Minecraft

I have said nothing about Kevin and Minecraft.  Over vacation, he played it hours at a time.  It is a game, in that it is fun (for him!  Not for me!  ha!), but not a typical game.  There are no rules, no scores, no opponent.  Kevin LOVES construction toys, and this is digital construction played on an iPad.  More information on Minecraft with a 1 minute video can be found at https://minecraft.net/

He was playing while I fixed his breakfast -- toast with PB and honey (just like Karin loved) and a cup of eggnog.  

When I told him I was taking pictures for the blog, he showed me a bridge he made (but the photo turned out blurry) and this stadium he created.

Others watching him have said they could not build the things he does as it requires a lot of concentration and time. 

Then I drove him to school and said goodbye for now.  Sweet boy!!!!

Last Full Day

Grandma set her iPhone alarm for 7am, but was up way before that and forgot about the alarm.  Kevin was not very pleased with the alarm ringing in his room, plus he couldn't get it to stop ringing.  Meanwhile I could not hear it from the kitchen.  At 7:04, I went upstairs to waken the boy and found him drowsily awake and not very happy.  ha! 

I went to visit the manager of the cemetery today and learned they already know about the problem.  I had noted several other markers have the same problem, though not as bad as Karin's.  Hers is the worst.  The company which produced the bronze markers realized those made within a certain time frame did not receive the coating to keep them protected and are refurbishing and recoating those markers.  The manager said they are sending a few away at a time and notifying the family that the marker will be missing for a few weeks.  She promised Karin's will be sent away at the end of January and will be back in place and beautiful by spring.  

Grandma picked up the boy from school and met his 2nd grade teacher as he walked up behind her, hugged her, and she tossled his hair saying he is her angel and such a special boy.  She wishes all her students were like Kevin. 

I offered to take him for a treat, but he wanted to come home and play hide-the-thimble.  So we did, followed by hide and seek.  There aren't many places a grandma can hide!  And the places Kevin found were rather tight!!!! 

Kevin was feeling a little sore after the above hiding spot, so we switched to board games.  We played Guess Who, Clue (his first time), and Disney Trivia (also his first time).  We both were BAD at the Disney game!  We need to see the movies all over again.  Karin probably could have answered every question.  She was such a Disney freak! 

The big brothers are gone:  Cullin has returned to college and Stephan is at his Dad's this week.  So they missed my farewell dinner I treated the family to at an Asian restaurant. 

After several days of vacation, Kevin, Grandma, and Mom had forgotten Kevin had homework to do!!!  So we had to take it to the restaurant with us and begin working on it there while waiting for our food.  Then we finished it at home.  His math homework was quite confusing.  :\   They are doing multiplication, and they are teaching him to figure it out a non-orthodox way instead of memorizing the multiplication tables as sane people did.  We got through it, but it was strenuous.  

Sunday

Kevin and I left for church early enough to take supplies to the cemetery to see if we could resolve the fertilizer pellets on Karin's bronze marker.  We were able to remove some of the spots with water and mild detergent, but there is a pit left in the bronze.  This is going to be a delicate situation, to deal with the cemetery administration.  The fertilizer has clearly damaged the marker.

We went to their old church.  Again, Kevin wanted me to stay in his class with him.  They have a wonderful staff of children's teachers.  It was a fun and relevant lesson for the kids. 

The class began with two fish on a sheet of paper for them to color and cut out.  The fish were used in the story of Peter, James, and John fishing all night without catching anything, while they sat on their fish.  Then Jesus appeared in the morning and told them to let down their nets and they caught many fish, and they threw their fish into the pretend net. 

Peter, James, and John accepted Jesus' call to follow him and become fishers of men.  They talked about ways we can serve God in various jobs.

Then they were to write what they could do for God on the back of their fish.  Here are Kevin's responses:

As usual, we were the last ones to leave the building!  So many friends to talk to!  Kevin had a wonderful time playing with his friends, running around, and hiding.

He wanted to drive by his old house.  Surprisingly, he did not remember where on the street it was and did not recognize it when he saw it!!! 

He noted that Daddy left the small angel and harp statue in the backyard and wanted to take a picture of it. 

After church, we met Heather (Kevin's former nanny) and her sweet baby, Tristan, for lunch. 

 He really liked Kevin! 

While Steve and Kinga went shopping, we went to Goodberry's!!!  :)   Kevin did his normal acrobatics while waiting for our order. 

It was a mite chilly for frozen custard, but who cares?! It was YUMMY!!!!

I had Kevin take a photo of me wearing my boots.   Melanie has been telling me for a year that I need to buy boots.  So, after moving to TX and seeing EVERYONE wears boots, I bought boots.  I put them on this morning as Kevin and I left the house.  He asked why I was wearing boots.  I said, "Don't you like my boots?"  He said, "No!  Grandmas don't wear boots!"   So. . . there you go, Melanie!!!

Magic & Hannah

Kevin worked on his magic tricks this morning.  He practiced with Grandma's coaching and developed a respectable show. 

He set up his table by himself and used a baby blanket as a magic cape.

His first trick proves he is adept!

 He is swinging a bottle with a straight rope placed into its mouth.

This is a great trick!  He places a flat disc in this little container, then pushes nails through the solid disc!   ????  

After sufficient practice, he put on his show for his Dad.  Kevin was able to tell what color Steve had chosen to place upright in the cube.  Daddy was perplexed! 

When Daddy was shocked again with Kevin's ability to use sleight of hand to perform magic, we both cracked up!  Daddy was very proud of Kevin's achievements!

The real magic test came this afternoon.  A friend, Hannah, came to play.  Hannah, a strong-willed child who wants to be in control (strange that these two dominant personalities are friends!), was NOT impressed with Kevin's magic.  If she couldn't resolve the trick, it was stupid and she did not want to be a part of it.  Instead of being a silent observer, she was very vocal and belligerent.  <sigh>  Much of their playtime was spent in contention until they finally resolved their differences towards the end of the afternoon.  By that time, Hannah wanted to be part of the magic show for her father, but she did not understand how the tricks worked, so it did not go well. 

The Nutcracker!

We went to see the Carolina Ballet's rendition of The Nutcracker.  It was fabulous!!!!  Perhaps the best performance I have ever seen.  It included "special effects" which were magic.  Kevin's step brothers were a bit skeptical of going, but they enjoyed it.  Kevin was entranced.  The harp in the orchestra was "featured" in that, not only does the harp have significant presence in the music, but the harp was positioned at the far side of the orchestra pit on a pedestal with a spotlight.  Karin's harp teacher plays for some of the concerts, but was not the harpist today. 

Afterwards, we looked at the Nutcracker goodies they had for sale.  Kevin chose a magic kit! 

Also, you could have your photo taken with Santa or with Clara!   So Kevin had his photo taken with Clara!  (But we won't receive it until 2 weeks from now.)  We happened to stand next to Clara's father.  He encouraged Kevin to audition to be a child in the party scene next year.  What fun would that be?!

Clara's father took a family photo for us on the staircase! 

We had to travel in two cars.  Kevin and I drove together going home.  We saw a decorated house down a side street in their subdivision.  Kevin asked to see it.  He got out of the car and took several photos of it. 

Christmas is coming!!!

This evening, Kevin began reading the instructions for his magic tricks and was able to accomplish them.  He just needs practice and polish. 

Thanksgiving Day

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day -- with preparations and family closeness.
Kevin helped too.

Kinga is an amazing cook!  I marvel at her ease and success in the kitchen!  She stuffed the turkey with pineapple and glazed with a garlic rub and pineapple juice.

 Late afternoon, an extended family of Kinga's cousins from a previous marriage came for all of us to share desserts together.

Preparation Day

Kinga made a trip to the Polish store which is within a few miles of Karin's cemetery.  Kinga bought the store out -- two big baskets of yummy goodies.

Kevin and I bought a wreath at Michael's last night which we brought for Karin's grave.  The good news about her plot is that grass is finally thick and healthy.  No mud on her beautiful marker!  However, there were pellets of fertilizer on the marker which may have stained it.  We did not have the appropriate supplies to attack such a problem.

Kevin helped to arrange the wreath. 

 He had bought an extra for it -- a white fuzzy-tailed bird (on the top left). 

 He always like to find something natural to place on her marker.  He found red leaves.

Our next stop was a grocery store.  Grandma and Kevin picked out a centerpiece and pondered over the napkins available trying to decide which ones would be perfect while Kinga completed her shopping. 

This marionette puppet of a dragon came from his family trip to Poland this summer.  He is quite adept at doing movements with it.

Kevin helped me make a pumpkin pie for tomorrow.  His fluting of the crust was awesome! 

The Woods

I walked to pick up Kevin from school so that he could play in the woods on the way home.  He had a ball.  He, our budding architect, built a bridge.
From start. . .

. . . to finish - crossing his bridge of small limbs.

He played Tarzan on a vine.

And he found a log to be a trampoline. 

Before walking home, we stopped at a bakery for cookies and hot chocolate.

Tonight, we went to Michael's to find a holiday/winter wreath for Mommy Karin.  We also shopped for Heather's baby at Barnes & Noble.  Kevin found some little things he liked there plus a big thing which Grandma was able to sneak to the cashier without Kevin seeing!  ;-) 

Grandma Goes to NC

This morning, Cathi and the three boys drove me to the airport.  During the ride to the airport, I said to 15 year old Jeremy, "You should be going with me and meet 16 year old Stephan."  Kien piped up with, "You should take *ME*, Grandma."
"You are right Kien; I should take you!"
He continued, "Kevin's Mommy would like me."
"Yes, she would!"
"Do you think I can go sometime?" 
"I hope so, Kien!  I would love for you to go with me."
 "Karin used to be my Mommy, but she died.  Steve used to be my Daddy.  Now he is Uncle Steve.  Kevin was my brother; now he is my cousin."
WOW!!!! 

The Sunday Before Thanksgiving

Gabe LOVES cars!  He carries them around everywhere.  A car is firmly clenched in each hand. 

Here are Gabe's Sunday School papers with a list of things he is thankful for.  Notice "cars" is on the list. 

Kien and Gabe showing off their turkey artwork.