I gave my grandson a tricycle last Christmas and ever since the house has become a road race track. He whizzes around the house grinning and laughing like a mad man. Wait, got to move because here he comes again. Thank goodness I bought a bell for it. A less than agile grandfather could be sporting some crushed toes.

I also purchased a ride- on tractor last summer for his birthday. This is what he takes around the block. He can pedal that tractor so fast that Mom darn near has to run to keep up. The saving thing is that he has regular stops to make along the way to look at flowers and pick one for mom, the corner where he waits to be escorted across the street and the pine tree to look for pine cones. Fuzzy has learned all of these as I follow him on my scooter.

He does puzzles with mom or dad watching, because he no longer needs or wants help. He particularly likes the map puzzles and when he does the one of the United States he can tell you every state name and capital. He has one of Europe and Asia. How many kids can show you where Uzbekistan is let alone pronounce it?

Every night when possible he spends time with dad listening to and playing along on a drum and tambourine to music. Not the kiddie stuff like, "Mary had a little lamb", but the 1812 Overture. He often sings in dah ta dah way some classical piece which is readily recognizable.

He goes to and enjoys Soccertots, art classes, Gymboree and playgrounds. He knows to watch out for the little people and not push or shove, although the three year old mind sometimes snaps. Frustration, at some little one who is taking too long to go down the slide, does take over but is readily handled by mom or dad. He is after all only three. Right now his favorite phrase is,"I don't want to" which on occasion comes out in a screeching voice that can rattle windows two blocks away. He is beginning to understand that just because he says, " I don't want to" it doesn't mean much, because more often than not he is going to. Ahh, the three year old thing again.

I hear the bell ringing, it is getting closer. Whiz, there goes the mad speed demon again and the race has once again resumed.