Joyeux NOEL

Is it December already?

Noel and Kota, how sweet is this? 

So my facebook is full of my complains of cold.  My stress level increases on what kind of gifts to buy, not just to my friends, but Noel's friends.  Yes, it is the end of the year, and yes, in Taiwan, you gain yet, another year not by your birthday, but by the approach of a new year (well, it's really Chinese New year.)

I never felt that sense of urgency when it comes to aging.  I used to pride myself for looking pretty fit and young among my peers; but that all changed when I have a kid.  You look at how much they grow within a year, you could not help but wonder.... okay, then how do I look?

The last night I saw Kota, he looked like this........

Kota's mom and dad were my old neighbors but had moved back to their native Japan in 2007.  We were lucky to visit again last month when Kota's dad had a business trip here.  When I saw little Kota walking up to my door step, I could not help but again, marveled at how fast time travels.

But you want to know the real shocker? 

See that cutest little boy and his beautiful mom?  The boy is now a teenager!

When I was talking to my classmates about a 10- year reunion, it did not really "sound" like a big deal.  Ten years, yeah, some things have changed; but it is not like a 30- year reunion, so how bad can it be?  Well, this photo will tell the story.  That boy was 3 in the picture, I babysat him when I attended graduate school in NY.  Now, he is taller than his mom and my own daughter is already older than 3!  The biggest mystery though is.... Lisa, how do you stay EXACTLY the same?  :)

Pumpkin Patch 2009 (part II- hay fight)

This pumpkin patch has two mazes, this year the big maze is proven to be less scary compare with last year's experience.  Perhaps  with the company of a good friend helped :)

But what do you expect when two 4-year-old got out of the maze?  Sitting still and looking pretty?

NOPE.

Hay fight!!!!!!!!!!!

Those two girls went crazy there, went up and down and hay stacks and throwing hays at each other... lots fun, I wish I have that kind of free spirit to roll in it with them.

Pretending to be a scarecrow.

Childhood, so priceless!

Pumpkin Patch 2009 (part I- come join me)

Living in the tiny mid-west town, I can count easily in one hand how many benefits we have over, let's say, people living in other area of the country.  One thing I am actually proud of, and would wholeheartedly invite  friends and family is - our pumpkin patch!

..but again, living in the farming community, if you don't have a decent pumpkin patch, what are you going to do?

This year, we did something different that made the pumpkin patch a great fun.  We decided to go in September to avoid the crowd and most importantly - the cold!  (we were still in summer clothes rather than freezing our behinds like the previous years.  Another smart decision was, we invited Noel's best friend Grace (and her family) to come along, so the kids pretty much entertained themselves, running wild in this acres and acres of pumpkin fun!

How cute!

And not just pumpkins, the girls got to experience the real deal - visiting the farm animals.

Bahhhh, goats.

crock a doodle do....hey, that is not rooster says in Taiwan!  There were also ducks, pigs and listen up - lamas, hahaha!

It really was a super fun day!  And by the way, people has been telling me that Noel has long legs... well, I never really notice it until I saw this picture....

..perhaps it's the priced $70 RL jeans she is wearing?  (and no, I did not pay for that whole price, but isn't it amazing how expensive kids' clothes can be?)

children of the 21st century

Do you remember the age you were first introduced to computer?  I don't.  But I do remember it's not when I was 4 years old!

I made a big drawing today!

Noel made a big drawing today, 18" x 24"  yeah!  She is very proud of her masterpiece!

A GIANT tree where a squirrel and birds make a nice home of !  I thought those branches were lovely.  And let's not forget Noel's sweet little girlfriend Grace, they are having a great time running around..and mama(sorry, the word was cropped by a bad photographer!) is chasing them :)

How cute!

4 years old Birthday girl

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Noel
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

We were not supposed to be singing the English version this year, the plan was to celebrate Noel's 4-year-old birthday in Taiwan; and of course, sing the Mandarin Happy Birthday song.

There is a Chinese saying goes something like....." you can plan all you want, but in the end, the heaven above does the planning...."  Ouch, what an awful translation, but you get the gist.  Well, our trip to Taiwan was eventful, in short, we had to cut the trip short and I had 2 days to prepare for Noel's birthday.....honestly, there was a moment I kinda wanta "skip" it, God knows how exhausted I was and definitely not in the mood for a party.  But my sweet daughter remembers her 3-year-old birthday party so well, she talks about her Thomas cake, the birthday hat, her friends and presents, I don't have the heart to ignore this special day.

So I made my second cake -DON"T LAUGH (especially you Junny!)  Yes, yes, I stuck the dinos on the cake, thanks to Mattel!  Noel was really concerned at first, she worried that we are eating her dinosaurs, ha, cute!  If you think of this cake as a  product of an exhausted mom who just got off a 20+ hours airplane rides,  you will find it more lovely!

The size of the party is not even close to what we had last year, just a couple of friends, our famous babysitter Jenni (and her baby in the belly!) and Noel's dear friend Grace.  But we surely had a great time!

Cheers, my big girl!  I cannot believe you are 4 years old.... mommy loves you; and don't hate me for the cake when you grow up!!!

world wide web

When we wake up in the morning, Noel says : "Mama, I miss I Hsuan ....."

When we are driving in the car, Noel says : " Mama, I miss I Hsuan......"

When we are looking at the photos from Hawaii, Noel says : " Mama, I miss I Hsuan.... and I want to go back to Hawaii TOMORROW!"

Okay, evidently, Noel misses her big brother I Hsuan very much, but there is only one problem, I Hsuan lives in Taiwan!!

Thanks to the modern technology, auntie Maggie and I decided to reconnect these two little ones over Skype, I honestly think the conversation will last for 5 minutes the most, how much can a 3 year-old and a 4 year-old talk over the web cam, right?

WRONG!

They chatted and chatted, they showed each other toys, they "shared" a snack over the computer screens  (pretty cute actually-Noel was "feeding" a bagel to I Hsuan; and tried to share a pretend apple.... I Hsuan went on and really got himself an apple juice)

Noel showed I Hsuan her drawings and I Hsuan danced for Noel - haha, so much fun to watch these two.

I know, tomorrow I will definitely hear more : " Mama, I miss I Hsuan....."

Yeah, check out this drawing Noel did, can you guess what it is?

"Noel watches I Hsuan on the computer!!!"

when Noel meets I Hsuan Hawaii III

Everyone says we look so cute together.....

Mama and I were at the hotel pool when I Hsuan showed up....

We were not sure about meeting each other at first....

But he is such a cool kid...he's got sponge Bob swimming pants....

And he helped me build sand castles....

He understands that girls are moody sometimes.....

Did I mention he is a good swimmer.......

That was how Noel meets I Hsuan!!!

Hello Kitty erasers

Sato, you are my best friend...

Noel received 3 Hello Kitty erasers last weekend as part of her birthday presents.  She loves them and shows them off to everyone.  She is too young to use them, but the little girl treasures them like her favorite toys.  Two days ago, I took her to say good bye to Sato, Noel's best friend.  Her family is moving to another state and I don't know when the two little girls will get to meet each other again. 

I have been preparing myself for this moment, I've got to known this wonderful family and their beautiful girl has become my daughter's best friend.  I was very sad; and as for Noel, she did not understand what "moving away" means. 

The two girls were still hand in hand, running, dancing and playing as usual.  Of course Noel took the Hello Kitty erasers with her, and this time, she took them out, and decided to give one to Sato.

I was "concerned" : "Noel, if you give it to Sato, that means you are not going to ask for it back, understand?"

She nodded and said: "Sato is my best friend."

I had tears in my eyes. 

We hope and pray that this friendship will somehow continue.....  just like Sato's mama said - maybe these two girls will go to the same college one day!

friendships

Noel's mom has always been very cautious about friendships.  Officially stepping into "middle age" (my gosh! I don't want to...)  I cannot claim to be a pro in friendships, but truly, after a decade of living outside of my own county, being thousands of miles away from family; FRIENDS, are the ones helping me through difficult times, as well as sharing the most joyous moments!

A soul mate who has been in my life for over 20 years, or, a mom from Austria whom I have never met, but from the bottom of my heart, I know there is a mysterious connection between us.  A mom who knows and shares my fear of peanut allergy , or, a wonderful friendship flourish thanks to our daughters..... many many more (only wish you guys have blogs for me to show off!)

But nothing, nothing amazes me seeing a friendship developed between my daughter and her first friend - Sato.

The first month when we moved into our new casa , we met a lovely family taking a walk in the neighborhood.  Among them, a sweet, beautiful girl around Noel's age caught my eyes.  Sato's parents and I politely greeted each other and agreed to plan some play dates.  Well, kids got sick, kids got cranky, then the deep winter hit..... our "play dates" remain as phone conversations between two mothers. 

In the meantime, Noel has met other kids, but she has never shown any interests in them other than saying hi and bye.  Well, she is not ready for friends yet - I said.

Until Sato's mom and I finally got the two girls together.  A 15 minutes play date turned into an hour and half.  A friendship, truly, an innocent and lovely friendship, develops between these two young souls......