winter break 2014

小肚's in the kindergarten and 小小肚's at the babysitter's. We went hiking at 象山 and lunched at Taipei 101 Jan. 23.



My sis, who will have a baby boy this April, moved into a new apartment in Kaohsiung last Dec. We stayed at her place for 4 days before the lunar new year and had lunch with two of my college classmates and their children at 陶板屋. During the New Year holiday, we stayed at my in laws’ in Yunlin and at my parents’ in Taichung. My sons got many red envelopes and ate much.

My sons have been crazy about dinosaurs for 3 months since I bought books about the huge creatures. We went to National Museum of Natural Science to see dinosaurs on the 3^rd.

We found a new apartment building in 大坑 yesterday which is under construction and will finish at the end of next year, and we decided to buy a three bedroom apartment with mountain views on the 12^th floor before coming back to Taipei today. Time to tighten the belt again!

lunch at Art Restaurant

My hubby’s students attended an exam, so he’s at the exam hall this weekend. My kids and I had a fun lunch with my junior high school classmate's family at a family restaurant today. Kids enjoyed playing in Cassia Seed pit and drawing on the wall!
This restaurant is in an art museum near 松山 Airport. It’s awesome we could watch planes landing just over our heads!

Happy New Year 2014!

I felt happy when I opened my eyes and saw the sunlight through the window this morning. I decided to sleep in a little bit more. My hubby and kids got up and he made breakfast. What a great start to the new year! After lunch at McDonald's in 淡水, we went to Fisherman's Wharf.

The kids were excited about the boat ride. $100 per person for a 40-min boat tour. This was 小小肚's first time on a boat! well, I was a little bit seasick. They seemed to enjoy the ride. One of our new year's resolutions: take a plane to Japan and visit my friend Yoko this summer! I'll start to plan this trip during the winter break.

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.

trip to Shilin

watching the bees.

We visited Shilin Presidential Residence and had afternoon tea buffet at Grand Hotel with my father in law yesterday.

"Rhinoceros Beetle" Farm

My sis and her family went up from Kaohsiung, my parents went down from Taichung, and we went down with our nephew from 雲林 to Rhinoceros Beetle Farm yesterday. We had dinner at 甕窯雞 again. 4 kids wolfed down the delicious roast chicken.

It’s nice being with family. We returned home late in the night. Tired, but so worth it.

luxury birthday month

I’ve enjoyed tasty food. We had dinner with my hubby’s family at a seafood restaurant on the 2nd and had lunch with my high school classmate 玟君 and her kids at Watami Japanese restaurant the next day.

小肚 and I had afternoon tea with a friend who I’ve known since I started teaching in Taipei in 2003 and her daughter at Perfume Dance on the 4th.

Last time my hubby and I went to the movies was last Dec. and saw Life of Pi, which was awesome. Nov. 5 afternoon, 11 months later, we went to see Thor: The Dark World with my father in law (and McDonald's. Yum~) Next, I look forward to seeing Captain Phillips, which will be released in Taiwan this middle Nov.

We went to Bali and lunched at Sailboat yesterday. Kids enjoyed playing in the sand.

Today is my birthday. We had lunch at 陶板屋. Thank my sweet college classmate Yali for giving me a special cake which came by truck today. What a nice surprise! Besides, my parents and brother came to celebrate this evening. I was much moved.