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!