Morton Arboretum

This was Part 1 of our Fourth of July weekend, and we spent it at Morton Arboretum with Nana and Grandpa Cermak. We started out with our usual route through the Children's Garden.

Gavin thought it was so neat that he is still small enough to fit in this doghouse:






He made a friend and got soaked, as usual, at the Frog Pond:







Exploring the big flowers with Grandpa:

Can you find Gavin?

Here's a close-up to help you out:

There is a ladder by the slides where it's supposed to look like you're climbing up through roots. Here's the view from the bottom:

And from the top:

Just in case Gavin wasn't wet enough from the Frog Pond, these water pumps finished the job:








Running at full speed!





We went to the Adventure Woods area, which I had thought that Gavin was too young for last year. He loved everything in there, including this rope-net thing:

This is part of "Evergreen Lookout," which is just like it sounds. There is an enclosed bridge for kids to run around in, which goes around the trees. You're up high so you can see the rest of the Children's Garden.

There is a sign that says, "Not recommended for toddlers." So true! The preschoolers and elementary school kids run through this at top speeds - so of course Gavin loved it! There was another climbing area that was enclosed with ropes and nets and went in and out of the trees. Gavin loved that too, and I think we were at that one for half an hour. We just never run out of things to do at the Arboretum!

Two Wheel Scooter!

Gavin long ago mastered zipping around on his three wheeled scooter. He recently made friends with two boys on our block, and they have two wheeled scooters. Gavin was quite upset that he couldn't keep up with them on his slower three wheeler, so we took him to Target and he picked out this new Lightning McQueen one.

I make him wear his helmet (most of the time) since this scooter goes faster. He didn't really have any trouble adjusting to it. He is such a big boy!

Friday Cuteness

Here's Gavin, chillin' with Daddy's Starbucks iced tea:




Lately, Gavin has wanted Uncle David to find car crash-test videos on the iPhone. I'm not sure how it all started, but trains are out, and crashes are in!

Wednesday Cuteness

We seem to have a lot of what I call "random moments." Here are some of then from the last two weeks:



Gavin helped Francis open his Fathers day presents:




Cuddling on the couch:





Gavin helped me sew:

And he helped Francis frost and put sprinkles on cupcakes:

As you can see, Gavin loves to "help" us with everything we do!

Outside Fun

Gavin loves being outside. Sometimes all he wants to do is walk up and down our block. He loves observing all the cars on our street and asks MANY questions about them ("Where is that person going?" Why did that black car park there?" "Look, Mommy, another Toyota!")

Sometimes Gavin wants to get out a bunch of toys and ends playing with them for just a few minutes each. Here are some pictures from a day that was all about sports:

If we are at home, we are usually out in the front yard. We're not hard to find!

Saturday With the Cermaks

Last Saturday Nana & Grandpa Cermak came over, along with Auntie Clare! She and Gavin kicked a soccer ball out on the front walk. Why the front walk? Who knows - it's just where Gavin wanted to play that morning. He was having a great time and told her when he was ready to kick.







Taking a break with Nana:




Then we all got in the van and drove to Ackerman Park in Glen Ellyn to watch Grandpa coach a softball game. Here he is at 3rd base:










On the bleachers, I was explaining to Gavin that one day he will be THIS tall!




Gavin liked being in the dugout and looking at all the bats, especially the purple ones.




Grandpa is dedicating this summer season in memory of Evie. He had this banner made with pictures of her and Gavin, and he hangs it up at every game (you can click on the picture for a larger image):




Gavin pointed out the photo that he is in:







It was a hot day so we didn't stay too long. Gavin had a lot of fun playing with his Auntie - good thing she will be back in town this weekend!

A Visit With Our Cousins

Last Friday, my cousin Susan and her kids, Sean and Erin, came to visit us all the way from Milwaukee! We had been trying to get together since January, but it seemed like one of us was always sick. Finally we just decided to wait for nice weather!

We started out at our house, just playing with toys and books.




Sean (who Gavin kept calling "John") is great at smiling for the camera...Gavin was just making Super Grover fly around:




Next was lunch at Choo-Choo Johnny's:

There are trains all around the restaurant. They played Thomas the Train videos, model trains ran around, and our lunch even arrived on a train!

Both Gavin and Erin strenously objected to leaving, and they were quite vocal about expressing themselves.

Luckily, they both calmed down in the car. And the next stop was a playground, where they completely redeemed themselves with cuteness:




I had to zoom in on this one - it was so cute:

This is my favorite picture of the day. Just look at those smiles - you can tell they are related!




Resting by a tree...one out of three cousins smiling isn't bad!

The kids played so well together and we can't wait to get together again. Gavin and I are going to drive up north next month!

Playdate!

Last Wednesday we had a playdate with Gavin's friend Aisling. I think I have mentioned before that they have played together since they were one-year-olds, and they have very similar personalities, so as a result they are either the best of friends or...not. Each playdate is different!

Taking pictures of each other:

Airtastic

Last Wednesday morning I was planning to meet up with my friend Laura (mom to triplets) and my other friend Laura (in town from Arizona) at a park. The weather was rainy and not too warm, so we went to Airtastic instead. Gavin and I had never been there before, and he was beyond thrilled to play there. He buddied up with Laura's son Brandon, and the two of them ran around non-stop for an hour and a half.

Airtastic has a lot of permanently inflated bouncy houses. Even though I used the flash, a lot of these photos are blurry because the boys were in CONSTANT motion running from one bouncy thing to another:

Here is Brandon going down a slide head-first, and Gavin waiting for him at the bottom:

Playing basketball inside one of the bouncy houses:

The biggest slide of all, below. Brandon is at the bottom, Gavin is at the top:







Laura (LV) and her son, Ethan:

The other Laura with more of our group:




At one point, Gavin and Brandon decided to play follow-the-leader - and one-year-old Ethan was the leader!

Buddies!



Airtastic was a lot of fun and we will definitely go back someday. Gavin did NOT want to leave. I think he could have run around in there for a good four hours instead of just 90 minutes!