One Down

As in one week down. I'm going to up my expectations and count in weeks now. It's like when at about 21 months, you move from giving your child's age in months to giving it in years. "She's almost two." I'll now say, "She's gone through one week without being sent home." Pretty soon, if I'm lucky, I can talk in months.

Daddy came home on Friday after almost two weeks away. He was so touched, she'd written him a card and could not stop telling him how much she loved and missed him. Pretty fantastic stuff to witness.

She had another birthday party to go to this weekend. I have not been to Chuck E. Cheese since I was a kid and wow has it changed. Talk about stimulation.

XX was hugely excited by the air hockey. She played with a boy she didn't know and had the best time. She screamed every time a goal was made. Never by her, mind you. The fun was all in the playing. Daddy wasn't such a happy camper; he's not a good loser (worse winner) and kept telling her not to push the pucks down on her side. This was extremely frustrating for him. XX didn't care. Everyone cheered, so did she.

They made capes and masks. The kids loved them and put them on to race around the place. And, it seemed, because everyone wore the costume pieces, XiaoXiao declined. I really love this about her.

She rode a horse.

Daddy couldn't help helping. What you can't see is him, underneath trying to steer the horses reins.

He definitely had to help on the helicopter ride. Despite how long XX is getting, she could barely reach the pedals when they extended to the front. She doesn't quite have the strength to push when they're so far away either. Daddy's pedaling meant she went up in the air. Very exciting.

We'd hoped to see some fireworks last night, our town's 100th birthday, but at 6:15, when we left the party, XX said she needed some milk and bed. And so we came home for just that.

We thought we'd take it easy today, but alas, Fairytale Town beckoned. You might notice that XiaoXiao decided to wear her whiskers today.

She needed help to do some of the climbing.

We watched a shortened theatrical version of Cinderella. Before the show, XX saw the cast outside in costume. She ran up to them and said, "Hey! Watch me!" She ran over to a slide, goofballed on it and somersaulted (not on purpose) down. Always looking for her own audience.

Still, she sat enrapt for the 20 minute show, clapping enthusiastically at appropriate places, calling out when she was supposed to and only slightly disappointed that when one cast member came through the audience, she didn't stop at XX to say hi. Most people cringe when that performer and spotlight stops by their seat, but not XX, she craves it.


She's been enjoying the Mother Goose verses. Grandma HuaHua and Grandpa Jim (Uncle Jim's parents whom we've adopted - we love them so much!) gave her some books of verses and we read them a lot. So seeing Mother Goose was pretty amazing.

It was one up weekend!

The Chicken Festival

Thanks to Suzie alerting us to the event, XX and I went to the Chicken Festival today. Held because there are chickens all over this neighboring village. I mean, all over. Chickens wandering the streets as if they were NYC pigeons. XX screamed at seeing one cross the road randomly, "He's gonna get hurt! He should hold someone's hand!!!"

We had a pancake breakfast. It took a while to be served.

I forgot until too late, that XX does not like feathers. They are interesting, but frightening. (The same with bugs.) There were, of course, feathers on the street, feathers floating in the air, feathers feathers everywhere. When she saw the Festival mascot, XX flinched and hid behind me, but it didn't take her long to realize he was okay.

She was happy to see that there was lemonade. This large glass was refillable all day. It was so hot, we had four!

There was an area set up for kids with slides and jumping houses.

On one run (she must have gone at least 50 times), XX did a bounce, a flip and crash-and-burn that was worthy of "Wide World of Sports." The parent audience gasped but XX jumped up and laughed. I thought one man was going to have a heart attack. Lucky for us, XX's bones seem as yet, unfused.

XX happily waited in line, hands behind her back as at school, time and time again.

There were games in which everyone was a winner.

There was face painting. XX said she would like it on her arm so she could see it. Then she said instead of a red "piáo chóng" (ladybug), she would like it blue. She's going to be one of those women who order everything on the side, no "this" and extra "that." (Ulp. Like her mother.)


There was a craft table. XX's eyes widened when she saw the jewels, eyeballs, pipecleaners and glue. She stood at the table but was told she had to watch the puppet show first.

The puppet show was less than stellar. XX wasn't interested at all ... until they brought out the pig puppets.

"PIGGIES!" She ran to the front to see them and nearly pulled one out.

It was a fantastic day. When we finally got in the car, XX was asleep before I had pulled out of the parking spot.

Thanks, Suzie!!!

Our Week

On Monday, I reminded XX that she wasn't supposed to run inside the school. She stopped in her tracks then turned to me: "WHOA! I listened!" As if that were some revelation. Maybe it was.

We had to say good-bye to Daddy who is away on business for two weeks. XX really misses him, wonderful for me to see that this bond is growing.

Tuesday, we met with a friend who has the tiniest, most delicate baby. A playdate in the park was just what we needed! Baby N is the sweetest little thing. Watching her sign was too cute. Watching her watch me, a little amazing, not to mention frightening. She's definitely an old soul in a precious little body. XX looks like a football player next to Baby N!

Wednesday, well, let's just say that XX made it through 19 days without a major problem, but on Day 20 was sent home from school. Again. Oh well. I think I'll just get used to it. Her drummer is louder than anyone else's.

Thursday, she did better. A minor problem but no suspension. Whew!

And today, we were to have a playdate with a schoolmate, but alas, I had to keep XX home for being a phlegmy, snot-filled mess. She didn't seem to feel terrible, this how she looked:


But I think the day of rest was good for her. She took two afternoon naps yesterday so I should have known something was up.

This is who I took shopping this afternoon:

Mask, tattoo, black Emily shirt (mine) and tons of attitude. I am so in trouble.

We got many double-takes. One woman, listening to XX talk to everyone and show them her sandals by holding her foot over her head (thanks again, Chrissie and Paul!) and answer my cell phone to tell Daddy she loved him, ventured to say that if this was a sick day, she didn't think she would be able to stand a well day. Nice.

XX has been singing a lot. She found a CD that LaLa gave her (we will be unpacking forever) so has been listening to it. A Christmas CD. "The 12 Days of Christmas" never sounded so ... original:

"MY GOLDEN RINGS!
More LaLa birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle tuffs,
And a mah-wee in a bad dream."

Don't ask me what a "mah-wee" is. No clue. And if you ask her, you're likely to get a long discourse on some imaginary meaning.

Add this together with her luscious lack of pitch and it's a wonder I don't have snot coming out of my nose at all times.

Can it get any better?

Weekend Fun

We went to see a few wineries yesterday. John loves learning about wines, XX and I love having lunch outside near the vineyards.


We also stopped at an alpaca farm. John, again, asked many questions about the beasties. One day, hopefully soon, he and Paul can have conversations about the adorable animals even though neither of them will ever become alpaca ranchers.

This animal was very sweet. She leaned on John and then kissed XX on the top of her head several times.

This little alpaca followed XX around, happy to see someone her own size.

She also loved her mama.

And this funny face just kept coming up to look at my camera.

When we came home, we had to cut John's hair for his meetings this week. XX wanted desperately to cut Daddy's hair but had to settle for combing it. He's patient, but not yet totally crazy.

As XX needs the step stool and still can't quit reach the top of Daddy's head, I think he's safe. For a bit.

Ten, Fifteen

XX used to say, wagging her finger at either Daddy or Boris, "I tell you, I tell you TEN TIME!" She sounded like an old Chinese granny, yelling her corrections.

So it's become a joke between John and me, "I tell you, I tell you ten time." We say it to each other and laugh every time (yes, easily amused, the pair of us).

The other day, XX asked a question why Daddy didn't do something (forget what the minor transgression was). I said I didn't know and then under my breath, "I tell him, I tell him ten time."

Her matter-of-fact reply? "Well, I tell him FIFTEEN times."

Funnier and funnier.

This and That

It's been over three weeks now since XX was sent home from school. I'm almost afraid to think that I can rest easy, but I think perhaps I can.

Don't think that she's mellowing. I still get weekly notes about her behavior. She and a couple of the boys seem to get each other going. They have fun, but it's apparently a bit wild for the classroom.

In talking about her behavior, she compared herself to Boris, who got loose the other day, and as he is wont to do, ran all around, requiring three neighbors and John to catch him. (I am not sure we are a good addition to this formerly peaceful neighborhood.) He really thinks it's fun to have everyone play chase. XX inquired why Boris thought it was funny when he wasn't supposed to be out running wild. Then she said, "Oh wait. I know why. It's like when I laugh when I'm not behaving. It's funny, but I shouldn't laugh. (pause) But I do." She's very clinical about her behavior.

I was caught on the ice cream. We made what she thought was "nasubi" (eggplant) ice cream. She got to lick the paddle and pronounced the ice cream good, but was too tired to eat some after dinner, so said she'd have hers the next day. The next day, she had a little cup and told me, "Mum? This doesn't taste like nasubi. It's good, but it doesn't taste like nasubi." Busted. I guess I'll have to try the real thing next time. (John said to do it when he's not here.)

We made an eggplant/tomato pasta sauce the other day. There was enough leftover to send some for lunch and she happily called out, "That nasubi is calling my name: 'XiaoXiao! XiaoXiao!'" She ate the sauce, left the pasta.

She washed, cut and sauteed some squash last night. Then ate almost all of it. (Her appetite seems to have increased exponentially lately.) She yelled when Daddy went to take seconds. "I need that, Daddy. I love my squash so please DON'T TAKE IT!!!" He wondered if this was normal four year old behavior. I'm not sure anything about XX is "normal."

She can tell you the directions to school, forwards and backwards. She'll talk about the traffic, tell me if she thinks I should change lanes. Ever the bossy backseat driver.

We went to see some sidewalk chalk drawings today. The show was Labor Day weekend, but we decided to go to a few nearby wineries, as I thought I'd read the drawings would be up all month.

This is what we saw:

So perhaps, though it is still there, it is not really viewable all month. We did find a lovely dà xiàng, however.

Don't know what we'll do this weekend, but I know it will be bizarre and lots of fun. Maybe we'll make another unusual flavor of ice cream. Look out for squash, tomato or rice!

Random

If XX were an Australian Shepherd ...

This is what XX looks like at a mall playground. It's like watching a dog in agility competition. Just observing can be exhausting.

State Fair

We went to the State Fair this week. Forgot my camera, but we had fun. XX is ecstatic now that she's tall enough to do a couple of rides by herself. She had to be helped on some of the fun houses when there was climbing to be done or a ball pool to get out of, but mostly she did great and had a wonderful time. I wished she had someone her age or close to go on all this with, but it doesn't seem to phase her much. She just hops right into any group and starts talking as if they've been best friends all their lives.

The day took its toll as, at one point, she put her arms up and said she needed some love. I picked her up and she fell asleep immediately on my shoulder. For an hour. Thankfully, there is wine tasting at the fair so we made good use of the time.

We saw a newborn calf trying to stand, poor mama cow walking around in pain, baby pigs feeding ... all mesmerizing to XX. She really really wanted to bring a baby pig home. Gotta admit, a five pound pig is adorable. But at 500 pounds? Not so much.

Singing

Questionable tune, stranger lyrics, but who can argue with confidence?

("Baa baa black sheep, happy when you're born,
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for the master
One for the date,
One for the ... where do you live.
Baa baa black sheep, where do you live,
Bye bye baa baa black sheep."

"That's how you sing it.")

Chopping

She's chopping carrots in that video. It seems imprudent to let your four year old help chop veggies, but she's good at it. This week she picked our first cucumber and made "boats" with the slices. She cut cooked carrots and offered them around to me, Daddy, and Ariel. She saw beets in the grocery, wanted to try them, so she also sliced those for dinner this week.

Shopping

What does it mean that the checkout people and baggers at our grocery store announce, "Speakerbox is here!" when we enter? (It's not me they're referring to, btw.) XX knows most of them and they happily lift her up on the counter to do the scanning when we check out.

Gold Rush Days

We went downtown today. XX again slept on my shoulder for part of it. As grown up as she tries to be, at times she's still so much the baby, especially when it comes to her naps. Out cold as we walked through the streets with music, even reenactments with gunslingers and cannons blasting.

Still, lots of fun. We got to test a coach, see tinsmithing, hear a hurdy-gurdy, and walk through the dirt-filled streets.

13 Days

Can't neglect mentioning that XX got through 13 days at school without being sent home. A record. Narrowly made, but still, a record.

Juice

We get a delivery of organic fruits and veggies every other week. The contents of the box depend on what's in season, so it's very exciting for XX to see what we have. This week, we had all the makings of gazpacho. Mostly.

We had to get some tomato juice but then I couldn't decide whether or not veg juice might not be better. I asked XX for her opinion.

"Veggie juice? Like eggplant?! Let's get eggplant juice!"

Father's Day

Since my blunder two months ago, XX thinks every Sunday is Father's Day. No one deserves more love than Daddy, so I let it go and we always do something to celebrate on Sundays.

Today, XX wanted to do something especially special. Make ice cream. And not just any ice cream, but, in her mind, the most amazing flavor possible -- eggplant.

I thought Daddy might not appreciate it, so fudged a bit, making vanilla/cinnamon with some purple coloring. It just may become our house special.

Happy Special Day!

The Magic of Matching

Kimba knows about this kind of magic. China does an extraordinary job of matching us to our children.

XiaoXiao and I did our nails yesterday.

And these are the colors XX chose.

So like, in fact, exactly like the color choices I used to make.

The magic of matching and unmatching. Gotta love it!