KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletter

Sent June 6, 2008

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Dear KOA readers:

And so is the heat, it seems. Was it only three weeks ago that I was worried about putting the tomatoes in the ground?

The big news in the Ross house this week is that Madison got glasses. Now, the fact is, many people have real problems, and so when one puts it all in perspective, no one has any business being too upset over the idea of getting glasses. Madison, understandably, was not thrilled with the idea. She didn't get worked up, but she was quite apprehensive about what she would look like, and she also worried that she would lose or damage them.

Confession: Who was the person most distressed by the idea of Madison getting glasses? I was. I'm pretty sure no one could tell from the outside, but I felt a sinking dismay when we got the verdict from the optometrist last month. You see, I was a bit younger than Madison when I got my first pair, and my eyes gradually worsened all the way into adulthood; I'm now essentially nonfunctional without corrective lenses. It's a pain. I had hoped that my kids would inherit my husband's vision genes, because I didn't want them to have to manage worsening eyesight. On the other hand, today's glasses are dramatically more attractive than they were 30 years ago. And I know, yes I KNOW, that thanks to technology, it's not a big deal. And that's the way I acted with Madison: casual. No big deal. But still.

How relieved I was yesterday when the Glasses Goddess at BJ's in Webster made Madison feel like a Fashion Queen as she fitted the glasses into place on her face for the first time. (BJ's has nice prices on glasses, too, by the way, definitely worth checking out.) Madison was amazed when she put them on. "Wow!" she said several times, as we walked through the store (because who can enter BJ's without shopping). She kept taking the glasses on and off, reading the signs hanging from the ceiling that she could now see. "Is this the way everyone sees?" This of course instantly made me stop feeling sad that my kid was going to have to manage imperfect vision... because, hey, now I felt guilty that we had perhaps waited too long to get them. Ah, motherhood.

2) The article that readers helped me compile on Great End-of-The-Year Gifts Teachers Love has been getting nice traffic. That's at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/main-articles/TeacherGifts.html

Another reader, though, asked this week if I could ask the list a related question: Anyone have creative ideas for what to give bus drivers? The reader writes:

"My daughter just loves her bus driver. He's been kind, friendly and great with the kids. Would it be possible to ask for suggestions from your readers? Do they give gifts? If so, what do they give? Next Friday is our last day of school."

So, readers, any suggestions? Is there "bus driver gift etiquette"? I'll post ideas I receive to that teacher page, and also send them on personally to the reader and to anyone else who requests the list.

3) Congratulations to Kelly of Penfield, who won the tickets to the Laurie Berkner Band at 1pm at CMAC this coming Sunday!

We have a new cool giveaway up on the page today: Rhoda Collins, owner of RhodaGraphs, is giving away a free senior portrait photography sitting and prints! (This prize can be used by an entering high school senior OR a home-schooled student.) Check out the details on our Giveaway page at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/city-articles/giveaways.html

4) Feel the heat? The berries will soon be ready! We have some great information on family fruit picking for the summer: Where, and when. The article is at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/places/summerpick.html

5) CAMPS! Last week, I highlighted some camps that still had open spaces. I have more!

PUSH Pins from Push Physical Theatre is a performing arts camp that my girls attended last year and loved, and we were able to rearrange the schedule so Madison could attend this summer, too. It's June 30-July 3 in Pittsford. The details are at
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/classesandcamps/camps/drama.html I have also included links in the entry so that those interested can download the registration forms directly. Heather Stevenson says KOA readers can waive the $15 registration fee. I believe the camp itself is $182.

Jodi Zajkowski will be running two theater camps this summer, this year at Minerva Deland School in Fairport. One camp is for children entering K-2, "Once Upon A Time"; the other is for kids entering grades 3-5, called "Happily Ever After." This year, the shows are "Circus, Circus" for the little ones and Disney's "The Aristocats" for the older group. The K-2 program runs mornings, July 28-August 8. The 3-5 program runs afternoons, July 21-August 7. Those who are are interested can contact Jodi at ezmom@bluefrog.com for more information.

And, just to heighten the drama...
Rochester Children’s Theatre announces two more summer programs for children ages 8 to 13 this summer, in addition to its previously-announced, five-week, full-day Musical Theatre Summer Conservatory for children ages 8 to 15. Please visit www.rochesterchildrenstheatre.org or call 585-385-0510 for more information.

Liz Bauld at Tops Cooking School says they still have some slots in all four mini-camps, which run in late July and late August. For details, go to:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15876

Frank A. Kruppenbacher from the Rochester School for the Deaf reminded me that they have a special leadership camp every summer for deaf and hard-of-hearing students entering grades 4-8. This year, the camp will be held August 18-22, 2008. For more details, go to:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/classesandcamps/camps/deaf.html

As of yesterday, there were three open slots in the WE@RIT Everyday Engineering Summer Camp for young women entering grades 8, 9, or 10. The slots in grade levels 4-7 are full. The camp runs two weeks, weekdays July 7-July 18. This may be the camp Madison is most excited about this year. If your middle-school-age daughter is interested in grabbing one of those three slots, you should contact Julie Olney right away at 585-475-6321.

7) A heads-up for NEXT weekend: Kids-N-Trucks 2008 will be in Henrietta at The Dome Arena on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. This is a fundraiser to benefit the American Liver Foundation (ALF). The cost is $6.00/person, and discounted tickets available at Wegmans. Details are at: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15408

THIS WEEKEND:

8) How about some opera with kids in it? Mercury Opera Rochester will be performing one of the all-time most beloved operas, La Boheme, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, at Eastman Theatre. See this link for more information: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=13518

9) Fairport Canal Days is this weekend! It's today through Sunday. See details at: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-event.php?id=15745 One of my favorite a capella groups in greater Rochester, The Bow Ties, will be performing at the Gazebo on Sunday at 1:30. When I asked Alan, one of their leaders, if they would be performing the Easter Island Head song in the concert, he said, "Of course!" I hope someone videotapes it and puts it on YouTube...it's really funny, and the guys do it brilliantly.

10) This weekend, the new Clifford exhibit opens at Strong National Museum of Play.

11) Soccer! There is a Rochester Rhinos Womens Soccer Game on Saturday at 4pm at PAETEC Park, and a Rochester Rhinos Mens Soccer Game is at 7:30 on Saturday.

12) Sunday, we'll be heading over to the Genesee Country Village for their annual Highland Gathering. David's family is Scottish, and the Rosses even have their own tartan and crest. David inherited a kilt, and this year for his birthday, the girls and I got him all the accoutrements to go with it: Shirt with leather ties, socks, "flashes" that stick out of the socks, a beret, and a little leather purse. So on Sunday we'll dress him in his finery and go listen to some bagpipes and watch big hairy men hurl some haggis.

There are a ton of other events on the calendar which I can't possibly list here. Please do check out the list at: http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-search-display.php?dr=tw&EventCity=1

As always, it takes you through next weekend so do scroll down so you can plan!

Keep cool!

Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com

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