concert experience

Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012

We sent 小小肚 to the babysitter’s and went to an annual children choir concert at 新莊文化藝術中心 this evening. My lovely graduate school classmate was the piano accompanist and gave me the tickets. 小肚’s crazy about the conductor and said he missed her and wanted to see her in person. I’m happy he enjoyed the concert.

 

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013

We went to the same children choir concert at the same hall today. Last year 小小肚 didn’t go with us. This year we took him to go. 小肚's attended several concerts. This was 小小肚's 2^nd experience.

Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013

小肚's had a chronic cough for about 1.5 years and been taking Chinese medicine for 1 month. It's been pretty cold lately. 小小肚 and I have a cough too.

We went to see a children's play with a live band this afternoon. 小肚's liked to watch classical music videos and been interested in conducting since he's little. He often imagines himself as a real conductor and imitates the gestures. His kindergarten teacher Jay, who comes from France, told me it's amazing he heard 小肚 humming Mozart melody.

Christmas month 2013

Santa Claus is coming with gifts

We had a fantastic start to the Christmas month. 小肚 can ride a bike with his brother. I got a cash prize from Parent Association Dec. 2 morning for training the students to participate in the yearly music competition. We went to see Captain Phillips with Ireland's Potato and my favorite Coco in the afternoon.

My hubby’s birthday was the 7^th, but since he went to the school for sports day and attended a wedding dinner, we celebrated Dec.9 night. I “dated” my little handsome boys the whole day. They love a train ride, so I decided to hang out in downtown Taoyuan. Finally, they fell asleep by 21:00.
It's quite recently that my sons started liking to play with puzzles. At first, the babysitter's stirred 小小肚 to play with puzzles and let him bring the puzzles back. And then 小肚 plays it too.

We went to Da-an Park and then bought a new BenQ digital projector at information technology fair at Taipei World Trade Center on the 8^th.

Today, Christmas atmosphere is generally stronger and more festive than Lunar New Year atmosphere. People are crazier about Christmas and all that stuff that's related to it: Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, decorations, cards, gifts, and so on. I got the first Christmas card of the year from a 3rd grade girl Dec. 9 morning who gave me a card every year. And, a few days later another card from a 5th grade girl who also gave me a card almost every year. Thank you, sweeties!

We had dinner at Volks on the 16^th. I ordered a roasted hanging tender steak. It tasted too dry. Steak at 陶板屋 is always my favorite! My kids liked the corn soup, bread, my steak and hamburger steak. These gave 小小肚 a good appetite. 小肚, a big eater, ate a lot of bread. My father in law and I liked Caesar salad.

It's been rainy and cloudy. Wet and grey. I need a little color. Another 3rd grade girl gave me a box of Meiji chocolate sticks and said Merry Christmas yesterday. I love chocolates, and I loved the surprise even more. Wow! Suddenly, the day turned sunny and colorful! 小肚 had a good time too. Santa Claus went to his class and gave him a stuffed yellow duck. He got lots of candy from other parents.

Just before leaving home this morning, 小肚 told me he’s going to check the piano to see if there’s a gift from Santa Claus. Ah~ I didn't know he made a wish that Santa would put a gift on the piano. We didn’t have this tradition, so I didn’t prepare for it. What could I do? He opened the piano cover and disappointedly found nothing. I told him Santa was on the way from Finland, far, far away so he needed to wait till he came home from school. I bought a book in the book fair at my school and a box of egg rolls at a supermarket as gifts during lunch break and then put them under the piano.

going for a bike ride

My parents gave my sons this bike last month. 小肚 practiced twice in the park, but he couldn't pedal smoothly. Yesterday, he just turned 4 year 4 month old and finally started being able to enjoy biking! He even rode on a disabled ramp!

carrying his 2 year 3 month old brother on the bike for the first time at Shulin Senior High School this afternoon. We had dinner at 義思廚.