Thursday, August 30, 2007

Questions From Thomas

"Mom, what's sexy mean ?"
"that word is for adults, not for the kid, you'll understand it when you grow up."
"So you'll be sexy when you grow up ? "
"Don't worry about that, it's not for kids.... Where did you learn that word ? "
" I forgot, maybe when I was two year old, somebody said one of the teachers was sexy. "

OK, now I knew where that come from, Second week of August before we were on vacation his school was closed for two weeks and I sent him to one of Chinese school for a week and they put him in the 1st grade and he must hear that word from older kids.

Later on just before he got on bed, he asked me again how old I am.
After I told him, he said " Mom I wish you were 21 years old, you are too old, I don't like you being old. You could die if you are too old-I don't want you die."

I replied " I'm not going to die, I am older than you and your dad but I'm not that old. Don't worry I'm not going to die."

Am I too old ? He brought up this topic several times. Maybe most of his friends' parents are younger than we are - this really makes him curious.

Getting Old ??

I sent some pictures taken in Yellowstone Park to my sister-in-law. She told me that Thomas looks much bigger than the pictures she saw a couple of months ago and me looked really getting old.

Did I really look that bad on pictures ? maybe... for the last two year I looked much older than before, especially for the last year.

Sister-in-law came to our family since I was in high school. She knows my family very well. Like my mom, I always looked younger than my age. First year in the state when I started to work in a restaurant , one customer asked my manager if I was old enough to work. For the first several years in the states I was always asked to show my drive license to enter some places. Maybe that's the reason when I met Tony, he didn't realize I was older than he was. After Thomas was born I sent some pictures to Zhen and she told me that I looked nothing but like a 'real' mom. - I was a little bit upset about that. Now I'm OK with what my sister-in-law said about me. :)

Aging is irresistible. For the last year I've been seeing doctors more often than seeing Thomas' teacher. Being at middle age is tough. At home I've been struggling with 'boys'. Comparing at home I am less stressful at work, but still need efforts for that job.

One thing is encouraging though - the older you get , the more wise you could be.

First Week Of School Year 07-08

On 1st day of school, Thomas came back home and told me that it was boring. I asked why, he replied " nothing to play". I guess kindergarten is more learning than free-playing like preschool. He needs some time to adjust.

On second day of school, when he got home he looked tired and fell asleep in the car like 1st day. At dinner, he ate 3 slices of raisin Cinnamon toast; 3 chicken wings, a cup of cauliflowers; a small cup of milk; 1 mozzarella cheese string; 1 strawberry yogurt; and a big bowl of watermelon; at the end he begged for another peach. I thought that's too much for him. Maybe his body needs more nutrition to grow fast.

I notice that he seems grow every time we came back from vacation or traveling.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Thank You Letter From Mrs. Moody At 1st Day Of School

"Thank you for entrusting your child to me. I promise to do my best every day to be your child's companion in learning. After you have wiped your tears, make yourself a nice warm cup of tea. Put your feet up and relax. Then hold that cotton ball in your hand. The softness will help you recall the gentle spirit of your child. I will work alongside you this year to help your child grow.
Thanks,
Mrs. Moody. "

This little note along a bag of tea and soft ball inside the bag came from Mrs. Moody. She is so thoughtful and I feel she is a good teacher.

20 Years College Reunion

Best friend from College Zhen sent me email to ask me if I could come to Beijing 9/15 for our college graduation reunion. She told me she didn't want to go if I couldn't make it.

I told her that I couldn't make it. I just came back from vacation and Thomas just started his school year. It's impossible for me to take that trip to Beijing.

I haven't seen Zhen for almost 20 years. Last time I saw her it's less than a year after graduation when she came back to Beijing for her English training. Last year when I was in Beijing she went to XiZang. She mailed me two beautiful traditional blankets to Tianjin before she went to XiZang.

I really miss her and wish I could make the trip to meet all my college friends.

First Day Of School

After long summer, finally he is back his school and in the Kindergarten. We met his teacher Mrs. Moody yesterday morning.

She is a young lady and pretty nice and grew up in a little town church. She is also new to POP. I have the impression that she is a good teacher and Thomas will enjoy his class.

This morning traffic was bad and Thomas was not feeling well inside the car. He was a little bit late and on the way to his classroom we saw several parents and lower school's Principal and they all were so excited to see Thomas back School.

When he got into classroom , his buddies Charlie and Seam already looked for him.

Another Beautiful One At Midway Geyser

Thomas enjoyed seeing geysers , springs , and mudpots in Yellowstone Park.

Another Picture At Midway Geyser

Midway Geyser was our last stop inside Yellowstone Park. We were kinda late and I was trying to snap more photos for Thomas.

After we came back home and looked at those I took at Midway Geyser me and his dad kept laughing - we're so surprised that they both looked so happy and cute. In my mind I didn't remember any harmony moment of his like this since he started to walk.

Surprising Photos At Midway Geyser

It's really surprising to see Thomas being so good to take pictures. He had been so naughty and funny all the way in the Yellowstone park while we were in the car.

He made up songs to teasing Ashley and he always started to fight with Joshua over anything including Ashley. For the last two days in Yellowstone Park he kept asking Ashley the same question " who are you going to marry?" We were wondering what that come from. We never talk about anything like that in front of him.

But Ashley enjoyed Thomas a companion and always asked him to sing that silly song for her. It's really made me laugh a lot though.

Jenny Lake At Grand Teton


Closer Look Of Grand Teton

Grand Teton is so pretty and someone told me that it looks like a pretty woman if you think Yellowstone looks a handsome man.

The Highest Elevation Fight Ever

Thomas was mad when I asked him to take a picture because me and his dad just had a big argument on the top of Teton Glacier Mountains.

Another One At Jackson Lake

Here it's again. Every time I took a picture on him, he would make funny look.


Enjoying Jackson Lake

Finally Thomas cooperated with me to take a picture at Jackson Lake, he must really enjoyed it there.

Jakson Lake At Grand Teton

Grand Teton is another national park next to Yellowstone.

Closer Look Of Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

We stayed this hotel for 3 nights and every earlier morning and evening we saw Elks outside the hotel.

Terrance In Mammoth Hot Springs


Geyser


Beautiful View From Hotel

I took it inside our hotel room at earlier evening.

Elk - Outside Of Hotel


Monday, August 27, 2007

Fight In The Woods

On the way to beavers pond. We didn't make it because it was about 4 miles one way-didn't think those kids could make it that long walk.

Picture at Gardiner River


Gardiner River

It is located in Gardiner, Montana, close to north entrance of Yellowstone Park.

The Roosevelt Arch

The Roosevelt Arch was designed by Robert Reamer, the same architect who designed the beautiful Old Faithful Inn.

Another Beautiful View


Caterpillar

Kids always were fascinated by different bugs, flowers, and rocks on the way.

Beautiful Terrance


Outlook Of Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Down the hill it is Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel where we stayed.

Elk In Terrance

We saw him just outside Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel where we stayed for 3 nights.

Another Bison

When you see a bison alone then it must be a male bison.

Bacteria Mat


Another Look of Old Faithful


Lower Basin Geyser


Chromatic Pool


MudPot


Another Specular Colorful Spring


Ear Spring

Thomas said it looked like a pickle for him.



Enjoying Hiking

After more than a mile hiking , they still were in good mood.

Outlook of Old Faithful

After half mile tough hiking we finally were on the outlook of Old Faithful to wait to see erosion of geyser. Kids were awesome they were been walking a lot.

Old Faithful Geyser Erosion


Star Spring


Famous Old Faithful Inn


Beautiful Color


Chinese Spring

Among those specular springs, one of them was name Chinese Spring.

Inside Of Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Inn was made of wood. It's very unique.

Blue Sky


Elks Walk Cross Road


Male Elk


Great View While Driving


What Kids Enjoy Most ?

Kids more enjoyed picking rocks than looked at great view.

The Petrified Tree

This petrified tree is actually a redwood - a good reminder that climate conditions in Yellowstone were once much warmer and wetter than today.

One Picture I like


Canyon Lower Falls

It's hard to get whole view of it at top. Lower Fall of Canyon is twice as long as Niagara Falls.

Moving to Mamoth Hot Spring Hotel

Thomas tried to load his own suit case into the car so we can move to another hotel inside the park. Some of popular hotels inside the park like Old Faithful Inn are very hard to book. You have to book it at least one year early.

Yellow Tour Bus


Closer Look of Bison