Traveling to Texas

This morning, Adam came again to be with Kevin while I attended my Rotary meeting. As soon as we took Adam home, we had to take Guinness to his pet hotel. He is staying in a villa -- a private room with a TV on the Animal Planet. Kevin and I went in to see Guinny's villa and say goodbye. Guinness's barks immediately blended in with the cacophony of noise which we were glad to leave behind!

We made it to our flight on time despite a border wait. The flight attendant stood right beside our seat while giving a dramatic rendition of safety procedures. Kevin was very intrigued by the presentation, making fascinating facial expressions with his eyebrows as he listened intently to the instructions.

I love tracking where we are flying on a clear day. Today, I noted that we were traveling a bit farther north than the normal route from Buffalo to Chicago. I was watching for Lake Michigan to appear and was stunned to see that we were looking down on Norton Shores and my brother's house!!! It wasn't until it was too late that I thought to take a picture! I am sure Gary would have liked to have seen it!

In Chicago, I pulled one of my stupid stunts. I grabbed the wrong computer case from the overhead bin. As I deplaned, and went to pull up the handle, I noted it was not mine. I fought the onslaught of departing passengers declaring that I had the wrong computer case. No one claimed it until the last man off who found only my case to be in the bin! I nearly had a heart attack worrying that someone had already taken off with my case while I was left holding theirs.

After landing in Texas, I began texting Cathi. Once we came into baggage claim, I did not see her, so pulled out my phone to call her. She was there -- taking a picture of me calling her! You will note that Kevin is no where near me!!! He had seen them and run off to them with me oblivious to his absence.

My four grandsons!

Once we arrived at the house, Jeremy pulled out his skateboard, and Kien took a skateboard from the garage to the street as if he did it everyday!!! (Actually, this was his FIRST time to do such a thing!)




Kevin tried riding too! He and Kien did much better than I would on a first try!!!


Greg has told us about a gas station which houses a gourmet restaurant. He took us there tonight. Interesting place!

Gabe has decided that I am not so scary after all. In fact, he even liked me!

Kevin is thrilled to be with his cousins!

Playdate, Lake, Garden

A young friend, Melanie, was a faithful follower of Karin's blogs, and has a 2.5 year old boy and a 4 mo. old, plus a labradoodle, Sophie. We have been trying to have a doggie playdate, but something happens that we cannot meet. Today, we had a playdate for the dogs AND little Teo and Kevin. We took Milkbone biscuits for the dogs and a bubble set for the boys.



They have the cutest blow-up pool which has a sprinkler fountain as well. Boys and dogs loved it!

Well, Sophie preferred the sandbox!

Then the boys took over the sandbox, and, unfortunately, washed the sand off themselves in the pool and even dumped some sand in the pool. Not wise...

We talked about the added cultures to the population of Burlington over the past ten years. She told me that some houses contain extended family, which I know, but to such an extent that they all cannot sleep at once, so they take turns in the house. Thus some families spend a lot of time in the parks -- such as the young girl we met yesterday who said her family is there frequently and for long stretches of time.

It was another hot afternoon -- a good one for swimming in the cold lake. Again, he found friends to play with including two boys born in Dubai with Russian parents. They have been in Canada for three years.



He was eager to try the challenging playground again.


An older boy sat in the handicapped swing, and Kevin rushed over to push him. The teen was rather shocked at this child's behavior!

When we arrived at the park, a teenager jumped out of a tree. Kevin was disappointed that he was unable to climb that tree or any other one in sight. Before we left, I noted this tree and told him to see if he could climb it!


This evening, my garden needed water before being left to the gifts from nature for a week, so I told Kevin he could do it -- a job he relished! A neighbor, who was very supportive in prayer for Karin, came over to say meet to Kevin for the first time. She was taken by Kevin's welcoming and loving attitude at meeting a new adult. He wanted his picture taken with her.

We had dinner tonight on the patio at the Club. While waiting to be served, I was receiving wonderful hugs. I tried to take a picture of us and discovered my mascara had run. ha!

Babysitter, Accomplishment, and Multi-cultures

This morning was my monthly hair enhancement treatment. With travel, it is a four hour morning, and I wondered how I was going to keep Kevin busy, entertained, and happy for that long! Two days ago, I managed to secure a babysitter -- the 17 year old son of a doggie park friend! Kevin was delighted to have a babysitter. No shyness with this kid. He eagerly welcomes new acquaintances, and Adam was prepared to handle Kevin's effervescence. I understood that Adam liked Legos as a kid, so I got out Greg's Legos hoping that he could spread some of his love of the little plastic blocks to Kevin. I itemized a list of activities that Adam could do with Kevin to keep him occupied, and they seemed to have managed famously! One of their original creations was to color on balloons and tape them together

Adam's Mom had clued me in that Adam was adept at making macaroni and cheese for lunch, so that is what they had! Kevin was not happy to say goodbye to Adam! Somehow *Guinness* was blamed for destroying a silk flower arrangement that sat in the dining room. A couple of pieces of the arrangement had managed to "fall" out over the past week. The thought occurred to me that perhaps I should take a photo of it in case I might need to recreate it, but I didn't.

I have invited Adam to return Thursday morning so that I can attend my Rotary Club at 7 AM. He is willing to arise in time for that hour! Now Kevin is asking to go to go to bed very early Wednesday night, so that he doesn't miss any time with Adam!

After spending a little down time (mainly for Grandma's sake!) working on the wedding puzzle (which is beginning to take shape since completing the frame), we went to the splash park down the street. What a fabulous place for kids!

It was in the 80s today, but overcast with an occasional rain shower. Kevin is not one to play alone! He teamed up with two brothers who turned out to be from Mexico City. They are here with their parents visiting an aunt and uncle. Early in their play, Kevin told me that they were trying to tickle him with sea grass, and would not stop even when he asked them to. The father came to me asking if his sons were bothering Kevin. I said, "How can a tickle be bothersome?" It was then that I learned there was a language problem. The boys did not understand verbally that Kevin wanted them to stop. They continued to have a lot of fun, sitting on the water streams and running on the barrier wall.


Kevin as King of the Mountain!

The Mexican boys left, and Kevin continued playing on the playground. Kevin is not one to play alone. Sometimes I hear how he introduces play with other kids saying something as simple as, "Can I play with you?" Usually they are taken aback by that and don't know what to say to him, but do allow him to play. Today, I saw him walk up to a boy who had been pushed and say, "I know how that feels." The boy turned to him and said, "What?!" Eventually, they were playing together.

He was determined today to conquer the suspended hand ring bridge. He tried over and over again with huge tears at each attempt ending in dropping off. A 5 year old girl was there who was a natural monkey! She gave him pointers on how to do it and demonstrated over and over again, which deflated his ego that she was younger yet so good at it. More tears! Adults nearby were noting his frustration, yet determination to succeed. His hands began hurting him, but he refused to quit until he achieved success.


It took quite a while, but he did succeed exactly at the point when we had to leave as our parking ticket had expired. Perhaps Grandma's little prayer helped too!

We returned to the fabulous restaurant beside the splash park for dinner on their porch overlooking the reflecting pond and lake. We watched the lift bridge rise for a laker to navigate through the canal to the Bay. Then we saw several remote control boats play on the pond.

He returned to the playground after dinner to reinforce his ability to complete the hand ring bridge.

This time he finished with the flourish of the 5 year old girl: grabbing the end post and sliding down!

Now he is just like the other kids who can accomplish it!

After some shoving with kids who did not want to take his lead and their mother scolding him, he danced around the playground and landed on a bench beside an unhappy looking boy. He encouraged this kid (in the red shirt) to follow him by saying, "Hurry! Come this way! We have to ....(whatever)." He ended up playing with this boy who is from Wales and here visiting his grandparents.



His grandfather has a remote control boat that was not working very well. He said his boat is on the same frequency as some of the others. The boys had to retrieve it from the pond a few times.

When we moved to Burlington 11 years ago, it was very similar to Naperville, IL in many ways including size and makeup of the city -- 99% white in Naperville and 99% Canadian Anglo-Saxon descendants in Burlington. As I looked around the playground today, I realized that Burlington has become as multi-cultural as the rest of the Greater Toronto Area! Canadian descendants certainly are in the minority at the playground. The little 5 year old monkey, who is Indian or Paki, was there tonight as well. I asked if she had not gone home. She pointed to where her mother was with a group of women in Saris at picnic tables, and said, "Sometimes we are here all night." No wonder she is such a gymnist! She plays there hour after hour day after day!

Kevin never speaks of the many skin colors around him. But he colored this picture yesterday titled "Jesus' friends learn to pray":

Pancakes, Puzzle, Puppy, Pumping, Playground

Kevin asked for pancakes this morning, and Grandma obliged. As we sat down to the table, Kevin said, "Grandma, HEL-LO! Where is my milk."

Kevin has learned to manage our Bose CD player, and keeps us in music much of the day, especially when we are "puzzling." We are working on a puzzle Karin had made from a photo taken on their wedding day of the newlyweds with parents and brothers. It is strange, but Karin accidentally chose a photo in which her eyes are closed! Also the resolution of the photo when blown up to a large puzzle is not so great. Very unusual for her to have made two such gaffs! I had never put this puzzle together before, so never realized it. I suspect that she never put it together either! I am ready to throw it in the trash, and keep saying that to Kevin. It is a bear of a puzzle!!! He eagerly struggles on, and, I think, does better than I do!

When Kevin came to me three weeks ago, he had an itchy rash the size of a fifty cent piece on his thigh. I bought some anti-itch cream which didn't seem to help, plus tried some cosmetic creams to clear it up. After coming home a week ago, I tried possible remedies in my meds cabinet, but nothing helped. After speaking to Daddy about it, I learned he has had it for a year! I decided, this is enough. We are going to the walk-in clinic today. The $100 verdict is Ringworm -- something which requires vigilance to clear up. We now have the right cream and hope for quick success. Mommy used to get ringworm too.

We stopped for a car wash on the way home. The owner has a five month old German Shepherd. Kevin and the owner's son had great fun with the puppy!

Aunt Diane stopped by this afternoon! Saying goodbye "is such sweet sorrow."

For our big muscle activity of the day, we went back to the splash park. Since today is a Canadian holiday, it was very crowded.

As soon as we arrived, so did two ice cream trucks. Grandma only brought a credit card for the parking machine; no cash. Bad mistake.



Here is a photo Mommy took at this park three years ago now.

He moved on to the playground. The two boys behind him are older and much more adept at this piece of equipment.

Kevin tried to copy them, but just couldn't which brought tears over and over again. He did not understand why they could do what he could not. The boys were very kind and offered to let Kevin go ahead of them several times.

We moved on to swings, and I discovered that he has learned to pump himself, at last!!!



Finally, fun came his way! He met 6 year old Mario, and they had a wonderful time together!

Songs, Puzzles, and E.T.

One thing I forgot to mention yesterday is that Kevin knows how to unlock the bathroom doors of my house -- from OUTSIDE the bathroom! I always lock the bathroom doors for privacy as he will try to come in. Yesterday, as I was getting out of the tub, I heard the door begin to open and slammed it shut! He had found a quarter and knew (because Daddy taught him) how to open the door. Ugh! Now what?!

We went to church this morning. I was very impressed with the nametag Kevin created for himself! Very reminiscent of his mother's writing with a ball at each end point!


After church, we went to lunch with the Toycens and two African young women -- one of whom had been interviewed by Dave Toycen (Pres. of World Vision Canada) as the "sermon" today.

We borrowed some DVDs, a CD, and a book from the church library. The CD is worship songs for kids which we played on the way home. He knows them all and sang along at the top of his lungs!

We finished the puzzle this afternoon!


And Kevin immediately started another one -- one of his parent's wedding photos. I don't think I have ever put this puzzle together, because we discovered that Karin's eyes were closed in the photo! Strange that she chose that shot. Must have been a mistake. Not at all like her!

We rented "E.T." and watched it this evening. Great flick! Kevin thoroughly enjoyed it. I told him that we have the movie for the week, so he can watch it again if he wants. He said he didn't want to see it again. I think perhaps it caused him some inner angst as he has called to me twice now since putting him to bed. Time to publish this post and lie in bed with him!

Quiet Saturday

Kevin slept late. Guinness did not get a walk today, because Grandma and Kevin watched another Shirley Temple movie this morning -- "Little Princess." Again, he loved it. I have not watched any S.T. movies in years. Strange how the two that I happen to own are so similar in plot and characters: S.T. with only one parent, loses that parent, a crotchety old man, a mean woman, a young couple who love her, and a wicked child. The plot of one is about replacing her parents, and the plot of the second is finding her "lost" Dad. The fact that she has only one parent in both movies is certainly a point of connection for Kevin!

We spent at least two one and a half hour sessions working on our whale puzzle. His concentration and ability still amaze me!

This afternoon, we went to a bookstore for "Winnie the Pooh," and also bought three more Magic Treehouse books for the price of two. Then we made a stop at the library for books on how flowers make seeds and seed dispersal since these have been discussion topics while gardening (pollination by insects) and dog walking (burdocks) this past week.

Kevin's late rising put our meals on a strange schedule. He hardly had any appetite either time. We didn't eat dinner until almost 9:00, and I thought he was never going to stop eating! We read the first chapter of Winnie, and he begged for more, but it was too late.