cc weeks 21 and 22:

During week 21, we celebrated the two March birthdays, including Isaac's.  He got presented with a green ring pop (his favorite color is green, so he was really happy), and a spirograph-type art set.  It worked out nicely for him.  

They presented on on a piece of artwork or famous architecture.  Lucas chose the Eiffel Tower, and Isaac chose the Statue of Liberty (interesting that Gustave Eiffel work on both designs).  It seemed like a pretty low-key with with a number of families out.  We worked on learning instruments and music and probability in math and science.

For Week 22, the presentation was easy--just bring something in a bag and give clues for the class to guess it.  In our class, the adults got all of the answers right, but we let the kids have a crack at it first.  The hard part was that Lucas decided to bring a beloved dyed egg, and the kids in his class played with it and broke it.  He was really hurt.  At least another boy in class told him he liked working with him.  That boy is his best friend from class, but they are returning to their home country in May, so I'm pretty sad they won't see each other anymore.  Almost every time Lucas has found a "buddy" who loves and looks out for him, with whom he gets along well, the boy ends up moving away within a year.  It's a lot of loss and change for him to handle when friends are hard to come by for a child with his needs and situation.  Still, I'm thankful for the fond memories he has of them.

I'm coordinating the End-of-Year party for our campus.  There's been a lot to reflect on.  At this point, I'm see probably 70/30 pros vs. cons about the program.  I think the Community Day and memory work songs and the exposure to different hands-on learning was good, but on the other hand, I did feel that the curriculum took away from things that I might have wanted to do with the kids.  In the beginning of the year, it was just a small percentage of our time, but by the end, 24 weeks worth of history, math, grammar, Latin, science, and geography facts, not to mention the timeline of all history, got to be a lot, even with minimal focus put toward them.  I think we will continue with it for another year.

Happy birthday to S and Isaac!

Statue of Liberty presentation.

Isaac got to volunteer for the demonstration.  He pulled out different colored dice from a bag, and we recorded the results and compared it to the probability.

lucas s'mores parties and therapy progress:

Lucas got to make s'mores twice at his group therapy class.  The first session was a practice run, and it took them almost the entire hour to work everything out and get their methods down.  The second week, they finished much more quickly, made enough for all of us, and had time for a game of four square at the end.    

We are coming down to the final weeks of his group/social therapy.  It's interesting how much he's thriving in the new group, where the kids tend to be more reserved and polite.  They speak up but are considerate of each other.  I really think a lot of the social issues certain kids have is that they are actually doing what's right but being trampled on by the more vocal, assertive ones.  That probably won't change so much as they get older.  It's good to think back to Lucas' first weeks and how much he's progressed.  It's even better to think we might be finally be done with that stop-and-go traffic to get there every week.

However, his articulation has not improved much.  It's been over two years, and while his l's are very clear now, his r sounds and the schwa he makes at the end of his words hasn't really changed much.  When he's conscious of it, he corrects himself, but then he pays more attention to his speech and reading, which makes him lose focus of the topic at hand or what he is reading.  Also, he doesn't want to practice it with me at home, because if I correct his speech, even if gently, he feels offended.  Often he'll speak more clearly to the therapist, but then go home and go back to his former habits.  So, we will continue the individual therapy.  So we will soon, hopefully, go from three sessions per week down to one.  We're all excited about that.

First week was a practice run, so we didn't get to partake of the treats (but Isaac got some ice cream).

Lucas really enjoyed making this and serving it to me the second week.

naomi's st. patrick's day sleepover and l's birthday party:

It's only been a little over a week, but I feel way behind in updates--we're ramping up again.  And I must say it's been a good busy, and I'm feeling good in general.  Naomi's girls' small group at church had a party and sleepover.  They made green sweet treats and played some games like fishbowl and a toilet paper fashion show that turned into a toilet paper snowball fight.  Naomi had a great time.  She didn't have green clothes, so she borrowed mine.  

At home, I didn't do that much except bought some corned beef and soda bread.  We had a busy Saturday, so I didn't want to overdo it and make it myself.  Corned beef is not actually from Ireland, I believe.  It was supposedly something the Irish ate in the States when they emigrated here, because it was cheaper than other meats (not so nowadays).  My family doesn't really care for the corned beef eaten as a block or even morsels of meat, but as deli meat for sandwiches, it's pretty good.

Grandma sent the kids some giftcards to See's.  The kids are pretty happy about that.  Grandma and Grandpa are always so generous with them!

The day after the sleepover was church, and then after lunch we dropped Naomi off at her friend L's house.  Her friend moved away, but it's nice they still keep in touch.  L. came with Naomi to church events a couple of times.  The four girls walked around the downtown area, and it seemed like they had a lot of fun.  I couldn't stay to talk, so I didn't even start.  I felt a little bad.  I generally don't like to stay and talk much if I drop off or pick up with the boys in tow.  I notice if I'm by myself, though, I will usually chat it up.  

Irish soda bread and corned beef (store-bought and not homemade this time).

Grandma sending them generous gifts, even on St. Patrick's Day!

Once in a long while, I'll put my hair up when I go out.  Usually means I'm in a chiper mood.

misc catch-up:

This is just some random stuff before I get into this month's events.  I've been living more low-key this year, just needing some rest and time to re-evaluate some things in my life.  But out of it has come appreciation for the simple joys of life, even of myself.  Sometimes if you're not doing too much, you feel like less of a failure.  😊  But also, I feel I have a little more time and energy to focus on certain priorities.  My friends and I were talking about how this is a time for burnout during the school year, but I'm actually feeling pretty great at this point.  I tend to get energized in the home stretch, just glad to have made it this far.  And that's how I feel about life as well--I'm glad I've made it this far.

My friend K. came to watch Isaac while Manny and I had our appointment.  She really came through for us at the last minute.  He had such a great time with her.

Isaac enjoying the puddles.  I often think about how he's the last one of my kids to enjoy these little things, at least until he's about my age and jumping into puddles for nostalgia.

Snow white shrimp (?) at the pet store.  It's a free aquarium/zoo for Isaac.

No time to make a pie on Pi Day, and the boys didn't want pie, so Naomi said let's just get a couple slices from Burger King.  I remember when she was little, I'd make pies from scratch.  But after the third kid, this is me.

Flan (I used a mix).  It was alright, but this is one I'm going to have to make from scratch next time.

Similarly, I decided not to do homemade corned beef and soda bread this year.  Store-bought wasn't that bad, actually.  But next year, I think I'll make more use of the Instant Pot and make corned beef in flat beer and ginger ale maybe.

Grandma gave the kids gift cards for St. Patrick's Day!  She's always generous.  I already know Lucas is going to want gold coins like he gets every year.

I'm feeling better about myself.  And so glad I got my old woman bifocal contacts--I can see!

cc weeks 19 and 20:

At this point of the school year, we're starting to burn out a little schoolwise, but we're still pressing on.  I don't take a complete break during the summer, but cut school down quite a bit, mainly so I can get reorganized and so we can have more outings.  We are coming down to our last 4 weeks of CC.  It's been good, but I'm glad we'll have the break soon, because I've had to put a few things aside for that I'd like to finish before June.

For week 19, the presentation topic was a vacation or staycation, and both boys immediately voted for Hawaii.  I tried to talk them into local trips we'd taken (because those I felt would be more interesting to talk about, and I didn't want to show off this big trip we took), but since we just learned about Pearl Harbor, it did seem appropriate.  They picked the photos they wanted to show.  We likely won't be taking a vacation this year, although my best friend will be down in L.A. next month, and I wish there was a way I could get down to see her, but her spring break doesn't coincide with ours and I happen to have events and things happened up here around that time that I can't miss (since I'm hosting or coordinating).  

We also started our orchestra unit.  The kids picked certain instrument puppets and then sat in their respective sections accordingly (brass, woodwinds, strings, or percussion).  

For week 20, we had our Open House.  Three new families joined us, so we had I think an additional 10 children in the classes.  That combined with the time change caused for some tired and overtired students.  I was surprised Lucas and Isaac did fine with the time change, especially since Isaac was asleep for the first half hour last week.  The tutors managed well, and it was mostly business as usual.  I helped as much as I could and was thankful the boys' good behavior and attitude freed me up to do that.  I know that I could tutor skill-wise and especially knowledge-wise, but I can't tutor right now for other reasons.  

This week's presentation was just grammar review, so the kids could pick any topic we've learned so far.  Lucas opted to recite the square and cube numbers (up to 15 squared and 10 cubed) and explain how they work.  Manny had a good idea for him to show it using a Rubik's cube.  I'm sad I miss out on Lucas' presentations, but he thought he did well.  It's wonderful to hear him go from wanting to quit CC over the presentations to feeling confident this way.  

Isaac wanted to present on Columbus' voyage.  Manny and I were not for it, but he insisted, so we told him to focus on the trip and not Columbus as a superhero or even a  founder of the U.S.  Isaac liked his ships, so we made a simple model of the three ships in the sea (thank you, Pinterest), and then talked about why Columbus mistakenly called North Americans "Indians."  

Lucas picked of him going down from the top of Diamond Head (my friend took that one), Waikiki Beach, a model of the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, a picture of him and his brother and sister at Polynesian Cultural Center, family photo with his grandparents, and pictures of him and his siblings having shave ice.

Isaac picked the view from atop Diamond Head (taken by my friend), the family photo with his grandparents, shave ice, a photo of him at the International Marketplace, him climbing through one of the ships at Pearl Harbor, him playing in the sand at the beach, and him with Naomi in one photo and Lucas in the other, again at the beach.

Isaac got a dum dum for drawing U.S. maps that week.  He was happy with that and holding up his instrument during the Orchestra Song.

Reciting the formula for the area of a triangle.

Exercising while learning English grammar.

Easy project for Columbus' ships.

Orchestra Song, plus learning about the different periods of classical music.  We listened to Tchaikovsky, one of my favorite composers.

Reciting Latin with puppets.

Isaac's presentation on Columbus' voyage.

dogs and babies:

My friend A. had her third baby around Christmas, her first boy.  I went over to visit and help her around the house a little.  I brought some snacks, but I should have brought a meal.  Since I went in the early afternoon, I didn't think of it till later.  We chatted a bit, and Isaac played with her girls.  He was really patient when they wanted to play things he didn't understand (they're a little older).  Otherwise, he very much enjoyed jumping on their new trampoline.  They have a dog named after Argos, the dog in Homer's Odyssey.  I favor spitz-breed dogs, akitas included.  He was as tall as Isaac and super cuddly and friendly.  At one point he pushed past my friend to come to me, and he liked to play bite like my childhood dog did.  It made me nostalgic and reminded me how much I wish we could have a dog.  But we've no room for one right now.  Someday.  

Her newborn was super cute, but since she was usually feeding or changing him, and I wasn't sure if Lucas was still germy, I decided not to hold him.  But as nervous as I am around babies, for some reason they usually take to me, as do dogs.  A number of times in my life I've had dogs come straight to me out of a crowd.  Maybe they sense my need for quiet companionship.  Or maybe I just smell like food.  lol   

Friend's handsome and friendly akita.

olympics:

This year, the Opening Ceremony was broadcasted on my birthday, and the Closing Ceremony was on my mom's birthday.  I remember in 1988 when the Summer Olympics were held in Seoul.  I actually taped the opening and closing ceremonies.  I was mesmerized, but also I was always excited to see people who looked like me on TV.  When you've been told your whole life how weird you look and how inferior your country of ancestral origin is, you begin to either believe it or resent it.  I have always rooted for the U.S.  This country is my home.  But I also respect and admire all cultures and the blending of cultures as well.  Of course, we are staying put for the foreseeable future and thankful to live where we do.

Ten years after Seoul was Nagano, and then ten years after that Beijing.  Now ten years after Beijing, we have PyeongChang.  It won't be another decade, but just two short years before Tokyo and two short years after that for Beijing again (I believe the first city to host both Summer and Winter).  More cute animals/mascots and incredible displays of technology!  And even if it was just for show, I am still praying for the Koreas and hopeful for their future.

Isaac got into figure skating.  He seldom watches any TV, but he'd have it on and try to imitate their spins and jumps.  He wants to learn to skate now.  He also watched some of the opening and closing ceremonies with me.  My little buddy.  I enjoyed all the figure skating events.  Isaac didn't care as much as I did for the snowboarding events, though.  Those were a thrill for me to watch.  Manny and I watched some of it together, but not a whole lot.  I was actually streaming it in the waiting rooms of Lucas' classes and reading recaps all the time.  I was glad to find out my friend O. is into Olympics as well and the same events (except I don't think she's as into curling).  She and I were saying we felt a little lonely at times about it.

I caught a lot of curling as well.  The matches are long, so sometimes it would take me a day or two to watch it in chunks and get through it.  Sometimes I'd have to skip one or two ends (curling rounds).  It looks like a silly sport, but it takes a lot of brain power and strategy, and it has its own athleticism.  Plus it adds to the variety, and one of the reasons I like Olympics so much is the variety.  I would watch different sports on several screens at once if I could (one of my friends actually did that).

Another reason I like it is for the spirit.  After a discouraging year with a lot of division in our country, it's nice to see people rooting for one another and persevering under great pressure and even when they don't do well.  There was also a lot of suspense this Olympics for me.  The women's hockey shootout; the women's figure skating finals (unfortunately U.S. did not do as well in skating as expected, except maybe ice dancing); the men's halfpipe snowboarding coming down to the final run; even Japan vs. Korean women in the curling semifinals.  

Technology behind the drone show.

Parody of the Korea v. Japan curling match with the cutest little girls.

  

japantown:

During Naomi's winter break, I took the kids to Japantown for a day trip.  Naomi's friend Z was also on winter break, so Naomi asked if she could come as well.  Z is very loving and gets along well with our boys.  I'm also friends with her parents through church.  We were happy to have her.  Z tried mochi for the first time, but I think it was a little sticky for her (that's actually why I like it fresher).  Naomi and I like mochi, but the boys, not so much.  They got Hello Panda instead.

We also wanted to try a ramen place.  One had less variety and was more highly rated, but the other one had more options, including the specific ramen the girls were craving.  We decided on the one with more options.  We were happy with the choice we made, though we had to wait about 20 minutes for two tables to open so we could combine them.  They gave us Dum-Dums, and we watched some Olympics and chatted while waiting.

We went to a few shops afterward.  Naomi and I were hoping for more cute/kawaii or cool stuff like we've seen in other places like Little Tokyo or San Francisco, but there wasn't a store like that.  The shirt shops didn't have anything that caught our eye, either.  Naomi ended up not getting anything, but her friend got a Ryu (from the Streetfighter video games) bobblehead and some stickers.

Z knew of a good boba place (she's been to Japantown before, but none of us have).  Walking there and back would be about a mile total.  That wasn't a problem for any of us except Lucas.  He has issues with his feet sometimes.  I couldn't carry him piggyback, so I decided one had to suffer for the many.  He managed, plus he got a nice mango boba drink out of it.

I liked how sparse it was, maybe because it was a weekday or due to the weather.  It went from windy and gloomy to sunny and back rather quickly.  The ramen and hot tea I had helped a lot.  I tend to get too hot or too cold easily.  On our way back, it started raining.  I was glad we made it back to our car right at the start of the rain.  We were sorry Manny couldn't join us.  I appreciate how hard he works and how it allows me to take the kids out like this.

Fresh mochi (manju) from Shuei-Do.  I enjoyed the kinako (peanut flour) and white bean with raspberry (pink one).  I will have to come back sometime to try some others.

History of Japantown inscribed on the benches.

Reportedly the best mochi in our area, and I agree.  They also sell Hawaiian shave ice in the summer.

Watching the Olympics while we wait for a seat at the ramen shop.

Time for ramen!

Naomi and I got tonkatsu ramen and enjoyed it.  She took this photo.

This photo displays all their personalities well.

Sad that SJ Tofu had to close for good after 71 years.  They just closed in December.

Funko Pop! bobbleheads.  They didn't have Chun-Li available, but Z. got a Ryu.

Only one arcade game in the store, and still a quarter.  I was happy to find it's one of the StreetFighters.  I used to play SFII all the time.  It was also often the only arcade in the shops, even at our engineering store at UCLA. Never seen this one (EX Plus Alpha), though.  Isaac wanted to try it.  Lucas didn't want me to waste the quarter.

Pretty much a mural of my childhood, thanks to my older brother.

What it looks like in the winter.  Hope to go back in the summer.  They also have the festival coming up, but I won't be able to make that weekend.

Crossing the tracks out of Japantown.  Nice walk, especially for Isaac.  He loves going on walks and hikes.

Deciding between everything.

Enjoying my specialty hot tea (I think it was osmanthus green tea) with Lucas.  The cactus is a set of coasters, but the kids just used them to build things.

Starting to pour.  Time to go!