After the Fact...

While Kevin was here, the Glory-of-the-Snow flowers began blooming in the yards across the street. I tried to take pictures, but the cloudy skies did not create the show that they are. Today was sunny, allowing me to take some decent shots of the floral lawns.

Double click to enlarge this picture to get the full effect!


The day after Kevin left, the forsythia branches we cut were in full bloom!

Melanie's dog is Sophie. This morning, Sophie and Guinness went to doggie park together. Once back at our house, I set out a bin of water for them to drink and then to clean Guinness's paws before entering the house. They were drinking together, but I was unable to catch the moment.

After our doggie park playtime, Sophie had an appointment with her groomer. Kevin met Sophie, but he wouldn't know her today any more than Sophie's own children know her. The one year old is scared of her, and the three year old said, "There is a new dog in our house!"

At only three years old, Teo is enamored with Kevin. Melanie wrote: When Teo finally realized that it was Sophie, he was really happy but started joking around saying this was his dog Guinness (probably because of the short hair) and he was Kevin! This went on for a bit, and then he said, "Take a picture of me Kevin with my dog Guinness. And Maman, pretend to be Mrs. Walsh, and, Papa, pretend to be...(LONG pause)...Mrs. Walsh's dad!" LOL I guess that is Grant!!

Going Home

This morning, I was ready for the car at 7:10. I dressed Kevin in bed, then Grandpa carried the sleepy boy to the car.

We had good flights and plenty to keep the boy occupied. He was behind me walking off the first plane, and he peeked into the cockpit. The pilots invited him in, but I was out of earshot of their exchange. When I asked what the pilots said to him, his response was, "They said 'hi'!" He commented on all the buttons switches and levers they have.

Steve and Kinga picked us up at the curb. They had a happy, hugging reunion!

We stopped at a Polish food store, then at Karin's grave. I wanted to make sure her flowers were OK until I come again. It is obvious that both Steve and Kevin adore Kinga, and she them. I told her Karin is very pleased she is the one looking after her family.

We had a snack together before they dropped me at the airport again.

All week long I was aware of how much Kevin is developing and maturing. Of course, I am prejudice, but he is a wonderful little boy!

Guinness's Birthday and Kevin's Blessings

This morning, Grandpa babysat while Grandma went to Rotary. Melanie, who is joining Rotary with me, brought an Easter plant for Grandma and a gift bag full of wonderful things for Kevin! Here is his loot --

What great gift ideas for Kevin -- envelopes, paper pad, colored pencils, a Veggie Tales book of devotions for boys, and more!

The weather has been so inclement that we have not taken Guinness to doggie park since Kevin has been here. Today was our final day, first break in the weather to take him, and his 6th birthday! Kevin brought a frisbee from his home to play with Guinness and the other dogs at doggie park. Maggie, the yellow lab, came to play today too.

Guinness is getting some birthday pets from Maggie's dad.



Kevin is saying "Ouch!" after touching the spruce tree!

Later today as we saw more spruce trees along the road, he asked why we have so many spruce trees in Canada when they hurt!

He brought home some chunks of asphalt from doggie park. Boys! He said he knew where to put them that they would look nice. Yeah... right... LOL

The small stone on top of a piece of asphalt is heart shaped. Mrs. Thompson told us, when we see something heart shaped, it is a love message from Mommy. Before finding the stone, I saw a heart shaped groove in one of the boulders behind our house. When I pointed it out, he immediately saw the heart stone beneath it!

The landscapers were working in our yard when we returned from doggie park. Kevin wanted to watch them.

Apparently, he not only watched, but helped! When he came in, he had a looney in his hand for helping them.

He also found some treasures -- a pink golf ball and a snail shell.

He used one of his 3X5 cards to make his own puzzle!

Today is our best weather day. He rode his bike and climbed the boulders again.

We went across the street to get a closer look at the Glory-of-the-Snow flowers filling some of our neighbors' lawns.

And he climbed a tree and got stuck.

Just before dinner, we bought an Easter basket for Melanie's boys and took it to them.

We have had no tears, no meltdowns, or other evidence of the trauma this young boy has experienced. It would appear that having a new mommy is helping! However, at bedtime, he asked, "Will you always love me?" Oh, my! How could that even be a question?! He is so precious! We read a devotional from his new book and talked about what his blessings are. Grandpa heard Kevin say his bedtime prayer tonight and was impressed with conversation with God. He always asks God to tell Mommy we love her. He was thankful for the fun he had today. And he thanked God for his blessings -- food to eat, a nice house, and his family.

Flowers and Rocks

Between raindrops this morning, we cut some forsythia branches to bring indoors to bloom. And another Easter lily blossom opened today!

We ran a list of errands on this rainy day. What a lousy weather week for Kevin to come to Canada for his spring break! We found a frame for Kevin's homemade paper.

Kevin brought this painting of two parrots he made for Grandpa and me! I thought it was worthy of a frame and a place to hang on our walls!

We have not played piano until today. I was shocked and pleased that Kevin remembered so much about reading music! If only he had the opportunity for lessons... We will have to work on that this summer when he comes to visit again!

The rain cleared up this afternoon, but the temps are still quite chilly for a spring day! I had hoped Kevin would do a lot of bike riding this week and that Grandpa would help Kevin learn to ride without training wheels. Didn't happen.


Kevin is drawn like a magnet to the rocks around our property.


Plus he is Mr. Neat. He threw all of the sticks and pinecones he found on the rocks down to the driveway.

Then he asked for a plastic bag to pick up the trash found along the public sidewalk!

Science Day

I bought an Easter lily a couple of days ago, telling Kevin that some of the blossoms will open before Easter and he can watch it happen. He noted yesterday that one was ballooning and might open soon. He checked it first thing today and discovered this --

Less than an hour later, we could see it had opened a teensy bit more.
Kevin enjoyed a chocolate chip pancake for breakfast.

Today we went to a Science Centre with Melanie, her son Teo, and our Rotary Club's exchange student from Brazil, Bruna. The trip there was an experience in itself, since we were held up for an hour on the highway by a truck accident. Fortunately, we went in Melanie's car which has videos for the kids!!!


Bruna and Kevin manipulating a space vehicle.

Kevin pushed Teo around to the delight of both!

After watching an IMAX movie on the Hubble telescope repair, we found a papermaking demonstration. The guide showed how to blend (in a kitchen blender) water and scrap paper, the process for transferring it to a screen then drying the sieved mixture resulting in a sheet of paper.

Each child had the opportunity to create a piece of paper themselves. Kevin is inserting the screen into the paper mixture,

then lifting the screen creating his sheet to be transferred to drying layers.

The guide handing Kevin's homemade paper to him.

The guide allowed one of the children to add glitter to the paper mixture. It doesn't show in the photo, but is very nice.

We sought out the electricity demonstration after seeing this picture on Greg's Facebook yesterday when he was a boy in St. Louis.

The guide asked for a volunteer from the audience, and he chose Kevin!!!!



Outside was a sound tube.




When we returned from our day's activities, he spied --