull it out and I'd get to play on it. I'd stand on the side, stand in front, stand in back. Anything I could do to be near the tractor was fine by me. Of course sitting on it was the best.


Boy oh boy do I love soccer. And Aunt Christine has a huge backyard so there was plenty of room for me to run around, Skip too, and kick the soccer ball. Everyone was commenting on how good I was at kicking the ball. I don't see what all the fuss was about. I mean you see the ball and you kick the ball. Right?


As I look around my home I see tons and tons of pictures of, well who else, me! Okay well they're not all of just me. Some include mama and some dada and some even have all three of us. But the one thing I notice about all of them, I can make some pretty silly faces. Speaking of silly faces, check this one out!



I told you I was having fun on the tractor. VROOM! VROOM! VROOM! here in LANDEN'S WORLD!


Landen on the Lawn Mower from Brian Giambalvo on Vimeo.

Four Generations of Giambalvos

Has it been that long? I don't know my months yet but I think a couple have past since my last post and for that, I apologize. But hey, if I can't remember to put on pants every day, you can't really expect me to post just as often. Well we just had another great trip to Cape Cod to visit my my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather and guess who else was there? My Uncle David and Nana Tutu Kathleen - she came all the way from Hawaii. I went to Hawaii once. Anyway, the trip to see my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather included a parade! The parade was on July 4 but I'm not quite sure what everyone was celebrating. I saw lots of colors (mainly red, white, and blue), kids on bikes, dogs, big fire trucks, and lots of silly hats. Okay, I'll wear red too!








Now you know I like showers. And you know I like being outside. But I bet you can't guess what I like more than those two things. Can you? I'll give you a hint - it has to do with taking a shower outside. Give up? It's an outdoor shower! I KNOW! I was just as shocked when I saw it. I mean, this whole concept of combining two things you love is slowly starting to catch on for some but I've been talking about it for a while now. It was great. I'd walk outside, play around, then go straight into the shower and not even have to take my clothes off. One time, daddy joined me!

I did get to spend some quality time with my great-great-great-great-great-great-wonderful-super-smart-funny-loving-amazing-grandfather.

One of my other favorites is the hose. First, you only find them outside so already that's a plus in my book. Second, they squirt out water. Too cool! And third, it's not just for play because you can drink from it! How can so many good things come from something so simple? And as you can see, daddy agreed with me. Having fun outside AND being healthy here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

2008 Cherry Blossom Festival - Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Don't remember this. I'm just glad I didn't have any serious drool issues going on. As you can see mommy and daddy took me to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Thanks for waking me up, guys!

Hmm, still sleeping.

Yep, I missed that pond.

Hey! I'm awake! Okay, I'll stand still for just one picture but then you have to let me go play.

Now, aren't you glad you let me go run around? I knew exactly where the mud was.


A fun day at the garden, I must say. So I thought I'd give you a little update on me and the things I like. TV. What a magical box. So many things to see on the TV and the music, oh the music! Plus, some of the things on TV make me laugh. I used to just watch the TV with a blank stare on my face but now, I laugh at some of the things I see. What do I like to watch? Of course there's Elmo and Thomas the Train, or as I call it, choo-choo. And the one movie that I like to watch over and over - The Little Mermaid. I think I like it mainly because there's a doggy in it. Kickin' back and relaxin' in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Am I a Maui Boy?

Everyone kept saying I was such a Maui boy. What does that mean? Well let me just tell you about my average day while we were "on island" (I learned that from the locals) and you be the judge. I really didn't like to waste much time because there's only a limited number of hours that can be spent in the sun; after all it too goes night-night just like me. So by around 9am I was out the door and down at the kiddie pool by one of the hotels.

That would last until about noon and then it was nap time for me. After my nap the fun started all over again. There are so many things on Maui that I can't find back home in Brooklyn. I mean just look at some of these flowers!


Then came dinner (should be dessert but the rest of the world hasn't caught onto my suggestion). We had ribs one night and I tell you, I fit right in with the rest of the crowd.

And when the big sun would start falling towards the ocean, I was cliff diving off Black Rock.


Landen Cliff Diving from Brian Giambalvo on Vimeo.

I mean c'mon people, doesn't that sound like the typical day for everyone on Maui? Well if it's not then a tourist I am not. So then what am I? To quote one of my favorite songs,

Oh beep, beep, honk, honk
Can you spare a dime
Grab a bagel and a schmear
And we'll see the Guggenheim
From the Bronx to the Battery
It's all mine
I'm a city kid!

Singing loud and proud in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Something Fishy Going On Here

Still on Maui. I could get used to it here. After all, there are water slides! Someone definitely knew two of my favorite things - slides and water. What a pair! Why don't they have swings in the water? Or what about grocery carts? I love riding around on both of those. Anyway, the kiddie pool has this water slide and daddy and I went for a ride.


Landen and Brian - Water Slide at Hyatt Maui from Brian Giambalvo on Vimeo.


Remember how I said the water shoots up out of the ground? I figured out if you put your foot on top of the shooting water, it sprays everywhere!


We also went to the Maui Ocean Center. We saw long fish, short fish, flat fish, round fish, one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Oh no wait, that's one of my books. And there were sharks, turtles, lobsters, eels, and stingrays. If it lives in the water, they had it! Plus, the center had some parts where I could put my hands in the water and touch the animals. Getting a hands-on education here in LANDEN'S WORLD!

Leave the Trowel. Take the Rake

Why I love Maui, reason #329: we play in the pool every day! Today we didn't play in our pool, instead we decided to visit one of the hotels because they have this cool kids pool. And since I'm a kid, why not! This one had dancing fountains and water shooting up from the ground. It's so much fun because it's like playing at the beach without those waves. I don't think I like the waves because they're so big and I'm so small. But there is this beach just for babies because there aren't any waves. It's called Baby Beach. And since I'm a baby, why not! Maybe we'll go there tomorrow.


Then we went to lunch. I don't remember what the restaurant was called. I don't remember where it was. I don't remember what mommy, daddy, or tutu ate. But what I do remember is the dessert I ate. Okay let me just say this was the most amazing thing ever. Sure hummus and pretzels and hot dogs and clementines are great, but, why bother? Why can't we just go straight to the dessert? And another question - I'll share my shovels and pails at the beach, I'll share my blocks and cars at home, and I'll even share my hot dog with daddy, but, share my dessert? Who do these people think they are?


So they told me it was Hula Pie. Sounds good to me. It's Hula Pie for everyone in LANDEN'S WORLD!