Today, I am finally able to sit down for a minute and write this blog. All the schools have been cancelled today because of the typhoon coming. This year, Lauren's teacher has been sending many pictures to me via an app on the phone. I'm loving it :) This year Lauren is officially kindergarten so they are required to eat with chopsticks at school. Before kindergarten, they are allowed to use a spoon. She loves her class.
I had a friend come over to learn to sew. Actually, she was coming over to have me sew something for her, but I told her she could do it. She was very happy to sew a body pillow. It looked decent until she got home and decided to wash it in her washing machine....now, not so pretty ;)
This is Lauren's class at school. No, not the whole grade just her class. There are 39 kids in her class. It's only a couple extra kids from last year, but it seems huge to me.
This is a new friend of Lauren's. It is really funny how they met. This little girl is half Irish, but doesn't speak much English because her dad works outside of the country and only visits every 6 months. She was in Lauren's school this year, but a different class. They started playing after school one day and were instant friends. The mom told me the little girl had not been happy in a long time and hated school. That night she was drawing pictures to give to Lauren and up early ready to go to school. When she was dropped off, she did not go to her class. She went straight to the principal's office. She told the principal that she wanted to switch classes because she likes Meimei and she would be happy in her class. So the principal said, "We want you to be happy so I will call your mom to make sure it is ok with her." So, now they are in the same class together :) Too funny. I think she felt a connection with Lauren because they look different from the other kids but speak the language.
It's getting close to Katherine's birthday and she has started getting some packages in the mail. She told me that she was going to save all her presents until her actual birthday, but when they came she changed her mind. It was too exciting :)
I now have a new scrapbooking buddy :)
Regan had a fun weekend. It was a holiday weekend and one of her American friends in another city (about 2 hours away) rode a bus to come stay the weekend with us. They had so much fun together. They had not seen each other in nearly 2 years. So glad they are living closer to us now. It is possible to have occasional get togethers for the girls.
There is something in this country that is similar to Facebook, but different. I was at the market with Lauren when this lady tells me "hey I recognize you!" I had no idea who she was. She pulls out her phone and says, "See! This is your daughter!" Yep. The dance teacher had apparently posted MANY pictures of Lauren on her site. So, the lady sent them all to my phone :)
Here is another picture of Regan and Ruthee. Yes, both are 5th grade.
During the holiday we went out to eat with friends. The kids table sang lots of songs together.
Lauren has gotten hooked on American Girl stuff like her big sister. She wanted to watch the McKenna movie (about gymnastics) so that her doll could do all the same moves.
Jonathan tried to make homemade moon cakes. They tasted really good, but were different from the ones we buy here. Our friends called them the American moon cakes. I was sure to clarify that we o not eat them in America.
showing off the matching braids and clothes :)
Lauren went for a ride with her daddy.
Sorry, these are not in order...here is another one from the holiday weekend. It is tradition that you go out at night with your lanterns, eat fruit, talk with friends and family, and enjoy looking at the moon.
We were glad the moon peaked out a few times that night. Lauren is looking at the moon and Katherine is telling us that she sees another flying lantern. The flying lanterns are really neat, but we did not do one ourselves this year.
We got this shot on our walk home. This particular road is usually lit up with lights at night.
Katherine has enjoyed home school. Her favorite part is science....or really science experiments. She is making her butterfly fly on it's own. She concentrates so hard. We actually have a video that shows many different science experiments, so if we cannot get the stuff they can at least watch it being done. The video goes along with what she is learning in science and is supposed to last all year....she loves it so much that she has already watched it 3 times after school and does the experiments on her own :)
Lauren has been study about teeth at school and how they will be loosing teeth soon (she's got a head start on that one). They had homework to make an animal with teeth using things from around the house. She insisted on making a hippo! Love it!
This was my hungry and sweaty crew after P.E. on Friday. I took them bike riding...rode 9 miles. They had a great time...I did too until Saturday...I was sore ;)
More early presents!! :)
She love all the presents, but thought the Happy Birthday button that songs to her was great! Her bunny is wearing it until her birthday arrives.
