Sick again!

We are all better now and I'm ready to get back to business. Stay tuned for Valentine's Day fun and more stuff. We're also getting ready for our trip to the snow!

New Old Shoes

At the beginning of January we noticed that E needed new shoes.  What gave it away?  Well... when he kept complaining that his big toe was hurting him.  Hahaha!  Must be the shoes then because he rarely ever complains!  So off they went and on went the new purchased shoes.  However, the ones he had on still seemed new to him.  So when MG's school posted a sign asking for shoes, I asked E if he wanted to donate his shoes.  He was a bit hesitant at first, but we bagged them up and put them in the box at her school.  For 2 days straight he would run to "visit" his shoes in the box.  Then one day, it was gone!  They had taken the donation box away!  Although he was sad, he was happy in saying, "someone will fit my shoes, mama!"  Melted my heart...

So we were at the library recently... and I found this book.   I read it to him and he began to understand a bit more that his shoes were helping someone else who needed shoes but couldn't afford to buy new ones.  He always felt his shoes were still new, just not "new, new" like the ones he is wearing now.  :)

So, for those of you who have shoes lying around... you might consider donating to this great cause.  Read this book first, it is a beautiful story... and you will want to help!

Morgan and I are still working toward her goal in collecting pennies for a great organization... more to come.  I have already started the post but have been so busy lately.

Daddy's taking us to the beach today!

You know that song, Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow?  They have been singing that song - but replacing with "the beach."  Since they have been asking for some sand time... (and the sand at Vasona Lake Park wasn't cutting it for them!) Vince made it his priority to get them out of the house today!  It was a short trip (as in the time we spent there because we had so much editing to do today)... but well worth it!  They had a blast!
It's our favorite place to go -- Half Moon Bay's Fitzgerald's Marine Reserve.  It's a drive to get there, but where we live, to get to the ocean... you have to drive!  (Boy, do I miss Hawaii... right in our backyard!)  For me it's always a challenge because MG and I get car sick. But I sucked it up... and we went!

When at the beach... one must make a sand castle, no?

 Yes!  She spent some time doing just that...

 My explorer took off ... and came back with a rock crab claw,

 and a giant empty mussel shell... Arrrrr, he's a pirate.  You knew that, right?

 She finally ventured away and found this poor lady bug... I think it had a damaged wing...

 My explorer off again... and he was able to take his uncle with him.  They found hermit crabs, sea snails, sea urchins, and lots of barnacles.  When we arrived, the tides was pretty high so they stayed close to the beach side.  Once the tides went down, you couldn't keep this boy on the sand.  He was off exploring!

 Guess who followed suit?  He was quite intrigued by this baby hermit crab.

It was a great afternoon!  

There is a good reason why I am NOT an acrobat

...because I cannot possibly make myself fit into that circle ring!  Yes, that man was able to squeeze himself into that circle ring!  Obviously he does not have birthing hips!  I will just have to remain proud that I can say that... I have great birthing hips!  (That will not allow me to fit into that ring!)  I was sweating watching him do that.  And he was also able to fit into a barrel!

 They were impressed!  (Can you point out my 3?)

 And do various handstands while on some wooden blocks!

Yes... I am glad I am not an acrobat!  But it was fun watching!  This was Wayne Huey of Red Panda Acrobats, based in San Francisco. He was pretty awesome.  He told us that most Chinese acrobats train as early as at the age of 6.  They go train for 8 hours a day and 6 days a week!  He, however, was not born in China.  He was born in the bay area.  He decided "to join the circus" when he was 22 years old.  (Those were his own words!)  He left to train in China for 7 years and returned to America where he began his first job at the Epcot Center!  Hi performance today was in honor of the Lunar New Year.  I was disappointed that it was so short!  I was expecting an hour long show but it was only 30 minutes long.  The children didn't mind, they had a great time, and then hung out at the library - their favorite place to be!  :)

Boys will be boys...

My boys are no different!  This morning we went for a stroll at Vasona Lake Park.  MD is getting so good on his scooter - it's hard to keep up with him!  It's a good thing I have E to keep an eye on... an excuse to go slow!  But of course, they stopped suddenly when they saw rocks and water... You know what rocks and water equal, right???!

 Yes... rock skipping!!!!

 And jumping....

 What big brother does, little one is right behind... and never too far!

They rode their scooters, threw rocks, jumped over various areas of this body of water, and made me a bit nervous as they climbed logs and tried to jump from one large rock to another....for 2 and a half hours!
Then MD went to science class!  And I was able to sit still for awhile!  Phew!

Happy Lunar New Year!

It's the year of the rabbit.  So, what's that mean?  Not sure... but you can read more here or here.  Becky always says that I'm not "really" Chinese because I never know these important things!  She's probably right!  I really don't know... but I'm slowly learning!

Anyway, this is how we celebrated.
On Sunday, January 30, 2011, mom prepared quite a feast for our deceased grandparents and my dad.  Look at this beautiful table full of colorful and delicious food!  Yes, that is a whole roasted pig!!!!

They burned some incense with mom:

Then the fun begins!  They LOVE burning joss papers!

Check out this handsome suit that is going up to dad.  It took some time to explain to the children how that was going"up" to their grandfather!

Then we all went back in the house and they learned a new game...  (the link I found is last year's but it was the only one I could find tonight explaining this game).

Afterwards, we had our feast -- my aunt, uncle, cousin (Ratha), and Jim and Clare joined us:

YUM!!!

Today, February 2, 2011, I went into MG's classroom to teach the class the little bit that I know about the Chinese New Year.
Crazy mom that I am, I decided LATE last night to make them these shirts... turned out great and they were able to wear to school for my lesson!  (they chose the pictures for their shirts yesterday when we "casually" spoke about making them... not thinking that I would actually have to follow through with it!)

I read this book and then we made paper lanterns!

 It was fun but loud!!!  Reminds me of the days when I taught elementary school!  Makes me thankful for my little break from the classroom!

MG passed out red envelops filled with lucky candy at the end of the day... a nice treat to end the day!

This evening, mom had the 3 line up to receive their red envelopes from her -- pardon the "fancy outfits"... It was late, they had just showered, and I was quickly getting them off to bed.  It was waaay passed their bedtime on a school night!!!

Happy Lunar New Year!!!!

If you believe....

then they are real.  That's all I'm going to say!
She believes there are fairies out there...

January 14, 2011
So on a recent play date with a classmate, she and Joelle worked on a beautiful home for the fairies.  I provided them with a variety of materials and allowed them to do whatever they wanted.  They were able to do so much in the 2 hours that they were together!

 Then they found a place to put the fairy house... More like a fairy condo!

 Pretty elaborate, no?!

 Putting in her finally adjustments... sprinkling of gold coins, notepad for messages, and a marker.  They were very thorough!

 A picture with DJ (Brownie Girl scout mascot) because she had DJ for two weeks.  She wrote in her book that when she had DJ, they spent some time together making the fairy house:

 with DJ, their fairy house... and their peace signs!

And this cute little fella wanted in on the fairy house action.  He can't stand to be left out.  And with a smile like that, I probably would have built a fairy house for him on the spot if he had asked... luckily, he did not!  Big sis took this photo of him:

(BTW -- the fairies left a few gifts for her already!  It is so exciting to check and receive trinkets here and there!)