Getting ready for China

We have been busy shopping, cleaning and getting ready for our China trip.

Today, we watched "Kai-Lan's great trip to China" where she visits "gu nai-nai"(great aunt) and a baby panda in China. I know it's for little kids but it was good to give my kids few more vocabulary words like, "kai-xin = happy", "gen wo lai= follow me","hu tou xie= tiger shoe", etc. The show also emphasized "trying some new, because you might like it" which I know will be important for the kids when going to any new places, esp. a new country. So it was worth watching it for us.


We have also been looking at the tours we'll be taking for our China trip and learning the Chinese names as well as the English names and learning a little history about the various places we'll be visiting provided in the travel guide.

The children also love to play "shopping" in which they buy/sell stuff using "yuan" (Chinese currency) and practices bargaining in Chinese. A favorite phrase, "tai gui le!" (too expensive) :)

icon of China: Chairman Mao

I also did a key word "China" search in our library system for children's books (that's also how I found Kai-Lan) a while ago so they have been reading and listening to a lot of books to learn more about China culturally.

A few of the books we like that come to mind include,

1. The Long-haired girl by Doreen Rappaport
2. Liu and the Bird (A journey in Chinese calligraphy) by Catherine Louis
3. The Travel game by John Grandits (this is a book about a boy who plays imaginary "travel game" with his aunt and in the book, they travel to HongKong) W really wants to play the travel game; think that will have wait until we come back from China.

Rain and New Life: The great outdoor challenge:

Day 2

W notices the many worms that are coming out. J finally says, STOP! :)

( To learn more about the Great Outdoor Challenge, click on icon on the left side bar)

Digging: The great outdoor challenge

This is challenge from Lisa and I'm playing along. The challenge is in honor of Children and Nature Awareness Month and asks us to "go outside everyday, rain or shine; then take a picture each day, for the rest of April, of your children outdoors and post it. Just a single picture will do (HA!I will have problem with this one); words aren’t even necessary. Lets spread the word and go outdoors!". To learn more, click here.

Everyday, I will share a picture until we leave for China 4/14. When I come back, I'll share the pictures of us in China for the rest of April. I have been told by relatives in China that they are blocked from viewing blogs, at least the ones hosted by blogger. So I will check to see if its really true when I'm there and if not, maybe I can post the pictures while in China.

Day 1

4 mile bike ride and more

Today, the weather is gorgeous, true spring weather. The kids and I spend our morning studying outside. J is getting ready to test to be memory master for CC. She says it is "so fun!"

Later the kids wanted to show me how to bike to our grocery store. They have been on the route with daddy before couple nights ago. We got there fine but got a little lost meandering through another sub that I'm not familiar with on the way back. So it took us a little while to get home. J was fine but W says his tummy is "grumbling". :) Good thing I brought water and snack with me.

The kids was also excited to show me the "mountain" as they call it. This was our first stop on the way to the grocery store.

Someone else made this and left it here. What a great idea. The kids had fun going down and up using the rope as a guide for the slope.

Yes, we arrived at the grocery store. J led the way.

He lives!

Today, we celebrate Jesus' resurrection. HE LIVES!!!

In Sunday school, the children made a cross with toothpicks glued on it. Good fine motor skills, patience practice (need lots of toothpicks so take a while to do), and good way to remember Jesus died for our sins on the cross.

Weekend

We had a lovely weekend. I enjoyed a trip to the mall all by myself Sat. while the kids had fun with their cousins and their auntie/uncle. Lots of goofy poses and lots of treats give by auntie T after a fabulous egg hunt. Everybody also had a special extra-large egg with special treats inside. Thanks, auntie T!!



Looking at these pictures just makes me smile. :)

We also cleaned and prepared our garden for the season this afternoon. W found a lot of worms under the bricks and we are starting a worm home. :)

Discovered a centi or milli (?) pede. We found our peppermint is "thinking outside of the box" and growing too prolific. ;-)

J doing some planting and cleaning. She was such a good helper. Love you lots, J!

Later, we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection with some friends.

Taking a trip around the world!

We had a very full and fun day at the International Fair of a local college in our town. We enjoyed lots of yummy food from all the different countries and different ethnic restaurants as well as performances from the different countries and ethnic groups. Best of all, it was all free. The event was definitely better than I expected. The kids had a lot of fun since they got to meet up with their friends which is always a plus.

J/W won 2 inflatable globe which acted as their soccer ball and volleyball later at home for answering questions correctly at International Trivia game. I'm thankful for the vast opportunities that exist in our city. We'll definitely be back next year to learn more.

I did a lot of recording of the performances but here, I'll just share few pictures.


folk dance group for North Africa, the Near East and Central Asia.

Irish Step Dance. The kids also loved to watch the Armenian dancers (not shown here). My very good friend is Armenian so it was neat to learn more about the culture. She said she used to practice their cultural dance all the time. We'll have to ask for lessons in the fall.

Another favorite of the kids is watching the belly dancer. Very exotic and looks really fun.
Afro-Brazilian Dance/Drummers.
This the strolling musical group playing authentic Mexican rhythms.


Stopping by at the different tables and getting their name written in the various languages was a highlight culturally for the kids. That's in addition to collecting all the national flag stickers in their international passport.

Share the recipe of one of my favorite food: Labanese Fatthoush

1/2 kg cucumber
1/2 kg tomatoes
2 bunches of parsley
2 bunches of fresh mint
1 bunch of purslane or lettuce
3 onions (if wanted)
4 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon sumac
4 tablespoon olive oil
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt

Separate the leaves off the parsley, mint and purslane. Slice the cucumbers, dice the tomatoes. Pound the garlic with salt and mix it in the oil and lemon. Mix the vegetables and to with pita bread. Pour the sauce and sprinkle all over.