Thursday, October 15, 2015

Patty Cake | Kids' Songs

Diary 13 My Son Starts to Walk

My son, Yanchen is starting to walk a couple of steps. He practices walking himself. He has crawled for half a year. I'm not worried about his walking. My daughter, Yichin, started to walk when she was 1.3 year old. Yanchen just celebrated his 1-year-old birthday not long ago.

We visited my parents yesterday. I've not seen them since two or three months. It is a long time for my mom. I've been busy taking my daughter to attend the classes and activities. I'm also busy taking kids out when my husband has days off. My father-in-law wants to visit us and see his grandchildren recently but we always have plans to do. He hasn't been here for a long time. Actually I don't like him to come to my house. He always stays here for a whole day and we'll waste a day. My husband is busy and I cherish every day he is off. I prefer to go out with my husband and kids and to spend time with nobody except them. I'd also like to take kids to do some outdoor activities like hiking to keep children healthy.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Pre-K Skills

Information from https://www.ixl.com/math/pre-k

Pre-K
Here is a list of all of the skills students learn in pre-K! These skills are organized into categories, and you can move your mouse over any skill name to view a sample question. To start practicing, just click on any link. IXL will track your score, and the questions will automatically increase in difficulty as you improve!

Shapes
A.1 Identify circles, squares, and triangles
A.2 Identify squares and rectangles
A.3 Identify cubes and pyramids

Count to 3
B.1 Count dots (up to 3)
B.2 Count shapes (up to 3)
B.3 Count objects (up to 3)
B.4 Count using stickers (up to 3)
B.5 Show numbers on ten frames (up to 3)
B.6 Represent numbers (up to 3)

Count to 5
C.1 Count dots (up to 5)
C.2 Count shapes (up to 5)
C.3 Count objects (up to 5)
C.4 Count using stickers (up to 5)
C.5 Show numbers on ten frames (up to 5)
C.6 Represent numbers (up to 5)

Count to 10
D.1 Count dots (up to 10)
D.2 Count shapes (up to 10)
D.3 Count objects (up to 10)
D.4 Count using stickers (up to 10)
D.5 Show numbers on ten frames (up to 10)
D.6 Represent numbers (up to 10)

Count to 20
E.1 Count dots (up to 20)
E.2 Count shapes (up to 20)
E.3 Count objects (up to 20)
E.4 Show numbers on ten frames (up to 20)
E.5 Represent numbers (up to 20)

Comparing
F.1 More
F.2 Fewer
F.3 Compare in a chart (fewer or more)
F.4 Compare in a mixed group
F.5 Compare numbers (larger and largest)
F.6 Compare numbers (smaller and smallest)

Positions
G.1 Inside and outside
G.2 Left and right
G.3 Left, middle, and right
G.4 Above and below
G.5 Top and bottom

Classify
H.1 Same
H.2 Different
H.3 Same and different
H.4 Classify by color
H.5 Classify and sort by color
H.6 Classify and sort by shape

Size
I.1 Long and short
I.2 Tall and short
I.3 Light and heavy
I.4 Holds more or less
I.5 Compare height, weight, and capacity
I.6 Wide and narrow

Money
J.1 Pennies and nickels
J.2 Dimes and quarters
J.3 Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters
J.4 Count pennies

Diary 12 My Daughter Loves to Learn English

My son is 1 year old. I have to train him to feed himself and buy him a bowl and a spoon and a fork.

I've planned to have one more baby though two kids make me busy and exhausted. My husband has helped me a lot. He's also changed a lot for our family. I am grateful for him.

I've bought a set of books since not long ago after my daughter was born. I've read some of the books to her when she was a few months old. A couple of book salespersons called me and wanted me to buy more but my daughter and I haven't read all of the books. I don't want to buy one more set. One reason is financial, the other is to protect the earth so I prefer to buy a couple of books whenever I need instead of buying a whole set.

It's a perfect decision. My daughter is starting to use the "microphone" and the books. She points at the books and reads. It's amazing. I don't know how it starts to happen. I have her watch the kids animation shows in English which she likes very much, like Peppa Pig, Earth to Luna, Dogee... She will speak English after the characters. I don't know how much she understands. Sometimes I wonder if they are difficult for her.

I gotta work hard to have one more baby this month. I've missed once. I hope we will be successful this month. I use a test chip to find my ovulation day. My waist hurt tonight. I don't know if it's kind of a symptom that indicates the ovulation. But the test chip didn't show it.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Diary 11 My Son's Birthday

My son's name is Yanchen Lin. He was born in Oct 10, 2014. He's turning 1 tomorrow. We took him to Zhazhou. It is a traditional way to celebrate our first birthday. Yanchen had a lot of fun in the restaurant. He had lunch there. He sat in a baby chair and turned around his head to look around. He was curious but he still sat still to finish his meal like his big sister.

Yanchen wore a special costume to start to Zhazhou. He didn't like any hat on his head and take it off whenever he found. My son has picked a couple of objects. The first three things are a microphone, a chicken leg and a lettuce. He continued to pick up everything nearby until we take him away.

I was not so happy this morning. My husband invited my mother-in-law to join. I told him to go with his mother, not me. He told a lie to his mother. I just want to be alone with my husband and my kids instead of any relatives and friends. That makes me feel uncomfortable. I know my mother-in-law wants to join, but I'm not used to getting along with her especially in such a family reunion.

After the dinner, we turned off the lights at home and lit up the candle and sang a birthday song to my son. He might feel sleepy at first and then the candle made him cheer up. My daughter sat next to him and didn't sing a song. She asked to eat the cake since the dinner. I told her to wait. She kept saying and I pretended not to realize what she said, "Mommy, take the cake out of the fridge to eat."

Happy birthday, my son. I love you. You made me feel frustrated and exhausted very often. But you do your best to make me love you. Thank you, my dear son. You're giving me a lot of happiness. Thank my daughter also for taking care of her little brother and loving him. Thank mu husband to give me two lovely kids. I love you all.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Diary 10 Back to Kaohsiung

We've planned this getaway to be a camping experience for our little ones. It was successful. Kids had fun and so do we daddy and mommy.

We left from Kenting after having had lunch. We had a little problem at driving our car away from the parking lot. We couldn't leave because the machine was out of work. We contacted the service provider and didn't pay any money for parking.

The way home was easier and quicker than the way to Kenting. I was tired and kept talking with my husband while he was driving. We bought some peanuts on the way. The sun set when we arrived in Kaohsiung. We drove to my father-in-law's home first and bought our dinner at a night market.

It was a good experience. I love it. I will plan another camping trip this coming months. But the campsite should be convenient and have a great meadow for kids to run around. It also should be not too far from Kaohsiung. We'll go to Yilang on December to visit an old friend of mine. We can't camp there because we won't drive so far and we can't take all the camping gear with us.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Diary 9 My Son's Birthday Is Coming

My son's turning 1 year old this coming Saturday, when my husband will have a night shift and we can't celebrate his first birthday that day. We're going to celebrate the day before his birthday in a restaurant and there will be a traditional activity.

My son is a clever baby and quick to learn. He can crawl as young as 6 months old. He's eager to stand after one month or so. He likes to imitate his sister. My daughter draws, and he "pretends" to draw with a color pen in hand.

My daughter had a clay class this morning. She loves to watch the fish in the pool on the first floor. My son stretched his body to reach near the pool. He was so excited.

He was sleepy this morning when I took him to the class with his sister. He didn't want to crawl or cruise in the classroom, He just wanted to sit by me and I gave him a steamed bun. He sat quietly enjoying his breakfast. It's good that eating can calm him down.

A boy ran around in the classroom when his big sister was making her clay. He'd like to play with my son, who stood by me. He pulled my little one, who was crying. I was afraid if he might fall off. His mother alarmed him to be careful and explained. He was boring. He needs companion.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Diary 8 The Beach and The Lunch

It might have been around 10 when we got up again. We started to pack up and arrange our tent. My son was up and then my daughter. We also returned the table and the chairs before we left.

We visited the nearby beach, opposite to our campsite. It was full of coral reef. I've promised my daughter to visit the beach again the day before. My husband complaint. He didn't want the kids to be dirty or wet or full of sand. However, Kenting is a place surrounded by the ocean. What else can we do except bathing in the sea? He's boring. He likes to complain wherever we visit. Nothing seems to attract him.

Kids love sand and water. My daughter played with sand at first. I wanted her to go near the water but she didn't want to go. Then she needed some water to play with the sand. I held her hand to approach the water and then she had fun of sitting in the water with her younger brother.

My son is brave. He's not afraid of water. He enjoys it very much. He never feels a little bit scared even if he swallows some water and he recovers his mood very soon. My daughter is born to be afraid of water but gradually she changes.

We left the beach after the noon. We had lunch in a Mexican restaurant in Kenting Boulevard. I have been to the restaurant with my daughter. It was happier this time with all my family, my husband and my son. My son was in my womb last time and now he was a big baby.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Diary 7 Grown Up

My daughter has more grown up. She's more like a big girl. She can open the doors. She can put on her shoes. She waves goodbye to the strangers who ask her to do so. She likes water more than she fears it. She's not afraid of fake people or huge puppets. She asks me if she can take a look at something on the table as I've told her before.

She even walked with us so far this evening. She was tired but she didn't cry.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Diary 6 The Next Morning

The next day I got up early. It was not very hot. The trees were around our tent. My daughter and my husband was up, too. We had some bread and soup for breakfast. My daughter was full of energy and I wanted my husband to take her for a walk and take a look at the bunny which camped here.

The bunny's keeper walked it near our tent. My daughter was excited. She loves animals as her parents do.

My husband and I were still sleepy, not my daughter. We asked her to stay inside the tent while we were sleeping. She's fallen asleep at last.

Friday, October 2, 2015

The following information is from http://www.studyabroadinternational.com/USA/California/SF/San_Francisco_Junior_Summer_Camp_dates_and_fees.html

2016 Junior Summer Camp Prices and Dates
Dates of the Junior Camp:

June 26 - August 7, 2016

All arrivals and departures are on Sundays. The minimum course length is 2 weeks.

Fees

Residential program Program: $1,635.00 per week
Day Camp program Program: $995.00 per week
Application fee: $100.00
Airport transfer: $200.00 **
Program Fee include:

20 lessons per week in the mornings
Residential accommodation in twin rooms (residential program)
All meals (Day camp prices include lunch and dinner)
2 full day excursion per week
2 half-day excursion per week
Afternoon and evening activity program*
Return airport transfer**
Close supervision and 24-hour emergency telephone number
Welcome pack - including a free Student bag
Placement test
Leaving certificate
*Some optional activities (e.g. mountain biking) may incur an additional charge.

** Return airport transfer is included in the package price for groups of 12 students or more. For individuals and groups of less than 12 students the following supplements apply (per student return):

1 student - $200.00
2 students - $150.00 per person
3 and more students - $100.00 per person

Diary 5 Barbecuing Was Over

My son fell asleep in the stroller when my husband was starting the fire. I lay him down in the tent. He had slept until my daughter took a shower.

We played with the sparklers over and over. My daughter had lots of fun, So did my son. She even wanted to fire a sparkler as her dad did.

It was 10 in the evening when we finished BBQ. Then we took a walk around the camp site and nearby. It was full of people and students had had a camp fire. It was quiet in the street. We could barely see the sea.

My husband and I took turns taking a shower and taking care of little ones. I turned off the lights near our tent when my husband was taking a shower.

The tent was out of space with all of us, two grown-ups and two kids, who were rolling over and over while sleeping. I wondered if we had to buy one more tent.

The meadow was so flat that I could sleep well with two kids rolling over beside me.