Holiday, School and Holiday Again Soon

So, what has come and go?? So much…
The kids had their mid term break, back to school and very soon summer break.
During the mid term break, Dominic took them to Cameron Highlands. The last time they were there was when Chloe was 6 months old. That's four and a half year ago. I had to stay back as I have no leave. They sure had a great time without me. The postcard they sent me from Cameron Highlands just arrived yesterday..2 months after they sent it.

In the playground on one of the tea house

With the grandparents visiting tea plantation

Plucking strawberries…something they wanted to do for a long time

Lucas said his favorites activities are plucking strawberries and drinking milkshake in front of a fire place.

Back home, missing the iPad.

Back to school, we had parents teachers meeting, the last meet for this academic year. Lucas maintains his status on being the top group in his class but he has to work hard to move to the next level. His teacher lists out the extra effort he has to put in such as all the varieties he has to have in his writing skills (use adverbs, use adjectives, use dialogues, more details etc). He has to keep his daily work even during summer break to keep his momentum going.

For his drum, he is doing very well. He managed to keep his enthusiasm and in fact play very well. He was doing some 'promotional' work for his school by performing in public on behalf of his music school. I just hope his drum enthusiasm lasts a long time. 

He dropped his drum stick half way in the performance but he was very cooled about it. He picked it up and continue playing without missing a beat.

Chloe is doing very well in school too. She has everything exceeding her peer groups except for Listening and Speaking. She still made sentence like 'I eat strawberry yesterday'. It looks like she needs to read more. I tried to get her to read Enid Blyton books. Lucas has almost the complete collection of Enid Blyton books. It is too much for her. Well, slowly…

Chloe has piano lesson and boy, wasn't she lazy. She never practiced her piano except for 1 minute before she goes for her lesson. Each time I asked her to practice, she replied 'Tomorrow'.

She loves the face painting she had in one of the friend's birthday party. She refused to have her face cleaned that night. Slept with the Hello Kitty painting and asked twice at night if the painting has come off. Then she asked me to print this picture so that she can enjoy looking at herself!

Second Week of School

Last post was about second week of holiday and this post was about second week of school. Holiday comes and goes. What did they do? They had cousins visiting. Lots of playing time with cousins. And this week is the second week of school. Chloe is in Reception and Lucas in Year 2. When school starts, they were both very excited. I'm suppose I am glad that they enjoy school. There is no problem adjusting. Lucas doesn't want me to walk with him to his class in the morning. He said he can manage. Chloe has the same classroom and same teacher as last year. So, it was not a problem at all. The only adjustment is having to sleep early and wake up early.

These two days have been difficult for me in the morning. When I sent them to school, the conversation is always around why can't I keep a pet. Told Lucas many many times why but that did not stop him from asking.

Meeting with the teachers

Today, I had progress meeting with the kids' teacher. It was very fruitful and I was pleased.

Chloe is settling well. She has good attention span and fully aware of what's going on. She is not shy, she asked if she needs something. She understand and comply with the teacher's instruction. She plays alongside with her friends, but not with her friends. The teacher is working on getting her interacting with her friends.

Lucas is doing well too. His teacher insisted that he is not shy but just quiet. He asked if he is not sure, he puts up his hand to volunteer to answer the questions, he talks in front of the class when he has to, he works well when he is partner with a classmate or in group. I was telling the teacher that he is bored at times in class. He finds the Math is too easy and the reading book is too easy. His teacher will do something about it. The only complain the teacher has is he goes to toilet a bit too often. She was wondering if he is trying to walk out from his boredom in the classroom....lol.

First Three Weeks

Lucas and Chloe are now in the same school, five minutes drive from the house. Lucas starts at 7.40am and Chloe starts at 8.30am. Lucas finishes at 2pm and Chloe finishes at 1.15pm. Sometimes I send them on separate trips and sometimes together. I have prepared them and it seems to be working out well. During school holiday, I kept reminding Lucas he has to sleep an hour earlier as he has to wake up an hour earlier. It worked thus far. The kids are ready in bed by 7.30pm and asleep by 8.30pm. I have to move their schedule forward, playground time is earlier and dinner time is earlier.

The first 3 weeks for Lucas was a mixture of feeling bored, anxious and excitement. He is bored as he said the school work,especially Math is too easy. Today, he told his teacher to give him something difficult and the teacher gave him Year 3 Math. Lucas is in Year 1. Lucas then get a bit excited saying it is very difficult and his face was grinning when he said that. Guess he needs to do something he doesn't know to excite him. His classroom is in a new building and that building is huge compared to previous year. He is anxious and sometimes not too sure where to go for assembly and canteen. Every morning, he insists that I walk with him to his class, and then walk with him to the assembly. His teacher will then walk them to the classroom. I decided to let him take his time until he is comfortable to walk on his own.

Chloe meanwhile was sick for half of the 3 weeks. She caught a very bad bug on the second week and had been missing school for a few days. She is sick again this week. She did not cry on the first week. On the second week, after she returned from her sick days, she wailed when I left her classroom. She clamped to me like a crab. Third week was good. She was actually very happy and asked me not to go inside her classroom. She is always excited after school telling me what she had for breakfast and lunch in school, and what did she do.

For me, I have to wake up and hour earlier. Get myself ready and then wake the kids up. At days when I had to work late, it is hard to get up. Well, I better get used to it. It will be like this for the next 12 years!

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.

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.

Chloe Made It!

Chloe is accepted to Lucas's school. A huge relief for all of us. Now, I can relax, and she can relax. In the morning, Chloe keeps herself busy with painting and playing with sand. She enjoys painting. At times, she paints her fingers and palm and do a hand print - just like what she used to do in her former school. Then she has the lunch and take her nap. By then, Lucas will be back from school and they will have a blast time playing and fighting together. As part of her going to school preparation, I am trying to get her to feed herself, telling her no teacher will feed her. Then Lucas chipped in and say, 'Chloe, you only have 15 mins to eat. So, you better eat fast or else you will have no play time'. In school, the children get 30 mins break. The faster they eat, the more play time the kids will have. Also, in September, Lucas will be in Year 1. School starts at 7.30am as opposed to 8.30am now. I have been telling Lucas he needs to start getting used to go to bed at 8.30pm as he has to wake up early soon. Sigh...I just talked about relaxing but it is always preparing for this and that. Our life in a rat race society...

I bought myself and Lucas a bicycle each. His new bicycle is very suitable in terms of the size and height. On every Saturday and Sunday, we, the whole family will go cycling around the neighbourhood. Dominic will have Chloe in his bicycle carrier, which he used to cycle Lucas to school,  Lucas will cycle on his own, and I'm on mine. We cycle to the 'far away playground' (as the kids would say) and take the long way so that we have more time on our bicycles. Our pit stops are playgrounds. The kids, especially Lucas enjoys it. Something healthy to do until the haze comes!

7 Days to Christmas

Yes, only 7 days to Christmas and we have yet to buy the most important presents i.e. presents to my in-laws. We have no clue what to buy!
I survived my first week of work....yah! I had to go office everyday but luckily the traffic was good as most people are on holidays. I won't dare to say the same in January. The job, the boss and the colleagues are not bad at all, but I can't work from home all the time....bummer. I'll see how I balance my time and office as I go along. The first day where both of us have to go office, Lucas was telling his father 'It is not fun when both of you are not at home'. Chloe got rather confused and asked 'Why are you going to Daddy's car?' Sigh.....When school starts in January, it is going to be a challenge sending and picking up the kids from schools. Sigh again....need to find alternative transportation.

The kids have been watching this cartoon called Peppa Pig. So, one day Lucas came to me and said, 'Mom, we have to put a glass of milk and mince pie near the Christmas tree so that Santa Claus can drink and eat them when he comes to deliver the present. And we will also know that Santa has come'. Guess who has to drink and eat on behalf of the Santa?? Daddy of course.

Putting up the tree.

Proud of their work.

Deep in concentration. What were they watching?

Watching carolling.

Meeting with Teacher

Yesterday was our session with Lucas's teacher to talk about his progress in school. He has been with this teacher for 2 months. Well, there were no surprises. The teacher pretty much said the same thing as last year's teacher. Consistent behaviour. He is above his peers in numeracy and literacy but he doesn't like drawing, coloring, singing and dancing. The teacher showed us his drawing and coloring work, and I must said it is pretty much as how he drew since 2 years ago. The human is still in 'stick' form. One color for the whole face. The teacher said he will do the drawing and coloring with hesitation but he will just do it to get it over with. During music class, he is the only person who does not participate. When we get home, we asked him why he behaves in such manner. His reply, 'It is so boring!'. What can I say?? Should I just let it be and let him get over it since drawing, coloring, singing and dancing are not essential survival skills? No?

And I'm meeting Chloe's teacher this Thursday to talk about her progress. Wonder what will the teacher says.

Calm After the Storm

The dead rats are finally disposed off and there is no smell in the house, after 3-4 days of high drama. Life is back to normal.....

Lucas had his last swimming lesson last Thursday and he made very good progress. I'm very happy and think the swimming fee is money well spent. He is very comfortable in putting his head underwater and that is battle half won. He can do short distant of breast stroke and free style. But of course, he still doesn't know how to put his head off the water to breathe and thread water. Well...slowly. The sad news is he is not continuing with the swimming. He said he wanted to continue next year and the instructor also has no free slot for weekdays afternoon. Meanwhile, Dominic will have to be his instructor and continue practicing his strokes.

Chloe, the dancing and singing queen, is growing fast. She picks up pretty much everything from her brother. If her brother doesn't want any food, she will say no as well without even trying. Sometimes, she even bosses her brother around, commanding the brother to sit down and eat his food, don't do this, don't do that.

Later today, we have an appointment to meet Lucas's teacher to talk about his progress in school.
Me: Lucas, I'm meeting Ms M (his teacher) on Monday. What do you want me to tell her?
Lucas: Don't tell Ms M that I am very naughty, ok.

Holiday is Over

It's back to school!!
After we returned from Gold Coast, Lucas spent a week in my parents' place playing with his cousins. He enjoyed it so much that he refused to come back. My sisters made sure they are entertained. Meanwhile, Chloe enjoyed staying at home with us. She enjoyed the one week where she is the only child and get our undivided attention. I just realised that she never had that privilege while Lucas had it for almost three years! Well, new experience for all of us.

Lucas started his new academic year yesterday. He is excited about going back to school. However, when I asked him what he did in school, he will said 'I have forgotten' or 'We did so much activities'. Nothing specific that was worth mentioning. Oh well....I'm just glad he is happy to go to school. He finished his drum trial course and the teacher asked him to come back when he is 6-7 years old. We think he did quite well in drum and he did not protest about going to the class nor he showed enthusiasm. Will get him to continue when he is 7. This Saturday will be his last piano lesson. Again, he said he will continue when he is older. So, no music class in the next 2-3 years. He still has his swimming class. We will see if he should continue thereafter or we stop it as well.

Chloe started her playschool. Twice a week. She loved it. Refused to come back after the class finishes. On the way home, she kept saying, 'I don't want to go home'.

Back to Normal

Today is Lucas first day of school, after 2 weeks break. He was very excited about going back to school. I told him yesterday that he needs to go to sleep early as he has to wake up early to go to school. He is ok with it and did not protest. In fact, he replied, 'You have to wake up early too. You have to wear for me my shoes and my socks'. What a boss! I used to brush his teeth for him till this morning. A few months back, we had a deal that he will brush his own teeth starting Term 3. And he honoured the deal we made. I must say he is very mature in this thinking for his age. If he agrees with the timeline he set, he honoured his word without any fuss. Just like he agreed to go to poo in the toilet when he turned 4 and he did.

So, this morning, when I asked him to eat his breakfast (usually a slice of cheese as he has his milk when he wakes up), he said 'Cheese is power food. I have a lot of power now. So, I don't need cheese'. He went early to have more play time in this school. Oh...I must say I am sooo glad that he likes school.

Meanwhile, Chloe was saying most part of this morning, 'I want to play with ko-ko (elder brother)'. She missed the play and fight she had with her brother in the morning. And Chloe is making good progress with the maid too. At least she allowed the maid to play with her for awhile, feed her and put her to nap.

Star of the Week

I think Lucas is one of those students who fall under 'teacher's pet' category.
During his short term with the school so far, he had received 4 smiley stickers. The teacher gives him a smiley sticker when he behaves himself. He said two stickers were for sitting properly (crossed legs and hands on the lap so that friends will not step on them), one for queuing in line, and another one for helping the teacher to shut down computers after class! Well done, Lucas.

Today, he was given a certificate and a special sticker 'Star of the Week Award'. He was so happy and so are we. Dominic was teasing him asking if he can be a star at home as well. Yes, if only he is a star at home too............

First week of School

Lucas had 5 days of school and now he is on 10 days break!
What a life - holidays are more than school days.
Thank goodness, he enjoys going to his new school. He starts at 8.30am, and finishes at 1.15pm. During that period, he has his snack time and lunch in school. I thought I can escape the one hour nagging him to eat, but it was not meant to be. When I asked him if he finishes all his food, he replied, 'I had 3 spoons and then I throw away the food.' So, when he gets home, I still give him his lunch, albeit a smaller portion. Yesterday, he said he finished all his food in school. I did not believe him and made him eat half a sandwich at home. 20 mins later, he said 'Mommy, I got stomach ache. I think I ate too much.' :)

His classroom is filled with gadgets and apparatus to play. He loves it. The gadgets and apparatus are all laid out on the tables/floor space - not stored in any storage box - hence easy to access all the toys. He zooms right into play dough first thing - that's because I ban him from playing play dough at home - messy. He is able to tell me in chronological order what he does in school. I take this as good note and the activities are interesting enough for him to remember. Yesterday, out of sudden, he told me 'We watch Good Morning (short story) 3 times and it is so boring!'

Some of the parents are the ugly/selfish few. See, the parents walk the kids to their classroom. That means, we have to park the car. Nursery has different hours from primary and secondary. Since it is not a peak hour, there are plenty of parking space. Of course some of the parents want to park the closest to the classrooms, meaning parking at the road curb and obstructing the traffic, when 10 steps away, there are plenty of parking space. How are these parents going to set a good example to the children! Sometimes, I feel like telling the parents off, but decided to keep my mouth shut. I'll probably talking to the wall.

Biggest and Smallest

I bought some books for Lucas, preparing for his school holidays. He was so excited, he started reading the books and doing the exercises. Then, one of the exercise is circle the biggest number (from a list of 4 numbers) and cross the smallest number (from a list of another 4 numbers). He doesn't understand the meaning of biggest and smallest number. I tried to explain by saying 'If you count from 1, the biggest number will be the number you reached last. The smallest number is the number you reached first'. He doesn't get the explanation and got most of the exercise wrong.

Later that night, I asked Dominic if he has better explanation. He said the same thing as me:( Now, we have to think harder on how to explain the concept to him. Is this the beginning of a more difficult explanations to come? If he learns new concept from me, I am very happy that I can 'educate' him. It's the parents' job and not tuition teachers' job, right?

Last Week of School

Lucas is in his last week of school with his current playschool. It is sad to have him to move to a new school, but I suppose we have to move on. He truly enjoyed himself there - the teacher, his classmates, activities that they did. I like that school too. One an a half year ago, I was desperately looking for a school for him when we moved to this current place. I took him to 2 others playschool in the neighbourhood for trial classes. He did not like them at all. I weren't that impressed either. On the second day of trial, he cried when we are at the compound and he refused to get out of the car. I did not want to force him. Then I found this current school. It was a bit far from the house. Lucas knows what he wants, very precisely. After his first day trial, I asked if he wants to come back and he nodded his head. I must said this is the best decision we made for his schooling. He enjoyed learning so much - that's a good start for young children.

Now, I hope he will enjoy his new school just as much. Or else, I'm in trouble.

I tried to prep him about his last week of school - he won't see his teacher and classmates. Instead, he will have a new teacher and friends.

Me: Lucas, this week is your last week of school in PJ. Then you will have holidays and T starts on Sept 1.
Lucas: Why can't I stay at PJ?
Me: You are too big to go to PJ. You have to go to big boys school.
Lucas: But Y (his classmate) is 6 years old and she is still in PJ. S (his other classmate) is 5 and he is still in PJ. I am only three and three quarter.
Me: Urg.....

Dominic said I should just tell him it is too far to drive him there. Knowing him, he will answer 'But you drive me to school everyday. Why not tomorrow?'. How to out talk him? I know these because we had this kind of conversation earlier.

Before leaving for school,
Me: Lucas, wear your own school shoes. (I always wear for him and decided that he needs to do it himself. I knew he knows how to wear his shoes and socks because he did it in school)
Lucas: You wear for me.
Me: No, do it yourself.
Lucas: You wear for me everyday, why not today?
Me: Urg...

Going to the toilet. I always take him to the toilet and again decided he needs to do it himself and he knows how to do it.
Lucas: Mommy, I want to go pee.
Me: Go on your own, you know how to do it.
Lucas: But you do it for me all the time.
Me: I have changed my mind. I am not doing for you from now on. You have to do it yourself (sounds like I am smarter now, isn't it?)
Lucas: You are not allowed to change your mind!

Assessment

Lucas's assessment to enter the new kindie is finally over. My biggest fear was to get him to the school and get him to be cooperative. I have been preping him a few days before the event. So, finally on the drive to his new kindie, he said:

Lucas: Mommy, I don't want to go to T now. I only want to go when I am 4 years old.
Me: You are only going for 1 hour to meet the teachers and check out the new school.
Dom: You are invited to go to T today. Remembered when we cycled here the last time, the guard won't allow us in.
Lucas: But, I don't like this school. I want the teacher to say they do not want me to come to this school.
Dom: OK, you tell the teacher that and see what the teacher says.

While we were parking the car.
Lucas: Mommy, this is a giant school.
Me: Yes, it is. Let's go check-out the school.

We went to the Administration Office to tell them Lucas is here.
Me: We are here to take the assessment.
Clerk: Lucas , it is?
Me: (puzzled how she knows it's Lucas) Yes.
Clerk: Have a seat outside. The teachers will come and get you.

While hanging around waiting for the teachers to come and get us, there were other parents and their children waiting as well. There were 2 kids doing some kind of work on activity books!. Some were just loitering around like me.
While waiting we walked around to check the campus.

Dom: I like this design. It is just like a college campus.
Me: It is a school campus. (thinking harder, I understand what Dominic meant. The design is very conducive. The center of the place is a green courtyard. The building lined along this courtyard. You can't see the courtyard from outside. If one has to get from one building to another, one has to walk on the courtyard. So, the courtyard is the 'life'. Nice to see the kids there).

Then the teachers came to get us, and we followed them to the classroom. The classroom has a few stations, each with their own apparatus. Lucas sat on the station with paper and scissors. I waited with him for a while and then walked out. Thank goodness he was ok with me leaving the classroom. That was my biggest fear!.

From the window, I saw him cut the paper (to test his motor skill). When he was done, the teacher moved him to another station, where there were watercolours. He said after the test, that the teacher asked him to draw himself. I saw a circle with what looked like eyes, nose, mouth and 2 legs. His third test was to fish number and alphabet from water and sand. Then there were flashcards and numbers. Last task was colouring with crayon. After that, the teacher walked him out. He was first to be done. I suppose that is a good sign?

After the test, we went to the canteen. He had some biscuits and while eating he said:
Lucas: Mommy, I like this.
Me: You like the biscuits or the school?
Lucas: I like both.
Me: You can come to this school for a long long time if you like it. Err...just make sure Mommy and Daddy have enough money to pay for your school fees.

At home:
Lucas: Daddy, I like T school.
Daddy: You said you don't like it earlier. Did you change your mind?
Lucas: Yes, I changed my mind.

Now, we just have to wait for the result.

First Day of School

The weather was just too good to snooze on Lucas's first day of school. It drizzles and cloudy. I set the alarm at 7.30am. Shut off the alarm and went back to sleep at 7.30am. Then I woke up at 8am and told myself another few minutes of eye shut. The next thing I know was 8.30am. That's the time Lucas school commence. Both kids were so sound asleep and they did not wake me up as well. So, at 8.30am, I jumped off the bed, get myself ready in less than 5 mins, get Lucas ready and packed both kids to the car. Luckily the traffic was good. Was in his school by 9.15am.
Lucas was very good. No fuss about going to school and no fuss when I leave him. He misses his teacher. Initially, he did not want to wish his teacher happy new year but when the teacher gave him a gift, he gave this teacher a big hug!

Some peace and quiet at home without him.