Last time I went to pick up Lilly she and her sister Bri had their swimsuits ready to go swim but I broke them the news that we weren't actually going swimming. This being, I decided to go swimming with them today. I knew that I shouldn't be taking Bri along but once again, I couldn't say no. I knew all too well that Bri would want to come. Once I arrived I made the climb up the steps of their new apartment! The family had moved literally to the house next to their old one but this apartment was bigger. Even though this apartment was located in a little different spot, I still felt unsafe when picking/ dropping them up/ off. I was hoping that my feelings of safety would change; however, they remained the same.
Lilly and Bri dug what swimsuits they could find out of the moving bags. Lilly ended up only finding a swim top so she grabbed a pair of her brother's shorts- too funny. They grabbed their shower towels and Lilly explained to me that they were only allowed to use one towel per week so her and her brother shared one.
Family swim at the YWCA was not until 7:30 pm so this was special because usually I am returning them around this time. We grabbed what we needed and headed to the pool!
On the way to the Y, Lilly and Bri told me all about their Halloween fun. The girls went Trick-or-Treating with their cousins and some family friends. They both got lots of candy.
Once in the YWCA, there were specific things to do to check into swimming hours. Since I had never done this before Bri and Lilly helped me through it while occasionally arguing over what next. Whatever Bri did, she signed us up for something in which my total was $9. I asked if it was that much for Bridges for Kids members and the lady exclaimed that it wasn't. Thankfully, because I did not have any cash on me. We changed unto our bathing suits and headed to the water.
The pool at the Y is nice, it is long rather than wide and is heated, thankfully. Lilly and Bri jumped in while I slowly waded in. There were quite a few people in the pool, including; young boys who were rowdy, a family that did not speak English, a mother and her mentally disabled daughter and then an elderly woman swimming laps. There was quite a large crowd but they had forgiveness for the silly, upbeat kids. I showed Lilly and Bri some of my favorite pool games from summer camps, some of which are dibble, colors and the classic Marco Polo. The girls enjoyed hitting a beach ball around the whole entire pool room. I have to give the Y credit because they are so accepting for the kids, they really cater to them.
Swim was only 7:30 to 8:30 so before we knew it we had to clear the pool. Lilly and Bri made sure to be the last ones out and were thrilled when the lifeguard asked them to dive down and retrieve a sunken toy. Of course, they "accidentally" dropped it a few times on the way to the steps.
We changed our clothes and the girls were not thrilled at the fact that it was almost time to go. So, they proposed the idea to go play in the gym until the Y closed at 9. They outsmarted me, they know everything about the Y so I couldn't say no. I texted their mom to ask if it was alright and she responded with an "I don't care," so off to the gym it was.
We shot hoops and I tried to teach Lilly how to make it in more since she was missing a lot compared to Bri. Bri didn't help because of sibling rivalry, I was there once so I know how it goes. Once 9 hit, a staff member came up and made sure we shut the lights off properly and off it was. We headed back to the girls house, as I promised we would swim again.
I dropped them off and was expecting a hug from Lilly or something, but barely even got a good-bye. Subway's subs were waiting on the table and I just couldn't compare to that. I told Lilly I would see her in exactly one week!
Hours today: 2.5
Hours at South China Sea Presentation: 2
for a total of: 17 hours
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
Thursday, October 29th, 2015
Halloween excitement is in the air! Lilly is being a girl from Candyland, her costume consists of a colorful dress with lollipops all over it. Trick-or-Treating is taking place in the dorms tonight and although we were planning on swimming, Trick-or-Treating is better. When I picked Lilly up she was in her mom's car getting her swimsuit out of it. I immediately warned her that the plans were changing and that we were going to dress and get candy and then hand some out. Lilly was thrilled at this idea and she dropped her swimsuit and swimming thoughts to go get her halloween costume. I told Christina what the plan was and she handed me all the parts to Lilly's costume that Lilly was forgetting. Bri overheard candy and wanted to join and I didn't have the heart to tell her no. Sara E. from the YWCA, said that it is best to have one-on-one interactions with your child because that is the whole point of the organization. I took Bri along anyways, she was dressed up as a zombie bride. We got to the dorm a little late because it took forever for Bri and Lilly to change and then they ended up forgetting important pieces of their costumes that I had to turn around for. Being that we were already late I parked my car in the 15 minute parking, knowing that I would be a lot longer than 15 minutes. I hoped I wouldn't get a ticket but the girls were just too anxious to drive around and find a spot. We got into the hall, Hendrick hall, and there was all sorts of activities set up for the kids to do. It was incredible! Bri and Lilly started off by drawing pictures on big cut out pumpkins, and drinking apple cider. There were donuts hanging from strings that the kids had to nibble off. Lilly and Bri promised me that if I did it first that they would do it right behind me. So, I went first and got white powdered donut all over my chin. Bri didn't go at all, she broke her promise because she said she didn't want to get food all over. Lilly said she would do it but she couldn't reach it so I picked her up and she ate the donut off. There were so many cute kids in the room. We played pin the bow on the skeleton and then it was time to go on our tour for candy!
Walking around the halls, I couldn't tell if people knew that I was with Lilly and Bri or if I was just walking around. Despite whether they knew or not, everyone smiled and I could tell that Lilly and Bri were having lots of fun. We got back to my "house" and both girls immediately dumped all of their candy out on the floor to compare and contrast who got what. They counted and organized their candy, every now and then they would trade one another for a specific kind. This reminded me of when my brother and I were younger, we would fight over candy and who had more.
In between trading candies, trick-or-treaters would come to our door and ask for candy. Bri and Lilly made little bowls of candy and let the kids pick which they wanted. It was so fun to see the different costumes and just in general, the people. I got to see more of the types of people who live in Cortland. I had fun people watching and costume judging. After the candy dispute was settled, Lilly had a contest with herself to see if she could jump up on my high bed. I didn't support her climbing all over my begin her sneakers but didn't stop her either. Bri had fun drawing bat pictures. I taught her how to draw a bat and she tried to replicate it. The kids stopped coming around 6:00 pm and I let Bri and Lilly take the rest of the leftover candy. We watched Casper the Ghost for awhile and then I took them home. I enjoyed Trick-or-Treating with them and I think they did too! It was another fun night.
Hours today: 3
For a total of: 12.5
Walking around the halls, I couldn't tell if people knew that I was with Lilly and Bri or if I was just walking around. Despite whether they knew or not, everyone smiled and I could tell that Lilly and Bri were having lots of fun. We got back to my "house" and both girls immediately dumped all of their candy out on the floor to compare and contrast who got what. They counted and organized their candy, every now and then they would trade one another for a specific kind. This reminded me of when my brother and I were younger, we would fight over candy and who had more.
In between trading candies, trick-or-treaters would come to our door and ask for candy. Bri and Lilly made little bowls of candy and let the kids pick which they wanted. It was so fun to see the different costumes and just in general, the people. I got to see more of the types of people who live in Cortland. I had fun people watching and costume judging. After the candy dispute was settled, Lilly had a contest with herself to see if she could jump up on my high bed. I didn't support her climbing all over my begin her sneakers but didn't stop her either. Bri had fun drawing bat pictures. I taught her how to draw a bat and she tried to replicate it. The kids stopped coming around 6:00 pm and I let Bri and Lilly take the rest of the leftover candy. We watched Casper the Ghost for awhile and then I took them home. I enjoyed Trick-or-Treating with them and I think they did too! It was another fun night.
Hours today: 3
For a total of: 12.5
Thursday, October 22nd, 2015
Earlier this day I was at Walmart with my roommate wondering what Lilly and I could do together later. As I walked through the baking aisle I remembered how much Lilly loved to bake. I decided to get cookies for us to bake later and then frosting to decorate with. I picked out the "Easy Bake" sugar cookies that aren't from scratch but it was as good as I could find. I picked out purple frosting because I knew this was Lilly and my favorite color. After Walmart, my roommate, Dana and I went to pick up Lilly. When I pulled up to Lilly's house, I noticed Christina's car wasn't in the driveway but figured they were still home. I knocked on the door but there was no answer. Whenever I go to pick up/drop off Lilly I always like to get into the apartment quickly, I don't like standing in the hallway. In all honesty, I get a little scared being alone in her apartment building. So when there was no response after the first few knocks, I opened the door a little. The door was unlocked but no one came to the door so I walked back down to my car so I was not alone. I met Christian and his 'big brother' half way down the steps. I asked Christian where everyone was and he said he didn't know but he wasn't going upstairs alone if there was no one waiting in the apartment. I asked his mentor if he knew anything and then Christina pulled up. Christina said there was an incident at school that held the kids late. They would be there soon but until then we could only wait. My roommate texted me from my car asking where Lilly was and what was going on. Dana had never met Lilly before. Eventually the school bus pulled up and Lilly waved to me from the bus window. She basically ran off the bus with Bri in tow. I over heard Lilly yell to a friend, "That's my big sister!" It made me smile and warmed my heart when she called me her big sister. I could tell that she was super excited to see what we had planned.
Lilly hugged me right away and whispered in my ear "I see you have a friend with you," I laughed and said that Dana was my roommate and Lilly got very anxious to go meet her. Lilly ran her school bag upstairs and we headed off to my dorm. Lilly doesn't call them dorm rooms, instead she calls them houses. We arrived in the dorm and Lilly was very fascinated. She loved scanning my ID card to get in and out of the halls. She also enjoyed using the key to open my "house" door. We got the necessary baking items, but I soon realized that I had forgotten most of them o didn't have access to them. Baking in a dorm is not nearly as simple as it is at home. Anyways, Lilly and I mixed together the ingredients and balled dough onto the trays. We put the cookies in and it was on to the next game/activity.
Lilly took immediate liking to the pool table in the lounge. We rolled the balls back and forth and she laughed whenever she made it in a cup. Once the pool table got boring, I suggested we get games out of mine and Dana's room. Lilly asked if she could use the key to open the door, and of course I let her. She loved doing something so simple, which made me feel relaxed. We played with Jenga blocks; however, we didn't play by the rules. Something I have learned is, kids rarely play by the rules, they make their own and I didn't have the heart to tell her no. The cookies were done and we frosted them and added an excess amount of sprinkles. I allowed her to take the rest home, I knew her family would enjoy them more than just Dana and I. After we packed up the cookies, it was dark and I hadn't gad dinner yet so I suggested we leave. Lilly suggested one more Jenga game including Dana so we did. After, I dropped her off at home. Whenever I drop Lilly off, she never really says good-bye, she is usually over taken by the fast food dinner waiting for her or her sister. I always say "Bye Lilly" and get no response from Lilly or her mother.
While at the dorm with Lilly I loved how everyone came in and visited her. They all wanted to meet her and know more about her. Some people thought she was my sister, and although she refers to me as her big sister, we aren't by blood (who cares though). I had fun in the dorm and I know she had more. I think she really enjoys seeing the "houses" and getting attention from older kids.
Hours today: 2.5
For a Total of: 9.5 hrs.
Lilly hugged me right away and whispered in my ear "I see you have a friend with you," I laughed and said that Dana was my roommate and Lilly got very anxious to go meet her. Lilly ran her school bag upstairs and we headed off to my dorm. Lilly doesn't call them dorm rooms, instead she calls them houses. We arrived in the dorm and Lilly was very fascinated. She loved scanning my ID card to get in and out of the halls. She also enjoyed using the key to open my "house" door. We got the necessary baking items, but I soon realized that I had forgotten most of them o didn't have access to them. Baking in a dorm is not nearly as simple as it is at home. Anyways, Lilly and I mixed together the ingredients and balled dough onto the trays. We put the cookies in and it was on to the next game/activity.
Lilly took immediate liking to the pool table in the lounge. We rolled the balls back and forth and she laughed whenever she made it in a cup. Once the pool table got boring, I suggested we get games out of mine and Dana's room. Lilly asked if she could use the key to open the door, and of course I let her. She loved doing something so simple, which made me feel relaxed. We played with Jenga blocks; however, we didn't play by the rules. Something I have learned is, kids rarely play by the rules, they make their own and I didn't have the heart to tell her no. The cookies were done and we frosted them and added an excess amount of sprinkles. I allowed her to take the rest home, I knew her family would enjoy them more than just Dana and I. After we packed up the cookies, it was dark and I hadn't gad dinner yet so I suggested we leave. Lilly suggested one more Jenga game including Dana so we did. After, I dropped her off at home. Whenever I drop Lilly off, she never really says good-bye, she is usually over taken by the fast food dinner waiting for her or her sister. I always say "Bye Lilly" and get no response from Lilly or her mother.
While at the dorm with Lilly I loved how everyone came in and visited her. They all wanted to meet her and know more about her. Some people thought she was my sister, and although she refers to me as her big sister, we aren't by blood (who cares though). I had fun in the dorm and I know she had more. I think she really enjoys seeing the "houses" and getting attention from older kids.
Hours today: 2.5
For a Total of: 9.5 hrs.
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