Thank God, he's [in the] country boy!

I have decided that Jack needs to live on a farm. Perhaps all toddlers should live on farms. Like happy puppies they can roam around, free from parents shouts of: "Don't run in the road!" "Hold mommy's hand now!" On the farm, (our toddler anyway), is also free from the possible influence of the expletives from neighbors who live about 10 feet too close to our house. (But that is another story.)

Ah...on the grandparents' farm, there are no neighbors in sight! Just peacefulness and wide open spaces!

I also observed that on the farm, Jack is able to enjoy doing things that we normally get bored of watching him do, for example; bang a stick against a tree repeatedly. He is allowed to partake in all the dawdling he requires--I only had to intervene when he decided to start licking rocks. Salty perhaps?

You can tell he is a city kid though, it took him about half a day to stop requesting me to pick him up. He was a little scared of the dogs (understandable, when a creature bigger than you is trying to lick your face off). But by the end of the farm weekend he had loosened up and was embracing his freedom--and so were we!

Ending this utopian story is a warning that when frolicking through rolling hills at the farm, remember that it is TICK SEASON! YUCK! There is nothing more delicious to a blood thirsty tick than a toddler and his mommy. We picked off at least six of the tiny vampires after our tromp in the photos below.

 Toddler meditation.

After meditation run.

After the run--too tired to walk. Tick bait.

Jack Sez

   Well, life is pretty good. The weather is finally nice and I'm really enjoying long swing rides. I tell Mom and Dad to push me higher by saying "Again" repeatedly. It's good to be able to talk in sentences. I even have a word that I made up called "Conties (cahn-tees)." I have no idea what it means but I like to say every once in awhile.  Wow, I'm a messy eater.  After every meal comes the broom.  I try to sweep but Mommy and Daddy insists that they do it. They don't understand that I like to swing it around instead of focusing on the floor. "The broom stays on the floor." Mommy and Daddy sez. Whatever.
   A new paragraph just seems right. Let's see, what else? Oh yes, I'm in "class." There's lots of kids there. We just play with stuff. We also get a snack. The parents all disappear after the snacks come out. I don't know why. I cried last week when it happened. Oh by the way, my Daddy's name is Josh. Mommy's is Karen (Car-in) I even call them that sometimes. Along with class I go to toddler tot time with Daddy. I help Josh (he he) get set up and then I help him take stuff down. He'd be lost without me. I must confess that I do try to escape sometimes. I just can't help myself. Josh always catches me though.
   I love my action figures. We have many adventures in all areas of the house and sometimes outside. I love being outside! Especially the park. I need room to roam. I just can't stay in the yard.
    I do enjoy a good film every now and then. I just viewed "The Little Mermaid" with Mommy and Daddy. I  enjoyed the fish and felt the need to to say "fishes!" very excitedly every time they were on the screen. I was a little bored with the plot though. "Madagascar" is still my "Citizen Kane." (Dad told me to write that. I have no idea what it means.) I just don't think anything will ever top that. Did I mention I had my first non family babysitter today? It was all good. I showed her the ropes. It was fun. Daddy went off somewhere with his cowboy hat and guitar and Mom must've been at work. I don't know. They probably told me but I can't always understand their......conties.

I'm out of stuff to say.

Jack wrote this