Announcing New Blog!

Start my new blog today as our family grow!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Lunar Chinese New Year!

What a great weekend, got to talk to many relatives and friends in China and friends this weekend! Since I couldn't get the 10-day holiday there, I'll give myself at least half day on Monday to relax and enjoy time cooking dinner for everyone.

Sunday night, we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner, it was so crowded! Food was great, but the surprise dessert was the best! It's their homemade mango ice cream made from real mango. So smooth and creamy!

I caught this picture, so funny to see their expression - it's like Kaitlyn did it purposely, telling daddy "So yummy! I'm finishing up!" And daddy looked so eager to take a bit! Haha, both of them likes sweets so much:-)

Kaitlyn was tired and crampy when we get to the restaurant, but I guess the coke really worked well! Ever since daddy let her try it during Christmas holiday, she love it! That's a big reward for her to behave well in public, but the a few sips could get her really hyper for the rest of the night.

Plus, she has good reason to drink it, because her school ask kids to collect pull tabs and send to school, because those have high recycle value. I don't understand why? The same time school take off soft drinks off school menu, they're rewarding kids to drink more at home to collect rewards at school?

After dinner, we went to the temple with grandparents, to wish for good luck. Temple seems so strange to her, she wonders what are people doing to lighted sticks? Why do people kneel down praying so seriously in such a smoky place? Who are those statues inside the temple? How come one of them looks like a cartoon character grandma brought from China?

Just like a friend said the other day, all the traditions doesn't make sense for them, especially for the ones growing up here! I don't even get to see a lot of things for living in the city when I was little. It will only serve as childhood memory. For one day when she grows up, if she ever wonder about her ancestor and her roots, the memory will help her pick up thinking about her faded identity...

Monday was the Australia Day celebration at school, we both went to school to spend some time with her. She is so proud we make it! Sure it's a good thing when child sees their parents show up at school. One girl kept saying my mom will be here! Luckily her mom made it, otherwise I would feel so sad for her.
Jason is her good friend at school, now I know why - they're neighbors! Jason is such a sweet cute boy. It's funny Kaitlyn had one issue with him, because the very last time she checked out a book about "civil war", Jason said that's for boy. Kaitlyn was a little upset about that, kept telling me that's not, everyone can read it. I'm glad to see they do talk and share many things at school.

I made salmon, fajita chicken, and some spicy tofu for dinner. (Kind of wired meal, I made tofu just to finish up some leftover ground turkey.) Grandma make a vegetable dish. Surprisingly, she ate quite a bit of spicy tofu! Yeah, my girl can eat spicy now! We keep engaging her try it out, she just refuse to try any! Today, she kept asking for more. I'm so surprised. See she is eating one bit after another, of course with milk.

sleep walking?

Did this ever happen to me when I was little?

It was very cold last week and one night, Kaitlyn snug into my bed before daddy went to bed. Then in the middle of the night, I was suddenly woke up by Kaitlyn, (that's probably sleep with her, I easily wake up many times at night) she quietly crawled over me, slipped down the bed. I thought she was going to pee-pee. And was wondering why she didn't say a word. Um, big girl, she knows what she needs to do!

Then strangely, she put on her slipper, walked out of the room, stand in hallway for a second. (I can hear daddy was watching TV.) But she didn't say anything, and didn't come back to the room either. Just disappeared.

My instinct told me to check on her. I heard she walked to her room, turned on the light, and turned it off. Then I saw lights were on and off in each room upstairs. What's going on? What's she doing?

I stand by the stairs downstairs, watching her walking down. She then saw me, smiled... I asked her "what are you doing?" She said "looking for YOU!" with a surprise expression on her face! I said "I'm right next to you in bed? You didn't see me?" She shook her head said "no".

Daddy walked over, asking what's going on. After I told him, he said don't wake her up if she's sleepwalking. But is she? Her eyes were open, and she apparently know what's she doing.

When we told her what happened the next morning, she has no idea what we're talking about! Maybe she is! What a weird thing!

Happy New Year!

Well, it's the second weekend of the new year already, I'm finally sitting her updating the blog. We had wonderful holiday break and this week was the first week we all come back to work and school.


Kaitlyn started this semester with YMCA after-school program instead of taking bus home. I thought she might feel sad, b/c there are only two girls in her class staying late (Lucky the other girl already lives in our neighborhood, so they know each other). So all other kids have someone at home? (How?Any way.) She really likes YMCA so far, she got to meet her old friends (older siblings of her classmate at Montessori). She loves to play with older kids. She likes their snacks better (more "unhealthy":-), she likes the activities, more variety and more chance to play with older kids. Daddy said she was crying not want coming home the other say when he picked he up. Guess that's a good sign.


She seems much grown up now, totally in transition from my baby girl to big school girl. Especially every time we come back from trip, she will become more mature (both good and bad).


1. She is more polite nowadays. Instead of we remind her, she will say "thank you", "please" and "Yes, mama" by herself.

2. She can sing many complete songs. Especially Christmas songs. I love the way she sings, so cute.


2. She is better at sharing with others. Even though she has preference whom to play and still shy with new people, she is getting better and trying. There is this one girl on our street, she used to refuse to play with her and even locked the girl out twice. Now she still doesn't prefer to play with her, but she will try to find common interest when she comes over. She is better at expressing her feelings not holding on to herself.


3. Speaking of that, she does get way better at expressing her feeling, care about her feeling now:-)

An example from last night, I told her to finish food in her bowl before eating fruit or leaving the table. She asked me: "Is 'full' my feeling? I just feel full, right?" I said yes, thought it's just like another question she always ask how things work. Then she asked me seriously, "Then why are you begging me to eat?" I looked at her, saying "I'm not begging you, I want to finish dinner before playing!" She respond very unhappy "why are you ordering me to eat? Isn't that my feeling?"

Daddy laughed so hard this time, happy her little girl can think and strategy herself out of trouble. OMG, I foresee more and more challenge from my little girl on everyday little things.


3. I remember last year she complained boring a lot, but not much this year (I should say this year as last year 2008). Most of the time, once she leaves school, she wants to go straight to home, not going anywhere else. She enjoys doing things herself. I guess she is practicing what she learned from school from schoolmates. Not necessary what teachers taught her, but anything she picked up from classmates - tricks, ideas, good and bad. Being the only child, she learns how to entertain herself.


4. We finally bought a piano, as my husband said another expensive furniture. But he actually enjoyed more than us! This is always one of my dream to have a piano, and continue learning. Kaitlyn wasn't that excited, but she still likes to try it, and kept asking when she start the class.

Some funny picture of she is playing the piano:

As soon as she hears about taking piano class - pretending she was shocked and fainted..
That's another things, she is so good at acting, such a drama queen. Her tears come out anytime she needs, and turn laughing the next second.

Yeah, there was another funny story. Last week one night, she want to sleep with us. She was all smiling and excited when daddy said ok. In a second, she brought her toys and a big pillow standing by our bed. I said no no, not all of them, our bed is not big enough. Instantly, she put her head down on her pillow, leaning on the bed, crying "you just don't want me be here! You don't want me!" Her face does make us feel guilty like we hurt her feeling so bad. Of course, she got it her way. Daddy's girl, she kicked daddy out to watch tv:-) haha...


A lot more picture to edit, but I found these two I like a lot.

princess party

We put up our Christmas tree so early this year. I really love the Christmas season, and hate to see all pretty decorations up for just two weeks.

Of course, someone else beside daddy and mommy also works hard on this as well:-)

We went to a birthday party at this cute tea house in old Katy. All girls had a great time playing the dressing up. I need to find a picture of her taken two years ago and compare how much she has grown! Kaitlyn picked her outfit and all accessories, she is into blue colors recently.

All little princesses were sitting nicely waiting for the next one, checking out each others outfit.

This picture is blur, but I had to put it on. Is this like she's going to her prom?! Time flies...

bubble bathing time

One of her favorite things to do during the cold weather is to have bubble bath. I need to order more lush balms, haha...
This time, I put her online with my parents. She loved to perform the show and be able to see herself on video the same time.

school visit

Once a semester, we finally got a chance to visit her class products. I looks like a serious parents checking out her grades? And Kaitlyn enjoys holding teachers pointer, haha...

I love this Thanksgiving quilt the kids put together. Maybe I should put her art pieces together like this and hang it in her room.

Her favorite section in the classroom - home center, where she can play cooking and dressing up for work.

Reading her weekly journal to me. Amazing she writes a lot about our lives as well.

Daddy was so happy that her little girl mentioned him in her journal that daddy made her happy:-)

I went to her class for a Thanksgiving party.

Everyone sharing what they thankful for.

Interesting weekend story!

Praying and dream come true! Kaitlyn has been praying for a little puppy for two weeks, and it happened this weekend (for 48hours)! Isn't this magic! This weekend's experience is like a drama for all of us...

It was an early dismissal last Friday. I got to pick up Kaitlyn at the bus stop. On my way there, a little doggy came out of nowhere followed me. Apparently, poor little doggy was lost. When kids got off the bus, they all fell in love with him. He was very playful and nice to the kids as well. Well, since the dog won't go away and Kaitlyn loves it, I decided to keep it for the time being and post a sign looking for the owner.

The girls had a blasted time with the doggy. Two girls of my friends came over and Zoe, our neighbor's girl stayed in our house for the whole afternoon. Kaitlyn named him "Mustard", I don't know why, maybe it reminds her of hot dog? Haha...

Anyway, it was an exciting Friday afternoon, the dog ran out of the house 3-4times, then girls ran after him getting him back. Mustard wants to play one of the neighbor's dog, I should have known he is not good for us to keep to start with. Kaitlyn and Zoe got into an ugly fight arguing who should hold the leash...

Saturday morning, daddy told me the first thing Kaitlyn asked was "where is my puppy?" I took dogs for a walk when Kaitlyn got up, she was so nervous thought I gave away the dog already. When she saw me outside with the dog through windows, she had a big happy smile on her face, so relieved :-)

We put signs in the neighborhood early Saturday morning, and of course Kaitlyn went with me. Seems she had no hard feeling returning the dog to owner.

She went straight back home after gymnastics class and played with dog. Since the dog always wants to get outside and she is afraid the dog would run away, she walked dog inside the house throughout the day, it's so funny. She sure takes her job seriously, she walked dog, fed the dog (holding bowl in front of him making sure Feizai didn't eat all), gave him a bath and cleaned up his poops. When I came back from errand in the afternoon, Mustard was laying on the sofa with Kaitlyn together eating snacks... Yeah, what can I expect! If I tell the dog to get off sofa, Kaitlyn would curled over the dog covering him.

Later that day, things started turning south, I can't stand this little "trouble maker" anymore. He peeped inside the house making marks for his territory, he jumped to bed and sofa all the time, he whined every 5mins if no one plays with him, I don't like dog licking my face and lips, nononono... he is too energetic for me. I can't wait to find the owner, why no one called yet?

The next day, I told Kaitlyn noon is the deadline I'll take the dog away, because he pooed upstairs and whined all night to get out. Kaitlyn asked where? I told her if his owner doesn't call us by the end of day, and none of her friends in the neighborhood wants to adopt him, he's going to the shelter... Kaitlyn then told me a story! She said they read a book at school about a little crazy puppy causing trouble at home. I was like ohh, what happen to that dog. She told me they still kept him, and we should do the same. I said "NO! period."

By 1pm, still no one called, we already walked down the street asking our neighbors, no one wants to keep it (not the kids, but adults). That's a lot of extra work taking care of this little crazy doggy! Everyone knows, why not me?

We took him to PetsMart trying to give him to the vet. or shelter. Of course Vet. can't take it, and we have to drive to Houston to drop him off at a shelter. I don't have time for that, I need to go to a friend's home for a baby shower! I was like "what can I do? What can I do? I'll be stuck with this little monster. Why did I take him the first place? No wonder no one called me yet?!" I can tell Kaitlyn was happy, she kept telling me "We'll have take him home now!"

The grossest thing happen then, Mustard pooped at Vet's office, then peed on Kaitlyn's new shoe! So embarrassing, I can't believe this! How could he? See how innocent and helpless Kaitlyn looks like! I was so mad at that point. I was mad but can't help laughing at the way Kaitlyn holding her shoe and the dog... She still wants the dog! On our way back in the car, the only thing in my mind was how can I get rid of this dog?

Taking him to my friend house see if anyone wants to adopt him? No I can't do that, what if he causes more trouble over there? Or I should let him run away from our house again and not taking him back? But... my neighbor all know this is "our" little dog... Or, I can "drop" him off at the park, and let him go "free" and find his way for a "better home". This is such an evil idea, I feel so guilty with this idea...

Things happened just like in the movie, when we got to the park one block from our home, I stopped by not sure if I should or not, sure the dog ran out the car like crazy, disappeared in a second... The same time I said let it run never come back, I was worried he might be hit by a car. We sat in the park for a little while, he never came back. Kaitlyn asked me if Mustard will come back, I told her he might. With the guilty feeling, I took Kaitlyn back to the car. Just then, Mustard came out chasing after someone's little Yorkie! Ohh gosh, little monster is back! The other dog's owner was nervous that her dog was being assaulted. "I'm not stepping out admitting that's my dog!" This thought came to my head, I have had enough of him...

I took off to home, Kaitlyn started looking sad and was crying on our way back, I felt so sad and guilty too. What can I do, his owner doesn't even want him, who knows what kind of mess he's going to do to our home once on Monday? I tried to comfort Kaitlyn he'll be alright, and he might find his way back home...

We got home, I washed Kaitlyn and got her changed ready for the baby shower. After I pulled out the garage, I took a different route which is closer to the park hoping to see if Mustard is still there! I know I did feel I did something horrible. I don't like THIS dog, but I hate to abandon him!

Amazingly, I saw him running back to our home in a short cut! How does he knows?! We have never take him that way that far?! Gosh!! I pointed to him showing Kaitlyn! Kaitlyn was screaming "my puppy!" He was running like arrow flying towards our home, I immediately turned back following him - how could this happen? This can only happen in movie!

I parked my car and got out, he zoomed and jumped on me! He recognized me as well! That mixed feeling inside me - happy, relief, guilty, and sad... That exact moment, my cell phone rang, an unknown number! Ohh my god - his owner!

Yes! It's his owner, I was so exciting - he deserved better ending! She was going to come to our house picking up the dog, I told her I'm on my way to drop him off! Haha, happy ending! That lady has three kids and she told me this is not the first time, or second he has been running away, and definitely not the furthest distance he ran away! He even ran away visited the same house twice! (Ohh, please don't visit me! At least, I know who to send him now! Haha...)

I'm so glad he made his way home, and I'm exhausted. We still have lots of house cleaning work to be done... What a weekend!

Little artist

Kaitlyn put these signs on study room doors, stating her rules.

In case you can see it well, here is a recap of the first picture:
No food,
no kids (except Kaitlyn),
dog - yes,
parents - yes,
no sticker on walls.

I love her artworks, so interesting to see what's in her mind. I'm glad to see her picture of burger has veggie and meat (or maybe tomato). She likes long hair and dresses as you can see from her drawings, the dog is actually really cute with all parts of body, haha... She writes words the way they sounds, which is really interesting, because I didn't learn English this way (which I learned it at much older age.)

Kaitlyn got her first school awarded ribbon - A royal blue ribbon for friendship. She was so proud showing off her award. I asked her how she got the award, she said she was playing with McKinney (one of her good friend), and saw nobody wants to play with this one girl, she invited her to play with them. That's such a sweet thing of her!

I personally think this is a big achievement of her. Kaitlyn is very sweet but is not the kind of girl who talks and makes friends easily. She knows who she likes to play with and will be so loyal to her friends, but for others (before she considered them as her friends) she is shy and takes a long time to warm up or at least will not approach others proactively.

School has change Kaitlyn little by little, my baby girl is gone little by little but she is becoming more and more thoughful and mature. I can tell she is happy at school, picking up both good and bad influence, I love her the way she is and will always!

I voted for...

Super Tuesday - I'm so impressed how organized the polling place was this evening. The line was pretty long when I got there, I thought I would stuck for at least an hour. But volunteers kept organizing people by alphabets to try to get everyone out there within 20mins. I made it out in about 30 mins, which I'm pretty happy about it.

Kaitlyn came home very exciting telling us she voted today, but her voted candidate lost because she voted for John McCain. Well, mommy expected the same result for her vote too! This is so cute, her teacher emailed me this picture took from the school, and you can peak into the polling screen of candidate's picture, haha..

Next door neighbor girl was playing with her when I got home, and she proudly claimed she voted at preschool too. I asked her who did you vote, she blinked her eyes and smiled at me, said " I voted for M&M!" Haha, interesting little girls!