Zoo Tots

Lennox has been going to the Jacksonville Zoo each week this summer for their Preschool Zoo Tots class. Each week there is a different topic. Last week he learned about animals with fur and worked on distinguishing between animals that have fur and animals that have feathers or scales. Lennox got to touch a bunny rabbit and a chinchilla. He was also able to play around with fur from gorillas, lions, and monkeys. 

This week we learned about feathers. He got to check out a dove up close and touch a Polish Fancy Chicken. Lennox also got to feed the chicken. Then he got to check out feathers from parrots, hawks, and egrets. The class always ends with a craft. This week Lennox made his own feathery friend, a cotton ball chick in an eggshell :-)

Afterwards we changed into our swim clothes and Lennox ran around the water play park!

4 Year Old Pics...

The Almost Shuttle Launch at the Beach!

On Friday night we headed down to Daytona Beach for a family beach weekend and to watch the shuttle launch on Saturday morning. We went to Perry's which is where mama used to go when she was little. Lennox just visited the resort a few months ago with his grandparents too. Daddy was happy to have some time with us after traveling all week. 

Mama woke up very early on Saturday to this sunrise. We had a 6th floor balcony room which was awesome. 

I dragged Lennox out of bed to get some beach sunrise shots. He was way more interested in the beach water. 

We went back to the room to wake up daddy and turned on the tv. Then we heard the bad news that the launch was scrubbed due to a hydrogen leak. We were so disappointed. My mom was on the beach in Daytona for one of the last launches and said it was amazing. We were bummed. But Lennox was happy to swim and play on the beach. We had some donuts and then spent time in the beach, outdoor pool, indoor pool, beach again, and indoor pool again. All before 11:30.

We went to lunch and then Lennox talked us into another trip to the indoor pool. Then we had some ice cream on the beach. The rain started shortly after this and we all crashed for a long nap in the room.

The next morning we took another trip to the beach. We thought Lennox would lose his voice screaming at every wave that came up. He was content to stand there and wait for the waves to come.

We took one last swim in the indoor pool. We loved that pool, heated and fairly empty and it meant no fight to put on suntan lotion :-) Lennox is quite the little fish. I am sure this is the summer he learns to swim by himself. He is almost there. He starts swimming lessons in one week. We were packed up and ready to leave Daytona by 11. Then we stopped at the Colombia in St. Augustine on the way home for lunch. This was the first time daddy had been to a hotel and only spent time swimming and chilling on the beach. He loved it. And of course Lennox loved it and said on Saturday "this is the best day ever." That made the whole trip worth it, even without the shuttle launch!

Vacation Bible School Round 1

Lennox spent the first week of vacation at Vacation Bible School. He went from 9-12 each morning and loved it! On Tuesday he came home to tell me that "God is always with us." So sweet. He was in the Frog group with other Pre-K and Kindergarten students.

On Friday they had a celebration. Lennox got up and sang "Get Up, Get Down." He danced and sang his little heart out. Gran, Den, Pop, Mama, and his cousin David came to watch him and have lunch with him. In July Lennox gets to do the same Crocodile Rock Vacation Bible School at Den's church in Palm Coast. By then he will be a pro at all the songs and dances. 

BirthDAY

The rain would not cooperate with us on Saturday. But we made do by riding the new bicycle on the porch. Lennox in his jammies and decked out in his riding gear :-)

Sunday was Lennox's actual birthday. First thing Sunday morning we got ourselves dressed and headed out for a birthday ride. Check out the "Future Rocket Scientist" t -shirt that Lennox got for his birthday! 

We rode all the way around the block with mama, daddy, and Dobby walking behind. Lennox is pretty good. He loved it, especially revving it up like a race car which this bike does!

And off he goes!

We let Lennox pick what he wanted to do during the day. First we went to Target to use some birthday gift cards. Lennox bought some Leggos and some Lincoln Logs. Then we went to lunch at Zaxby's and to the movies to see Up. After that we went home and played with more birthday goodies. Lennox spent a good hour playing with his new PlayDoh Spaghetti set. First he made spaghetti. Then he turned each piece of spaghetti into "popcorn." He worked very hard on it. We crashed early because the birthday boy was not about to take a nap on this day and he was tired :-) 

This week Lennox goes to Vacation Bible School and to his first Zoo Camp meeting. Exciting summer stuff! And of course 4 year old birthday pics. This weekend we head to Cocoa Beach to watch the shuttle launch and have a beach weekend :-) Summer has officially begun!

Celebrating...

Finally party day has arrived. Little Lennox slept late and woke up giddy about his party! First we went to Burger King for some french toast sticks (Lennox's fav). Then we picked up some astronaut balloons. Lennox called it his "tent" in the car. 

We had the party this year at Tunnelz N Tumblez. Great place. Air conditioned and fairly quiet and the staff was awesome. We had a space shuttle cake made and it turned out to be amazing. 

It took a lot to wrangle Lennox to take a birthday photo in front of the cake!

I got him the adorable rocket ship shirt with a 4 on it for him to wear for the day.

Then there was lots and lots of playing. Climbing in the tunnels and sliding, playing cosmic miniature golf, and laser tags for the older kids. Lennox wanted to play so bad, but the backpack was way too big for him :-)

The slide was a favorite for the entire day!

We had pizza in the party room.

And then Lennox went to ripping open his presents. This year he is so much more aware of the party bit. He paid attention to every detail, was very polite in thanking his friends for the gifts too.

Mama and daddy got Lennox a big boy bike. It even revs up like a car. He also got some Play Doh, Tinkertoys, a solar system mobile for his room, rocket ships, dinosaurs, and a lot more. 

Lennox blew out his four little candles in one breath!

These were the goodie bags mama made for Lennox's friends. Everything was spaceship/outerspace themed.

Lennox and Gran cuddling!

And at the end of the party, a birthday hug from Lennox's friend Gabriel.

All in all an awesome day before your birthday day! We rode the bike on the porch all night because it has been raining. Now comes the job of making room for the new goodies. Can not believe my little man is 4.