Christmas 2010

C opening presents at home with Obaachan

This is at Grandpa and Grandma's house with his cousins

There's Grandma too

Holiday Performance

C and his classmates sang and made hand movements and had a fun time! Aren't they cute!?

There were 2 performances since there are 6 classes of 20 students in first grade.

C's was the second performance.

Academic Achievement Award

C received an award for being one of the top of the class. Here he is with Mrs. T., his 1st Grade Teacher

Here he is with both his Principal and his Teacher

With some of his classmates

Trip to Spain: Barcelona

We took a short trip to Barcelona, it was so beautiful there, the architecture there is AMAZING! We wished we could stay there for at least another week. Someday it would be GREAT if we can go back.

This is in front of Temple di Sagrada Familia. C with Obaachan

Same shot, C with Mommy

Night view of Sagrada Familia. This building is still not complete, it's been building since 1882!

We went to Parc Guell, another of Antoni Gaudi celebrated architectural inspirations

This is in a small city called Girona

A Cathedral in Montserrat

Votives leading to the Altar

Detailed Stained glass was breath-taking

Best Buddies

We Love Learning our Wakko's 50 States & Capitols!

C's thoughts about School

It was a warm afternoon walking home from school. I had picked up C from the bus stop and we were slowly walking home. As always, I asked him how his day was. He said with a quick nod, "It was good." I asked him if he had learned anything new that day. He told me, "No, I usually don't. They often talk about things I already know". This is a kid who gets excited about learning something new. One of the days, he jumped off the bus, then shouted, "Guess what I learned today! I learned that trees have a bark and under that bark, they have a heartwood, in the heartwood are rings and counting each ring tells you old the tree is!" I guess I had never taught him that, so it was great that he learned something new at school!

A few days later C and I were walking home from the bus stop and he pondered out loud, "I think school is a little boring. They keep repeating things even though I want to keep moving on... can we homeschool Mommy? It would be exciting to go on field trips and go to the park days.  I wouldn't mind homeschooling if I can have play-dates with "I" (best friend in 1st grade)."

If you know anything about me, you know I've sputtered before when I said I'd homeschool. Honestly, I'm just scared. I don't know how long I can continue to teach him. He's bright, very bright. According to testing he's 99.8%.  I don't know if I can handle his constant questioning, every day, all day!  I'm not very patient, my mother agrees.  I tend to be moody sometimes and C is very sensitive and picks up on it right away.  I don't know how other moms do it without losing their mind.  I've been running from this responsibility for a few years now.  However, I've been praying and I keep getting a nudge to go ahead...
Thinking about "Jumping in with both feet" into unknown waters... let's hope I'm not in too deep!

2010 Food Allergy Walk, Santa Monica

Once again we raised funds to support research towards a cure for Food Allergies and to raise awareness. 1 in 25 Americans suffer from this condition that can be life-threatening.

We made it back to the Goal Gate balloons!

We started a mile away from the Pier, reached it, then headed back from where we started for a total of 2 miles.

Happy 7th B-day C!

Uncle A, Aunty X and Obaachan gave C some nice gifts! He got a very large "Bumble Bee" Transformer and a "Cars" backpack!

Pancake Birthday Cake for now

We've been so busy that we'll be planning a party for him a month late!

LA Galaxies Soccer Game!

I love his designs!

Copyright CMK 2010!

Trial 2nd Grade

After a few weeks of not getting through, I finally received "C"s IQ test report. I copied it and handed a copy to the Principal and C's Teacher. The Principal approved my request to have "C" placed in 2nd Grade for a short time to assess how he will fare in 2nd Grade. C was very excited this morning when his 1st Grade Teacher handed me some documents, then told me, "Would you like to walk him to the 2nd Grade Class?" His face lit up like a 100 Christmas lights. Right before we opened the door to his 2nd Grade Classroom, I asked him what he thought. He very enthusiastically replied, "I'm excited about going to 2nd Grade!!" I told him to do his very best, and that after 2 weeks, the Student Study Team will assess his progress. If he does well, he will make the switch to 2nd. My only concern is, that all the other children are BIG compared to him. He's so tiny. I hope he will have a better time making friends. Wish him luck!

Big "Ah Ha!" moment this morning

"C" came up excitedly to me this morning. He tells me, "We are eating the Sun, mommy!" I asked him how and he says, "The plants suck in the Sun's energy and then we eat the plants!" I told him, that is exactly right! I asked him if he was taught that at school. He told me, "No, I just put it all together right now." He likes the BIG picture!

Visiting our Nutritionist/Chiropractor

This afternoon, we had an appt with our Nutritionist/Chiropractor. He's been our family doctor since C was a few months old.  Anyhow,  C was telling Dr. Andrew, "I love reading, I have lots of books!" Dr. Andrew replied, "I love reading too! I have lots of books at home too!", and to this, C quickly replied, "Yeah, 3000 Doctor books..." in a tone that suggested slight sarcasm to which we all all laughed heartily.

C started talking about his Birthday to Dr. Andrew, he told him, "My birthday is coming up, and normally we have a very big party. But this year, we're going to Spain a few days after my birthday so, we won't be having a BIG party, just a small one. Do you know why we are having a small party? It's because we have to go on a plane to go to Spain and we have to pay a LOT for that. I think we can still invite you to the party though".... I never told him this. He is just too much!

Flashback Friday, C at 3 weeks old

Happy Go Lucky!

Cub Scouts & Soccer

Rain Gutter Regatta Race

C not happy because his boat design wasn't chosen as "Best Design"

Go Gators!

September

At Laguna Beach, Sept 11, 2010. C is demonstrating the Twin Tower Attacks with sandcastles.

Learning how to write numbers in Kanji

Placing magnets of country flags with Mommy's help

Going on the School Bus!

Right before hopping on the bus! C loves riding on the bus each morning.

Mommy ran to meet C at his school. (good exercise for Mommy) He's arrived!

Getting off the bus to class!

Waiting in line for the bell to ring.

C just got tested for his reading level, he got up to 6th grade level, and missed 2 words. So basically, he's supposedly reading at 5th grade level fluently. And he's in 1st grade! Go C, go!

First Day of School 2010

Yes, they are both in the same grade! C is kinda small and his friend is super tall!

Waiting for the classroom door to open.

C's class is in Room 7

Inside his Classroom with his classmates. I was talking to other parents in his grade and they were envious that C was able to be in class. The Teacher is supposedly "The Best Teacher" in the School District. C told us he really likes his new class and teacher!

As a parent, my opinion is: This new K~2 grade Primary Center idea is starting off pretty shaky. Us parents were supposed to have Orientation Meeting at 8am, and it didn't start until 8:40am. Many of the Parents were upset that we didn't get any paperwork or notices in the mail about ANYTHING over the summer.

Our Little Soccer Player!

C has started Soccer in our city league and is loving it!