Sleepover Heaven with Our Grandson

We have a monthly date with our five year old grandson.  On the Saturday before the first Sunday of the month he comes to our place for a sleepover and then we go to the family church service on Sunday morning.  My husband (Pop), Zach and I all look forward to this monthly event.

Zach with his LEGO Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Party Wagon Creation

Separating Thousands of  LEGOs by Color

Zach is a super LEGO fan and has many sets but I guess like many kids all the pieces had been put in one large plastic container.  He brought them to our house and the plan was to separate them by color and then just like Pop did with our son’s collection look up the parts list for each set and rebuild the sets.  However, today’s sets have a zillion unique and some very small pieces and no parts lists for each set online.  LEGO is cranking out new sets galore but they have given up on this feature of their documentation.  Well we had a fun project and learned the value of keeping organized anyway and separated the pieces by color.  The grey and black pieces needed sweater size boxes and we used different sized containers for other colors.  

Zach took a couple of breaks from organizing to build his own LEGO creations – the best kind. Here is a Party Wagon.  It has a canon to shoot soda and breath mints (on the right side).  The transparent pieces facing up turn into flames for light and the other upward piece is a boomer.  The rack off the back launches the fireworks.  If you are interested in renting the party boar for your 4^th of July party perhaps I can get you a good price.

Zach's Version of the TMNT Party Wagon

Next up is Iron Man – Tony Stark’s mansion.  Zach did explain all the details to me but I can’t remember them as I really don’t know anything about Iron Man.

My grandson's version of Tony Stark's (Iron Man) Mansion

After a bath  Zach put on his Batman pajamas – the one with the cape – and he chose books from Grandma’s rather extensive library of books.  Some were my kids’ favorites that I have saved and some are hand me downs from my niece.  Here’s what he chose in the end:

Zach's Choice of Books for Bedtime Reading

A pretty eclectic mix. Batman to the Berenstain Bears – in that order.  Followed up with two of my favorites – Harry and the Lady Next Door and Miss Smith Reads Again.   Just Go to Bed is the perfect topper for bedtime.

Zach and I were up early on Sunday morning and I made blueberry pancakes before we went to church.  My son called to say he would be joining us and I had the pleasure of watching my son guide his nephew/godson in church and all of us receive communion together.  He enjoys going up to the altar for the childrens’ sermons on these family service days and is well behaved during the service.  I always bring a few small items to occupy his attention. He likes to sit on the aisle so he can see the altar.  I think it is important to introduce children to our faith traditions.  Everyone needs to make their own choices as an adult but having a church home and a grounding in faith, ethics and morals is important to me and I am glad that my daughter supports our monthly church visits.

Zach always enjoys the time in our parish hall after the service too and then its time to head home to his parents.  We’ll see him throughout the month for family dinners of after school visits but our monthly sleepovers are really special to all of us.

Here are links to the books we read on Amazon: