Problem/Solution Project in Relation to my Time with Lilly

For our Problem/Solution Project we started off with the idea of enhancing Cortland with parks, statues, and gardens. Although it morphed into just focusing on gardens, it still relates to my time with Lilly. A community garden is a wonderful way to spend time with a kid, it teaches them so many different attributes. Lilly and I could spend time together at the garden. I am sure Lilly would love it, especially on a nice day. Even if it was more than just a garden, such as parks and hiking trails, Lilly would love it too. She has a nice bike, that just got 2 new tires on it, I am positive she would love to ride it.
In relation to the gardens, I asked Lilly what she thought of gardening and she said it would be fun. If Lilly thinks that gardening would be entertaining than I am sure other kids, older and younger than Lilly would be just as thrilled. Hopefully, the current garden will continue to grow and we can plot a second community garden somewhere else in Cortland.

Thursday, October 15th, 2015

Today I picked Lilly up at our normal time, 4:00 pm. She was waiting right at the door and when I opened it she greeted me with a smile. I told her mom that we would be back soon, but it wasn't to her concern. I decided to take Lilly to the YWCA today to make Halloween themed crafts. We marched up to Sara's office and I allowed Lilly to grab whatever crafts she wanted. She had a handful of stickers, paper and a marker box. I grabbed whatever she missed. We do crafts in a specific room in the YWCA. The room holds a summer camp and day camp for holidays when kids don't have school but parents have work. The room is full of blocks, crafts, toys and books. There is even a piano in there that caught Lilly's interest. I set all of the crafts down on the table and played music from my phone. Just to be safe I played KIDZ BOP and Lilly enjoyed singing along. I would say Lilly sat down and did crafts for probably 10 minutes and then it was on to something else. I was enjoying coloring a ghost but didn't mind doing something else. Lilly loved playing the piano, she made me sit and watch her for a good 20 minutes. In all honesty I was getting a little bored but we mixed it up by playing with these large balls. We drew on the chalkboard an then it was on to bigger and better things. We headed to the gym where there is a closet full of balls, hockey sticks, bowling balls and pins, little bikes and even a little car. Lilly had more fun exploring this closet and pulling out whatever toys she could. We got out the car, some balls and hockey sticks and made a course that she could drive around. She had to "stop" and get gas or "stop" at stop lights. Every now and then I would throw a ball her way and she had to brake. We had a lot of fun and laughs throwing balls and bean bags back and forth at each other. After 2 hours at the YWCA, I told her it was time to go home. She asked, "One more time around in the car?" I couldn't say no so I let her. One more turn ended up being 5 more times but that's okay. I took her home and she asked what we would do next. I thought it would be fun to show her the dorms, or what she calls "houses inside one big house". I gave Lilly a hug and promised I would see her in exactly one week.

Hours today: 2.5
For a total of: 7 hrs. 

Thursday, October 8th, 2015

Today I picked Lilly up from her house. I walked up the second floor where their apartment is. Lilly's brother, Christian, opened the door. At first, Christian was unsure of who I was and closed the door. Once I said "Hi Lilly" he let Lilly get the door, he wasn't going to open it again. Lilly opened the door   with another large smile on her face. Once I went in the apartment I asked Lilly what it was that she wanted to do that day. I gave her the option of riding bikes and getting ice cream, or mini golfing and getting ice cream. Christina explained that Lilly was waiting on new bike tires before she could ride bikes so mini golfing it was. I told Lilly's mom what we are doing and how long we would be but Christina didn't seem to mind how long we were gone.

Lilly and I headed off to A&W to mini golf. She climbed into my car and I almost forgot I had to check to make sure she was buckled up. I am not used to having to check to make sure my passenger(s) are buckled. Lilly knew her way around the booster seat and buckled up just fine, I verified it. As I drove I checked in my review mirror to make sure Lilly was alright. Every now and then I caught her checking the very back of my SUV, possibly for anything fun or interesting. We talked about school and Halloween. I definitely want to take her Trick-or-Treating on one of the nights. Halloween is such a fun time of year and want to share it with her. Maybe she can come to the dorms when they give out candy to younger kids. I bet she would feel cool if she got to hand out candy with us after making a round to get our own candy. Anyways, we went to A&W to mini golf. She seemed thrilled at this idea and was even more thrilled upon arrival. Lilly said how she'd been mini golfing once before with her Nana but it had been awhile.

Once we got into it, Lilly did well. Her swing was a little crazy because she basically did a full golf swing but once she watched me a few times it calmed down a little. Lilly had more fun watching me from the other end of the hole than she did putting the ball. She enjoyed watching where my ball ended up and how close it was to the whole. At times she hit my ball in or closer to the hole for me. it was cute to watch her. On the 18th hole, Lilly wondered where the ball went and I had to break it to her that it disappears into the shack where the worker will pick it up for someone else to use. Lilly was disappointed and asked why there couldn't be 20 holes of golf.

After mini golfing we went to Foote Freeze and got ice cream. she knew just what she wanted, coffee ice cream on a cone with rainbow sprinkles and that is exactly what she got! We sat together at picnic table and ate ice cream and talked. Ants were crawling all over the table and she blew them off. Ice cream was all over her face...reminded me of my brother, except he is 16! Lilly got cold at one point and so I went to my car which was just across the lot to get her coat. I remember Sara telling me not to take my eyes of the kid because they won't stay in one spot so I checked on Lilly. She was standing up facing me so I asked her if she was planning to hide from me (thinking that is what i would be doing) but she just said "No, I was going to dance!" I felt bad for wrongly accusing her and assured it her it was okay to dance whenever she wanted to!

After we left the ice cream store, Lilly asked "What's next?" Since it had already been an hour and a half I thought time was up and dinner was around the corner. I parked outside her house and walked into the building with her where her older sister, Brianna, was doing laundry. Brianna was struggling so I helped her do the family's laundry. After, I walked Lilly up the stairs and told them I would be back next Thursday a little after 4:00 pm. Next time I plan to bring cat treats for all the stray cats that hang in and around the building. Overall, my first date with Lilly was fun and I look forward to next Thursday. I am thinking next time we will make Halloween crafts and possibly swim all at the YWCA. Will post after!

Hours Today: 2
For a Total of: 4.5

Meeting Lilly

Today was the first time I met Lilly and her family. I met Sara at the YWCA and we drove in her car to Lilly's place which is near downtown Cortland. Lilly has two siblings that live with her in the apartment. I met Brianna who is in fifth grade but unfortunately didn't meet Christian, who is Lilly's brother. I also met Christina, Lilly's mom. The family members I met today were sweet people and I could tell there was lots of love under their roof. Upon arrival, Lilly seemed thrilled that Sara was there with a mentor (me) in close tow. Lilly opened the door with a huge smile on her face. Not just any smile though, the biggest smile full of half grown in teeth. I miss those days- waiting for my tooth to fall out so it could be replaced with an "adult" tooth. Lilly and I started talking immediately. She told me about school, her favorite activities, her brother and sister and so much more. I am really looking forward to spending time with Lilly because it seems that we like to do a lot of the same things. Lilly explained to me how she likes to ride bikes, bake and play baseball. These hobbies fit perfectly to my hobbies. Lilly likes to sing and dance in addition to the other activities, as embarrassed as I am to sing and dance I think Lilly will bring out the courage in me to sing and dance alongside of her. I have lots of fun things planned for Lilly and I. Some of which include, trips to the Sciencenter (Ithaca), visiting parks around Cortland and Ithaca, tubing at Greek Peak in the winter, getting ice cream together, playing on the playground, reading, doing arts and crafts, and of course a trip to Build-A-Bear at the end of the year (Shhh this will be a surprise though!). I hope that Lilly is just as excited and ready as I am because our first date to meet is this coming Thursday. I have arranged that every Thursday at 4:30 p.m. I will pick Lilly up from her house and we will go on our next adventure.  Christina was perfectly okay with this and I am sure she will be with additional times if Lilly and I please. Lilly's living situation is very different from mine and I think that we will both learn a lot about how other people live and what other living situations are out there. Not only will it be a fun experience, but an eye opening and educational one too. Overall, my first visit went well and I will update things on Thursday after I meet with Lilly!

Hours today: .5
For a total of: 2.5 hours