A Birthday Celebration

Kris loves his birthday. He smiles for at least 3 days before, and a week later he is still insisting his birthday isn't over yet because there is at least one more package still coming. Every card, phone call and present that comes his way is appreciated and enjoyed.

Getting ready to open his gifts

The wonderful cookies sent from Kelly & Pam -

he was thrilled that Pam would bake all of them for him!

Notice the WWE Championship Belt Cookie - he LOVED that one!

A big bear hug for Stumpy - he was feeling the love!

A new Star Wars book!

 He scores big time on the chocolate gifts

He loved the "ABCs of Kris" book full of family pictures

He wanted to save the biggest gift for last....

....even though he already knew what it was!

True to his word, Keven made Mickey Mouse waffles for Sunday breakfast -

Kris is still smiling!

Surprise!

This past Sunday morning as we finished enjoying yet another fine edition of "Waffles by Keven" Kris informed us that the best waffles were the ones mom had made with her Mickey Mouse waffle iron.

Hurray! An idea for his upcoming birthday! This is one of the reasons I love Amazon - I was able to order it on Monday and it was delivered on Wednesday. Our conversation at dinner that night was something like this:

Kris: There's that package that came today. When you going to see what it is?

Me: Oh, I already know what's in it! (big grin)

Kris: (total look of surprise)

Me: Would you like to know?

Kris: Sure!

Me: It's your birthday present!!!

Kris: (total look of surprise + big grin)

Me: Do you want to open it now?

Kris: Sure!

Me: Nope, we need to wait for your birthday! (I know, kinda mean) I still need to wrap it and put a card with it. OK?!?

Kris: OK. In Gresham I always open my presents early.

But he still had a big grin and kept eyeing the package during the rest of the meal.

Silly me, left for work the next day without putting the package out of sight.

Silly Kris couldn't stand the suspense and opened it while I was gone.

So now I'm not sure if we should have Keven make Mickey Mouse waffles for Easter breakfast in the morning or if I should still wrap it up for the birthday celebration on Thursday....

The Life of Chi(a), Part Two

Last night, soon after going to bed, I heard Chia give one sharp yelp. Before I could get down the stairs there was another. Kris was right behind me. We found Chia lying on the rug next to her bed, unable to get up. After tucking her back in and soothing her he and I spoke again about how she was getting weaker and weaker.

This morning she was sleeping soundly when I left on a run. When I returned Kris was waiting for me in the living room. As soon as he saw me he put his hands over his eyes, and I knew what that meant. There were some tears and hugs, some tender moments. He definately wanted to come with me to take her little body to the vet's, where they would take care of a proper disposal. While waiting there we visited with a woman who was holding an adoreable little white fluff of a dog on her lap named Cocoa. Kris was quite charmed and quite charming.

Later today we made our standard grocery run. As we walked past the pet food aisle Kris said, "We don't need to get any food for Chia now, but when I get my new dog maybe I can get Cocoa".

The Life of Chi(a)

In the short time I was in St. George Chia lost a lot of ground. Last night I wasn't sure if she was going to make it; Keven had told me that she had been worse over the weekend. But she's a trouper, and this morning she was wagging her tail and trying to be perky when I took her outside. She no longer can maneuver the stairs, so needs to be carried about.

I debated whether or not to talk with Kris about her deteriorating condition, and finally decided it would be better for him to know what is coming than to be caught off guard. This is the conversation, more or less, that we had as we watched her lying in her little bed on the kitchen floor this morning:

Me: Chia isn't doing very well, Kris. I'm not sure how much longer we're going to have her around.
Kris (moving a bit closer and peering at her): Her eyes are open; she's OK.
Me: Have you noticed that she isn't moving around very well, and she doesn't eat much anymore. And that she sleeps all the time?
Kris: Oh, she's all right. She's not too old yet.

A little while later he came down the stairs and we had this conversation:

Kris: Well, Chia's about gone. Time to get a new dog!
Me: Um, well, why don't we just wait a bit? We don't need to hurry.
Kris: My mom knows I won't be happy if I don't have a dog.

He has such a knack for making me laugh and cry at the same time.

Misc.

Keven's days are getting longer and longer. At 7pm last night when he still wasn't home Kris and I went ahead and ate dinner. When Keven walked in the door about 7:20 the first words out of Kris' mouth were, "You're late, Boy. You missed your dinner." 
I think someone was channeling Ralph Jensen.

Today as we finished his typical Thursday morning routine (shower, shampoo, shave, clean sheets, etc.) he asked where we were going to go for lunch. I asked him if he had someplace in mind, and he was quick to suggest Subway. As we finished ordering, he whipped out a gift card to pay for our lunch. Totally unexpected and totally sweet!

Always a Friend to Children and Animals

When Jill and Brei came for a quick visit Kris jumped right into his role as

"Best Great-Uncle Ever"!!!

A few days ago I found Kris and Stumpy sunbathing together

He takes such good care of Chia, and she knows it

Besos y Amor

Bright Idea

There's a lightbulb thief in our house. Not naming names or anything, but last night we found that both lamps on the nightstands in OUR room were barren. Kris had 4 lamps blazing in his room.....