Memories

We had to say goodbye this morning. Kevin cried and Grandma did too! What a sweet boy! Somehow or other, Grandma and Grandpa need to move closer!!!

In spite of rain in our eyes, the skies were cloudless and beautiful! My new SUV has a humongous sunroof so that it is almost a convertible! Guinness loves it! In fact, Kevin does too! A few days ago, he stayed in the car with Grampy while I went into a post office. When I came out, Kevin was rising out of the roof waving and yelling by standing on the console between the two front seats. Always one to attract attention! I reached in my purse for my camera, but, alas, it was not there.


As we drove along, reliving our recent days, Grant reminded me of an incident at Angus Barn: I remarked that I was very full after eating less than half of my plate. Kevin's response was, "Then why don't you stop eating?" Smart child!

We picked up a sale flier as we walked out of ToysRUs on Friday. I pulled out a yellow highlighter from my purse and suggested that he circle the toys which interest him. He did that, but he took it a bit further -- just like his Mommy! He drew a unique Kevin-style check-mark beside the toys we saw in the store, plus he colored over the toys that he does not want.

Another incident I neglected to blog is one which I did not experience, but Steve posted on his Facebook Wall. While we were at ToysRUs, Steve was working upstairs. He heard some noise downstairs, but did not think too much about it. When he returned to the kitchen, this is what he found --

I think he looks INNOCENT!!!!

Guinness's exploits are worthy of their own blog -- http://dogsofourlives.blogspot.com/

Karin's cousin, Marsha, wrote a beautiful story/tribute about Karin's clothes which we posted to Karin's Updates blog -- http://karinupdates.blogspot.com/2009/01/another-tribute-to-karin.html. Like Karin, she is a gifted writer. Marsha currently has a blog -- http://www.lifeina-town.com -- about everyday things with a twist wringing out a nugget of truth. As we were driving home, I received an email of a comment she made on my grandma's blog post, "Black Friday," concerning Karin's grave: "The flowers are lovely but make me feel terribly sad as the anniversary of Karin's Home-going draws near.
'My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.'
"Yes, 'everlasting life and light' - that truth does cheer me. (I can almost hear Karin cheering from Heaven.) :') "
I CAN and have heard Karin cheering from Heaven!!!

We are steeling ourselves for the upcoming anniversary. I have been considering how to commemorate the day. Since we sang carols to her the last three days, I thought of having a caroling party, but Grant didn’t like the idea. He thought we should be alone and go out to dinner – always his manner for marking an event! Then we thought of inviting local friends and family to come over that evening for cookies and eggnog or something, but, if I did that, they would feel obligated, and I didn’t want that. I prayed that God would send friends to us on that day, expecting to repeat that prayer many times before the advent of December 15. That very day, Grant encountered two young women who followed Karin’s blog of Kevin faithfully, the The Faulkner Five, and then her Updates blog. They asked if we were having a mass said for Karin that day and that they would like to attend. Grant told them that Protestants, unfortunately, do not do that. Then he invited them and their husbands to join us for dinner! They responded that they wanted to be with us that day but did not want to be presumptuous to suggest that. God provided!!!!

Black Friday

Kevin rearranged his masking tape creations today, attaching them all to the mantle plus adding a few other pieces of art. Lovely.

Steve and I had talked about taking Kevin to a toy store some evening this past week to find out what he is interested in for Christmas. He doesn't seem to know what he wants and we are clueless. For the past couple of months, he has survived with basically no toys as everything has been packed up for the house being on the market. His available toys have included a few books, crayons, MagnaTiles, and that is basically it. Of course, with school and after school, he is at home only a precious fews hours in a day.

We never made it to a toy store, but Grampy and Kevin went to Michael's with me today to find winter flowers for Mommy. We passed a ToysRUs and couldn't resist. Well, Grampy could have resisted, but he was a good sport (well, mainly a good sport). Kevin found a half a dozen things that I put on my list as potential gifts. He liked this $150 D-Rex. But $150??? (sigh)

We gave Mommy her new flowers. Yesterday, we added a couple of solar lights to illuminate her resting place at night.

Tonight, Daddy went to dinner with a friend, and the three of us went to O'Charleys where Heather (former nanny) likes to go. We called (no answer) and emailed her (no response) to invite her to join us. Kevin cried crocodile tears! He was soooo disappointed that she did not respond. Finally, after we returned home, an email arrived saying she was shopping at a mall. You might know! LOL I hope she comes tomorrow, because Kevin had some gifts ready for her.

Thanksgiving Day

Kevin was VERY tired last night, got to bed late again, and we hoped he would sleep in. Not! The day began with Guinness awakening at 7 AM, wandering into Kevin's room, and licking Kevin's hand. He awoke happy, but not impressed with the lick.



We saw two deer in the backyard today. Here is one.

Grampy made pancakes and sausage for our brunch this morning. After eating, Kevin wanted me to take pictures of the making tape "decorations" he had made around the house. I gave him my camera and told him to take his own pictures.






Then he went outside with the camera and took more interesting scenes! This is only a sampling of his artistic creations.





He made this graphic at school.





Since we couldn't have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner today at Angus Barn, we made reservations at a fancy, romantic restaurant in an old house. Last night, Kevin began the meal by dumping and breaking the little sugar packet holder. By dessert today, he was beginning to be a little crazy. Looks like he wants to be a reindeer here. At the the end of the meal, and he tipped my empty wine glass onto the floor smashing it in a million pieces. The others in our room suddenly went quiet. Not a hospitable atmosphere for a little one! We won't be back...


This evening, thanks to Steve, we went to see "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

Before the play began, Kevin was his typical sociable self saying "hello" and "Happy Thanksgiving," to all around us. He was very tired, but was "mesmerized" as his Dad phrased it! He LOVED it! He was vocal a few times during the performance making neighbors giggle. I should have typed them on my Blackberry to remember them. When the ballet dancers were performing, he said, "Ballet dancers usually wear pink tutus." During one of the special effects scenes showing the Phantom in a boat with Christine under the Opera House, he commented, "That's awesome!" At Intermission, a lady behind him said that he made the show for her. LOL As we were leaving the building, a man behind us (who must have witnessed Kevin in the theater) commented in a positive way, "I can't imagine a 4 year old enjoying this performance! He was given quite an opportunity."

A Holiday is Coming!

This morning, Kevin and I made Candy Cane Cookies. The dough is VERY stiff. In order the blend the red food coloring into half the dough, you have to squeeze the dough by hand. He did an excellent job of squeezing!

He also is old enough now to roll the "worms" for creating the twisted canes.

Grandma did the twisting.
You ask: "Where are the cookie sheets?" We are asking the same question!!! LOL

Kevin made a card for Grampy before he arrived.


Guinness and Grampa arrived this afternoon!!! Grampy was very tired, as was Grandma, and we desperately wanted a nap. Yeah, right! We tried with all 4 of us (including Kevin and Guinness). You know how that went! LOL We must have told Kevin to "be quiet," because, when Grampy briefly dropped off to sleep, Kevin said, "Grampy isn't being quiet." LOL

Having an afternoon holiday snack of nuts with chocolate chips and a candy cane cookie.

Dancing with Daddy!

Guinness is loving his big brother. ;-)

And, of course, his cousin Kevin!!!

We went to dinner tonight at Angus Barn. A bittersweet meal. A place that Karin loved and where we had dinner on Thanksgiving Day last year.

Kevin was ushered into the kitchen to prepare his own ice cream dessert!

The Faulkner Duo in front of the gigantic Christmas tree.

No Pictures!

Can't believe I never took a picture today, but we still had an enterprising day.

After taking him to school, I went to Target to buy a Phantom of the Opera video. Tonight we watched it with Daddy! The reason? Daddy has bought tickets for us to see a live performance Thanksgiving night. :) (How nice of Daddy!) I thought it would be a good idea to introduce Kevin to the scary Phantom and the basic line of the plot. I was amazed at his attention span! He watched the whole movie and was humming the tunes by the end. He commented recently on some music that sounded sad, and I told him it was in a minor key and tried to introduce the concept of major and minor keys to him. I pointed out a song in the movie that was in a minor key too -- how it makes the music sound dark and mysterious or even scary.

I have been packing some things to help Daddy. Kevin "learned" to use the tape runner and helped me pack.

We finished the final Christmas mosaic project. Have I mentioned that he sits in a chair next to me, then scooches onto my lap? So sweet! I love it! But his attention span is waning on this time-consuming project. He was only interested in giving me the little sticky squares to put on. He had had enough of sticking them on himself.

Back to School and Texas life

Monday morning: back to school for Kevin. Look what someone brought! Yum!!! I thought this was very clever, and I knew I would never remember it if I didn't take a picture. Years ago, I made a turkey head out of felt to slip over the bottom of a fresh, uncut pineapple lying down with the leaves as the tail -- which I still have to use as a centerpiece.

I went on a fruitless shopping trip. Two of the stores I wanted to visit were closed! I guess, that says something about the economy! And I packed boxes for Daddy -- closets and videos. I left the Thanksgiving and Christmas videos and CDs out to watch for a couple more weeks.

While I am here, I am picking up Kevin after school at 3 instead of him going to the after school program until 6. He helped me sort the videos to pass on to Kien (and Gabe), and we watched a couple of Christmas videos. Well, Kevin did. Grandma fell asleep! Grandma caught Kevin's nasty cold. But who can reject those nice kisses I am getting?!

Look what extravagant Grampy sent!!! :)


This evening, we went shopping for a child's version of Phantom of the Opera since we are going to see it Thursday evening! No luck. Then we went shopping for a winter jacket that fits. Now we have a 4T coat to ship to Kien too (though it will probably fit Gabe first! :-0 ). We also have a stack of 4T clothes to send as Kevin is definitely a 5 now. He is 45 inches tall!

Speaking of Gabe, Daddy Greg emailed a video last week of Gabe talking to the Glowworm that Kien never liked and wearing a robot shirt that Karin bought for Kevin, because Steve likes robots.

And Kien reading his favorite book -- Goodnight Moon! He now sleeps in Kevin's toddler bed with no issues! :) What a good boy!

Tooth, Church, and Sisters

Kevin lost a tooth at the end of October at Myrtle Beach. But the Tooth Fairy forgot to come! Then Grandma inadvertently took the tooth home in her suitcase. I brought it back; we put it in his Tooth Fairy pillow Friday night under his pillow, and the Tooth Fairy forgot again! Kevin was sure that it was because it was under his pillow, so he left it beside his pillow last night.

Daddy was still out when I went to bed. To remind him, after Kevin was asleep, I planted a toothbrush trail to the Tooth Fairy pillow which I placed on top of a stack of pillows on his bed. The Tooth Fairy came through!!!!


Kevin awoke to find something sticking out of his toothfairy pillow.

$20!!! I told him that the Tooth Fairy must have given him a bonus for having to wait so long for his reward. First he asked how the Tooth Fairy has money. We discussed possibilities Grandma has heard of making things like lamps and jewelry boxes out of teeth, or maybe donors give money as to the Tooth Fairy for the purpose of compensating children for having lost a tooth. Now he wants to know how he can make more money! A natural Capitalist in spite of being born in Russia! I told him to talk to Daddy about that.


When it was time to leave for church, Kevin decided he didn't want to go. It took some cajoling and praying to coax him into coming along. Once he was there, all was fine, except he wanted me to stay with him during his church-time program -- something that was not uncommon through last fall. But I was very happy to be a part of his awesome class! The lesson was on David and Goliath. The teacher did a fabulous job of relating to the kids and involving them in the story. After the lesson, the kids lined up to march like soldiers.


After the teacher led around the room, he asked Kevin to be the leader.


We both had fun seeing old friends and chatting and playing.


This afternoon, Steve's friend Debbie came over with her dog and two girls -- Devon who is Kevin's age and Dylan who is almost 3. The kids get along very well with each other and have a raucous, good time. They stayed for dinner, and I finally remembered to take some shots before they left.





Kevin is having a meltdown here because they are leaving. He is crying, "I want a sister!"