Lions and Tigers and ...

... Dragons, oh my!

At last, XX got to see her dragons. I lost count, but there were many of all sorts.  One was incredibly large and long, chasing wildly after his pearl.  One lit up.  One was blue, one was red, several were gold.  One was carried by kids.  XiaoXiao had asked if she could carry the dragon, now I know she'll be asking about this treat next year.

  

She enjoyed seeing so many children in the parade.

 

The stilt people were amazing.  I looked at XX and her mouth had literally dropped open as she watched so many of these people march by.

  

Lots of lion dancers, again in all sizes.  XX loved the big lions who stood high in front of her (we lucked out with "front row seats), but there were also lions who did not look too much bigger than she.

There was another little girl the same age as XX next to us.  The two of them hit it off immediately, giggling and holding hands and speaking "Chinglish" to each other.  I think that made the parade even more fun.  They both loved the firecrackers, even when they were up close and the noises so loud.

There were red envelopes tossed to the children. Inside were squares of Ghirardelli chocolate.  XX savored every bit, so joyful at the delicious and welcomed goodie.  I think it took her fifteen minutes to eat the little square, while I saw other kids gobble several in just a few moments.

And of course, this year there were tigers.  Both girls yelled and waved at every tiger going past, oohing and ahing at how big or how shiny.

  

 

This Ford F250 was Daddy's favorite tiger.  

After, we went for dinner with Aunt Steff and Uncle Jim.  I'm glad my little girl was so insistent on seeing dragons and lions because it ended up being a great day.  If only every holiday lasted two weeks!

Remember

Remember when a "half" was not less but more?  As in XiaoXiao is now four and "A HALF!"

She was triumphant today.  If it was possible for her to shine more, she did.  Her smile was larger, her step bouncier.

What's really exciting is that we've reluctantly agreed she can start going to school full days.  Not every day, we're weaning her in two days a week as naps are still a consideration.  She went her first napless day on Monday, just because she was working so hard at home on her Chinese, her painting, her coloring, her writing.  But by 5 she was falling asleep on the counter as we made dinner.  She made sure to have her nap yesterday and today.  She takes comfort in her afternoon sleep, especially since Ariel always comes to sleep with her. 

It seems odd, unnatural even to have such a young child going to school full days, but XX really wants this.  She loves school.  Her teacher and especially the school director say she's more than ready.  So tomorrow is the day.  The words came bubbling out of her mouth every few minutes today:  "I get to stay the WHOOOOLLLLLE DAY tomorrow!"  Always stretching, always reaching for more.

There are big improvements in her behavior.  The hopes placed on her right now are huge though.  I hope it's not too much for such a little girl.  The director went in today to work on math with her. XX is apparently quite good with the concepts, astounding everyone but herself.  (Aunt Steff is pleased.)  The director and teachers really want to help direct her "leadership skills" (what we call at home, bossiness).

Reading and spelling also improve, but she now wants to know when she can read chapter books by herself.  Her listening skills have gotten better so that we zipped through three chapter books last week and she wants more.

Her artwork is changing so that she paints scenes and stories.  She colors.  She glues sticks together into structures.  She sings while she works.  We're still not sure she's Broadway bound, but there is some semblance of melody now.

She plays. She makes caves, drives cars, flies on planes.  Sometimes she's a mum, sometimes she's a baby turtle.  Outside, she digs, makes mounds of dirt, examines every leaf and rock.

Best of all, she is becoming more considerate, more thoughtful.  I get plenty of compliments on her manners when in fact, she is the one working hard on them.  So often, she starts off being loud, impulsive and tattletale-y, tauntingly four.  But she catches herself so that what pops out of her mouth is kind and loving.  It's amazing.  There are days when you could swear she's a tiny grown-up.

And then she does something phenomenally babyish.  She'll cry, heartbroken, when I let another child hold my hand.  She'll trip and fall because she's walking forward but looking backward.  She'll lie on her back and clap her feet.  She'll want to lie on my chest and look into my eyes.  She'll ask us to repeat the silliest joke over and over and over and she will laugh every time.

Still my baby, but she's now more than four.  She's more than anything.

恭喜发财

Hope you had a wonderful New Year's Day.  It seemed overshadowed by Valentine's, much to XX's dismay.  She said as she went to sleep that we forgot to celebrate "xīn nián kuài lè." She's been looking forward to this holiday almost as much as Christmas.

Unfortunately, there weren't any parades nearby. She wanted to see dragons, hear firecrackers, see fireworks. But we'll see them in two weeks when we see a parade and Aunt Steff, so she's content with that.

Daddy took us out for a wonderful Chinese dinner.  XX was crazy for the peapod shoots.  We may soon be ordering two plates full.

What was great was that a classmate and her family walked in to the restaurant while we were there. XX and Katie were so happy to see each other (even though they'd just seen each other an hour earlier at another classmate's for a playdate).

XX was polite to the people in the restaurant using her Chinese and also to Katie's mother who is from China. XX and Katie sometimes speak a little Chinese together in the mornings at school.  It never ceases to amaze me.

It's more interesting to XX as this is the Year of the Tiger and she loves tigers.  And she's come to see her character "fu" around as well (she is our Fu child - in every way).  Here it is upside down, for the New Year.

 

Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái!

Epic Journey

Not to China.  Just to celebrate some birthdays.  

My grandma's birthday is always easy, always fun.  XX really looked forward to 'Bachan's birthday.  She talked of nothing else for weeks.

And it should have been an easy trip.  I got tickets well in advance, and even though I somehow lost my credit and bank cards so had to wait until I got replacements to get hotel reservations, that even worked well.  I got a great last minute deal.

But getting here was an ordeal.  There was this small difference between two letters:  "a" and "p."

When we got to the airport, we found that the flight I thought was to leave at 9 Am, was in reality, a flight that left at 9 Pm.  I'd actually booked and paid for a flight that didn't get us here in time for the birthday dinner.

The attendant was lovely, telling me it was probably because I have "a little one to take care of."  She didn't add in "that your brain is completely addled."  I do adore good manners.

She put us on another flight from another city.  We had barely enough time to drive the two hours there (thank goodness for no traffic and carpool lanes), and get on the plane.  Getting the bag checked was crazy as I'd paid already for the previous flight.  No one behind the counter wanted me to pay again, but they kept sending me to other lines.  And thank goodness for family lines in security, we breezed through.  John made record time in parking long term, and getting through security.  We met up at the gate and boarded.

In the air, when it seemed we were almost to our destination, an announcement came that there was some "minor" problem.  Something about a malfunction and not enough gas to fly at the correct altitude.  Not reassuring.  And crazier, they were taking us back to the first city!  So the plane turned around and we landed hours later, no closer to our destination.  I'm really not sure what happened, but the pilot did tell us that as we'd had to make a "more abrupt landing" the wheels were going to be checked out right there.  Then two firetrucks whizzed up.  A crew rushed onto the plane as we got to the gate and flooded the pilots' chambers.

XX decided she liked "boo boo planes" because it meant she could get on two planes and she loves flying.  Love that positive outlook.  I had more than few compliments on how wonderfully behaved she was on the flight. 

Finally, we made it.  With enough time to check in, change clothes and rush off to dinner with the family. 

Through it all, to his credit, Daddy never lost his temper.  I got a few eyebrows and evil eyes, but nothing terrible.  That made it all the better.

Gma's sister, Aunty K, also made the trip.

XX had a great time.  (Should I add, "buggering everyone?") 

 

AI organized this and we hope she will visit us soon.  We have some nice shag carpeting for her to walk on.

 

 We also celebrated my Uncle Burton's "kanreki" (60th birthday).  

 

It was, all in all, a great time.  I couldn't help thinking of the last time we were there, Dad was there.  It was the last time we all saw him.  But, as with this visit, it was a happy time.  What more could we ask.  

A bit of an ordeal getting back again as I didn't seem to have booked us in and out of the same cities.  Had to do a new booking, but oh, I am grateful for sympathetic booking agents who waived change fees for me.   Twice.  

Sadly, I may be responsible for a few gray hairs on Daddy's head.  He's not sure he wants to travel with me again.  I'm sure we'll change his mind.  

 

After all, who wouldn't want to be seen with this gang?