A Month

I've got to get more organized so I can write more often.  Alas, here comes another giant post ...

XX took a carpentry class.  She was disappointed to find there was no summer session of this class; it'll be a must in the fall.

She spent much of a week in a shamrock headband. Through math, violin, walks, outdoor play, the bobbling clovers were there.

I'll spare you the videos of wild, St Paddy's Day improv pieces.  At the end of every violin practice, she likes to continue to practice ... being on stage, that is.  She waits for the stage manager (me) to tap her on the shoulder when the stage is empty.  She strides out to the middle of the room, introduces herself and her piece. These pieces are full of enthusiasm, discordant notes, newly found technique, and are actually pretty interesting. Applause is mandatory, of course, and she bows before marching off, head held high.  Then she does it again and again, sometimes for as long as 25 minutes.  Every day.  

Violin lessons often necessitate funny headgear.

On occasion, a lesson takes place sans hat or silly shoes or crazy outfit.  But it's rare.

We cleaned up the garden in preparation for planting.

We found our first asparagus shoots.

My favorite "never say never" peach tree bloomed.

XiaoXiao also got the fairy garden ready.

She wrote them a note and left them some "jewels." The next morning, she found they had taken the note, left fairy dust all over, especially in the dance room she made for them, and gifted her with some tiny polished rocks.

She got her first sewing machine, courtesy of Grandma.

Her first project entailed ironing (and that meant a stepstool and two hands).

The ducks stopped by one morning.

XX is now self-appointed Enemy #1 of the dirty dishes that pile up.

She recently gave up the booster for a pillow and/or her knees.  Kind of a big day.

Breakfast time has become game time, looking for world news stories or weather patterns.

A story on Egypt prompted a discussion on a possible future visit to the country.  "I'm not going.  There are mummies there."  Daddy said, "But there are wonderful structures to see ... the Pyramids."  "And THAT's where the mummies are!  Don't try to fool me.  I'm NOT GOING!"

There have been science experiments.

The last experiment led to some faces drawn on balloons, then, as it was the first day of Spring, she decided to share them on the evening dog walk.  I reminded her that we don't run into that many neighbors (she had a big bag full), but this was no problem.  "Then I'll knock on doors."  And she did.  There were many surprised faces as she handed out the small balloons and said, "Happy Spring."  Passing out smiles in more than one way.

There was some reading and writing at Chinese school.

Grandma came for a visit with Jordan.  XiaoXiao enjoyed having a cousin her age. Daddy enjoyed having a child who listened to him.

There were walks to the river, rock skipping lessons, park time, play time and best of all, Granny time.

As always, there has been lots of time with Red, training and otherwise.

We get really busy now.  She's started another round of acting classes and swimming starts next week.  I should be on top of life enough to post again by, oh, the end of Summer.  

The Past

I love listening to the way little kids explore language, especially verbs. After all, children are about activity and motion.

While adults have their meticulously memorized “ed” verb endings separated from those crazy irregular endings, a child has no such boundaries. They pour everything together in a giant bowl, mix mix, toss toss, (a nod to “Easter Parade”) then taste: this ending to that verb, that verb scrambled to a whole new irregular form. Verbs rejoice in their new conjugations. Even Chinese verbs are stirred with English endings. You never know what you might hear.

For example, the past tense of “run” is probably “runned.” “Eat” is either “eated” or the more exciting “ated.” You might “have” an object today, but you “haven” it yesterday. What you “think,” develops into what you “thoughted.”

I like that “swim” has two forms: “swimmed” and “swame” (or perhaps “swaim” … not sure of the spelling). A person “screams” now, but “scrame” last Halloween. Glow sticks “glew.”

At times, these variations flow easily from XiaoXiao's mouth. They spill out naturally, happily. But on occasion, more and more these days, they stutter uncertainly and stammer into their place in the sentence. If I offer the accepted form of the verb, XiaoXiao tries it out, but often shakes her head and laughs as it makes no more sense and feels no better in her mouth than the word she just concocted.

Adjectives also transform into inspired comparatives. Our neighbor's dog is “well-behaved-er” or “trained-er” than Red. Like Alice, for every "curious," there is a "curiouser."

The funny thing is, she catches every error in her language arts work. She's never heard an adult use the word “writed,” so she sees it as a mistake when reading, but the word persists, willing itself into current usage via XiaoXiao's non-stop commentaries.

But I hear fewer new words with each passing month. She's reading more so those traditional past tenses are seeping in. And then there's the computer, the annoying machine that she complains about: “What's wrong with your laptop, Mum?! It doesn't know 'fulled?'” She harumphs, sighs, grumbles, types in “filled,” but then, perhaps out of spite, perhaps just because, she creates her own word later on in the paragraph. Always pushing against those rules, those lines.

I have a feeling XX will always be working to express herself with exactly the right words, traditional or not, and you can be sure I "will have enjoyed" every word.  (And that, I think, is the future ... perfect.)

XX Said

XiaoXiao is never at a loss for words or opinions.

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We work hard on manners and sometimes, we succeed.  Sort of.

"Daddy?  Provided I behave and am kind to you, which doesn't tend to happen too often, would you like to play Legos with me later?"

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Daddy was away on business on Valentine's Day, but sent us flowers and a stuffed animal, a dog, which, if it isn't apparent, is XX's favorite animal.  We were both thrilled and I said we should call and say "thank you."

Her response was, "Okay. Do you think Daddy will know what I mean if I say 'thank you for the Woofie?' Because he's not really too good at understanding me. I know he was just nice to us to send us Valentines, and I should just say 'thanks,' but I'm still gonna test him."

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While in the car, she thoughtfully commented that "I always tell Baba to use two hands on the steering wheel when he drives. And I ask him how fast he's going because he's always going too fast. And he NEVER THANKS ME!"

She does keep us on our toes.

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She asked me how I knew something the other day and, I admit, I said, "Because I'm a mum. I know everything." Without missing a beat, she responded, "Really? Then why do you use the GPS? I don't think that can be true."

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She has never been lacking in confidence.

"I have such a smart little brain. When I'm tired, it just shuts off. I don't have to do anything. 'Click.'"

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And just when we tell ourselves to remember she is only six, she reminds us herself.

We had a lesson on light and she made a trip through the house writing down light sources. One question she had to answer was, "Which is the most important of these light sources?" There was no hesitation. "Rudolph's nose (the light-up nose on the giant Rudolph that Santa left her) because it lights the way for Santa."

Who could argue with that?

February

It's been a quiet month. Relatively speaking, that is. When XX is involved, true quiet is not possible.

We went to see the Lunar New Year Parade. XX wanted to see the dragons, lion dancers, and especially to hear the firecrackers.  She waved to every person on every float, very happy to see any and everyone.

When the lion dancers came out, XX shrieked, then did her own version.

She was confident she would be safe from Nián (年).  "I love red and I'm very loud." True.

We had dinner with Aunt Steff and Uncle Jim at a Chinese restaurant.  I'm afraid all XX had to say about the place was that they didn't have milk and they did not give chopsticks to kids.

She got a new "vehicle."  (She is obviously at the "make a goofy face when the camera comes out" stage.)

Red started another round of training.  That means we're having to learn and relearn also, but he's showing much improvement.

XX entered a contest to win a backpack ... and won! Not only was it from her favorite store, Whole Foods,  it was red, her favorite color. When we went in, they said she was the only one who had taken time to do some nice coloring. Patience and artwork have not always gone hand in hand for XX, so I was really proud of her for putting some thought into her work.

She started a blog. She's teaching herself to touch type, taking and uploading the photos and tweaking design. Take a visit and maybe leave her a comment, if you would. She's writing at xiaoxiaoandred.blogspot.com

There has been a lot of singing during violin practice.

She's been to the science museum, the art museum, and as spring has hit, there is lots of outside time - riding her vehicle, riding her bike, hunting for grubs and worms, mixing mud, and running with Red. New classes are starting, so we are getting ready for another round of busy.

Aren't we all?

Two-gether

Unbelievable as it may seem, I do not have a photo of XX in her blue jacket, quite similar to Red's hoodie.

But otherwise ...

... my two peas.

新年快乐

Yesterday, we cleaned house. XX is a demon at wiping down bathroom counters, cleaning out drawers, vacuuming and mopping.

We painted some signs.

We hung one on our door upside down.

Baba did his part, putting lanterns up outside ...

... then spent most of the rest of the afternoon exclaiming, yelling or occasionally hyperventilating. (His team won so all was well in the end.)

We cooked. Not as much as we'd planned, but we're only three people after all, so settled on two dishes: rice noodles with veggies and jiǎozi.

It was our first time making jiǎozi and though it was somewhat time-consuming, it was also a lot of fun and really delicious. We'll do it again as XX wants to experiment with the fillings.

The festivities are just beginning. XX is looking forward to seeing the big parade. She imitated the lion dancers for us, complete with fierce facial expressions and batting eyelashes. She's expecting (excitedly, of course) more firecrackers from the dragons this year as it is Dragon Year.

There is a luncheon with Chinese school, which includes singing by the kids. Though it is not a "real stage," XX never passes up the opportunity to perform, never mind play with her friends. And there is another day of activities locally. Much anticipation in the next 15 days and hopes for a Healthy and

Happy New Year!

龙年快乐

爺爺 獅子

We lost another precious family member this past week, Grandpa Jim.

Almost four years ago, he and Grandma stepped in to fill a place in XX's life, a place she did not know was empty. They saw a child, a baby really, who had lost her only grandparent, and they opened their hearts.

I am not sure XX remembers a time without them. Grandma has been here to celebrate birthdays, watch ballet class, play silly games in the backyard.

We went to visit and heard Grandpa's amazing stories of his time in the army and his early years in the US -- he was boisterous, full of life and sparkle. He made you believe anything was possible with effort and hard work, and moreover, it would all be great fun.

Last month, he asked XiaoXiao for a Chinese name. She put in some thought and decided that YéYe Shī Zi would be appropriate -- Grandpa Lion. She hoped a strong name would help him beat the cancer.

He didn't go down without a fight. He loved life, he loved his family. It has been a privilege to call him our friend, an honor to be treated as family. He will be missed.