Christmas month 2015

Happy December! I hope you're as excited as my sons were. They expected gifts from Santa. 4 year old Regis wanted another sketch book. 6 year old Felix got a watercolor set. I got a card, candy and a paper Christmas tree with a lollipop on the top from my students. Besides, it's my brother and husband's birthday month.
I've been looking for a 1/2 size cello and a teacher for Felix. He'll start learning this new instrument during the coming winter break. Of course I'll learn cello with him together! Why do I like the cello? I love the deep tones and the high tones. It's tactile, because you can just feel the wood vibrate, watch the strings respond. And, it isn't something lots of people play. The world can never have too many cellists.

My sons had a piano performance on the 19^th. Little Regis has played the piano for almost 1 year. It's his first time! He had stage fright at first. He didn't want to go up to the stage. After sitting at the piano, he scratched his upper back. Finally, he overcame fear and did a very good job. We're so proud of him. Really wonderful that their grandparents, uncle from my side and Regis' former babysitter's family went see their performance.

Felix playing Camp of the Gypsies by Franz Behr

Regis playing Tiddledywinks by David Carr Glover

We spent last weekend with my parents in Taichung and enjoyed pulling out white radishes in the field of my dad's former student.

36th birthday month

My father in law stayed with us for 9 days.

I bought a pair of Scona brown leather knee-high riding boots for $2536 on the 4^th as a gift for myself.

What a coincidence! On my birthday, the same date as last year, the school choir took part in the competition. My husband and I went see Spectre 007 and had lunch at Grazie with my father in law after the annual music competition. The next day I had dinner with my kids at 品田牧場 after Regis' Yamaha class. They enjoyed grinding sesame seeds.

We went camping at 海角一號, White Sand Bay in the middle of the month. It’s our 3^rd camping trip and 1^st time to camp by a beach. We've done mountain camping with my colleagues twice, and both times were awesome.  Last month we got a Polar Star tent ($8200), much bigger and more expensive than the first two. My husband set up the tent in the living room on my birthday. Our kids were so excited!

I've worried about Felix's lying behavior recently and talked to him. I feel disappointed, angry and frustrated. I wept in the restaurant before his Yamaha class last Friday. I reflect and read online articles. I’m trying my best not to be too severe and harsh, so he's willing to tell the truth. I hope things get better.

Each year, more and more people are attracted to the joys of harvesting. We joined 總太 Construction Company for the rice harvest in 柳營 and visited Hinoki Village, 嘉義 with my mom and brother last Sunday.

We went see a musical play "Freya, a Viking Story" by ArtSpot from Argentina at Taiwan Science Education Center today.