Father's Day craft

A post about Father's Day craft. Our lamp now has become a 'display hanger'.

The poem written behind 姐姐's craft is inspiring. I'm glad we have the technology to keep this memory now! Otherwise, 5 or 10 years later we'd have forgotten what the children did during their precious childhood.

Drawings

姐姐 has always been doodling whenever she is not doing something else.

This one really makes my day :)

Hopefully a few years down the road she can still see these images.

First ballet lesson

I rushed to pickup the children after work so that 姐姐 and I can reach the ballet school in time. The day before we had told her to take proper nap during rest time and eat during tea-break. Dunno why, but she always skip tea break. Traffic jam all the way to the school - we made it just in time. Teacher is already there. Since 姐姐 is quite determined not to drop out, we ordered the practise costume right away. Had to try out the sample and let teacher check. Even though it looks ok on her on first trial, teacher said it's too big at her shoulder and hv to order smaller size leotard :( Shoes also need to order small ones

Wow, the teacher is really very pretty and graceful. I was peeping at the door and saw her teaching the children basic warm-ups which looked very graceful. Some of the children must have been there quite some time as they can really copy teacher's action. Our 姐姐 enjoyed herself thoroughly but is looking like she needs a lot of catching up in the soft and light movement department :P

Then it's role-playing/acting time, and the children need a toy prop. Next week gotta bring her friendly seal along. I'd prefer her to bring a brown teddy bear (not so easy to notice if got dirty), but she insisted on her seal.

Finally the children line-up one-by-one to say goodbye to teacher, and she gave them a cute sticker each. I wonder if the children need to practise anything at home, need to check with teacher next week. She seemed so busy as the next class is already stomping in.

Music class update - Primary1 to Primary2

姐姐 is finishing up Primary 1 book and going on to Primary 2. She is more serious in practising and doing homework than me supervising. Yesterday she said at bedtime "妈妈，今天忘记practise piano!"

Teacher had said during last lesson that all children must practise everyday. So to encourage her, I give her a 'stamp' (or she call 'chop') on the family calendar. She's also pretty happy with getting praises for her playing, and start to practise hands together and play with mezzo piano for the Squirrel's Lullaby from Primary2. Actually I think she is doing OK in her finger works. The only piece lagging is she is not looking at the notes and playing but mostly playing from memory. Well, she will learn... Oh, and singing to tune is another problem. She can sing do-re-mi-fa-so, but she still doesn't really catch the higher notes. But she is ok to recognize do-mi-so, ti-fa-so, so-ti-re chords.

弟弟 is rather jealous that he didn't get to attend music class, so hopefully by next year when he is 3 years old, he will start Music Kids course.

As someone who had been through the strict ABRSM syllabus myself, I am quite happy with JMC. They learn in such an interesting environment, with the colorful books, cute songs (in CD) and DVD. Even though it is more expensive, but it's really a good exposure to music, rhythm, listening. After all, it's the enrichment that matters.

Wedding dinner

Both children accompanied us to 爸爸's friend wedding dinner at a school hall. It's been quite a while since we hv attended wedding dinner together. The couple hired a good decorator and turned the place to look very dreamy. 弟弟 enjoyed the meats very much but 姐姐 as usual stick to her mushroom/veggie preference. The children were very restless before dinner is served, and were asking to 'go outside - 去外面' or go toilet every 15 minutes.

They enjoyed picking up the confetti and throwing them in the air as dinner ends.

Ballet, at last!

I didn't want to go for ballet even as 妈妈 and 爸爸 bring me to watch other girls at the ballet school near our home. Last Saturday, we went to another school to check out. I like the way teacher teach as it is about acting graceful, music and basic exercise, teacher talk about flowers, fairy, colours. So next week I will start my first lesson.

Since I am a shy and quiet girl to the outside world, here is what 妈妈 say to me:

妈妈: You must listen and answer teacher when she ask questions, OK?
姐姐: OK.
妈妈: Must follow teacher, OK?
姐姐: 已经讲ok 了！
妈妈: GRRR!!!

妈妈: So, 你要穿色什麽去 class?
姐姐: Like the other girls la.
妈妈: Ballet 衣服还没有买, 穿裙先，好吗？
姐姐: 好

I already know a bit about First Position as similar to Gymnastic class. But the skipping cannot do properly yet :P

Additional note from 妈妈: Didn't want to push her, but wanted her to have the experience and exposure to various arts. So when she didn't want to continue with recreational gymnastics, we suggested for her to try ballet.

Getting better....

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the antibiotic shots seemed painful to him. The intravenous line seem to have come loose from all his moving around. He quivered in pain sometimes and yet other times seemed ok. Nurse say he is a very brave boy because in this circumstance, it must be painful. Luckily doctor agreed to stop the antibiotic shots.

He was discharged on Thursday. Diagnosis - acute pharyngitis with gingivitis. He still have a whole bunch of medicine to take. I'm at home taking care of him the wholde day on Friday. Watched Primary 1 & 2 DVD and Pocoyo. Took him walk around the apartment late morning. When we're back, it's time for medicine. He was asleep after having some milk. He slept for a few hours. But not very soundly. He kept waking up calling 妈妈, 妈妈! 我要你来! Even go to toilet or just outside also cannot. **Sigh**

He's going back to school next week.