Big Update Post

I've been neglecting this poor blog because we have been busy recently!

Goat is still working like crazy, making a valiant effort to do 6 people's jobs. In his spare time (Ha! What spare time?) he has managed to complete several computer and truck related projects, as well as taking over Monday and Wednesday evening Landis wrangling duties because...

I am back in school! My schooling was put on hold by the arrival of a certain 2 year old we all know and love, and I am finally going back. I'm taking classes at Brevard Community College - a speech class for the first half of the summer that meets Monday and Wednesday evening, then a Humanities class that meets Tuesday and Thursday evening for the rest of the summer. In the fall and spring, I plan to take a few last general ed requirements and several prerequisite courses so that I can begin the UCF education program in either the summer or fall semester of next year.

Speaking of school, Aaron Scott is out of school for the summer. He will be in 4th grade next year, and will be 9 years old in August. Time is flying by! He is an extremely fun and active boy. When he is here, we almost always end up spending a lot of time outside, running, jumping, riding bikes, going for walks, swimming etc. He has some exciting travel plans with his mom and stepdad this summer, and we hope to see a lot of him when he is not traveling.

Landis is also getting ridiculously big! He starts swimming lessons Monday morning, and I hope that he will be swimming by the end of the summer. He loves swimming at his Grandma and Papa's house, at the public pool and in the little kiddie pool in our yard. He has been really interested in learning about letters and their sounds recently, and enjoys playing on the Starfall website.

Josh had been visiting for the past week, which has been so much fun! We always enjoy having him around. We baked scones and a pie, went to the beach and pool, Goat took him target shooting, and now the guys are fishing. He has also been a huge help, keeping Landis occupied so I can get some projects done around the house. He even offered to mow the grass this weekend! We went to several garage sales yesterday and the best find was a 9 cube organizer similar to this one for $5! It fits perfectly in the boys' room.

Caleb is coming to visit next week and we are excited about spending some time with him. I am so fortunate to have 4 wonderful little brothers!

We are looking forward to going up to North Carolina to see Johnny and meet his girlfriend Andrea later this summer. It will be nice to have all of the siblings together.

It should be a fun summer!!!

"That Creeps Me Up"

One of Landis' favorite toys is the shelf from one of our cabinets which we removed to store some tall items. He pretends that it is his stove, and cooks me lots of yummy "food." Yesterday, I decided to help his imagination along, so I drew spirals on it to look like burners. For a while, all was well.

Then, a few hours later, Landis ran over to me and said, "Monni, there are giant eyeballs on my stove. That makes me angry."

It took me a few minutes to realize that he meant the drawings of burners. I asked him why it made him angry. He replied, "I don't like those eyeballs, Monni. That creeps me up. "

Now that you mention it, Landis, giant eyeballs on a stove top are rather creepy...

More Conversations with Landis

"Bye, Monni. I am driving to my school."

"Bye, Landi."

"You want a kiss, Monni?"

"Yes please."

"You want a hug, Monni?"

"Yes, I love your hugs."

"They are your favorite, Monni? I will give you more hugs. Now you say, 'Bye Landi.'"

"Bye, Landi."

"Bye, Monni. I will do lots of things in my school. You want to come wif me in my school?"

So He Does Listen to Me!

Landis really enjoys "helping" me by sweeping the floors with his toy broom. Today, we had a conversation that we have had many times - but in reverse!

"Monni, I am going to sweep."

"OK, Landis. Thank you for sweeping.

"Monni, be careful. Don't step in my pile!"

"OK."

"Monni, you say 'Yes, Landi'"

"Yes, Landi."

"That is good."

Observations of a 2 year old

"Monni, I don't fly. You don't fly too. But birds fly!"

My Long-Haired Hippie Boy

Mom, avert your eyes.









Landis' hair is getting LONG. He was bald for the longest time, and with his blond hair he looked bald even after his hair began to grow. No more!

Now all I need is to find some masculine or at least gender neutral contraption to keep the hair out of his eyes. Somehow, as much as my husband likes long hair, I don't think he would go for ribbons and bows in his son's hair. There must be something out there. I can't be the only mom of a long haired little boy to ever experience this quandary...

Funny story - Landis went grocery shopping at the Downtown Produce Market with his Grandma and Papa the other day. (If you live in the area and haven't shopped there yet - go! Best store ever...) We do almost all of our meat, cheese and produce shopping there, and they know us by name. The cashier recognized Landis and was ooh-ing and aah-ing over him, and said, "Wow, his hair is getting so long, just like his Dad's." My poor father-in-law spent several years in the Air Force and is less than thrilled that his sons and grandson have long hair. He offers to take Landis for a haircut almost as often as my mom reminds us that it would be no problem at all to take care of Landis' tresses while she's outside cutting Josh and Caleb's hair. Goat and I found that conversation hysterical. Don't worry, Nonni and Grandpa - soon enough Landis will be in the teenage rebellious stage and decide to shave his head...

As sometimes happens, Landis stumbled into our bed in the wee hours of the morning for some Monni and Daddy snuggles. We woke up a few hours later, and Landis was in the sweetest mood ever. I gave him a hug and a kiss and started to get up. He grabbed my hand and said "Monni, stay here. I love you too much!"

How could I resist? Landis and I snuggled for a few more minutes, then played with his stuffed animal, George, who had come to the big bed with Landis in the middle of the night. After a while, Landis was ready to jump out of bed and start his day. He has been in the best mood all morning long.


A few years ago, just before Landis turned 1, we went to the Florida La Leche League Conference. One of the speakers used the metaphor that everyone has a "cup" that needs to be filled every day with love and affection and attention, and that many times a child will misbehave to get attention - even negavive attention- if that cup is not filled with positive attention by their parents. He said one of the best things a parent could do to make the whole day better was to spend a little while in the morning filling up their child(ren)'s cup by giving them a few minutes of completely undivided attention.

I've definitely noticed that our days run smoother when Landis and I spend some time together fist things in the morning, before I start to get busy and distracted by making breakfast and washing dishes and folding laundry and checking email and writing grocery lists and all of the other busyness of day to day life. I think we may have to make morning snuggle time a regular part of our routine!

Aaron Scott, Actor

We went to Aaron Scott's school play yesterday. It was great! The play was about the cheese from "The Farmer in the Dell" not wanting to stand alone. Aaron Scott played the farmer, and did a great job. It was a very cute play! They started out with the nursery rhyme, and then the chesse went to cheese town and the kids sang Aaron Scott's favorite song from the play. Eventually, the rat stood up for his friend the cheese and they all lived happily ever after. Goat and Landis were lucky enough to get the advance performance Friday night on the way back from his parents' house. Aaron Scott sang every single song in the truck.

After the play, Aaron Scott, Landis and Ethan had a great time running around and playing for a few minutes. Aaron Scott is such a great big brother. All of his younger siblings adore him - and I can't blame them! He is such a wonderful, fun boy, and I feel blessed to be part of his life.

Landis is really into wishing recently. Today he told me, "I wish Aaron Scott had a truck with a trailer on, and a boat on the trailer. Then we can swim* in the river together."


*Landis has not yet figured out the swim/sail distinction. To him, if it moves in or on the water, it is swimming. He means they will sail together.

Or Not Or Yes?

Landis has taken to using this phrase to end yes/no questions. Today, he called Goat and asked, "Daddy, do you want to go swimming with me, or not or yes?"

Going to the Hosital-tal

It's fascionating to watch Landis play. It gives me an interesting window into his mind. Last month, Landis and I spent a few days in Gainesville with my parents and siblings while my Grandpa was in the hospital. Landis went to the hospital several times, and I explained that Great-Grandpa went the hospital when because he was sick, and that the doctors and nurses were helping him get better. Apparently it had more of an impression on him than I thought.

Today, Landis asked me to play with him. "Monni, get in the car!"

"Where is the car, Landi?" He indicated the couch, and I sat down on one of the cushions.

"Monni, that is Nonni's seat. This is Nonni's car."

So, I moved to a different seat. "Where are we going in Nonni's car?" I asked.

"We are going with Nonni to the hosital-tal."

"Oh! Who is at the hospital? Will we see your Great-Grandpa?"

"No, not Great-Ampa. We will see Josh."

"Oh no! What happened to Josh? Is he sick?"

Landis grabbed his foot, then pointed to his big toe. "Josh has bad ows on this toe. Somebody at the hosital-tal will help him get better."