Jo bubbles over with excitement.
"Sit with me, Papa!", he shouts out the window, before I am even on the bus.
I sit down beside him. He and his classmates chat animatedly about the day over the tops of the seats, conversations interspersed with silly jokes and laughter.
A trip to the fire station, lunch at a park, glow in the dark bowling and McDonald's. What kindergarterner would not be excited? I am glad I can share the day with my son, wearing my parent hat and leaving my teacher hat back on my desk at the school.
Jo checks out fire trucks from the second floor of the fire station.
Jo poses with a "fireman". Not really a fireman, as it's me all decked out in fire gear. It's very warm wearing this gear (and heavy!). I can't imagine wearing it while fighting fires.
Jo gets his chance to wear some gear, too.
After lunch, bowling. It's Jo's first bowling experience. He likes the bowling part and glowing in the dark ("Teacher said wear something with white!"), but he's most fascinated with the bowling ball return system.
After bowling, a stop at McDonald's to enjoy a Happy Meal.
As we sit on the bus to come home, Jo asks, "Do you think Mama would like to visit the firestation tomorrow? And go bowling? And..."
An exhausted boy curls up with his Papa on the bus ride home (an hour and a half ride).
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of vacation preparations and packing we quietly celebrated Jo's fifth birthday today. All week he counted not only the sleeps to today, his birthday, but tomorrow, our departure date for travelling, visiting family and friends, sightseeing, train riding, swimming, exploring and camping.
