First Full Day

For the last two Fridays,  Tyler's been attending the afternoon sessions of a nearby English school. ( my attempt at a little babysitting so I can run errands ).    So this Friday, we were trying a full day.  When I mentioned this to Tyler the night before, and that we needed to pack some things to get ready he couldn't wait to pack and to go.  A sleeping bag for napping, a toothbrush for after lunch, a change of clothes just in case.  When we were finished packing, Tyler asked me when he was coming back.  I said 6pm.  He then asked, what day will I come back?  Saturday?  Sunday?   It was hard not to chuckle seeing him so excited to sleepover at the school.

Tyler did well.  Ate his lunch on his own, and at a brisk pace ( why so different at home - argh!!)  Cried a bit after losing at musical chairs (Chinese version called big wind blows) but otherwise ok.   Tyler being Tyler, I expected it to go smoothly.  (One mother we say hi to in the community was shocked that he's only 4.  She thought he was 7!)  But still in the back of my mind, you can't help but worry just a little.  This being the longest in the care of someone not family.  

It was a milestone day today.  Mom's really just so proud he did so well.

Photo Montage of Tyler's Classes at Owl (Fall 08)

Eventhough Tyler doesn't officially attend pre-k, he attends classes at "Owl," a bushiban in the afternoon for older kids, and in the mornings "classes" for 3-4 year olds.  It's a wonderful environment with small class size (8-10), a great big classroom (bright and clean too!), wonderful teachers and a proprietor with attention to detail.  All parents received a little portfolio of artworks/pictures from fall/winter 08, but recently they gave us a CD with all these wonderful photos of the kids in classes. Tyler only attended two days a week since it's a bit far from our house, but seeing all these photos it seems all worth it.  Here are some photos from his classes, you can click to take you to the Picasa Album with all the photos.

Teacher Pei Yu - Teaching the kids where rice comes from (she's holding up the chinese character for uncooked rice (grain))

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Fun with rice - Making Fan Tuan (rice balls)

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Reaping the rewards.  

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Balancing act

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Pretending to be rabbit??  I just like this photo.

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Cute little chickadees

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Nature Class - learning about seeds

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Pretending to be a sprout?  Like this photo too.

From Tyler's Owl Class Fall 08

Substitute English Teacher

Hi Steve, in case you're checking into the blog...  (Steve's travelling on business this week.)  Today, I filled in for an English Teacher at a bushiban to teach grammar to ten 3rd graders.  I did NOT know what to expect.  It's only for a few days before the regular teacher returns from a family emergency.  

Despite not having a joke at the ready (per Steve's suggestion), I think it went pretty well.  A few of the boys were disruptive, (talking to each other etc... and not raising their hands), but generally they're a bunch of bright kids.  At times, it felt a little out of control (hope I wasn't too soft on them).  It feels likes they were absorbing what I was telling them, but hard to tell.  Anyhow, it was fun interacting with the kids and hopefully they know all about "Adverbs" now and that "xx is a good people" is not proper english.  =)  I'll be happy if they took away one thing from my class.

Tyler's a bit moody ( I think from the antihistimines he's on ).  Because of his allergies, there's some fluid build up in his ears.  This was news to me that this can happen with allergies.  So we're on watch this week...  

Opera Night

Placido Domingo came to Taiwan to perform at the Miao Li Music Festival.  When we happened across this information,  Steve and I knew we had to get tickets.  His voice was absolutely thrilling, and I really enjoyed the evening off where it was just Steve and I.

It was at a sports stadium so it was quite a crowd - really people mountain people sea.  They made us park about 15 minutes away and they had shuttle buses that took you to the stadium.  In the few seconds before the performance started, you heard fur elise, the garbage truck music playing faintly in the night.  No mistaking that you weren't at the Met... Once the performance started though, it was easy to overlook all the little "quirks" about the logistics.  (too numerous to mention)

Domingo sang with a Chilean Soprano, arias from Tosca and LeCid and quite a few Spanish Operas we weren't familiar with.  Towards the end there were a few crowd pleasers, like Besame Mucho.  In total, there were 7!! encores - one being a Taiwanese folksong where everyone went crazy, and another a song by Placido Jr. set to a poem by Pope John Paul the II.

My voice was a bit raspy from all the Bravo's... it was quite an operatic evening.

Hot Wheels!

Tyler put on his first pair of rollerblades yesterday.  A friend's daughter was taking free lessons at the Zhubei Sports Center and invited us to join.  The coach even provide the blades and all protective gear -- a nice way to try the sport without investing in all the gear.  The practice area was right next to the stadium, "underneath the bleachers" which was a wide open area and provided some cover from the drizzle yesterday.

The first lesson is to learn "to walk" on skates.  The coach tied the front and back wheels so it wouldn't be so slippery.  A bit of friendly competition developed between Tyler and his friend.  Nothing like a bit of competition to really motivate.  =)

At first his legs were very wobbly. The challenge for Tyler was learning to take smaller steps... He's so eager to emulate the older kids zipping around.  After about 20 minutes of walking back and forth the pillars, Tyler was ready to go on his on without mom holding on- in fact he was pushing my arms away. The trick is to support them just enough that they don't fall hard, but let them still carry most of their weight so their legs get used to it --  kind of like parenting really....

He really had a blast and can't wait to go back next week.  

For his birthday, Steve and I got him a soccer ball + practice cones (the ones he was wearing on his hands on his bday).  When daddy gets home, they practice a little bit to our neighbors chagrin (I'm guessing, since they haven't complained yet.  I know, we're bad neighbors.)  He has this special fancy move where he's jogging in place before he kicks the ball -- it's really super cute.  I think he would really enjoy playing a team sport.

Tyler's Fourth Birthday

From Tyler's Bday 4

Tyler just celebrated his Fourth Birthday.  There was so much built up anticipation.  Just like Christmas, half the fun is in the waiting leading up to the day.  All of February, Tyler asked -- How many days until?? He couldn't wait for his party and all it entails -- presents, playtime with his friends, balloons, games, cake, and being the center of attention.  Anything and everything was related to preparation off his birthday.  We were watching a Japanese program, a bake off...  Tyler asked were we choosing his birthday cake from those?  

We celebrated it twice, once with his friends a few days earlier, and on the day with family in Taipei.  It was a nice little gathering at our house for lunch and some cake.  Many of his friends he knew since he was one and a half -- it's hard not to look at this group and just wonder where the time went!!  

From Tyler's Bday 4