Mornings

Vivian likes to sleep in. Evan can't wait for it to be morning. But sometimes they wake up together and get down to it right away. Like the other morning when I woke up and found Evan and all his worldly possessions being pulled away on a comforter by Vivian for a ride around the house.

Statues Of Liberty

A few mornings ago Vivian took her light saber and covered it with paper. Then she ran to her room and appeared a few minutes later looking like thus.

Evan - who does everything his sister does - followed in her footsteps quickly. Even if he could only muster a lollipop for his torch and even if he hadn't a clue what it was all about.

Controlled Chaos

This morning the good folks from ACC's Hands-on-science (ACCHaos) were at Magellan to encourage the kids to play with a few dozen science experiments. I was a kid corralling volunteer. Vivian is in the pink shades in the middle of the last row.

The experiments were thoughtful and thought provoking and fun. Some had a aha moment where the kids got a look behind the curtains. Vivian's class was scheduled to spend about 20 minutes and they could have easily spent twice as long without getting bored. It was good fodder for Vivian's inner geek and it gave me several ideas for our (approximately) once-a-month afternoon science experiment series.

Just when I was thinking that they were such a well behaved bright bunch of kids I subjected myself to eating lunch with them. I wish I hadn't.

Hot and Sour Soup

The day after my dad died I didn't feel much like cooking. So we headed to China Cafe for lunch. The kids love the food there. But the best thing about the place are the owners - two ladies who make us and every guest feel at home. By the time we are seated  the kids usually have their cups of wonton soup ("Evan called it "donton" for ages) in front of them. No chives, extra wontons. And plates so they can take the wontons out and eat then separately. And bowls of rice which they like to eat with the soup. And a glass of ice to put in their soups to cool them off. All that before we are even seated. 

So Jo and Alu and the kids and I sat down. I didn't say a word about my dad's very recent death during the greetings and pleasantries. And then I told Jo "We are going to have to tell them."

It was just about the only restaurant where my dad dined out at. And when he wasn't with us I always picked up a hot and sour (or wonton) soup and an entree for him. If I ever forgot, Cicile or Mary Anne reminded me. So I knew that awkward moment was coming.

Something like Cicile: "Arun - you want the usual to-go for your father?"
Me:"Uh - no - he won't be needing that any more."

Jo and Alu had a solution. Don't tell them and just take the to-go, they suggested. "For how long?" I asked. "Forever" they said.

But fortunately the decision wasn't ours to make. Cicile asked Vivian why she wasn't at school (it was a Monday) and Vivian sobbed and said "because my grandpa died" and there it was. I took this photo of the kids and Cicile after everyone had calmed down. And Cicile even came to the memorial service.