Tuesday, October 26, 2010

You're a Cousin!

Dear Vinny,

On the Sunday when Grandma and Grandpa were here, your newest cousin, Samuel, was born.  You were really excited about him being born because you wanted to hold him and shush him soothingly.  That next Wednesday, you got to do just that.

It was a big contrast to see you next to Cousin Samuel, and to think that four years ago, you weren't much bigger than Samuel is now!  You held him and kissed him and told him that you loved him, in addition to shushing him.

This was the first time you got to meet him, but you'll be seeing a lot more of Cousin Samuel.  I hope that the two of you will grow up to be great friends!

Love,
Mama

Sunday, October 24, 2010

More Birthday Celebrations

Dear Vinny,

Yesterday we had your big birthday party for your friends.  You wanted it to be held at the children's museum, just like last year.  So we did.  There were about twenty kids at the party.

We had pizza, beverages, cake, and ice cream for the guests.  Everybody had a good time at the party.  You received a lot of nice presents from your guests.

At the end of the party, Granny and Granddad arrived, and also, the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building.  You got to see the fire trucks, which was pretty exciting, and you spent most of the time we were evacuated out on the playground.

After we were done cleaning up from the party, we went home.  We took Granny and Granddad to the same Chinese buffet we went to last weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, and they liked it a lot too.  Then we came home and you got your gifts from Granny and Granddad, which included a Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and the horse from Toy Story, all of which you really enjoyed.

Today, you and Daddy went to visit Aunt Mary and Uncle Wayne with Granny and Granddad, while I stayed home.  I think you are having a good time with them!

Love,
Mama

Friday, October 22, 2010

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

Dear Vinny,

Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit on Saturday.  They got here in the afternoon and we had fun talking to and playing with them.  Then we all went out for dinner at a super good Chinese buffet.  We came home and had some cake (chocolate zuh-cake, made in the Dora the Explorer cake mold but not decorated like last time) and then you opened your presents from Grandma and Grandpa, which included books about pumpkins, trees, and insects, and some actual insect specimens preserved in acrylic blocks.  They also got you some new clothes, which you weren't quite as enthusiastic about as the other stuff.

The next morning, we ate Special Oatmeal (oatmeal slow-cooked overnight in the crock pot) before going on a hike with Grandma and Grandpa on one of the local greenways.  You walked quite far -- the hike was almost four miles and you walked the majority of it, always on the lookout for the "hiking boys" (little placards nailed to the trees to help you navigate the path).

You had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa and were sad to see them go.  But you have decided to stay with them next month when Mama and Daddy go to New Orleans, so you'll see them again soon.

Love,
Mama

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Vacation Time!

Dear Vinny,

Last weekend, we went to Memphis for a little vacation/getaway.  You had a great time.  We stayed at a hotel that had a swimming pool, and you and I went swimming one evening.  Unfortunately, the water was pretty cold so we didn't swim again.

You had a great time at the Children's Museum of Memphis on Saturday.  You enjoyed the whole museum, but especially the wind tunnel with the airplane in it.  It had some big fans that would turn on when you flipped the switch, and then you could move the flaps on the airplane around to make it lift into the air.  You also enjoyed the airplane cockpit, and the railroad tracks display.

After the museum, we went to a place called Incredible Pizza where we enjoyed a big pizza buffet and some games.  You rode with me on the go-karts.  We were winning the race when somebody hit us and spun us out.  Oh well, we still had fun!  You also did some mini bowling and played a few driving simulation video games.

The next day we went to Graceland.  You enjoyed it at first but got a little bored with it after a while.  I think Graceland is a place that adults probably appreciate more than kids.  You did like the grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich for lunch, and the milkshakes that we shared.  Daddy snapped a cute picture of you and me sharing a shake.  Ever since then you've enjoyed sharing drinks with two straws.

Then on Monday we headed for home.  On the way home we stopped at a battlefield, which wasn't the most exciting thing for you, or for me either for that matter.  But Daddy enjoyed it a lot.

We had a fun trip together.  Thanks for being such a good sport and having fun with me and Daddy!

Love,
Mama

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Happy Birthday!

Dear Vinny,

I can hardly believe that four years ago today, you were born.  You have grown into such an amazing little boy with a good sense of humor and fun personality!

We celebrated your birthday on Sunday, because today is a weekday.  I baked you a Dora the Explorer cake, as you requested.  It took me a really long time to decorate it, though.

For dinner we had homemade pizza.  You got to video chat with Cousin Theo for a little while, which was lots of fun.  Then you got to blow out the candles on your cake, eat some cake, and then open your presents after we were done video chatting.

The highlights of your gifts included Lego Rock Band, plus the instruments needed to play it; a book of the complete Curious George stories; a remote-controlled car; and a set of interlocking gears.

Happy birthday, sweet boy!

Love,
Mama

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Spinner for Dinner

Dear Vinny,

We bought you a fun dinner game when we were traveling but we didn't get it out of the box until this week.  You are kind of a picky eater and don't like to try new foods.  We bought this game that consists of a plate that's kind of like a cafeteria tray from elementary school, except that in each part of the tray it has a picture.  Then there is a spinner with those pictures, and which ever one you land on when you spin, you have to take a bite of the food in that part of the tray.

You absolutely loved playing "spinner for dinner" as you put it.  You even tried a food that we thought you would like but would not have tried without "spinner for dinner."  And sure enough, you liked it!

Love,
Mama

Monday, August 23, 2010

Catching Up

Dear Vinny,

I am so embarassed that I have not written to you in more than a year.  So much has happened over this time that I hardly know where to begin!

You are now almost four years old.  Last September and part of October we went on a long trip to the Black Hills and Nebraska.  While we were in Nebraska we went to every single children's museum in the state.  Your favorite, which you still talk about, was the one in Omaha.  It had a great big room with a Rube Goldberg-like machine that transported balls up to a bin at the ceiling in various ways -- using a crank, pneumatically, with a vacuum, etc.  Then, periodically, a siren would go off, the bin would open up, and all the balls would fall back down to the floor.  You often ask to go to the "ball room" in "Beraska" still!

I got a Roomba for Christmas and you love using it.  You help me to clean it and clear the floors of obstacles before we run it.  You call it "robot vacuum."  When it starts running, you enjoy watching it and screaming and getting out of the way of it.

You've been potty trained for 10 months.  That was a big deal and we were all so proud of you when it happened.  After that you were able to start school at the local Montessori school.  You love it there.  You have such fantastic teachers, Miss Mandy and Miss Candie.  And you've made a lot of friends.  Your best friend this past year was Catherine, whose daddy has become good friends with your daddy.

I will try to fill in some of the blanks over the past year but more importantly keep up with this better.  I love you sweet boy!

Love,
Mama