Christmas Lights

I am late with this post, but Francis and Gavin were on time with putting up Christmas lights.  Gavin was a big help this year, with stringing the lights on bushes as well as informing Daddy where they should go.

 

Taking a break with Nana:

A very important discussion with Nana about the backyard lighting situation:

Then time for a football break with Grandpa:

Cat Room Party

Last week Gavin's class had their "unit-culminating activity" so Francis and I got to visit.

Their unit was on their bodies and on Pete the Cat ( a cute book series by James Dean and Eric Litman).

The kids voted on their favorite Pete the Cat book and then read / watched  it on the computer / sang it.

Then the kids put together "Mat Man" - a way of assembling a pretend person.  Gavin had the ears.  It's kind of hard to describe, but it looks like a stick figure when they're done.

Then they colored "Pete The Cat" pictures :

And last, my favorite, we made a Mat Man snack with pretzels, frosting and graham crackers.  Yum!  You can see how it kind of looks like a stick figure:

Autumn Leaves

The cemetery has bigger trees than our house, so Gavin had a blast raking  leaves with Grandpa and then jumping in:

Sonny Acres

Francis, Gavin, Nana and Grandpa Cermak went to Sonny acres the other weekend.

Gavin had a great time in the haunted house and on the rides.  I think this spooky house was his favorite - he said he wasn't scared at all!

More car waxing

Since they did such a great job with the van, Francis, Grandpa and Gavin waxed the Altima.

Francis, car wash-and-wax pro that he is, showed Gavin how to get every last bit of wax and dirt out with Q-tips:

"See, Dad?"

It was so clean and shiny that Grandpa and Gavin made a game out of sliding Grandpa's handkerchief across the hood:

Visiting the Cat Room

Last week I got to volunteer in the Cat room.  The class is all new this year - Gavin is the only one who didn't go on to kindergarten.  So he has a whole new group of friends.

"Signing in" - first on the list after putting his things in his cubby and washing hands:

Putting candles in a "cake" at  table toys:

Gavin was the "schedule helper" that day:

Finger painting:

A fine motor activity with the occupational therapist:

Playing tag at motor time:

He's hard to catch!

His birthday crown:

We had a great time together.  I can't wait to have another turn to volunteer!

Waxing the Van

 A couple weeks ago, Francis, Grandpa Cermak, and Gavin waxed the van.

Francis put the wax on, and Grandpa and Gavin followed him, taking it of:

Gavin was very meticulous!

They did a great job.  The van looks like new!

Gavin's Birthday Party

We had Gavin's 5th birthday party at Airtastic this weekend.  It's one of his favorite places, as you will see in the photos!

These are all the balloons we crammed into the car.  Driving there was quite a challenge!

Gavin and his friend Ella:

Gavin with Ella and Nico (good friends from his last-year classroom):

The cake, thanks to Creating With Curtis!  It's Abby and Elmo dreaming of a chocolate chip cookie:

The cakes, surrounded by haunted houses (really, haunted "goody bags").  Nice job, Francis!

A cake for Evie:

 Nana and baby Melissa:

 Nana and Uncle David:

 The kids spent a lot of time in the basketball dome.  Yes, that's Gavin lying down in the middle, but he loved it.  He just loves to fall down, must be a 5 year old boy thing.

This look radiated Pure Joy:

 Down but not out:

Tackled by Ella:

 Now tackled by Nico (and still having the time of his life):

 Gavin ran around with Nico, Brandon, and Nick almost the whole time:

 Laura and her beautiful kids:

 Rany and Melissa:

 Nick and Gia:

 Gavin, Nico and Nick (I got them to pause for 10 seconds):

Grandpa Cermak and Grandma Cordes kibitzing:

 The BIG slide:

A much needed water break:

 Time for snacks and cake:

 First the big cake...

Then Evie's cake:

This was the funniest moment of the day.  When our party host cut into the cake (and into Elmo) Gavin yelled, "He killed it!"

All the other kids joined in.  And every time a new slice got cut (and Abby or Cookie Monster, as well ) the room filled with a new round of "He killed it!"  Luckily, our party host had a good sense of humor!

Here are the kids in action in the basketball dome: