Summer, for small people

 The kids have been having a classic, magic kid summer, and it's a tonic to my heart to observe it.

It's a tonic I've needed, as this past week in Rochester has had a soberness to it. On July 16, the kids had been able to join Leah & Matthew and their kids, and my uncle at the home where my maternal grandparents have been living. My grandfather, Ben Cornell, had been poorly for some time. We sang to him and talked to him and let him know we were here, though he wasn't conscious. We talked gently to Grandma. That afternoon, back at my Dad's house, I had one of those fluttery, heartsore afternoons rummaging through a box of my mom's old things, trying on her rings, seeing her handwriting. It was good for me, but tiring, inside. I was glad to have a box of my old dolls and toys to set before the kids.

The next morning, July 17, Leah called to let me know that Grandpa had died in the night. We arranged a lunch at my uncle's house and I got off the phone and decided we needed to get outside. So, we spent the morning at Lollypop Farm, a wonderful local animal shelter with pets and barn animals to see.

They nearly doubled over laughing when they saw this guy. 

All afternoon, while the adults talked and comforted one another, the little cousins ran wild over the lawn and played hilarious games of their own invention. As many times as I've found it extra difficult to deal with something hard because of the kids, so many times have I found my heart lightened and my hands blessed with good things to do.

We spent a couple of nights at Leah's house in the South Wedge.

Bed time was... slightly more complicated, I'll grant. But the kids had twice the laughs. 

 Jon pulled into Leah & Matthew's driveway late Thursday night, to my great singing relief! He'd been gone almost a week, for my second solo-parenting week of the summer. Phew!

We'd planned to go to Seabreeze, the local amusement park (right on the shore of Lake Ontario!), before we knew we were going to lose Grandpa. And it was decided that Grandpa would just love for his great grandkids to go ahead and smile anyway. Leah made three adults to four kids; an excellent ratio!

Behold, the summer enjoyment of children:

 Three adults meant we could split up any way we liked. Little kids and big kids, kids and two adults, and sometimes, Adele and one chaperon (the shortest among us and thus qualified to ride the fewest rides) and everyone else.

 Don't pity her excessively. She got almost as many rides on the kiddy cars as she could have wished, as a result of her little height.

 The kiddy rides are perfectly positioned in the middle of the park, all together (and right near the bathrooms!!). This meant that Jon and I, Leah and I and Jon and Leah could go running off several times to ride rollercoasters while the kids gleefully took yet another turn and another on their favorite kiddo rides.

I loved when all four of them could fit in one cart. 

Scarlet O'Hara? Anyone?

 Adele probably had six rides on the classic Seabreeze Carousel, which turns 135 this year! (125 in 2004).

 I loved walking around the inside, looking at the vintage pictures of Seabreeze history (many of which can be seen here). Did you know it's the 4th oldest operating amusement park in the nation? I didn't!

The Wurlitzer is still crashing away in 3/4 time.

 She doesn't care when it opened; she was just thrilled it went "round and round AND up and down!!"

A coaster Jon & I rode, Ontario behind. 

If you don't like pictures of tiny kids on tiny rides, probably this hasn't been the post for you.

 Cousin Abby and Miles resumed their fast friendship immediately, and Abby did a lot to make Miles more brave and open-minded, from trying foods to enjoying the Bear Tracks Coaster much more when he rode next to her!

Miles and Abby, grinning, front row. 

I used to pity my parents that they had to spent so much time watching us do things. I just had no idea how much they were enjoying just watching, how much they may sometimes have needed to hear kids laugh.

I'm just so grateful.

More than one way to go home

 This is my permanent home. I've lived in several Rochester area houses, but this is the constant: the cottage on Ontario.

Leah & I arrived with the kids about 6:30 pm and dished up dinner. I'm sticking our sunset photos at the end of this entry, though, as they seem to belong there.

Tuesday was grey and cool, so not terribly unusual for the lakefront. We took a walk around the grounds, found friends and distant relatives to catch up with, and threw stones into the churning waters.

See that far point? I told the kids the story about how one time Leah & I rowed a leaky raft there and back, when we were girls. 

The Lake never fails me. I think it missed me. 

 Apparently, they're tearing down the classic wood playground in favor of a new plastic one. I disapprove.

I know this is odd, but I used to gaze at those silos a lot. 

Good old play train. I'll miss you. 

 These two have been SO pleased to be reunited.

On the way home, Miles drowsed, "I just love my uncles and aunts and grandparents so so so so so so so so so so sooooooo much." Me too, bud.

This was our evening storytime location.

This photo feeds me. I can just hear it. 

 I fervently hope to spend more time here someday.

In the meantime, I will take every opportunity to breathe it in. Alive. 

Fruit of the Spirit No. 2: Joy.

Well, the kids were putting me through a mild hell on Sunday, as they coped with their Shakespeare-induced hangover. I attended church at the South Wedge Mission Sunday night, and got a good measure of the spiritual food I hadn't been able to enjoy at the morning service, consumed as I was with wrestling the kids into compliance. South Wedge Mission's service has a nourishing peace and palpable love to it; you should really go, if you're in the area. But by bedtime, another solo battle, I was fried again.

Still, when Leah told me that Monday was a good day for her to adventure with me to Lake Ontario, we packed our bags! This was prominent on my list of Things to Do in New York, you see. Equally prominent was the item: Visit Brown's Berry Patch. Guys, this place is so special, tucked as it is among the apple orchard, corn fiends and dairy farms that line this particular area of the lakeshore.

Somewhere among the goats and rabbits and outdoor play aids my throat loosened and my smile returned and I began to feel alive again.

Water table!

No more injunctions not to touch!

No more impatient Mummy.

The kids' little spirits just flew.

Behold, the Bunny Village!

There is even a Bunny Church! Miles believes the Big Sandy Rabbit is the priest.

Adele is getting better at photography:

Tai-Tai on a tire swing horse.

Look at our symmetrical rows of cousins:

Yet another Adele-in-peril shot, for my series. 

5 year olds on top, 2 year olds doing the work!

GoKarts. I mean, on top of everything else. 

Goat feeding time!

Adele's smile of Goat-Saliva delight.

Do you see this glee? I felt EXACTLY like this most of the afternoon.

And then there was this thing, guys:

We probably spent 30 minutes in there, flipping ourselves upside down and laughing fit to burst. No fear, no worries, just physical PLAY such as I rarely have the energy for as an adult. How have I become too weak to play? Oh children, show us the way!

Playing Attercop Spiders :-)

Classic Western New York sky. 

This calf and I are buddies.

After the attractions closed, it was berry picking time! Last year was blueberry year; this year:

We feasted on raspberry bliss.

Sticky fingers, full bellies, summer joy for the picking.

Thank you God for the good gifts of summer.