Snapshots during Thanksgiving Holidays

On Thanksgiving day, Angela helped out to decorated the front door. Since the weather was so nice, Daddy took a family picture in front of the house.  Angela was wearing her hand-made indian head wreath and showed a big smile on her face.
This year, Angela's third birthday was one day after Thanksgiving Holiday.  Mommy and Daddy prepared traditional Chinese birthday cuisine -- thin noodles (Misua) with pig's trotters (port hocks) and red eggs expressing the hope for longevity and symbolizing future health and peace for celebrating Angela's birthday.  Angela also picked a very big birthday cake decorated to look like a snowman for herself.  Look! The birthday girl quite enjoyed her meal and cake.

Angela got Lego from Daddy and two books from Mommy for her birthday gifts.

May Angela continues to grow healthily and joyfully. Happy Birthday!

Texas Renaissance Festival 德州文藝復節

每年的11月美國德州會舉辦文藝復興活動，據說;與國內其他各州的文藝復興主題活動比較，是屬於比較有看頭的大型主題娛樂活動。今年2011 Texas Renaissance Festival舉辦的地點離休士頓還算近，加上Daddy剛好有4張招待券，所以Angela 連著兩個週日都去參觀。

Angela 看到很多人裝扮得像中古世紀的人，以及不同的音樂、舞蹈及戲劇表演覺得相當新奇。

不過，最讓小恩恩興奮的還是--玩旋轉馬的遊樂活動，因為這是她第一次騎真正的馬！瞧，小恩恩騎馬的姿態還頗有模有樣的，一點也不害怕！

在整個活動區域內，除了騎旋馬以外，也設置不少的遊樂器具供遊客娛樂，包括高空彈跳、海盜船、射擊、攀岩、打沙包、擊重等等。其中，Angela 與Daddy一起搭坐旋轉杯，這旋轉杯雖然是人工配合機械發動旋轉的，可是轉起來還是相當快速刺激，小恩恩轉到後來都有點害怕，雙手緊緊地抱著Daddy。

另外，小恩恩還玩了一個爬牢籠的遊戲，牢籠有三層，小朋友要到最上層，必須要用手臂的力量往上撐才行。Angela看到比較大的小朋友的爬行動作很快就到了頂層。結束後，還很興奮地與Daddy留影。

Angela's Advance Birthday Celebration at Montessori！生日到了

Angela is turning 3 years old this coming Thanksgiving holiday! Mommy and Daddy prepared for cupcakes and birthday favors for Angela's advance third birthday celebration at her class this Friday. The past year, Angela has grown a lot and kept rapid progress in every aspects. While moving to a new environment, little Angela has not been hestitate to get to know her classmates in the daycare school.  Angela looked at the cupcakes as Daddy brought home and couldn't wait to share them with her friends.

The celebration was quite simple and efficient. During snack time, children happily sat on their seats in the dining room and waited for their cakes. Beofre starting to enjoy their cake, all the kids sang Angela happy birthday song.

  

Angela was pleased and satified when she knew that she was allowed to pick her favorite cupcake.

Later, Angela passed her birthday favors--little notebooks for each classmate and candies and thank you notes for class instructors.

 

At the end, children lined up and returned to classroom for next class session.

Meanwhile, Angela got her goody bag from school.

Halloween Day at Daycare-Treat or TrIck 萬聖節

今天是萬聖節，Mommy自願當義工到Angela的班上示範南瓜雕刻，也讓Mommy有機會可以看到Angela上課的情況。這一天，學校准許小朋友不用穿著制服上學，小朋友可以自由裝扮自己喜歡的造型，穿上各式各樣的衣服到學校。
Angela的造型是小瓢蟲，與班上其他小朋友選擇Disney卡通人物或是電影主角的扮相，格外不同。 學校在萬聖節的上午，安排同學在校區內遊行。每個同學手裡拿著勞作課所作的紙袋，準備遊行沿途要糖果。
小朋友排好隊後，就跟著老師出發。Angela個頭最小排第一個。
不過，遊行中小朋友看到發糖果的地方就圍成一團，也顧不得先後了。













瞧！Angela雖對吃糖果興趣也不大，不過看到同學們都爭先朝向發糖果的義工家長，年紀個頭就算小，她也照樣像其他同學一樣的奮勇向前去拿糖果，讓Mommy看了覺得很有趣。不知道Angela以後長大了還會不會記得在daycare的萬聖節活動。






這一大袋裝的正是Angela今天在學校萬聖節活動的成果，各式各樣的巧克力與糖果。

Pumpkin Carving 南瓜雕刻

As Halloween approached, Angela learned about pumpkin carving and Helloween dressup in class. Angela has been looking forward to working with Mommy on pumpkin carving.

To let Angela experience how to carve a pumpkin, the family got two big pumpkins and carving kits home the other day.
Few steps for carving a pumpkin-clean the surface of the pumpkin, cut opening pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and scrape pulp from carving area, draw a pattern for the face, and follow the pattern and saw and cut.





After Angela pushed the cut-out feature gently from inside of the pumpkin, her carving work was done. Finally, nice work!









By the way, here are the byproducts after pumpkin carving -- pumpkin seeds and pulp, which can be roasted and cooked, see recipes for roast pumpkin seeds and pumpkin rice.

First-week report from daycare school 托兒所的報告

Angela started her daycare center at Montessori School of Downtown last Monday. Daddy drove her to school in the morning and Mommy picked up her in the afternoon. Angela has been excited about attending the class and making friends. Mommy and Daddy are happy to see Angela's high willingness to go to daycare center and hope that little Angela will have a lot of fun to play and learn.
While the teachers were pleased with Angela's self-adjustment in the past week, there still are things we need to work on. E.g. Angela needs to improve her table manner and stop running around or standing while eating meals. She also has to control her tantrums and reduces the frequency of wetting her pants, etc. The teachers introduce class rules and hopefully, in the following weeks, Angela will get used to the class instructions, be willing to obey the rules and still keep high spirit going to class.

School Farewell Party 學校惜別會

Angela left for the US with Mommy and Daddy on Oct. 1. Before the journey, Mommy requested preschool teachers, Ms. Yen and Ms. Chen, for a farewell party for Angela.

On Angela's last day of school this month, the family brought mini cakes for the class and attended the farewell party. During the party, Ms. Yen also celebrated Angela's birthday in advance. All classmates clapped and sang happy brithday song. Thereafter, Angela made a wish and blowed out the candle.

Angela and each classmate embraced warmly and said miss you.

In the end, the kids danced and sang merrily together with the teachers.