What C wants for Christmas...

C was chattering happily about Christmas today, he’s really counting down the days and looking forward to a great Christmas. He still believes in Santa Claus and says, “On Christmas Eve, Santa will come and bring lots of presents!” I asked him what he asked for and it made me smile, but at the same time, sad. C says, “I want Santa to bring me #1, #2 and #4 cups. You see, he has this *set* of stacking cups that were hand-me-downs. He was given to them as a baby in an incomplete set. We think that the set has 10 cups, but it is missing cup #1, #2, #4, #9 and #10. He never had them but realizes that the first ones are missing, so that’s what he asked for. I asked him, did you ask for anything else from Santa? He quickly replied, “No, I just want those cups”. I had to break it to him, “I’m sorry C, but I don’t think Santa can find those cups for you, are you sure you want those cups, and nothing else?” C simply answers, “no”. Oh boy… I may have to scour the web trying to find something similar. Wish me luck.!

Thanksgiving with M family

Great food, good conversations, thanks to everyone who contributed to the meal prep! C is looking very happy, he can't wait to taste the pumpkin pie.

C's first Disneyland Trip

This was C's very first trip to Disneyland. We waited this long because when he was younger he was much more touch-senstive to his allergy foods. He truly enjoyed the day and he didn't complain a bit about walking all around.

We got to enjoy the grand re-opening of Small World, it was clean, but I personally felt that the dolls looked cheesier than the original Mary Blair dolls.

Interior of Small World all decked out for the Holidays

Autopia...C loved it, but T and I were complaining about the stinky exhaust, saying they need to convert to ec0-friendly fuel if they want to be part of "Tomorrow Land", but then again, it's sponsored by Chevron...lol

he begged us for 1 last ride at the rockets before heading home.

At the end of the day, he was still very excited and us parents were exhausted

Silly things C says

C is funny. This is the most recent thing he's said that has made us laugh. "California is BOOORING! I want to move to another State!" I asked him why he thought California was boring. He said, "It's too big, and I want to go to a Plantarium. I don't think they have those in California" Proves we really haven't taken him anywhere...hehehe. Time to go to the Griffith Observatory! I told him, California is one of the most interesting places to be! Most people would love to live here C!" Next Thurs, we'll be taking him to Disneyland for the FIRST time! Yes, we haven't taken him there yet... And yes, we do live in California....yes, we've deprived him...lol He's looking forward to it very much!

Azusa Canyon Mountains

Obaachan's friend came to visit and Obaachan wanted to show the Azusa Canyons to her friend, so we all hopped in a car and drove up there. It was bone dry, even the dam was dry, but further upstream there was some water. We got to a fairly secluded area and hiked for about 20 min and enjoyed a picnic by the river bed.

wildflowers growing even with little rain

C found a little "cave" Obaachan climbed in after him too

Here's the river, there were small trout hatchlings in the water, about an inch long.

Birthday Party at Home

C had a "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" themed 5th Birthday Party. I made him a Wubbzy cake and Obaa-chan helped make the Pinata. Thanks to everyone who made this day special for C!

Here's the cake

Trick-Or-Treating

C decided he wanted to be brave this year and said he actually wanted to go Trick-Or-Treating. (I was amazed actually) Here is C with his cousin. C is James from Thomas and Friends (we made the costume last year and he didn't use it) and cousin K is Mulan.

Here is C with his Cousins. C's funny face is because he's trying to be "scary"

Here is C with Aunty A putting glow-sticks on his costume so he can be seen in the dark

Birthday!

I started C's Birthday with a Banana Muffin topped with Choco chips and a candle. That day was Thursday so he didn't go to Preschool.

This is at Preschool, C got to do everything that day, from praying, to saluting the flag, to being the Line Leader!

Here's the B-day mini-Party at school

Dates

C enjoys putting the daily date up. This of course was taken on October 17th. Kinda late on my part to put this up.

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch

We went back to Tanaka Farms as a courtesy from Mr Tanaka himself! He is part of the Optimist Club that C's Basketball teams is also a part of. We got a free ride on the Tractor, free Petting Zoo, free Veggie Picking, a run in the Corn Maze, then finally a free Pumpkin (one that C can carry) C LOVED it, except for the stinky goats and pigs..hehe

Here's C's "grin and bear it" smile...phew! Stink!

Here's the pumpkin that he can finally carry all by himself!

Day in the Life of C

C started Basketball Practice. Tim and I have had some debates about whether this is good for his self-esteem or not. To be honest, he's not the most talented dribbler, let's say, he just can't dribble. He ends up sitting down in the middle of practice while everyone else is doing all the drills. I say let him be himself, he will excell in what he is good at, and if he's not interested in playing basketball, so what! Tim says he will learn perseverance and teamwork.

Here's he's just having fun drawing a clothes line full of drying laundry, and he's explaining his drawing about fractions in the next pic

Learning about how beans grow

C saw an Elmo episode where a boy grows a bean plant from seed, so C wanted to grow one too. Luckily, one of my greenbean plants had just produced a pod of beans, so I took one and had him start one. These are pictures each day's growth. The bean is a very fast grower! We transplanted it once it sprouted to the garden outside. I'll post a picture of it later.

Earth day?

C is improving on his dexterity lately, he drew this picture without anyone prompting him to. The larger green area is where we live in America, and the small green island is Japan. He does have a talking globe and knows where California is.

Addition and Helping with Harvesting

C thinks these math problems are games. He'll sit for an hour doing math problems with us if we let him. One of the mornings he wanted to help out with picking the garden veggies. Afterwards, he had fun running in circles in the house, silly boy.

New Haircut & Telling Time too

C's hair was getting very long, and C perspires a LOT from his head, since he was a baby. It's been rather hot so I gave him a haircut today. Saved $15 for not going to the barbershop! He was very good while gettin his haircut. I rewarded him with a Chocolate chip cookie, and he wanted 2 star stickers (small things on his shirt) He said, "I don't like my hair short, I look like C****n." C****n is his friend from Church about 8 months older than C is. He does look much more mischievous with his hair short.

C is learning how to tell time. We play games with this clock. I'll twirl it around, and have him guess the time. Or, I'll call out a time and he moves the hands to the correct position. Below is a picture of when I asked him to show me the time "6:35". He's gotten quite good at it.

We're sick, but trying to homeschool

C has been attending Preschool for 3 half days a week for socialization. He of course brought home a new cold from school. Homeschooling has been put on the back burner this week as both of us were sick. This one is a doozey. C has been putting himself to sleep lately and taking some nice long naps. I'd be doing some chores and find that it's a little too quiet, so I go check on him and find him sleeping. He's still recovering from the cold I think. I've tried to take him to the park days in Chino Hills with other youngsters, but he doesn't want to go. He says the park is too far. I think it's not fun for him because the children there are mostly younger. I would like to go just so I get some socialization... it's rather lonely being home. I'm still getting adjusted to being home. It's not easy after working for 3 straight years. I get depressed sometimes just because I have no adults to talk to, share ideas, and get creative with. (call me spoiled)

Here he is again, napping, this is RARE for him.

Homemade Spaghetti and meatballs with a big cheesy smile

He still loves math! I did walk him through this problem. He put it up all by himself, then asks me what the answer is, so I say, ok, what is 2 divided by 1? He'll answer "2". So I'll say OK, so 2 times 9 would be?... and he'll answer "18!"