Our Last Day

I asked Kevin to take a photo of his bean plant from the seeds given him on the last day of his botanical garden Discovery Camp. It is not going to make it to his house or mine, but, at least, he did get to watch it sprout over the past two weeks.

We don't have any useable pictures of the two of us over the past eight weeks! :-0 So I tried to take a picture of us today. These are the four best attempts, but they still fall short of being "useable." After taking each shot, we would check it. A few times, Kevin had made a silly face. While browsing for the "perfect" shot, I deleted the awful and the funny shots. Since I decided to post a few, I wish I had kept one or two of his silly faces! The little imp.... ;-)




While I sang in the choir at Morning Worship, Kevin went to Sunday School (and enjoyed the playground before the doors opened).

This is his craft from the morning!

Steve was to arrive in Buffalo at 12:40 and previously agreed it was OK for us to attend church before coming which meant we would be late to meet him. It began sprinkling as we rode our bikes back to the condo. By the time we were in the car, it was a teeming T-storm! Then we received a call from Kinga that Steve's plane could not land in Buffalo due to the storm. By the time we arrived in Buffalo, Steve had landed in Rochester and was waiting for the storm to pass before he could come to Buffalo. So we went book shopping. I was looking for gifts, and, of course, Kevin found some things he HAD to have. We drove past the duplex we lived in, when Karin was one year old, before moving to our first house. It was brand-new then and very nice. We still are friends with our neighbors on the other half! (We lived on the left side with the porch.)

When Daddy finally made it to Buffalo, we picked him up and drove across the street to a hotel where Kevin could show Daddy his new bike-riding skills! Daddy was surprised at the skill he has developed so quickly!

Then we went back to the airport and had to say goodbye. At least, neither of us cried, though we had before parting. Unfortunately, weather delays plagued them on the way home. They never reached home until 2am!

Wind-down Day

While Melanie was preparing to leave, Kevin was loving on Sophie.


Once they were packed and loaded, we went to breakfast at House On a Hill. My goodness, it takes a LOT of stuff to travel with two little ones for just a couple of days! To keep Kevin occupied at breakfast, we played a game of "I'm going on a trip and in my suitcase I am packing..." something that begins with each consecutive letter of the alphabet. We limited ourselves to only objects within sight which made it a fun game. Alarm, Blue vase, cup, etc.

Kevin spent much of his day relaxing, watching NetFlix movies on his iPhone while I went through his stuff and began packing and through my stuff to take some things home tomorrow.

I wanted to take him to a dollhouse store I knew he would love. He didn't want to go. I had to drag him there, then I couldn't get him OUT! He stayed for an hour at least. He wanted to buy the whole store.


I didn't want to buy anything, but I consented to buying a $1 loaf of bread.

At the checkout there were little interesting things: flip books of various topics, holographic bookmarks, glasses that make lights look like stars, and a $150 miniature flat screen TV for a dollhouse which WORKS!!! A DVD player is attached to it and you an actually watch a movie on the tiny screen!!!! He finally chose a King Tut flip book. In the meantime, we had a chat with the man managing the store. We talked about Kevin's summer with Grandma and all the things we have done including piano lessons. He told us about his son who, at age 8 wanted to learn to play the piano. A few years later, he wanted a grand piano! At age 10, he played a Star Spangled Banner piano duet at Chautauqua on July 4! He majored in music at Fredonia, went to the Cincinnati School of Music and is now the opera director in Houston at age 34!!!! So I told him about Kevin's amazing experiences: riding and steering a Zamboni and playing the Massey Organ at Chautauqua!!!! He told Kevin the reason he has these special experiences is because he is polite, curious, and interested.

Kevin made up a new knock-knock joke today.
Knock Knock
Whose there?
Ant
Ant who?
Antibiotics!

He watched another movie, then we went to the ropes course without my camera. He did some pretty amazing maneuvers way up high! Last year, I would not let him go very high. This year is still scary, but he really IS a monkey!

He called me into the bedroom to see this --

When we returned from dinner, the kitties were in the window. I left him cooing at the kitties; then realized he must have been kidnapped or was in the condo with the cats. He was entertaining the elderly gentleman cat owner by standing on his head. It took some time, but I finally pulled him away from the cats.

Independence is Blossoming

As we arrived at Club, two maintenance men were removing the debris, which had floated down the stream in the torrential rainstorm last night, from a grate protecting a culvert. A group of young boys were transfixed and Kevin readily joined them!

They were asking questions and stating facts they knew. One boy said the water came from the golf course which is across the road from the main grounds. The one maintenance man, who turned out to be named Kevin, looked at me with a smile and said, "You can't teach these kids anything!" The boys began asking questions and the senior Kevin gave them information. He explained that the water would eventually end up in the ocean by going from Lake Chautauqua to a stream to a river and all the way to the Mississippi River, emptying into the ocean at New Orleans. After removing the large logs, they used a pitchfork to remove the smaller debris. Four golf balls were tossed out of the debris. One of the boys had an aha moment when we realized the water in the stream came all the way from the golf course. I told the senior Kevin he should ask for a pay raise, because now he is an educator as well! He said educators aren't keeping their jobs; he had better stick with what he has. I had a difficult time getting Kevin to leave the group and join the Club opening session at the lake.

Just before lunch, there was another torrential downpour which lasted only a few minutes. I was ready to leave for Kevin when Melanie called to say they ran into one of the Club buildings to escape the rain, and she would get Kevin and bring him to Bestor Plaza where we decided to meet for lunch.

After we finished our lunch, the boys played in a fountain.

One of Kevin's Club friends asked if he wanted to buy some lemonade or chocolate. The friend and a couple of others had set up a lemonade stand at Bestor Plaza with the help of their parents. Kevin bought some chocolate for $.10, then hung around to help out.

When they ran out of cups, Kevin said he knew where to get some. He came out of the restaurant, where we had lunch, with a small stack of cups. I assumed he took them from the water station they provide. A while later, they needed more cups, and I saw him running back with more cups. I asked where he was getting them. He said he had asked at the counter for them. The third time, I stopped him and said he couldn't do that. "The store has purchased those cups, and your friend's parents need to provide the cups, not the restaurant." Kevin continued to help his friends with their business. In the end, they gave Kevin $3.27 for his assistance. He was quite delighted!

Kevin met another friend on the plaza, and, together, they went back to the Club. The friend was on a scooter and flew like the wind down the hills. Kevin has a healthy dose of safety first sense, and does not ride his bike down the steepest hills. I did not have my bike, so I was left in the dust behind them, and prayed the whole way back to Club that Kevin was safe! This is how I found them -- they had spent some money at the YAC for treats.

At the end of Boys and Girls Club for this week -- Kevin walking back from swimming.

Before leaving, Kevin had to check the grate at the culvert. He found 2 rocks they men had not removed.

Once back home in the condo, Teo and Kevin watched an Alvin and the Chipmunks video on my computer.

Tonight Melanie and I and the 3 boys went to the Amphitheater to hear Blood, Sweat, and Tears. I was SOOO looking forward to it. Grant and I LOVED BS&T back in the day... But that day is past and BS&T is NOT the same. They were too loud for adults or children and the music was blah. So we left after less than half an hour of the concert. It was the right time to see bats at Bestor Plaza! And we had ice cream. Kevin ordered his on his own!


There we ran into the couple, Jay and Maura Stetzer, who were so enamored with Kevin at the ballet last week. She was wearing the SAME necklace as that night, and it was backwards AGAIN!!!! Kevin pointed out last week that her necklace was backwards and told her again tonight. So funny. She thought so too.

Melanie and the boys left for home before we did, so Kevin and I walked alone later. The stars were GORGEOUS -- bright and beautiful. I asked him if he had ever seen the Big Dipper. He had not, but he has now! And we saw part of the Little Dipper.

In talking about the North Star being directly above the North Pole, he asked if that is where Santa lived. He commented on the North Pole being very cold and few people live there, then asked why Santa lives there. Then he asked if Santa is real and if the Tooth Fairy is real. I asked him what he thought. He doesn't think the Tooth Fairy is real. He thinks parents take the teeth and leave money. He didn't comment any more on Santa.

Also in our star conversation, he asked an astute question which I cannot quite recall: it was either something about does everyone around the world see the same stars or what stars are at the South Pole. I told him - everyone south of the equator, or bottom of the earth, sees different stars than we do on the top side.

On the way into the condo, he noticed something "gross" on the window. A moth! He had never seen a moth before since they come out after bedtime.

Some Days are Good and Bad

This day did not start well. Kevin was in a bad mood. He couldn't even get on his bike, then had trouble staying on it. I finally figured it out -- he did not have enough sleep! He was exhausted!

Teo and Ellie happily watched Dora.

And Sophie is very comfortable too.

Melanie packed a picnic lunch and packed her boys into their bike trailer.

We rode to the Bell Tower, found a picnic table, then I went to pick up Kevin from Club. I peeked at him in his crafts class.

When he came out, he was wearing his new snake creation.

As we left Club at lunchtime, and headed to the Bell Tower, he saw a Club member ahead of him and called out, "Excuse me! Excuse me! Your backpack is open." He is always ready to help!
The boys enjoyed tumbling in the grass

Then we went to Bestor Plaza for ice cream. Kevin is showing Teo how to get a drink of water.

When I left Kevin at Club, he was the leader of the pack heading off to the next activity.

When I brought him home this afternoon and asked about his day, he said he didn't like the lifguards and didn't want to talk about it. Oops...

Tonight, Melanie babysat while I went to choir practice. This is how she transported three kids to Bestor Plaza!

Apparently, he had not been the perfect child as she was delighted that I could take over his responsibility. I found him in the midst of a hide and seek game with a group of older kids from Club. It was time to take our seats in the Amphitheater for the symphony concert. I can't say he was delighted. Although, once the music started, he was fine. The first half of the concert was a young violinist playing two violin concertos on a 300 year old Stradivarius violin. The first was Haydn, composed over 200 years ago -- very classic in style. I explained to Kevin that the next one was written seven years ago and would be very modern with strange sounds. He said, "This doesn't sound good." I told him it is like abstract art; it is music that is unique and unusual. And very difficult to play! After the second piece, I told him if we clap loudly enough and long enough, he will play an encore -- a short piece that is fun. He did play an encore, but it was Bach, was not "fun," and did not show off his dexterity. As we prepared to leave at intermission, the man in front of us turned around and said, "He is the best behaved child I have ever seen at a concert." :) I told the man, "He is very interested in music, art, dance. He LOVES it at Chautauqua!" As I ruminated on Kevin's interest in classical music, I recalled what a great teacher his Mommy was. She bought musical toys, taught him about classical music, and taught him to recognize the sound of and to identify most instruments.

I had ridden my bicycle to choir practice, so now needed to walk it home in the dark. Plus I had to walk with Kevin. He was tired with sore legs, he said. So I tried putting him on the seat of my bike. It worked!!! As long as he was balanced and helped steer, it was a easy -- even going up hills!

Larva, Lanyard, and Licks

I reminded Kevin that Melanie, her boys, and Sophie arrive this evening for a few days. He asked where they will sleep. When I said that Teo will probably sleep in a single bed (we have 3 bedrooms -- king bed, double bed, and twin beds). He was so cute... He asked, "Grandma, would it be OK if I didn't sleep with you? Could I sleep in a single bed with Teo?

Today at lunch, I needed to attend a porch brown bag book review and had no babysitter. So I came supplied with activities for Kevin. I was early arriving at Club so looked at the schedule to find where he would be. Crafts!

Note he is sitting on his counselor's knee.

On the way to the book review, he found a friend in the woods on this post, and it fell off on him!


Kevin put him on a stick to be able to carry him. We sat at a picnic table farthest from the porch in the yard. Mr. Wiggly kept Kevin occupied for most of the time.


Mr. Wiggly stayed on the stick while Kevin ate lunch. Then he went in a lunch bag while Kevin drew.

At the end of the book reveiw, I apologized to the others at the table. They said Kevin was not a distraction -- at least, not an unwelcome one. As we left, Kevin thought he should put him back where he found him. He curled in a ball when trying to place him back on the post, so he left him on a leaf.

When we crossed Thunder Bridge, Kevin saw some bigger boys playing in the ravine. Off he went!

He was not pleased to have to leave the ravine.

He stopped at the lanyard room to receive retraining on completing his projects -- a cobra and zipper.

His basic weave lanyard is complete now, so he had them burn the ends.

When I picked him up at 4pm, his last class of the day was a firetruck visit. It was still there and he wanted me to see it too. Off he ran.


Kevin was full of questions and the firemen were happy to explain.

Melanie, her boys, and Sophie arrived before dinner. They spent the evening settling in. Sophie likes Kevin.

Teo and Kevin did sleep together in the twin beds, but it was VERY late before they fell asleep.

Day with Babysitter and Gabe & Karin

Kevin did so well riding his bike to and from Club yesterday, that I also rode my bike with him today. About half way there, he saw one of his counselors and rode with her chatting for almost the rest of the way. After delivering him to Club, I left for home as I had an appointment today and needed to bring back some warmer clothing. One of Kevin's counselors babysat him through the two hour lunch break and after Club until I returned at 7pm.

Thus... no pictures today. And few stories about the day either. But there are things I have forgotten to blog which I will include here.

Chautauqua is a friendly, safe campus, and Kevin takes it a step further. As we walk along, he says "Hi!" to many people we pass. He especially says "Hi!" to kids. Adults almost always return the greeting, but kids' usual response is the look at him like -- "Are you crazy? Who are you?" But after a second, they usually say, "Hi!" back.

Now that he is riding bike on campus, if someone is in his path, he calls out, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" rather than using his bell. So I am trying to explain, they don't have to get out of his way. He needs to avoid hitting them!

Dogs are everywhere here. When he sees a dog, he will usually say, "What kind of dog is that?" in order to strike up a conversation and perhaps have a chance to pet the dog.

Everyone LOVES Kevin! They are impressed by his conversation and cuteness. People are constantly mouthing to me without him seeing or hearing (usually), "He is so cute!"

We have seen my friend Melanie at least weekly or more. I didn't realize for the longest time that he was mispronouncing her name until she pointed it out. He says, "Men-a-lie."

When I returned this evening, he and his babysitter were watching "The Fox and the Hounds." I was surprised that the sitter wasn't eager to leave. She stayed for another half hour watching the movie with him. She babysat a few days ago also for only a couple of hours. When I returned that time, they were playing tag but they had to be an animal, not a person. She was being a snake slithering on the floor!!!! That game continued for a while also before she was ready to leave.

While checking Facebook tonight, I looked through recent photos Greg and Cathi have posted. I saw this one of Gabe (on the left). I see Karin so clearly in that sweet little face! I looked through the photos of Karin on my computer to find a similar one. Gabe is now 2 and Karin was about 2.5 in this photo on the right.