We managed to grow one large pumpkin this year which has lasted for quite a while in many meals.
Charlotte and I got to go to the Riverdance show with a friend (who also arranged babysitting for Lotus) which was lovely. The Irish dancing is so different to other cultures with the ladies having long locks in various colours.
We went to the Tutankahman exhibition - how they managed to make such magnificent objects that long ago is amazing. The peacock blue they use in ladies eye shadow and on some objects is unreal.
Charlotte has done a few more children's illustrator sessions including with Anne Spudvillas who drew the pictures for The Peasant Prince book based on Liu Cui Xin's life. Charlotte and her school friend got to hold a proof of Anne's drawings as she had used to decide the order of the illustrations. And she had a full blown sample of the book she had drawn. The added bonus of that session was she then went on to show the children how to draw using charcoal including the young Liu Cui Xin picture as she did on the front page of the book. The session was meant for teenagers but Anne could fully understand Charlotte being there with her Northern Chinese look.
It was weird seeing anglo children trying to draw the young Liu Cui Xin with anglo eyes (made me realise how much I adore my girl's eyes and could readily draw the Asian shape with confidence).
An old school friend is in town and she got to meet a more grown up Lotus - she now realises what I mean by 'active, talker, who will fight over anything'... she warns me of the teenage years to come....
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Strong willed
Lotus has given her swim teachers a hard time - actually she seems to think swimming involves jumping vertically rather than kicking and swimming horizontally.
Her Friday class she had one on one with a male uni student. And he seemed to use the noodle with her a lot. Well Lotus preferred not to kick but to instead put her feet up on the noodle and to let him cruise her along. Obviously poor Tom had been complaining about her (probably in the staff room) and the other staff seemed to rib him. Lotus is by far the smallest swimmer, but certainly the most non-compliant.
The teacher in the next aisle of the pool would say 'I am watching you Lotus', and while she was watching her she kicked... but as soon as that teacher turned her head away, Lotus would stop kicking.
In some ways she is over confident but just wants to jump in or up and down. She goes under the water all the time, but refuses to put her goggles over the eyes. We will do one more term of swimming and then perhaps wait until she is a little older.
Felt like saying to the teachers, well you know, that is why I am paying you guys to teach her rather than me!!
Lotus loves to change clothes - namely skirts and dresses. Currently it seems impossible to get her to wear pants. Kinder requires old clothes that can get dirty - not on her preferred menu.
Charlotte revels in her role as jie jie, consoling the crying mei mei often when mum has run out of steam. Charlotte did her trial for choir, but unfortunately had a cold and was not 100%. There is time for her.
Her Friday class she had one on one with a male uni student. And he seemed to use the noodle with her a lot. Well Lotus preferred not to kick but to instead put her feet up on the noodle and to let him cruise her along. Obviously poor Tom had been complaining about her (probably in the staff room) and the other staff seemed to rib him. Lotus is by far the smallest swimmer, but certainly the most non-compliant.
The teacher in the next aisle of the pool would say 'I am watching you Lotus', and while she was watching her she kicked... but as soon as that teacher turned her head away, Lotus would stop kicking.
In some ways she is over confident but just wants to jump in or up and down. She goes under the water all the time, but refuses to put her goggles over the eyes. We will do one more term of swimming and then perhaps wait until she is a little older.
Felt like saying to the teachers, well you know, that is why I am paying you guys to teach her rather than me!!
Lotus loves to change clothes - namely skirts and dresses. Currently it seems impossible to get her to wear pants. Kinder requires old clothes that can get dirty - not on her preferred menu.
Charlotte revels in her role as jie jie, consoling the crying mei mei often when mum has run out of steam. Charlotte did her trial for choir, but unfortunately had a cold and was not 100%. There is time for her.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Trip to China getting closer
It is time to sort out visas/passports etc.
Hotels are booked in both cities and CWTS seem to not answer emails so perhaps a phone call or two are in order to arrange a trip back to the orphanage.
Both girls have been growing more and doing well in their activities. Charlotte got nominated for a high achiever nomination at choir and is doing a try out for the award this Saturday. Unfortunately we will be in China when they are doing extra classes for those that will star in the mid-year concert so she will just have to be part of the normal group, but may still win a high-achiever award based on how she goes this Saturday.
And within 2 weeks of returning from China we are heading north to visit a famous zoo and some fun parks.
The rabbits dug their way out again this morning and after lots of searching they were found, with only 1 caught before having to go to work. I whistle to them everytime they are fed and that certainly helps in situations of when you are trying to find them. The 2nd one was found and caught in the afternoon. They now have a new layer of mesh to help prevent further breakouts.
It is nearly the end of the 1st term for Lotus going to kinder - it is amazing how much she loves it and knows it is only on Monday and Friday.
We have all had some sort of bug going around, but continue to soldier on.
Hotels are booked in both cities and CWTS seem to not answer emails so perhaps a phone call or two are in order to arrange a trip back to the orphanage.
Both girls have been growing more and doing well in their activities. Charlotte got nominated for a high achiever nomination at choir and is doing a try out for the award this Saturday. Unfortunately we will be in China when they are doing extra classes for those that will star in the mid-year concert so she will just have to be part of the normal group, but may still win a high-achiever award based on how she goes this Saturday.
And within 2 weeks of returning from China we are heading north to visit a famous zoo and some fun parks.
The rabbits dug their way out again this morning and after lots of searching they were found, with only 1 caught before having to go to work. I whistle to them everytime they are fed and that certainly helps in situations of when you are trying to find them. The 2nd one was found and caught in the afternoon. They now have a new layer of mesh to help prevent further breakouts.
It is nearly the end of the 1st term for Lotus going to kinder - it is amazing how much she loves it and knows it is only on Monday and Friday.
We have all had some sort of bug going around, but continue to soldier on.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
And now CCAA changes the rules to allow singles again
CCAA has announced overnight that they will allow singles to adopt Special Focus (special need children not placed for a number of months).
There is a bundle of other criteria including the youngest needs to be at least 6 years old... maybe in the future, we will see. Although if we applied now it would take our govt agency that long before they would have you approved anyway.
Lotus's SN is a non-issue now other than the number of doctor visits and we haven't been lined up for intense speech therapy, although the therapist is wanting update surgery sooner as opposed to later. The surgeon needs to adjust what he did initially, but I am not in any hurry.
Lotus seems to have grown bigger and looking older with language and expression that surprises me often. She still has a number of sounds unclear but that seems to be less of an issue than before. At times you just have to agree with her.
Charlotte is getting tired with all her activities and we may cut back next term.
Lotus's bigger issue is not wanting to SLEEP!! Any parent can relate... she likes to sleep around 10pm and wake between 6am-7am. It makes preparation for work difficult when she keeps doing things and asking for permission.
Toilet training has improved although the washing machine still gets worked out nearly daily with soiled clothes that can not wait for a full load which may be mishaps with toileting or spilling milk etc.
There is a bundle of other criteria including the youngest needs to be at least 6 years old... maybe in the future, we will see. Although if we applied now it would take our govt agency that long before they would have you approved anyway.
Lotus's SN is a non-issue now other than the number of doctor visits and we haven't been lined up for intense speech therapy, although the therapist is wanting update surgery sooner as opposed to later. The surgeon needs to adjust what he did initially, but I am not in any hurry.
Lotus seems to have grown bigger and looking older with language and expression that surprises me often. She still has a number of sounds unclear but that seems to be less of an issue than before. At times you just have to agree with her.
Charlotte is getting tired with all her activities and we may cut back next term.
Lotus's bigger issue is not wanting to SLEEP!! Any parent can relate... she likes to sleep around 10pm and wake between 6am-7am. It makes preparation for work difficult when she keeps doing things and asking for permission.
Toilet training has improved although the washing machine still gets worked out nearly daily with soiled clothes that can not wait for a full load which may be mishaps with toileting or spilling milk etc.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Busy schedule
With all the girls activities, and with work getting into full swing this week, we have been busy.
Lotus is loving her swim classes and seems to be capable of more compliance, with an understanding of what is expected. Her water confidence is coming along in bounds although she still falls under the water at times (teachers soon realise she doesn't stand still EVER).
Charlotte is LOVING her singing classes especially on a Sunday. Today the other children didn't turn up (lots of events on this weekend) and she had one on one tuition. The guy taking the class is really lovely and I can see a lot of value for Charlotte having this male influence who is also a great singer. She rates that better than choir class.
It is hard to remember all the things they need for each day and it leaves you wondering what parents with many more kids do with so many different activities on. Lotus has kinder in the morning and is loving it, but then hating to go to day care. I was warned from a prior kinder family that this would happen.
Lotus is loving her swim classes and seems to be capable of more compliance, with an understanding of what is expected. Her water confidence is coming along in bounds although she still falls under the water at times (teachers soon realise she doesn't stand still EVER).
Charlotte is LOVING her singing classes especially on a Sunday. Today the other children didn't turn up (lots of events on this weekend) and she had one on one tuition. The guy taking the class is really lovely and I can see a lot of value for Charlotte having this male influence who is also a great singer. She rates that better than choir class.
It is hard to remember all the things they need for each day and it leaves you wondering what parents with many more kids do with so many different activities on. Lotus has kinder in the morning and is loving it, but then hating to go to day care. I was warned from a prior kinder family that this would happen.
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