School Update

Just a quick update on Kindergarten...I can't believe how much the kids are learning!  I mean I can, they are smart after all, but it all seems so fast.  One of the best courses the school offers in Art In Action.  Every Friday the children learn about a new artist or cultural art and get the chance to make it themselves.  One of the first ones was VanGough.  To my surprise, Timo's pieces as chosen as the center piece of the art display! Apparently, and I'm no art expert, he did an amazing job on his painting with detail and proportion.  Of course I think it's a work of art simply because he's my son, but most of the art folks agreed as well.  It's something we are very proud of him for.

Here is Cameron's class doing their VanGough, they placed a vase of flowers in front of each of them.  And her painting.  She took liberties and added more vases to each side...she said one was too boring for her.

 I got to peek in on Cameron's class while they were making Kuchina Masks. I got to see Timo's mask too one it was put on their class bulletin board.

And not to be outdone by her brother, her skeleton was put on display for the Chinese bulletin board around Halloween...pretty good job, huh?

Both are still enjoying Chinese class...Cameron more so than Timo but I know he'll thank me later in his life, when he lands his dream job because he can read and speak Chinese!

We LOVE being able to walk/ride to school.  We just started riding bikes to school, which is huge accomplishment.   Because we live at the top of a hill, I told the children they need to be able to ride their bikes home, up the hill, before we could ride bikes to school...Mommy was not pushing two bikes up a hill every day.  Cameron passed the test first, soon followed by Timo...we're developing some powerful legs living in SF!

We have Spirit Day the lats Friday of the month, a few months ago it was Jersey Day.  Most kids wore bay area teams (Giants, 49ers) but not my little Tarheels!  Thanks to Granny, Timo and Cameron represent the Blue and White.

I chaperoned my first filed trip...to the new Exploritorium!  It was enough to cure me of the chaperon bug!!   Afterward the teachers were all saying the never again.  The new one is so big, so spread out and so crowded...I feel like we only saw about 1/4 of the place and we were there for 4 hours.  It was so hard to keep up with the four children I was responsible for but we survived and managed to have a little fun.  I was technically chaperoning for Timo's class but Cameron's teacher allowed her to go with our group.

So much to see and do!  The Exploritorium is just hundreds of science experiments...right up my kids alley. They each wanted to do every display, read all the instructions and take it all in.  Unfortunately the other two little boys didn't have they kind of patience so it was a struggle to maintain balance between all the different interest levels.  We did agree on a few things and really tried to take it all in.

Cameron was the only one brave enough to "drink out the toilet"!  A practice in getting over stigma...a toilet turned into a water fountain.

Timothy's class has a student of the day everyday and I got to sit in on Timo's day last month.  They lead the class in the going over the date, weather and attendance...and they also get to be first in line all day long, something Timo gets the most excited about!

Operation Christmas Child

Oh my, am I really this far behind in my blogging?? Where has time gone?? Oh yeah, the holidays, school, vacation...toss in basketball, volunteering, carving out "family Saturdays", and my laptop goes days without being opened.

I'll try to catch you up on the past few months in a few short post...starting with just before Thanksgiving. We participated in Operation Christmas Child again this year and I think the Cameron and Timo are beginning to understand more about showing Jesus love to others who are in need.  They take great care in picking out each item, toy or otherwise, with an image of the little child who will receive their box.  This year the church provided specially marked boxes so it made it super easy to pack and send.  We built all the boxes and had them out for folks to pick up, fill up and bring back.  This year was so much more successful than years in the past and I think it had a lot to do with providing the boxes.

Our packing party at church the night before collection Sunday.  Since I was in charge of ordering all the items for the boxes the church would donate, I put the the kids to work helping pack soap, stack toys, sort washclothes and transfer boxes!

A new thing we added this year was having all the children fill out "About Me" forms to put in their boxes. It's great that Timo and Cameron are reading and writing on their own...we just had to help a little but most of it was all them.  What a great exercise in their world vision of Christ.  Our church was able to collect and donate over 275 boxes this year!!

Dance Steps

The kindergartners are taking dance class in school and Timo and Cameron were showing off their new moves the other night...
20131121_192059.mp4 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

Build a Bear

We have yet to enter the world that is Build a Bear.  I feel lucky that we made it almost 6 years before our first trip but we finally took the leap a few weeks ago.  Young had to work and I needed to take the kids down to the mall for their annual holiday pictures.  Based on our experience last year, and not a good one, I decided to sweeten the deal for the kids if they would just smile, not be silly and listen to the photographer. Knowing that the last thing they want to do is smile when being told where to stand and what to do in uncomfortable clothes, I played the bribery card before we left.  What actually worked in my favor was they had no idea what BAB was.  The more I explained it, the more excited they became.  They were so excited in fact, they did everything they were told at the photo session, we were done in record time so they could go Build their Bear!

When I was explaining the whole process to them on the way to the mall, Timo asked if there was a soldier bear.  I wasn't sure if they still had the little camo bear but they did!  Only three left!!  He was so excited. Cameron picked out Rudolf's little girlfriend, Clarice.  We went in with the understanding that we were only picking out the animals, no accessories...but the sales lady got to them before me and talked up the sound you could add.  So Clarice sings a lullaby and Camo bear plays Star Wars!  They loved the stuffing and hug test...

We got the free hearts that were included, did the hold in the air, spin around, give a kiss and make a wish routine...the kids loved it!  Smiles, laughs and giggles all around.  I have to give props for the workers there, they really know how to make it extra exciting for the kids.

Next was the washing.  Each got a good scrub from head to toes.  I was laughing at how serious the kids were taking it...their bears had to be all brushed and looking fresh.

Making the birth certificates on the computer by far took the longest time and was the most fun for them. They each got to type in all their information and name their bears.  Our kids have yet to be allowed to play on our computer/and or tablets except under supervision, so being able to type by themselves was a real treat.

Introducing Furry, the Camo Bear and Shinny, Clarice the Reindeer. (Cameron gave her another name on her birth certificate because her heart lights up.  We made it out with just the bears, no accessories, so it didn't cost an arm and a leg.  Plus, we got a free gift of Christmas baking sets (cookie cutter, rolling pin and Santa plate), score!  We didn't spend enough to get two sets but the sales lady was SO NICE and gave us two.  It's been a few weeks now and these new additions still go everywhere with them...guess we have some new best friends!

Imagination

This is what I love about being a kid...just looking at the world a whole new way every day and not being inhibited...just letting your imagination go wild. And I think being a twin or multiple is something special in that you always have a playmate the same age, the same maturity level and the same understanding of your crazy ideas.  When the kids get together and have uninterrupted play, I'm amazed at the silly, crazy, creative things they come up with.

Making their own rocking chairs...leaning back on the legs but having the sofa to stop them.  They rocked back and forth playing the "word game" (I give them a word and they spell it).

Timo saves ever little bit of trash we have and can find something for it.  He made glasses out of this plastic piece by punching holes in the side, threading string and tying it in the back.  His own pair of Minion glasses.

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I love it when they work together.  Putting on a puppet show or playing veterinarian.  They carried the horsey out on the blanket and proceeded examine her to find she was allergic to cats (a diagnosis in the wake of Timo's allergy test).

Given an hour or so and Timo can come up with one amazing battle plan.  His army of legos, dinos and soldiers were protecting the crystal wand...it's hard to see but it's made of legos by his foot.  I'm amazed of the detail he goes through in building and setting everything up.

Cameron loves to dress up and become someone new...One day she is Cinderella, the next she is Batman. She just has to have the turkey hat and can always find a mask she needs.  Anything and any way to recreate herself.

Given a little time to themselves and they can create their own entertainment...a Bible movie theater. Cameron came up with this one night using her Bible matching game.  Her theology isn't exactly correct but it all comes from a sweet place in her heart.

20131016_185637.mp4 from Sara ko on Vimeo.

Cheetah Girl

Can you see the cheetah in the tree?  Cameron has a strange affection for cheetahs and when she saw the "cheetah" print cloths in Gymboree a few weeks ago she just begged to have them.  Being that they were 60% off, it was a no brainer for me.  My hope is that she wouldn't wear the pants and shirt together but I honestly knew better.  She climbed up this tree in the park last week and becoming one with her inner cheetah.

Sorry for slacking in posts lately.  I see why they say time flies once the kids start school...it really does!  I honestly don't know how working mom's do it all.  I'm a stay home mom with kids in school and still fall behind on my chores.  I'll try to catch you all up this week, my schedule seems a little more calm the next few day...just before the onset of the Thanksgiving holiday...