Kindergarten!!

We officially have a kindergartner in our house.  Last Tuesday was Ava's first day of kindergarten, she had a great time!  She loved eating lunch in a cafeteria, meeting new friends, and wearing a uniform...all the important things!

 Unfortunately, the week did not go as smoothly as we had hoped.  First day...great!  Second day...call from school nurse informed me that Ava had fallen on the playground and bit her tongue,  no major harm and she stuck out the rest of the day.  Third day...another call from nurse to inform me that Ava had a low fever and complained of a headache.  The symptoms continued to worsen over the next 24 hours and she missed school on Friday.  By Monday she was doing much better, but still not back to normal so I kept her home one more day for rest.  By Tuesday all that remained was a stuffy nose so we went back to school and everything seemed fine.  However, today I received yet another call from the nurse.  Now Ava's eyes are pink.  She has no swelling, no discharge, no itching, so it doesn't seem to be "pink eye", but the school isn't taking any chances.  I can't blame them, I wouldn't say we are presenting the picture of health!  Hopefully it's just allergies and she can go back tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.

 Overall I think Ava likes school.  She has fun once there, but she doesn't like getting up in the morning.  Maybe we are getting all the illnesses out of the way now so we have a healthy winter...MAYBE!  Before school started up we tried to take advantage of our open schedule. First, we hit the Botanical Gardens with Ashton and London.  The girls had never been there and had a great time.  I've been informed "we must go back there soon".

A few days later we made it to the zoo.  It's sad to say, but his was the first time we had been all year.  Ella says the Zebra's were her favorite, but I don't think she really cared, she just liked being out of the house.

 We met up with Ava's friend Isabelle while there and they rode the carousel.

 Ella has a fear of many things right now and the carousel was one of them, at least that day it was.

 At this point Gavin was so tired I knew if I got him out of the stroller he would not go back in, so I just rocked him back and forth in an attempt to get him to nap.  He did fall asleep, until I had the bright idea of going to see the penguins next and he jolted right awake when we entered the COLD building. Now with Gavin awake we decided to ride the train, again...bad idea.  At first it was fine, but I did not know about the tunnels (hadn't ridden the train since I was little).  Ella flipped out, screaming, curling into a ball under my armpit and begging to get off!!  We had of course planned to ride the whole track and left the stroller and the original station, so it was a VERY long ride!  She did calm down and just kept her head in a blanket most of the time.  Hopefully this is something she outgrows, otherwise we may be seeking professional help.  The Zoo was crazy, but fun and we were out of the house, which was the point...right?

 After everyone got some rest and we were only a day away from school I decided the park might be more our scene.  Again, started out good.  Gavin loves to swing...

 Which eventually makes him tired...

 We then have to switch it up so no one passes out.

 Ava can finally swing all on her own.  She is so proud of her pumping and I enjoy having two hands and only two butts to push.

 Of course that other butt belongs to Ella.  Ella is perfectly capable of swinging in the big swings, but again, unless we are at G-ma and G-pa's house, she prefers the baby swings.  She is all about security lately, while remaining a total goofball most of the time.

I said the park started out good because it wasn't long before some mom's found human feces on the slide and I decided it was time to head home.  It was one time where I was glad my girls don't like slides and hadn't gone over to that area yet. I have my suspicions as to what child defecated on the slide, maybe the one walking around barefoot, with only pajama pants on, no diaper, when it was clear he was too young to go without, and two pacifiers tied on a string around his neck? 

 I don't know though, just a thought.

 The kids also spent the night at G-ma and G-pa's house a few weekends ago and with leaving my camera I gained a few pics.  Gavin must have enjoyed a bath in the sink...

 Really enjoyed it...

 And in the evening it looks like everyone was waiting to roast marshmallows in the fire pit, that you can't see in the picture, but is there in front of them.  Fun times!

 Since most of the activities lately have been geared towards the girls, I feel the need to give a Gavin update.  Gavin is as active as ever.  Crawling is still the main mode of transportation, but he's fast!  He is scaling furniture and it's probably only a matter of time before he's walking. He is still a mama's boy, but definitely only wants to be held when he's in the mood.  While on one hand he can sit in a stroller for hours at the zoo or botanical gardens and do great, he can also scream and whine all day because he can't reach something, he wants a particular snack or he's just moody?  As most babies do, I guess he just has his "moments".  One moment I'm not fond of right now if feeding time.  He is not only picky, but he is messy!  VERY MESSY!  Here is an example of him after having watermelon and crackers...

"Gavin"

 "say cheese!"

He's definitely entertaining, as they all are.  The hair do is thanks to the styling effects of watermelon juice...at least it smells good.  You may also notice the abundance of teeth.  He's got them all, even the molars, with the exception of those four little canine teeth.  I'm hoping he's saving the easiest for last,  I can't imagine if those bother him more than the molars have!  Anyway, he's a sweetie, I love him, and he's almost 1!!!!