Kevin is missed!

Steve emailed me this picture of Kevin in the warm south hosing off the deck. He LOVES to help!!!

Last week it snowed at my house (as it did today).

The landscapers were here plowing, shoveling, salting and asked about Kevin as I walked past. They said they miss him! He was a big help to them last summer! Remember -- http://ninasgrandchildren.blogspot.com/2011/07/dogsitter-landscaper-and-swimmer.html

Kinga's Birthday and Gained a Son!

Today is Kinga's birthday! I called to wish her happy birthday and learned she had received the completed paperwork for adopting Kevin and is now officially his MOTHER!!!!!! :) I told her Karin orchestrated that to arrive on her birthday. Karin is glad Kevin has her for his mother! As we talked, I realized, she is no longer Kevin's step-mother! I have been calling Kinga my step daughter-in-law! So, I said, "I can no longer call you my step daughter-in-law; you are my daughter-in-law!!!!" She said she liked that! :)

Grandma Went Home

This morning, I drove Kevin to school. I love how his school organizes the drop off. The older kids man a station where you stop to let your child out. They open the door, greet the student and the adult in the car, send them on their way, and wave the car on. I had talked about leaving; he saw me packing my suitcase, but at the quick end at school, we did not say a proper goodbye. I called that afternoon after I was home, and Kinga was picking up Kevin from his after school program. When he realized I was not there, he cried. How sweet to be loved!

Monday

Today there was no school and Steve did not go to work -- in lieu of having New Year's Day off. While Mommy and Daddy slept in, Kevin and I took Pebbles and walked to Market Street where there is a store with a bakery and hot drinks.

Pebbles was such a good girl! We tied her to a post while we went inside to enjoy our breakfast.

I found a Learn to Juggle box in Kevin's closet! It was a set which belonged to his big brothers. So we pulled it out and tried the beginning exercises using scarves for learning to juggle. What we learned is that you have to be committed to wanting to learn to juggle!!! It is NOT simple.

This afternoon, Daddy, Kevin, and I played some board games. Then Kinga joined us to play Parcheesi. I had not played since I was a kid, but I think Steve and Kinga have made up new rules since then! LOL They beat Kevin and me handily with their mean tricks. ;-) Kevin has become a really good sport about playing games! He now sees the fun in just playing a game whether you win or lose.

Sunday

On our way to church, we stopped at Mommy's grave to remove the fall flowers and put a winter wreath on her grave. Kevin helped to adjust it to look perfect.


He realized he didn't have anything personal for her grave. He usually finds a rock or stick or feather or something to leave for Mommy. So we went searching in the woods. We found a pinecone and a pretty stone.

On the way to church, Kevin started crying saying he missed Mommy. He has never cried at the cemetery with me before, though he did when Daddy was there.
Since Mommy has died, Kevin always wants me to stay in his class during church time and he does not join in the activities until near the end, even though he knows most of the kids. Today, he joined in the class right away! And it was such a good lesson for him! The Bible story was about Jesus healing the official's son (John 4:43-54). The teacher talked about praying for sick people and asked each child for someone they would like to pray for. She told them that God doesn't always heal sick people. Sometimes He calls them home to heaven, and asked the children if they know of people who were sick and died. She had a chart which she asked Kevin to write on. One side for was sick people to pray for. The other side was to list those who have died.

This afternoon, the whole family went to see the movie "Hugo." Great show! Highly recommended! When we came out of the theater, a juggler was performing in the mall. We watched him for a long time as he was amazing!

We had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Kevin had fun with Mommy and Daddy!

New Year's Eve Day!

We went to the playground at the end of his street.

After I took this shot above, he wanted to take some pictures:



Then he wanted to walk through the woods.


When we came out of the woods at the top of the hill where there is a school, we found a Dad shooting off model rockets with his son and daughter. We went over to watch, and they invited Kevin to join them!


Very cool experience for Kevin! :) The three kids took turns setting off the rockets. Kevin is igniting this rocket!

If you click on the photo, you can see the rocket in the air.

Twice a rocket landed on the school's roof, but there were roofers working up there and threw it down!

Ice Skating!

Kevin and I were talking about going to church on Sunday. I had asked if he wanted to go to Summit to see old friends or to a church near their house. He chose Summit. At breakfast, we asked Mommy and Daddy if they wanted to go to Summit. Kinga said she would go if Steve does. Steve rolled his eyes and said he would rather sleep. LOL Kevin was encouraging Daddy to go. I piped in, "Maybe your new brothers could go too!" Everyone laughed and Kinga said, "Good luck!" Kevin said, "We can't even get them to go to the beach!!!" ROTFL

I wanted to take Kevin ice skating. As we talked about going, the whole family wanted to go too!!! :)
It was quite crowded, but we all had lots of fun!
Daddy and Kevin skating together.


Cullin skating with his Mom (Kinga).

Kevin cutting a groove!



Stephan skating. Unfortunately, he didn't have as much fun as the rest of us, as his skates did not fit well.


We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Kevin was being silly with Mommy and put a candy cane on her ear.