Jessica has often told me that her and her sister Emily were allowed to pick out an indulgent sugary cereal when they were on vacation to the cottage in Wisconsin. While Art wasn’t there to choose, I got him some lucky charms and explained how when mama was a kid she got fun cereal, too. he immediately had two bowls.

when I was a child Josh and I often slithered under the covers to retrieve hidden books. We were ‘book worms’. I’ve been doing this with Art lots at home, and here he is being a bookworm with Nanna.

Art was playing hide-and-seek with Nanna. He tends to hide in the same spot over and over (this one was behind the curtain). Nanna hid on the couch and he immediately wanted to “hide with Nanna!” So he piled on top.

we took a half hour trip to a small and quite wonderful zoo today in Sanford, FL. Art had a fun time.

Since Jessica isn’t here I’ve noticed my posting has become more prolific, in part cause I know how much she digs seeing what we’re up to. Today was sorta fun, but also a bummer at times cause art stubbed his toe, twice. One on each big toe! And each time is started to bleed and it upset him quite a bit. I realized that he’s grown up in Minnesota where he always wears shoes or socks, and to suddenly be barefoot is something new and unpracticed for him. I wasn’t there when he stubbed his first two, but the second toe was injured on a flat sidewalk–nothing to bump into. I think he was just being silly and sorta dragging his foot. Anyway, we strolled down to a surf shop and I bought him some watery-type shoes he will wear ALL THE TIME now. And he got a train that he’s had fun playing with and wants to show Mama when we get back.

Between his toe-stubbings he had a fun time playing in the ocean. “I didn’t know that water was salty, Papa” he said after I suggested he taste it. i remember when Jessica first went to the ocean (in her mid-20’s!) and was so surprised the water was salty. I’ll always remember the scrunched up face she made.

Art ate a terrific amount of watermelon today.

The condo we’re staying in is pretty fancy, and Art and I are sleeping in a huge king size and super squishy bed. He’s seen here taking a nap.

He insisted on seeing the ocean while he ate cereal this morning.

if you look closely you can see me out in the water carrying a boogie board. My mom watched Art while I went out to ride some waves. they were quite big and I went out real far to what I thought was a sand bar (it wasn’t and was over my head). There were a number of surfers out there, too. I felt pretty wimpy, a pasty white Minnesotan with a broken boogie board. When I used to live in Arkansas I was never so pasty white. I think Minnesota drains all pigment from one’s skin. People need sunglasses just to look at me. They make mayonnaise tanner than me. I’m like vanilla ice cream but human shaped and not as cold.

Arthur and I flew down to Florida today for a week-long visit with Nanna in New Symyrna Beach, Florida (my grandparents rent a condo here for a month but don’t stay the entire time, so here we are). Jessica and Lew were planning to come, but stayed back to spend time with visiting family and her cousin Nora. They will be sorely missed.

Art was enthralled with the ocean. He was fascinated with the waves, the sand, the wind. Tomorrow I think we’ll be down by the water all day long. it’s his first time at the ocean where he’s actually aware of it and I’m really looking forward to just playing with him here.

If ducks eat chicken eggs, do you call it cannibalism?