more summer fun...

Sam just finished a week at the Hochstein Music and Art Summer Camp. He had a great time doing crafts and learning songs. The camp had 23 kids and 10 staff--what a ratio! This morning was their final presentation, and one of the songs they sang for the parents is shown here.

A few weekends ago we were very happy to host our friends, the Dechers, who drove to New York from their home in Vermont for a baby shower, and then drive an extra several hours to Rochester. What a treat! Jan is a small mammologist (actually, he's pretty tall), and Laurel is the chief epidemiologist for Vermont. (Any outbreaks of deadly disease and we were all set!) She's currently writing a children's book set in Medieval times which we are eager to read.

They brought with them their two daughters, Sophie and Isabelle. Isabelle is older than Sam, but they are close enough in age that he eagerly followed her around and she graciously played with him. This was after a week at camp for Sam, and he was thrilled to have someone under thirty to talk to. They are shown together here using the new 2^6 crayons which they brought as a gift for Sam.

This past Monday, after a morning of music & art camp, we took Sam to a McDonald's:





Susan: Guess where we're going? I think this is a McDonald's which has a play land!
Sam: (gasps) Who's idea was that?!
Susan: I think it was Daddy's.
Sam: Daddy's the best! I still like you, though.

Only a four-year-old can deliver that line with such an un-self-conscious lack of guile.

Sam was even more frank (franker?) as we entered the restaurant:

Okay Mommy but I have to warn you, I'm not very good at eating, but I'll try.