TAPA Artwork at the Long Beach Public Library

Today was a beautiful spring day.  Mommy and Nick went to the park to play.  When we were done, mommy asked Nick if wanted to go somewhere.  Nick wrote down Long Beach Public Library - Baby's First Impressions.

On the way home we went to the library, but they did not have the movie Nick wanted.  They have no more VHS movies, only DVD's.  Mommy tried to get Nick to pick out something else, but Nick was mopey and he did not want a different movie.

We walked around the library, and above the computer table was art work that said Theresa Alessandra Foundation.  There were colorful hand prints with kids names, and mommy recognized some names of kids we know.  Mommy said to Nick, "This is TAPA, where you love go play."  Then mommy saw a black hand print in the lower right corner, it said Nick R.

Mommy said, "Is that you?  Did you make that hand print?"  Nick did not say any words.

Mommy said, "I am going to take a picture and ask Ms. Susan at TAPA if that is you!"

The Sweet Retreat is Open

This weekend, the ice cream shop The Sweet Retreat opened for the season. Nick ordered his birthday cake ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

We sat on the bench, but we were the only people there.

Nick was happy to have his ice cream but he missed all the kids. Mommy said, "don't worry, summer is coming, all the people will be back. Every summer there are lots of people enjoying Long Beach and eating ice cream."

A Trip to the Marriott Hotel

Daddy has been working far away. This week daddy came home early, and daddy had a surprise for Nick. Daddy said, "I am going to take you to a hotel. Nick can play at Bounce Universe, and then we can eat at TGI Fridays, and then play in the hotel pool.

They went in the car to the hotel. Daddy took Nick to Bounce, Nick loves to play there. They have high slides and lots of places for Nick to jump.

Then they went to TGI Fridays for dinner. Nick missed his Uncle Bobby, but daddy said Bobby would come to visit at the hotel later.

Then Bobby came to the hotel with cousin Jesse. Nick got to play in the pool. Nick is so happy to play in the water, he is counting the months until his pool is open in June.

And then it was time to take a shower and go to bed. Nick watched a movie in his own bed.

The next day Nick went back to the pool to play, and then daddy and Nick came home. Mommy asked Nick if he had a good time, but Nick wanted to play on his computer. Later Nick showed mommy a calendar, Nick said, "May coming soon, June Nick pool open."

Happy Easter

Today is Easter Sunday. After St. Patrick's Day was all done, Nick started his Easter shrine. He drew two pictures of Easter eggs in a nest. Then he bought colorful eggs from the craft store, and daddy bought Nick a chocolate bunny. Nick also made pictures at school and AHRC. Mommy convinced Nick to put his shrine on the bookshelf next to his computer.


Nick is on spring break, school is closed until April 16th. When Nick came home on Wednesday he brought home a drawing of a flower and it said Happy Mother's Day. Mommy and McKenzie looked that picture and said, "Oh that Nick, he really knows his holidays!"

Happy Birthday McKenzie!

Saturday was McKenzie's birthday. We all had a birthday dinner, and then Nick brought out the birthday cake surprise - we got three little cakes that look like Easter Eggs, and we put Happy Birthday candles on top!


When Nick sang the birthday song he said his own name. McKenzie said, "Oh that Nick, he thinks all birthday cakes are for him!"

The Sweet Retreat is Closed

Today is Sunday, Nick remembered that daddy goes in the taxi to work far away. Nick was sad, he did not want daddy to go in the taxi. When the car drove away, mommy asked Nick what he wanted to do. Nick said he wanted to take a walk to get ice cream, he showed mommy a picture of The Sweet Retreat on Google Maps.

We took a walk and got pizza lunch, then we went to The Sweet Retreat ice cream shop, but they were closed.


Mommy asked Nick if he wanted to go somewhere else for ice cream but Nick said no. Then Nick said, "June, ice cream open."

Mommy said, "yes, they will open in summer and we will come back again just like we do every year."