Charlie is 4

Charlie only had a small cupcake and only mommy to celebrate with on his 4th birthday.





make-up birthday party with his friends at school and a curious george cake..

He's all of a sudden a big kid... he's sleeping well in his own bedroom, reading well and understand things like a big kid. He's making troubles like a big kid does too... Still doesn't eat veggie or fruit and stubborn as always. He still loves reading maps and riding buses to explore the city.

Charlie's race car picture

Charlie went to a clay art class last month and mommy had a rare chance to take a lazy stroll in the beautiful campus next to the river away from all the noise and craziness in life, and it brought back such a great feeling that has been forgotton for years... I'm sure Charlie will be back soon for the art class and mommy can't wait either..

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! For those of you that missed me in the last few months (well, blame mommy not me!) - here I am!

I am much taller (and a little thinner) than you last saw me... surprise surprise, I've outgrown quite a few pairs of pants and shoes in the last 6 months. And I officially have a reading list at school that I can bring home some of my reading assignment and have mommy put a little smily face once I read it! So far I've read Dot and the Dog, Mag and Jig. I still love maps and my favorate app is 123 World HD Geography.

In case you don't see me for the next few months again, Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day!

By the way, I went to Disney World for the first time on Christmas and there were soooo many people! But I got to drive on the race track and that was fun!

monorail!!

Can you see me behind the steering wheel?

Dumbo the flying elephant

number 1 reason I came to Florida - not Disney, but beach!

Charlie in China IV and Recent Pictures

First things first, we've got to finish updating our China trip which has been 3 months ago!

Charlie in front of the China Pavilion at World Expo


View from the the culture center (the clam shell) - you can see both Pu Dong and Pu Xi from this angle as the Huang Pu River takes a turn here, with Pu Xi in the front view and the towers at Lu Jia Zui in the background.


The same view after dark - after we finish a nice dinner with the georgeous view right in front of us! There, mommy was very thankful that grandma pursuaded us to stay in the Expo until after dinner. It was so hot during the day that mommy almost chickened out!





the music fountain from high above - we went to the river front to get a closer view afterwards



Now we're back home and back to our normal life. Charlie is now in a new classroom, with big kids, and he's been learning new things everyday. His favorite new song is "I'm a bubble, I'm a trouble..." it's hard to keep from smiling when you imagine thirty kids all singing "I'm a trouble..." and he loves reading "one fish, two fish, red fish and blue fish" before going to bed. and he loves his new bicycle - not riding the tricyle anymore! He's also very good (90% of time) keeping promises(brushing teeth before bed, not bringing toys to school...), or making up promises that you've never asked him to! (mom, but I promised I'll buy this car!)



We've enjoyed a mild (Texas standard) summer with plenty of rain, after a hot August, it has cooled down towards the end of September for a dry and beautiful fall. For those of us who had been hiding in-door during the day - time to get out!



Air show at Georgetown (The little monkey's city! - Charlie, and those other fans of Curious George)

On a weekend trip to Fredericksburg and a nearby vineyard

fun in our own backyard

=

sneak preview of Haloween 2010! (what, isn't that the same as last year's?? - so long as he still likes Thomas...)

Charlie in China III

Charlie found his favorite spot at Grandma's - the rocker on the balcony!



We took the tour bus, crossed tourist tunnel, and took picture at the most touritsy place in Shanghai! :)



The escape from the weekend crowd at the World Expo, we hopped on a train to Hang Zhou with grandparents and uncle and cousin YueYue.

West Brook National Wetland


Want a try pounding your own sticky rice cake?






west lake

the map of Hangzhou carved on the stone by the lake

view from our hotel room

Charlie in China II

Bird Nest (Charlie asked - why didn't they finish the building?....)

water cube

mouth watering?

forbidden city

Charlie finally found a wide open space with nobody!

Tian An Men Square