Must Win Something

Yesterday was quite a drama day for Chloe. It is quite a typical day but somehow yesterday I told myself she needs to tow the line. It all started right before dinner. We were playing Rummikub game and there was a plastic bag to keep all the tiles. She insisted on bringing the plastic bag to the dining table. I told her no, she plastic bag stays with the game and explained to her why. She refused to listen and still insist that she wanted to bring the plastic bag to the dining table. I had enough and just took the plastic bag from her hand. She wailed and refused to eat her dinner. I left her alone. Then she came to my chair and said she wanted to sit on my chair instead of her own chair. I said no. She made a big fuss. It was then I decided she will not win today's battle. I then asked Lucas to sit on her chair since she doesn't want it. Chloe quickly ran and sit on her chair. OK, next. She insisted that I feed her. I said ok but only one spoon. She said no, I must feed her all the food. I said no, and don't eat your dinner. She then said she wanted to go to sleep. I said fine, go take your shower and go to bed. Since she has no dinner, she is not getting her milk. Wah...started wailing again. She wanted milk and I said no dinner no milk. Then she asked for her handkerchief (her comfort toy to sleep). I said no handkerchief on dinning table. Handkerchief is only for the bed. Wah...more wailing. I left her alone to wail. After a while, she gave in. She said, I will only drink the soup and will not eat the rice. I said do whatever you want. Then she quietly drink her soup and ate her rice!

This girl, she will just keep trying until she wins something. She will not take a no for answer. What a tough girl and pity the parents and the neighbours who have to listen to all the wailing and shouting.

Year End and Holiday

This week is Lucas last week of school. He had his final year progress report, and I had met his teacher. His teacher was so generous in her phrases for Lucas. I was a bit too embarrass to read to him what his teacher wrote, just in case the comments make him arrogant. He had English and Math assessment that are part of UK standardised assessment. Boy, he had perfect score for his English and made 1 mistake in his Math. Dominic told him that his English is better than an English. The teacher showed me the test paper. The English was very simple at the beginning but the last few pages required more reading - a few sentences on a story and then a question that relate to the sentences. In another word, to do well, the kids have to be able to read decently well. I was surprised with the high standard expected from the kindergarten children. Math assessment was not so much about crunching numbers but understanding the questions and problem solving. The reason Lucas did well in Math was he listened to the whole question before answering. The teacher relate some incidents to me - she was asking the class what number minus with another number will gives the answer 11. Lucas was answering '200 - 189', '1611-1600'. The teacher was shocked and burst into laughter. She was expecting 2 digits number and she asked Lucas, 'Are you real, Lucas??' Last week, they were learning to read time. The teacher said it's 1.45 and my smart aleck son answered, 'You mean it is a quarter to 2?'. Story cut short, I'm very proud of my boy.

I asked Lucas to write down what he wants to do during his school holiday. Here is his list (unedited):
(1) Celabrat dad's birthday
(2) Play blind fold with Jaedon.
(3) Go sand clmbing when dad is at home.
(4) If you are at home, we will play until 7 o'clock.
(5) If dad is at home we will play hide and seek and if you are not at home, we will eat ealy.
(6) One day maybe we shold try eating breakfast at 12 o'clock.
(7) Go on holiday to Japan
(8) Shall we try cohekting two ballons on a string?

Let's see how much we achieve.

Good Guy, Bad Guy

Let me try to narrate a story Lucas has made up. I was working and asked him to sit beside me to do his spelling and sentences. He said wait and busy himself with some writing and drawing. I left him to finish whatever he was doing. Then he showed me his work.

Me: What's this? A trap? 

Lucas: Yes, it is a trap to find treasures. It says (as written) 'Treasure map to find out Mick's plan's and secret's and treasure's. And Bianca's to. And all the bad guy's plan's. ha ha ha ha ha'

Me: What's this ice lemon tea and ice water?

Lucas: It says (as written) 'The bad guy is thirsty. The bad guy is drinking the ice lemon tea'. 'The good guy is drinking giant ice water'.

Me: What's the door here?

Lucas: It is the door to the bad guy Mick.

Me: What's this with the circles and stripes?

Lucas: It is the jail.

Me: What's the circles?

Lucas: It is the bad guys heads.

Me: You killed them?

Lucas: Yes.

Me: So violent!

Lucas: Mom, only pretend ok.

And besides the jail, it was written, 'The good guy's have to attack the bad guy's when they are drinking'.



In summary, he is writing about good guys and bad guys were looking for treasures and the good guys attacked the bad guys while the bad guys were drinking ice lemon tea (off guard). He is of course the good guy. He is into Tin Tin adventure books and this is how we imagine his own adventure. Very cute.

His English - he gets the singular/plural right but he still need some work on the 's. His spelling is quite good too. I'm trying to work on his handwriting, inconsistent.

Chloe is 3 !

Chloe turned 3 yesterday. We usually don't hold party for the kids, we are the lazy parents. Chloe wanted a strawberry cake, and shirt with flowers and chicken for dinner. And she had all of those.

Busy opening her presents.

She insisted on putting the candles herself.

The adults aka me, Dominic and my in-laws find the excuse to have champagne. We had roast chicken with potatoes and asparagus, capcisum and pumpkin. Healthy dinner.

Hair Cut with Style

In today's world, businesses really have to innovate to catch up with the market demand. The last time Lucas had his hair cut in a barber or saloon was years ago. One barber had to hold his head still and another barber cut his hair and he was wailing all the way. Since then, my in-laws's maid had been cutting his hair. The maid had to coax him. Things changed for good a few days ago. By accident, we found a hair saloon that provide iPad while the customers had their hair cut!!! He sat still and never made a complaint!! When I talked to the hair stylist, she was saying 'These days, the kids are so advance. They won't even want PSP. Only iPad'.



See what I mean.....

Lucas in International Day

I managed to get other mothers to send me picture of Lucas taken for his school International Day.

This is where he pretended to run as fast as possible. I love his smile in this picture.

This is where all his classmates have to look like they are living in the 50s era. The girls had the hair curled and the guys had the hair gel.

International Day

Last Friday, Lucas's school had International Day with Olympic theme. His class was Melbourne Summer Olympic 1956. The kids are all dressed up according to the class theme and they have to parade from the auditorium to the assembly point carrying flags and some with mascots. Very interesting but also loads of work for the teachers and parents.
In another four weeks, Lucas will have his academic year end break. I have to think how to occupy the kids' time during the 5 weeks break!

The Canadians...Year 1 students, 7 year old.

The Mexicans....Nursery students, 5 year old.

The Greeks....Reception students, 6 year old.

Lucas's class, the Australian....Reception, 6 year old.

Lucas classmate's mom had the great idea of taking the kids in the 50s era....all the boys' hair were gel, and girls had their hair curled to take this picture.

The kids pretended to be the winners.Lucas said, 'M's Mom asked me to pretend to run as fast as I can' when his picture was taken. He is on the top left.

Chloe was hovering around the food area, which I helped to prepare.

Chili Padi

Have you heard of younger sister bossing older brother around? I heard that all the time in my home.

Most days, before going to sleep, Lucas goes to pee. Chloe will close the bathroom door and Lucas will switch off the light. One day, Chloe was not in a very good mood.
Lucas: Chloe, you close the door and I switch off the light.
Chloe: You opened it, you close it!
Lucas: Urggggg...
Chloe: Watch your temper!
Now, you have any idea how I talked to my kids.

Another day, Chloe was asking something from Lucas.
Lucas: No, you can't have it.
Chloe: Can I hold it?
Lucas: NO!
Chloe: That is not the answer!

Dominic was asking,
Dom: What flavour pizza did you have today?
Chloe: There is no flavour for pizza, silly.

Once, I was tried of having Chloe sitting on my lap on the swing.
Me: Chloe, Mummy is tired. You have to swing yourself.
Chloe: Then, get off the swing!

She might be petite in size, but she is definitely fiesty.

She likes drawing and writing...she is definitely a left handed.

Ice cream and using left hand. A friend was telling me that her son's music teacher has problem teaching his left handed son. I can foresee this will be a problem for Chloe too. Have you seen anyone playing violin using left hand??

Playground in Lucas's school. It is Chloe's pit stop when I take her to Lucas's school.