Splash Pad

Last week we played at the Hobson Park Splash Pad with Aisling.  It's hard to believe it is a splash pad now. David and I spent hours there every summer, when it was a pool!

The kids had a blast, as usual.  All you need is a little water on a hot day, and they're set!

Gavin and Nana are prepared for rain!

Here are some pictures from one of Grandpa Cermak's softball games a few weeks ago. It was close by and  Gavin got to go and watch Grandpa coach.  Also, Auntie Clare was in town that weekend!

Our friend Katy came with her three girls.  Gavin shared his umbrella with Paige:

Time for a snack!

Clare, a Cubs fan, borrowed a White Sox T-shirt from Katy.  Isn't she cute?

Uncle David's Birthday

For Uncle David's birthday, we met up at Charlie's Restaurant at Clow Airport.  It's a cute. basic diner-type place, and it's right on the runway.  

There was one pilot getting flying lessons.  He took off and landed about four times, so that was exciting.  We also walked around a bit and looked at some of the planes.

Since we were so close to David and Brad's house, we stopped by to see this very special planting in their backyard.  Some of you have seen this on Facebook, but for the rest of you, it all started with a small stone.

David and Brad's friends gave them this, and they wanted to have it set in the ground by a tree.  Well, their landscape architect came up with a beautiful idea for this heart-shaped area of shrubs, flowers, and a tree.

It is lovely now, and we will continue to post pictures as all the plants grow up around it!

Stormy Sky

We had some severe storms blow through the Chicago area yesterday.  No tornado watches or warning, thank goodness - but we had one very scary cloud!

Weekend Fun

Looking at videos with Grandpa:

Gavin, Nana, and Grandpa all go along with Francis to the grocery store each week.  When the store set up this patio table and chairs, they started having "tea parties" there while Francis shopped:

Talking on the phone is an essential part of a tea party!

Softball

Grandpa Cermak coached some softball games that weren't too far away last weekend, and Gavin got to go along.

He helped Grandpa hang up the "Evie banner"

Gavin and Nana:

Grandpa in action.  Gavin was fascinated by all the hand signals!

Time for a story with Grandpa afterward:

Playdate!

Last week we got together with Aisling and her family at the park.

She and Gavin had a great time, as usual!

Deep thoughts at the top of the slide:

They were determined to not sit on the swings the "right" way:

Bath Time

Gavin's new favorite thing to do after his bath is run around in his Cookie Monster towel.  And nothing else.  He doesn't want to put pajamas on until the last second before he goes to bed.

Isn't he the cutest thing?

Brookfield Zoo

We made our first visit of the year to Brookfield Zoo. Gavin talked for days about seeing the macaws, below.  But then, the other birds in the exhibit were flying around a little too enthusiastically and he only wanted to watch them from the other side of the screen door.

Gavin loved the dolphin show, and decided we should sit in the very top row.  Funny, I used to make my grandma climb all the way to the top row, too!

We didn't get to the bug exhibit that day, but we looked at the giant bee statue in the fountain:

Gavin climbed and slid along this railing.  Why walk when you can do something that requires more energy?