Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival. It has snowed several days this week and it's the middle of February now. But there are things in bloom! So even though it seems very much like winter in month and temperature, Spring is still peaking through.
Thomas, Chael (giving support), Charlie and Dash on their first day of Chinese preschool
Dash and friends, Thomas and Charlie have started attending a local Chinese preschool here in our complex. Very convenient location! Although Dash has been born and raised here he is not fluent in Mandarin as he's been home with me everyday. This is the best opportunity for him to get a good start on becoming fluent in Mandarin. He is uncomfortable with the language barrier and it's a blessing to have two buddies go with him who are also foreigners. It is overwhelming with all of the attention they get and Dash is shy and will start to cry when all the kids run up to him on the playground and try to talk to him. He tells me that he gets scared because he can't speak Chinese. It's been hard as a parent to put him in this situation but I know it's what's best for him so even thought it's hard right now we tell him that it's okay that it's hard and that it will get easier. He's half way through the second week now. He frequently asks, "Mom? How many more days do I have to go to Chinese School?" We can do hard things. You can do it, Dash! We are really proud of him. He's such a sweet, sweet boy.
Brock's recently split 1st grade class--Back: Manya, Oscar, Chloe, Ms. Katie
Middle: Lithika, Edward, Brock, Annalore, Jerry, Karen
Front: Akanksha, Domitille, Adu, Irene
February 14th was a BIG day. It was Valentine's Day, Brock's birthday!, Chinese Lantern Festival which is 15 days after Chinese New Year, and the 100th day of school! Brock has a 100th Day of School fake tattoo on his nose in these pictures.
HAPPY BIRTH 7thDAY BROCK
He knew what I meant! It just fit best on the plate that way.
For Brock's birthday party we went to an indoor play area near our home. They went wild and ran from one thing to the next until they exhausted the play area and discovered the arcade games. We came back to the house for pizza, hummus and veggies, cake, presents, popcorn and a movie. What an awesome party! There were 13 children in total and five friends spent the night. I didn't have the heart to have parents pick up children on Valentine's Day. And of course the kids love it. We had whole grain pancakes for breakfast. Someday I will have a waffle maker and make waffles... My dad use to make waffles almost every Saturday. The water polo team seemed to join us for Saturday morning breakfasts to eat my dad's famous and delicious waffles with my mom's Homemade-Strawberry-Freezer Jam and homemade-maple syrup. They were "Mystery Waffles" as my dad would call them. Usually grated apples and cooked whole wheat were added to the Krusteaz batter. He still does breakfast every morning when we visit in the summers.
Dash, Max, Callie, Maren, Asha, Brock, Charlie, Luke, Kristy, Thomas, Angela, Sarah, Snehal, Chael, Ronan and Elliot.
Brock asked for a "Dragon Cake". I said okay! I looked online for some drawings of dragons for some inspiration. Brian was impressed with my dragon. Sweet of him. But what's really impressive is how delicious this Chocolate Sheet Cake is. Best Ever! See pioneerwoman's blog for recipe. It's easy and SO good. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_chocol/
Callie's Solar System
Each planet uses five circles cut out of paper, folded in half and then glued together. We can't find styrofoam balls easily and came up with this! We were really proud of it. Well done Callie!
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