Leoisms

Leo, you're incredible. You do everything with such earnestness - we all should emulate you. If we did, this world would be a much better place!

Age 3: tossing you a soft toddler baseball, you with a toy bat. I told you to "keep your eye on the ball". The ball ended up falling at your feet. You bent down and stared at the ball. We asked what you were doing - you said you were keeping your eye on the ball! :)

Age 5: seatbelts in the car are so important. When I didn't put mine on immediately, you worried and said you were afraid the police were going to arrest me.

Age 3-6: someone recently asked me when it was you first became interested in art. I thought back, and I recalled a photo of you as a 3 year old at Bright Horizons/Nashua Office Park, painting on an easel with a feather and ink. The look of concentration and earnestness on your face was so incredible - so very far beyond your age. This was perhaps the first sign of your interest in art.

Age 5: Grandpa Haskell was in the pit band for a production of The Music Man. Leo and Nate immediately become hooked on the movie after I download it to our home computer. For at least 6 months, the two of you were totally focused on the songs from that wonderful musical. Nate had to wear his "marching" pants to school every day. Leo taught the words to many of the songs to his entire pre-Kindergarten class as Bright Horizons/The Children's Place.

Age 5: "graduation" at The Children's Place turned out to be a one-man-show starring Leo. It was all The Music Man at graduation. Leo knew all the words to all the songs, and belted them out as loud as possible, keeping your clueless classmates on track. Also, you played Ode to Joy wonderfully .. in front of dozens of families, none of them more proud than I was of you that day. I will never forget it! :)

Age 6: This year you are so incredibly engrossed by art - drawing, painting, etc. It has overtaken all your other interests. It is wonderful to see this. I'm so proud of the astounding art you create. I cannot tell you how many teachers and parents have raved about your art - they are so impressed. They cannot believe a 6 year old creates the art that you have done.

Age 6: Your teachers never stop praising you .. they love your enthusiasm, your wonderful personality, and your incredible talents. I hear day after day after day about what a truly wonderful boy you are!!! It makes me so proud and so happy. I cannot describe just how proud I am of you. You are truly a 1-in-a-million person, a real special person. I love you so much!!!!