Moving into summer

This is Melissa writing on June 19, 2009. Tani and I went to the DaVinci Center yesterday and his 8-year-old friend Ben led him through the tunnel.  Older kids go through in the dark; however, Tani asked to have lights on.  He also helped clean up some big soft blocks-- he takes pride in being a "helper", and whenever he has trouble separating from me at the JCC, if one of his teachers gives him a job, he goes right away to the teacher.  

We also went to the fish hatchery, what Tani and I call the "fish park", a wonderful place for kids, where they get to feed the fish.  Tani wore his boots so that he could splash in the puddles.  He's beginning to really test the boundaries and was saying that he wants to fall in and did indeed put his foot in...breathe...we also saw two blue herons while at the fish hatchery, and I just got an iPhone, so Tani sat on a bench at the end of our visit and watched Laurie Berkner sing "We are the Dinosaurs."  

I found some of my books from childhood, and Tani particularly loves "Morris the Moose goes to School."  (Yes, sometimes he calls the book "Grandpa Morris goes to school")  Morris first goes to the fish store, in search of candy, and then gets directed to the candy store.   Last week, Tani and I bought fish at the Farmer's Market (he now helps pay) and then I gave him 3 quarters to buy some candy...but they don't let you buy a few candies the way Morris the Moose did.  (Morris got 6 gumdrops for 6 pennies).  We had to buy a quarter pound.  Yes, Tani has discovered candy, which gives him great delight.  It's also a wonderful way to bribe him to do something-- 3 white chocolate chips worked like magic a few weeks ago.   

We have been going to the library, and signed up Tani for the summer reading program.  He loves Amelia Bedelia.  He also loves the water fountain at the library.  Oh, they have great kids' music.  They Might Be Giants is one of Tani's favorites-- we have had their ABC CD for a while, and just got their 123 CD.  He loves to sit in the car and listen to his music "LOUD".  He also loves to "cuddle in Mommy's bed" at night, once he's in his PJs.  

Tani has been taking on new identities.  Lately, he has been a bunny and also Gordon (one of Thomas the Train's friends).  The other day, he was a camel, and last night he was a lion.  Sometimes, he's a cat.  He doesn't like for me to be something else-- I'm always "Tani's Momma".