He's all boy!

Since we have been back from Michigan - Leo has been fascinated with worms and snakes. Leo's cousin, Tom has a "cool snake named Jake the Pillow Snake" (really just Jake, but Dr. Suess mentions a Jake the Pillow Snake in Hop on Pop, so Leo added to the snake's name). Also, Leo has wanted to plant seeds to grow flowers. So, I thought it would be cool to combine the two science experiments. The following statement is for Leo to read when he is much older.

Son, I am so sorry. Your mommy is not the smartest Arizonian yet. It never dawned on me that earth worms don't like the AZ summer heat, even after being put into soil. I thought they would be alright once they were in the nice cool soil. They weren't. Shortly, and I do mean shortly, after you put your worms into your garden - they died! Daddy and I put soil on top of them and luckily one, struggling for life, dug a tunnel for you to see before kicking the bucket. Everyday, you look at that garden and talk about how the worms are digging and making your flowers grow, and everyday I feel so bad because me and daddy picked out the dead worms and threw them away. Sorry kiddo! I love your enthusiasm!

This is Leo's Worm Journal. Tried to get a good picture of it, but I couldn't. He did great drawing the picture and dictating what we had just done - I was so proud. He watched with lots of interest as I labeled the picture too!

Leo has impressed us this week! He is spelling words! So far, he can spell Leo, mom, dad, dog, cat, pig, and gum. He is also really digging his new sight words video "Yeah, it's meet the sight words!" If only my 1st graders would say that! Also - after spending some time with his cousin Casey, Leo is all of the sudden using a computer mouse with ease! So he wants to spend all of his time on the computer - especially on the letter R (his favorite, I don't know why) on http://www.starfall.com/ I've tried really hard to get this on video, but he gets too distracted by the camera. He doesn't want any pictures "taken to me!"

Other interesting things Leo has said lately:

Leo: I'm a crocodile, Dad! Dad: What kind of crocodile are you? Leo: A river of the Nile one. (we have no idea where that comes from!)

Leo, to Wil: This is a pinecone, baby Wil. Want to touch it? No, you can't touch it, it's pokey - see the pokes? (I add this one because Leo is finally acknowledging his brother - it's great!)

Eeewwww. The cows stink today, mom. It must be their pooping time. (funny because everyday before nap, Leo announces that it's his "poopin time!" Then he waves bye to it and says "see ya tomorrow, poop!" Sigh........ is all I can say!)

Me, to Leo: Leo, do you miss Michigan? Leo: Yes, I miss papa Me: Why? Leo: because he talks funny!

clughouse = clubhouse (as in (sing along) "It's the Mickey Mouse Clughouse - come inside, it's fun inside!)

He enjoyed singing along to daddy's Guitar Hero version of Danzig's "Mother" and Warrant's "Cherry Pie" We're such great parents - ha!

When we first came to the museum a year ago, Leo could only ride the bikes that you push along with your feet - and this is our big boy today! Sigh...and, yes, Leo is the one making the siren noises!

Occasionally - and thankfully - Leo does this! His shirt is adorned with his "poo poo" stickers. He earns them for doin' the deed and we are proud to say that he hasn't had any accidents in nearly 2 weeks and has woken up with dry pull-ups for 5 days now!