Only 3 more months until November is out of review. I'm excited and nervous.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Chinese Moon Festival
The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.
The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.
The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.
The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. Here are a few pictures of the typical moon cake.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Nice Matters Award
Wow, Cyndi nominated me for the Nice Matters Award!
Here is what it means.
"This award is for bloggers who are nice people, good blog friends, and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also, for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world"
"This award is for bloggers who are nice people, good blog friends, and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also, for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world"
I'm in a big communication rut right now. For the first time in many, many months I haven't felt like posting, haven't checked on other people's blogs on a daily basis, and haven't even thought of putting together the gifts and swaps I'm supposed to be sending out this month. I want to curl up and do nothing. I actually removed myself from a swap today. But, wow, it feels good to know someone else is checking up on me and considers me "nice", which I try to be. Thank you so much. You made my day!
I am now suppose to nominate other people for this award. I will check out the blogs of friends and add their names to the list later today or this weekend if I can manage to turn on the computer. My girls are banned from Webkinz today, but we have Chinese class tonight and dance tomorrow, then are babysitting tomorrow night, so a little busy.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Culture Camp and Car Problems
Sorry I've been quiet lately. Just really busy. Last weekend we went to our local FCC's Culture Camp. I had car problems getting there and was nervous about getting back. It was a 3 hour drive each way in good traffic without stopping. On the way there, it took me almost 6 hours. On the way home, we stopped for lunch, but made it almost home with no incidents. Yesterday, I spent almost $1,000 fixing my van. Not fun and $1,000 I didn't have. But the car runs so much better. I really notice it.
As far as Culture Camp, my girls had a great time. All the way home Jessica kept saying she missed Culture Camp so much already. I missed the opening ceremonies on Friday night. We were in a villa with friends of ours and it was a very nice villa. Saturday there was breakfast, then children's programs according to their grade and adult programs to attend. The girls made crafts and hung out with other kids while I went to a panel of adult Korean adoptees. This was actually the first time I had attended something like this. 2 of them were from the first generation of Korean adoptees, so my age. One was only 25, but now works for a local adoption agency. I really enjoyed hearing they're perspectives. And I bought a book of stories written by various adult adoptees. Then I went to a Parenting 101 class. Very funny straight-forward adoptive dad. I've attended his classes in the past and I find him very informative. I bought his book, too.
After lunch on our own and a market place where I bought a calendar and more books, we went swimming at the indoor water park. In the evening there was dinner, and then a disco dance. This was the first year (this was our 3rd year) we stayed the whole time. The little girls still wore their princess outfits, but there were a lot more tweens this year. Jessica and her friend were on the dance floor the whole time. Anna and her friend got us moms out too. A good DJ and very nice dance.
Sunday, we had breakfast, closing ceremonies and thanks to all, and then we decided to pack up and leave rather than staying at the water park again. I wanted to make sure we made it home or that if we didn't, there would be someone we knew driving by to help us out.
I'm really enjoying my girls at their ages with their independence. I look at the younger kids and all the moms have to do with all the younger kids and question if I really want to go back there. I've thought about Amanda every day for over 5 years. Now all of a sudden I wonder why I want to upset the apple cart. I think I would be happy to stop now with Jessica and Anna. I don't know how I'd ever explain to them though if I did. I know I'm stressed over money (my lack of it), and that plays a big part in my reflections. I also know the wait is strenuous, but I also need the wait right now. I'll keep going, but for the first time, I'm wondering if I really want to proceed with the adoption - do I really want this or was it just something I became obsessed with. Anyway. Just sharing where my head is right now.
As far as Culture Camp, my girls had a great time. All the way home Jessica kept saying she missed Culture Camp so much already. I missed the opening ceremonies on Friday night. We were in a villa with friends of ours and it was a very nice villa. Saturday there was breakfast, then children's programs according to their grade and adult programs to attend. The girls made crafts and hung out with other kids while I went to a panel of adult Korean adoptees. This was actually the first time I had attended something like this. 2 of them were from the first generation of Korean adoptees, so my age. One was only 25, but now works for a local adoption agency. I really enjoyed hearing they're perspectives. And I bought a book of stories written by various adult adoptees. Then I went to a Parenting 101 class. Very funny straight-forward adoptive dad. I've attended his classes in the past and I find him very informative. I bought his book, too.
After lunch on our own and a market place where I bought a calendar and more books, we went swimming at the indoor water park. In the evening there was dinner, and then a disco dance. This was the first year (this was our 3rd year) we stayed the whole time. The little girls still wore their princess outfits, but there were a lot more tweens this year. Jessica and her friend were on the dance floor the whole time. Anna and her friend got us moms out too. A good DJ and very nice dance.
Sunday, we had breakfast, closing ceremonies and thanks to all, and then we decided to pack up and leave rather than staying at the water park again. I wanted to make sure we made it home or that if we didn't, there would be someone we knew driving by to help us out.
I'm really enjoying my girls at their ages with their independence. I look at the younger kids and all the moms have to do with all the younger kids and question if I really want to go back there. I've thought about Amanda every day for over 5 years. Now all of a sudden I wonder why I want to upset the apple cart. I think I would be happy to stop now with Jessica and Anna. I don't know how I'd ever explain to them though if I did. I know I'm stressed over money (my lack of it), and that plays a big part in my reflections. I also know the wait is strenuous, but I also need the wait right now. I'll keep going, but for the first time, I'm wondering if I really want to proceed with the adoption - do I really want this or was it just something I became obsessed with. Anyway. Just sharing where my head is right now.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Okay, I think I'm free again...
I've become addicted to the Harry Potter series! I've read all 7 books within the last 4.5 weeks and seen the first 4 movies. I stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish the last book. I couldn't put it down and go to sleep not knowing how it ended. I thought it would be nice to read the books one after another, but boy, you get to about 3/4ths of the way through book 5 and you need to know how it ends. I finished the last 3 books starting Friday morning.
Anyway, hopefully now I can get back to things like dishes, laundry, and talking to my kids. They like the movies. Anna begged me to watch one last night and this morning, but no time. We had our 1st grade meeting last night and by the time we got home, it was time for her to go to bed. Jessica isn't as obsessed, but she said she wasn't going to try to read the first book until I had finished all of them. Wonder what her excuse will be now?
Thursday, September 6, 2007
p.s. I will post pictures once I get the time
Okay, I've been running around the last couple of nights trying to find the school supplies the teachers now need. Jessica's list said 3 folders. She brought her folders home and now needs solid color folders - no cute kitty or puppy pictures. Do you think Target had any folders left at all? NO! Last night I went to Super Target looking for 2 glue sticks and a 1" 3-ring binder for Anna. I took the last 2 glue sticks off the shelf and had Anna choose which color she liked of the last 3 binders. Jessica's teacher got married on Saturday and has been on his honeymoon (like teacher's didn't know when school would start????) and today is his first day, so inevitably, he'll need something different. I wonder if teachers have ever had to shop for a glue stick or folder after the first day or two of school. It would have been much nicer if they had given me this information when I went to the open house on Friday. Then I would have had the weekend to look for them. 
Anyway I'll post pictures of our trip and the first day of school soon.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
First Day of School
Today was my girl's first day of school. Jessica is now in 3rd grade and Anna is in 1st. The girls took the bus from home rather than daycare for the first time. Jessica got the teacher she wanted - a man teacher - which I think will be really good for her. Anna's teacher is supposed to be a very visual teacher. Both girls really enjoyed going to school again, but they both had meltdowns around supper time. I'm going to clear my schedule for the rest of the week so they can go to bed at a decent time.
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