Ski weekend

Our dear friends the Hanlin-Rodolfos invited us to spend President's Day weekend at their Tuxedo Park country home. Lots of skiing, kissing (it WAS Valentine's Day!),eating and three dogs makes for two very happy families.

Kung Hay Fat Choy

Boy did we have a good celebration! Part one was the obligatory photo session, as seen here. On New Year's Day, we had fellow ice skater/chinese Brearley classmate Yassie (along with brother Lucas and mommy Eeling) and fellow ice skaters/half chinese friends Kayla and Alyssa (with mommy Nancy) over for a home cooked dinner.

home made lo mein, home made dumplings, home made spring rolls and turnip pudding rounded up a slightly chaotic but highly festive evening...

Best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, lucky, fun and food filled year of the Ox!

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.