At Last: Build-A-Bear

Several months of patient waiting and at last the girls have their Build-A-Bears. It was a tough decision (esp as inventory changed both times we visited), but G/Z and BB/M managed to stay within their budget. The next day, BB bought out M's share of the rabbit. (Picture of G/Z's minkie bear to come.)

Down and Up

After putting the older girls to bed, we discovered M2 passed out cold. Wish I could have been there to see her succumb to sleep.

Height record: under the dining table.

Tangrams

Variations on a "house".

Swim Team

G and BB joined the neighborhood swim team. Though they won't actually get to compete – we're already busy on meet nights –, it gives them the opportunity to be in the pool practically everyday for the next six weeks. And it doesn't hurt they'll learn how to swim.

Kind of cool and overcast on this first day of practice. (Z and M in the kiddie pool, above.)

Science City

New "unplugged" exhibit at Science City: all about energy. Huge hamster wheel creating energy to power a sign. G was the only one strong enough to really get it going, and she'd poop out before it was half lit. Lots of touch screens for learning about the forms of energy; a couple stationary bicycles for lighting bulbs; huge electromagnetic wheel to spin and light diodes.

Kinderlab is one of our favorites because of the huge blocks. Also spent some time digging in a pit looking for fossils.

On the Last Day

Tuesday was the last day for Z. She had such an awesome time in school, and learned so much! Hope we can keep the momentum up as a homeschooler.

St Dymphna Cake

St Dymphna's feast day last week (15 May). Celebrated with a spice cake that G made.

M2 & AhPoh

Dragon: 38 Weeks

Can't crawl, though we're finally up on hands and knees. Usually spin in circles on tummy. Started cruising furniture last week, and can pull herself to standing. No teeth, but maybe the bottoms will finally make an appearance in the next week?

Mother's Day

Enjoyable Mother's Day: Mass in the morning, nap in the afternoon.

Drew made a fabulous steak salad (minus the fried onions) for dinner, we ate it ALL up.

The girls made handmade gifts, AhPoh gave me money, I gave AhPoh wool dryer balls that hadn't arrived yet, and Drew gave us each a box of dark chocolates. The port dark chocolate was the best, followed closely by the espresso one.

Early Birthday Presents

Since AhPoh won't be here for Z and M's birthdays, she took them shopping last week for presents.

Z got a new pair of shoes and some chocolates.

M got a baby doll that giggles, a "Bee-bard" coloring book, crayons,

and two clearance dresses.

Butt

Packing up to go to the library, I overheard M repeatedly saying, "pee-goo" (which sounded a lot like the Chinese for "butt"), to M2. When I was finally able to peek in on what she was doing, I realized she was playing peek-a-boo with the baby.

Modeling

Our peony made a comeback! It's not an ideal spot for it (not enough sun), but compared to no flowers last year, this is an improvement.

The clothing that San YeePoh sent.

Second to Last Day

Sensory Day at school, that is, lots of messy activities like playing with corn starch, I forget what all else, but a number of classmates went to school wearing their swimming suit in anticipation. (Oops on my part?) Z came home relatively dry – she has a thing about getting her clothes wet – with paint/marker all over her limbs and on her face. She didn't say what she did at school, but I gather it was a lot of fun.

Light Blue Bears

End of year celebration last week at Z's school.

Started off in the gymnasium with a bunch of activities themed on four books (Freight Train; Rain, Rain, Go Away!; Mrs McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash; The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog). For example, we made a name train using foam letters and colored shapes for the train; threw colored frog and turtle bean bags into a basket; hung socks on a clothesline, above; sorted cats, dogs, and turtles into trays using tweezers; positioned a frog on his lily pad.

Outside, they had a simulated frog pond with plastic fish, turtles, snakes, and frogs to discover.

We played with chalk, painted with water.

Finally we ran around the playground, and made some music. And then it was time to go home!

Qiao Hu Hat

When AhPoh first arrived, she brought a gift from San YeePoh (謝謝三YeePoh!), which quickly became M's favorite hat.

Kitchen Chore

A very thorough and diligent table wiper for someone so young.

Highway Bribery

AhPoh bribed G and BB to cut their hair short, about jaw length. It's really cute on them, and easier to maintain.

Front Tooth