100th Day of PreK

Our school celebrates the 100th day of school tomorrow. When Mary Clare's class comes to the library I'll read them Wolf's Chicken Stew and the we'll have some cookies - 100 cookies! With just a little bit of help Mary Clare made 100 molasses cookies for the event and they turned out lovely!

Mary Clare also had to fill a small bag with 100 items. Big sister to the rescue! While MC baked, Margaret Rose counted out kisses, ten rows of ten, and then filled little sister's bag. On the 100th day of school it's particularly nice to have a big sister who can count 100 items!

The girls spent the afternoon with PoPo and Grumpy and were treated to dinner at IHOP. They were so excited this morning anticipating their visit. MC actually danced into the dining room and told MR, "I'll see you dis afternoon at PoPo's! I'll meet you dare Margaret!" Then she went and strongly reminded Baba that his job was to drop off Margaret Rose at PoPo's house.

Dumpling Day

It was dumpling making day at our house! Mary Clare has wanted to make dumplings for months now and I finally got a vegetarian recipe and we gave it a try.

Margaret Rose and Baba stopped by our local Chinese place for the rest of the holiday meal but got home in time for MR to make a few dumplings.

The girls decorated a little - you know how they like things to be festive.

The dumplings turned out fine. The girls really enjoyed them.

A thumbs up from Margaret Rose!

One of Lee's students brought the girls homemade Cantonese sweets. Oh my but they were wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes there's been a costume change. I really wish I had a dime for everytime these girls change clothes. After dinner and cleanup we gave the girls the traditional red envelopes with lucky money. Margaret Rose begged to take hers to school tomorrow for show and share.

Before bed MC insisted that they had to eat an orange for good luck.

Lee reports that while waiting for the Chinese food tonight Margaret Rose told him she wanted him to stay 44 and not get old like Pa. She said she didn't want him to die. Mary Clare is still worrying about death as well although her fear as lessened a bit. Although totally developmentally appropriate, Margaret Rose's statement surprised me. She is just so sunny, so happy go lucky and never appears to worry about anything. MC is our worrier- she despairs over fields of cut trees, dead insects and the rotisserie chickens at grocery stores. Do their mothers miss them? Are they in heaven? Shopping is such a pleasure with our Nibblet :-)

Margaret Rose brought home her second report card tonight. She got lots of wonderful comments about what a lovely child she is and what a joy she is to teach and she is improving academically. She is still, however, well behind her peers and we are moving forward with out plans to retain her in first grade. Her teacher agrees with our desire and we are hopeful that we won't have a replay of last year when her first school refused to let her have one more year of kindergarten.

Happy Year of the Ox

I know it's 2 days early but the art museum in town sponsored a family event for Chinese New Year this morning. The girls spent a lot of time last night trying on their Chinese clothes. Okay, to tell the truth, Margaret Rose tried on about 20 outfits and Mary Clare found a blue one and was done. They were excited about going this morning and were disappointed when Baba had to go to work. He got a desperate call from a colleague this morning at 7:05 and was out the door to give the SAT to 7th graders 5 minutes later. We worked together and got everyone ready including Rose & Tweetsie and got there when the festivities were just starting. They got their cheeks painted first. Margaret Rose chose a flower and Mary Clare a chinese character.

Then they practiced their calligraphy.

We looked at the China exhibit and Mary Clare was intrigued with the sculptures of the earth spirit tomb guardians. She was full of questions and demanded that I read all of the information next to each exhibit. Margaret Rose was mesmerized by the man playing a traditional Chinese instrument. The music was really beautiful and she told him "xie xie" as we were leaving- such a sweet child. Then came the best part of their day- the dragon and lion dances!

When the dances were over Margaret Rose turned to me and said, "That was awesome!" We will definitely be taking the girls to Tennessee this summer for the Chinese acrobat day.

Here are the girls, Tweetsie & Rose taking a rest and hiding from a particularly scary piece of "art" that only had one eye and frightened the bejeezus out of Mary Clare.

Outside the girls amused themselves by posing under and arch.

Then they decided to reenact the Lion Dance.

Margaret Rose took a break while Mary Clare amused us with some sort of tap dance. It resembled that dance the frog does in the Bugs Bunny cartoon.

Margaret Rose who is a self proclaimed "very good finder" spotted a stage and the show continued with Mary Clare dancing and Margaret being the audience and then both girls dancing. They had fun and I so enjoyed watching them enjoy each other and the day!