Things that Kindergarteners do

Things that Chloe is doing at Brearley- self portrait and being a school day counter. (???)

Prepping for School

While big sis Chloe is leaping and bounding along kindergarten, I realize it is time to let Miss Ines Alto understand that her career as a student is about to begin. According to the guidelines, the parents are supposed to talk to the child about school, and that he/she would be attending soon. So I decided to give it a try after dinner.

"Ines, you will be going to school soon."

"School?"

"Yes, the same one that Chloe went to"

"Chloe school?"

"Yes, and you have to be a good girl"

"Ines good girl"

"Yes, so no biting."

"Yes biting. Ines bite."

Realizing I probably have to dish out a bribe, I continued,

"Kids that do not bite, there will be snack."

"SNACK!!!!! SNACK!!!!! SNACK!!!!"

After which she is completely sold on the concept and hopped away.

Not to mention tonight she dreamt out loud and said,

"I hungry. Mommy, I hungry."

It's going to be a long road.

Back to School

A certain somebody in our household has been itching to start her kindergarten career. This began with the once a day questioning of when we are going to our new school, to the 'why do all kids wear uniforms' questions, to the 'I WANT SCHOOL TO START'. to the waking up on her own, an hour before time is called, teeth brushed, hair combed...and I present to you, Chloe Alto, our kindergartener.

First day of school (well, first HALF day) began with the MTA bus, in which we bumped into a fellow new Brearley kindergartener. Then of course, is the to-be-expected crowd of parents with their professional digital SLR's in front of the Brearley doors. The girls, after a dry run on the previous day's orientation, knew exactly where they were going, and were greeted by name tags which they had created. Parents were reluctantly shut out of the classrooms and patiently waited in the assembly hall where coffee was served. (Or, in my case, I ran home to fix a lunch for Chloe) An after school picnic awaited at the neighboring Carl Schurz Park, where all ice was broken in the 90 degree heat.

In a month

A lot happens in a month. And apologies for not having posted. We have been busy enjoying the summer. Okay, okay- truth is that I have been working hard and the kids are blissfully at camp and class. But we still manage to have some fun over the weekends- as in a 4th of July trip to our now favorite Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz, New York. Chloe caught a small trout, Ines had her first face painting of clashing stars, and breakfast

Strange Coincidence

A rather strange and random encounter on Net-a-Porter today.

Presenting the Ines box clutch from Chloe, no joke.

'In a brilliantly designed color blocking style this is the epitome of an instant classic design from Chloé. The perfect clutch for when you have just a little more than the very necessary.'

It too can be yours for an incredible bargain- $966- on sale!

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/30973#

MOMA & P.S. I love you

We were on a roll and visited MOMA and P.S. 1 in Long Island City within 2 days of each other. Consider them parts 1 and 2 of the Olafur Eliasson exhibits, which Chloe consumed with gusto along with the Eastmans. Ines on the other hand, much preferred the P.F. 1 architect's installation- a pool/playground at P.S.1. She tested the waters and inevitably ended up completely soaked and subsequently naked. Fortunately it was a sunny day and we hung out to dry off along with croque monsieurs and chestnut sorbets- yup, they were from the cafeteria menu!

Museum Mileage

So it was decided that this summer's exploration theme (last year being 'sight-seeing in NYC') would be 'The Museums of New York'. Considering it is a city of an abundance of the theme subject, I must say we probably would not run out of ideas. First stop- the Met with out of town buddies and former New Yorkers Wyatt and Ella Eastman. Now Wyatt and Ella were native born and have transplated to Arizona for a couple of years already. Yet they are rather worldly. Wyatt knows about 50 countries and their capitols, AND their flags. He was fascinated by the fact that I grew up in Hong Kong and that Eric, though Filipino, is not actually FROM the Philippines. Photos: Chloe poses with Jeff Koons dog and the gang in from of the Temple of Dendur.

Then and Now

In case you want to see the evolution of Chloe Alto from first to last days of preschool...

Pomp and Circumstance

I probably should not be so casual about this. Afterall, it is a big milestone to have one's daughter graduate from preschool! Yet, the mind is scattered and in a general mood of once being overjoyed yet sad at the same time. It was not so longer ago that I too went through preschool graduation at Hong Kong City Hall. And it seems just like yesterday that Chloe was just a baby. So I can only manage some random notes on Chloe's preschool graduation day: Moms helped out to decorate the party space the night prior. Dads were dispatched to secure seats at All Souls at the crack of dawn. The sun was shining on the beautiful May morning. Major Giuliani sat amongst friends, family, grannies, caregivers. Moms cried. Hankies flew. Kids sang 'Give a Little Love'. The preschool director gave an individual description of each kid ('Chloe Alto had the most interesting lunches- lamb chops- and many many coats') And then my little girl marches with her class to 'Pomp and Circumstance'...

Mermaid Tales

The annual Chloe party extravaganza is just over. This year, we have loosely borrowed from Mo Willem's idea of a Fancy costume pool party and came up with a mermaid/swimming/under sea theme:




But the pool was only part of the equation! It was followed by singing and dancing mermaids, an Ariel cake (partially an unfulfilled girlhood fantasy of birthday girl's mother), clear balloons to look like bubbles, and a bunch of kids sent home with pails of salt water taffy and real starfish.

Language Arts- 201

Here is an update of Ines' vocabulary list. She has certainly taken to more and more words, strung along in a manner that only she, and her mother, can understand. Her ABC's are stellar, and lately she's into spotting her 1-2-3's. But all in all the artistry of her linguistics, are funnier than ever:

• Wa choo do'in daeeeee (What are you doing, Daddy?)
• Mai Ting (My pacifier)
• Mai Doodoo (My doudou)
• Jess, mum mum peas (Yes, food please)
• Jess, mean mean wit soup peas (Yes, noodles with soup please)
• Mammeee es a George (Mommy, that's Curious George)
• Wah, Circle! Wah, Star! Wah, mommy! Wah, Daddy! Wah, je je! Wah, go go! (Wow, circle, Wow, star, Wow, adult female figure, Wow, adult male figure, Wow girl, Wow boy)
• No Mei Mei, yada yada yada Go! (No, Mei Mei- the dog- don't take my food and go away!)
• Es a Di-sor (That's a dinosaur)
• Es a Kan-a (That's a panda)
• Mine Mine Mine (mine, mine, mine)
• Mommy Sessa Cream (Mommy, ice cream)
• Book, se-di (That is a book)
• II- se-di (That is Ines)
• Mommy go room! (Mommy has done something that displeases Ines and thus sent to her room)

Sewing Bee

The girls got a sewing-or rather, a no sew- lesson at Sawyer's fairy princess party today. Check out the petal filled tutus and Chloe's new braids! Yes, braids are in according to Chloe- her friend Barrie has a multitude of them (see picture below).

Flowers for your birthday

It's spring and it's mummy's birthday! Chloe and Ines decided to get flowers for her- a garden full of them!

Mini Disney and Ocean Park

According to the girls, the best part of Ocean Park is not the jelly fish, nor the seacreatures, nor the abundance of gigantic sharks. It's the cable car!
Silly I know. But who could blame them? The breeze and the views of Southchina sea were stunning! They also had fun watching the four panda bears, which Ines call, 'Piano'. God knows why. It is not like she knows what a piano is.

Mommy did the unthinkably courageous task (along with help from Auntie Grace) of bringing both Chloe and Ines to HK Disney AND Ocean Park. It was Ines' first time at the DIS and she was one enthusiastic customer! Upon seeing Belle the first day she screamed across fantasyland 'BEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLE' and her next day sighting of Snow White was met with the same spirit. Funny, both princesses were played by the same actress and SHE remembered Ines! This does not compare to the funny episode with Mickey though. When we saw the mouse at breakfast, she quickly dropped everything she was doing and brought her stuffed mickey TO mickey, yelling, 'MICKEEEE! MICKEEEE! yadda yadda yadda yadda yadda Mickey!' (Meaning, look Mickey, it's Mickey!)

Hong Kong Trip

Celebrating both Graces birthdays at Zoe- they share a birthday!
Ines' favorite person is grandpa. I think grandfathers are the only species in the world who will gladly take time off work, chauffeur, and pay for outrageously expensive, brightly colored floral dresses chosen by a 2 yo whirling in front of a mirror.
Going 'fishing' with Ryan, my 8 yo godson. He is such a cutie!

Gong gong, Popo and Yiyi

We just returned from spring break in HK. One of the highlights was a photosession with Grandpa (gonggong), Grandpa (popo) and the Aunties (yiyi). It took a lot of coaxing to get everybody together, especially Ines. But in the end, well worth the effort!

My funny Valentine

How February flew by! A dance, a holiday, a lot of candy and a lot of pink and red later, it is all over.

Here is a recount of Chloe's (first) dance- of course there was a lot of girl on girl dancing, and not much interest in members of the opposite sex. But all in all everybody was in good spirits, the girls dressed to the nines, and even the boys wore dress shirts. it was a rocking good time!