Pool boy

On Saturday mama and I went back to the farmer's market. I was prepared this time. We had my swimsuit and a change of clothes and everything. But when we got there the fountain wasn't on. Mama kept hoping it would come on "in a little bit..." but it never did! "What a BUMMER!" I wasn't the only disappointed kid there. There were boys and girls everywhere in swimsuits. And mommies saying "I don't know why it's not on/I don't control the on-off switch." It was very sad and a lame way to save a buck.

But as soon as we got home, we packed up to go to a friend's pool. So the day was redeemed. This is Nicola and her little boy Duncan, who is the master of the pool.



I wore new water wings, which worked great! Now I just need to remember to not run next to the pool...


Jumping into the pool was a great way to cool off and splash everyone.



Aah, all that swimming was hard work and I must relax. Please don't disturb me.


After my nap/rest time we went to dinner at Red Robin just like I wanted. But when we were leaving, I was climbing in and daddy closed his car door right where my hand was. That hurt so bad I had to cry a little.
It was kind of a bad/good/good/bad day.

We also have a pool filled up on our back patio and I've been in there every day because it's sooo hot.




So that's that. What's up with you?

Movie theater popcorn

I got to go to my first movie last night! Mama came home early from work and we went down to the movie theater. I was very excited and made sure to stand right next to mama in line. We got tickets to a movie called Up. I was too excited even to want snacks (even m&ms!).

In the theater, it was a big room with a bunch of other kids and their parents. I picked out my seat and I was on the edge of it watching the previews and pre-movie stuff. The movie was about to start and I finally told mama that I was ready for a snack. So we went out and got some popcorn and m&ms. When we came back, some old guy had taken my seat so we found different ones.

The room got really dark! I mean really dark! But I wasn't scared, not even a little. We had a super fun time, eating our snacks and watching the movie. I hadn't napped yesterday so I was sleepy despite the movie-and-sugar-high and so we left a little early.
Good thing we did because right after we got home I had to poop. Maybe it was that movie popcorn.

I went into the bathroom by myself and a minute later called out to mama that there was something wrong with the toilet. She came in to find poop everywhere...all over my underpants, the toilet, my legs, feet, everything. Yep, must have been the movie theater popcorn. We cleaned up as best we could but mama decided she couldn't get everything off me with wet wipes so she stripped me down and stuck me in the sink. I stood in there and she used the faucet hose to clean me off. It was fun! I didn't stop talking about it all night.

This morning mama was getting ready for work and I came upstairs to check things out. I asked her "you don't have a penis, do you?" and she said no. "Can I see...?" (leaning in)
"I have a penis. And daddy has a penis. Maybe you could get one at the penis store." She said that was a good idea but she kicked me out then.

The following is a message from mama.

Ian didn't realize it, but tonight was his first experience with bullies. My sweet little boy is far too innocent to understand that these boys wanted to harm him.

We were at a play area and maybe Ian did something to set them off, but whatever it was, he had two angry little five year old boys fixated on him. They made threatening gestures and said they were going to "get him" but decided they couldn't just then because "his mom is watching". I waited to get involved, but when they surrounded him on the slide, I gave them a dirty look and simply told them to move it...despite my intense desire to kick some five year old ass. They continued to menace and I continued to make myself very known. When Ian was sitting on my lap and they came and stood next to us and shook their fists at us, I had had enough and went to speak with their parents.

Maybe the thing that bothered me the most was that Ian was clearly oblivious to their intent and yet they persisted. For a short time I wished that he understood and would stand up for himself. But I had to remind myself that his innocence allows him to transcend that situation. I'm glad he didn't understand...that he believes that the world is good. I have my angel who still wants me to kiss each one of his owies. Who really tries to do the right thing. And who wanted ten kisses before going to sleep.

I had fun at the farmer's market.

This weekend daddy went out on a friend's boat to go water skiing. When I heard this I was all a-twitter and stood up in the bathtub and pretended to ski. I really really wanted to go with him but I didn't get to this time. Mama and I went to the farmer's market instead. We got berries and veggies and fruit spread. And I went to the park and then to the swings and back to the park. Then mama said it was time to go.

But we walked by the fountains and that was it for me. I saw all the kids playing and having fun and I was a little torn. I didn't have my swimsuit on and that was nearly a dealbreaker for me. But after a while of standing there in the heat watching, mama finally said that I either needed to get wet or we were going to go. As any reasonable man would do, I got WET!

I ran and ran and played and got soaked. Mama didn't have a change of clothes for me so she took off my shirt in a futile attempt to dry it in the hot sun before we left. As I made my loops around, I always said hi to mama. I also told her that I was playing with the kids! I was so happy to be playing with the kids. And a little proud of myself.

After a long time of playing, I came to mama and told her that I had to potty. And I wanted to do it on the grass, like we do at home when I'm wet from the sprinkler. Mama said that wasn't ok with so many people around, so we got shoes and shirt back on (which hadn't dried yet) and walked back to the porta potties. Mama was hoping that I would dry off a little on the walk but it didn't really happen. I pottied and wanted to go back in the water but mama said that we were all done because she was getting tired and cranky. I said ok but was pretty bummed. We walked through the market and got some chocolate gelato and ate it under the trees. I still hadn't dried out.

We got back to the car and finally mama had to face facts. She was going to put me in the spare underpants she has in her purse, but my juice cup had leaked on them while we were in the market. So zero dry clothes and one wet boy.

Eventually I found myself stark naked in my carseat and both of us were giggling. Mama drove us away and I kept saying to her "this feels weird..."

Soccer Class

Mama and daddy got me into soccer class and I started today. I've been very excited and I was all ready to go today. I was wearing full soccer gear. I am number 25.

First we ran laps.


Then we did some warmup stretching.


And then played! Notice my matching soccer shirt and shorts.


All I wanted to do was score goals but I am learning that there is more to the game than that.



I had a lot of fun and I don't remember my teacher's name but I'm going back on Thursday and daddy says I get to do these classes for the rest of the summer!

What's up buttercup?

Earlier this month mama had a week off from work. She wasn't feeling great so we didn't do a whole lot. But she and daddy went to Seattle for a couple of days and just vacationed. I stayed home and yamma and baba took care of me at my house. It was fun. I was really pumped about staying home without mama and daddy. I practically pushed them out the door.

We've been doing other fun stuff too. For example, mama and I were playing with playdoh the other day and I told her that I wanted her to make me a car. So here it is. With three little people in it. The heads kept trying to roll away but mama said that didn't necessarily mean anything bad.



Then I told her the car needed a roof.
I mean really, it's not like we live in L.A.



I got to go to Carson's birthday party this month too. He had his party at Pump it Up Jr which is a cool place with inflatable stuff to play on. Because we can't all have firefighter daddies. :)

I had a little fun.


Every time I got to the bottom of the slide I would squeal and yell "I DID IT!!!"





Carson's party was superhero themed and his mama and daddy made all of us kids capes and masks to wear. Mama was surprised that I wore mine but she shouldn't have been because I am extremely easygoing and flexible. Wait a minute. That doesn't sound like me...






Mama and I went to the toy store the day before the party to get a present. I wanted to get Carson a dollhouse but mama didn't really think he'd go for that. So we went to the puzzle section and I found a big traffic floor puzzle that I liked a lot. I mean for Carson. I was somehow able to finagle one for myself too. Because I needed to try it out before we gave it to him. One must be sure of the quality of the gifts one gives.
By the way it's a really great puzzle.

Mama and I went to the zoo, um, weekend before last. And we took the max train. It seems like I always have to remind mama and daddy lately of things they said I could do. "Member? You said...we could go to the zoo this morning!"
Mama brought a bunch of snacks and we got ice cream when we were there. Had a nice time as always. I ate some of my 'ring cookies (these are vanilla meringue drops of heaven) and then gave mama back the half full bag because I wanted to save it for the max ride home. She said 3 year olds don't normally do that but nobody said I was normal.

And my friend Mady has had the slip 'n' slide out in her front yard for like two weeks now and I've been going over and getting good at that. All the attention from Mady and the neighborhood girls doesn't hurt things either. Kelly is from three houses down. She's four and she loves me. But I have eyes only for Mady.

I've been growing up a lot. Getting taller but also more mature too. I don't know what mama and daddy mean by that but I hear it all the time now. I hardly ever need time outs and I love helping and I do what they tell me to. Almost always. I play nice with other kids and love running and jumping and almost every sport invented but also need quiet time with my puzzles.

I love to sing, too. Especially the "ABC" song or "twinkle, twinkle, little star". I don't need any prompting to get going on those. Especially ABCs. We think I'm getting close to reading because I point out letters everywhere and try to figure out what the words say. I recognize some words but not many. Mama's been trying to teach me to sound out words but she forgets that I'm a perfectionist and won't do it out loud until I've got it down.

America's Birthday

July 4 is America's birthday. We went all out for the celebration this year. I had a celebratory t-shirt, mama and I made cupcakes, daddy smoked meat for 24 hours with our neighbor Mike, we filled up billions of water balloons and we had a party on the street next to us. Yamma and Baba and Amy and Oma and Opa were all here too.

We started things off right with some badminton. I used my own racquet, 'natch.




We ate dinner.

Then it was time for water balloon baseball. Neighbor Mike pitched water balloons and all of us kids got to try and hit them!


I stood in line with Mady. I love her. Have I mentioned that recently?



My shirt says "daddy's little firecracker".



We had two! pinatas. When they broke, all the kids ran in gluttonously to scoop up armfuls of candy. I don't understand why. Realistically they can only eat so much. I waited a moment and picked up a lollipop and said I was good.


Time to eat dessert. Our America's birthday cupcakes!


That doesn't look good, daddy.


Oma enjoyed her cupcake a great deal.


Fireworks time! I got to hold sparklers and I learned how to write my name in the air with them.


Went across the street for a better view.




I got to stay up late and watch all the fireworks in the street and also the fireworks that the next neighborhood over let off. That was something. I was sooo tired when we were done but I had lots of fun and I would do it over in a second.

Later June

After Thomas, the rest of June was fairly anticlimactic. But we had fun anyway.

The weekend after Thomas, mama and I went to the farmer's market. We got lots and lots of berries and I got a lion painted on my face.

When I got home I ran through the sprinkler. Which was fun for me. Perhaps not so good for the lion. Here's what's left of him:



And this year I like popsicles! Last summer I didn't like biting them so mama and daddy had to bite pieces off to feed me. But I'm a big boy now and I sure like my 'sicles!

aaaaahhhhhh.....


Nom!



I got a lincoln log set for my birthday from our neighbors. A few months ago mama didn't like playing them with me too much because I just liked her to build a house and then I'd knock it down. But now I ask her to build houses and we play with them. We use two figures, "Oleg" (the lego man) and "the man", which is an army guy that came with the lincoln logs. I am always "the man" and mama is always "Oleg". We build elaborate houses and parking garages and fences and then play with them. "The man" likes to push Oleg from great heights because it's fun to hear him scream.




By the end of the month I sure needed a haircut, huh?