Our Chinese dancer

Last year Charlotte performed for the first time with the Lily Cai dancers at her school. She was very excited to join the group again this year. Charlotte is already one of the senior members of the group as so many of them had graduated at the end of last year.

The previous dance was a ribbon dance. This year they learned to dance with fans instead. We may not have picked up on all the symbolism of the dance, but Charlotte says it is about a bird.

This performance was in the school cafeteria with all the students and staff and some parents in the audience.

Piano Recital

Alexander had his first piano recital a week ago. It took place at the San Mateo library, and was the first time he played on such a grand piano.

His duet with his teacher Isabelle Jotterand was "Melody by Chopin from Fantasie Impromptu," arranged by Timothy Brown.

His solo piece was "Under Water" by Kevin Olson.

A very happy Christmas

We celebrated Christmas in San Francisco this year.

Pillow Pets were requested and happily received

(penguins, lion, dolphin, monkey, and panda).

But it wasn't all about the Pillow Pets...

Introducing Alexander's blog

It has been "monkey see, monkey do" in this family this weekend. After seeing Charlotte set up her own blog, Alexander decided that he needed his own website. Of course, he wanted to take it a step further and post games on his website, something that neither Julian nor I know how to do. So we set up a blog for now. In the meantime, Daddy has taken on the challenge, and we may have another site going soon as well. Until then, please check out Alexander's blog at http://mylifebyalexander.blogspot.com/.

Both children are back to school tomorrow. We'll see if they are able to make the time to post regularly.

Baking cookies!

Just like last year, we made gingerbread cookies again this Christmas. It is now a tradition as we found a recipe that everyone in our household can eat (until I went gluten-free anyway). I bought a few more cookie cutters in preparation, so we did actually have gingerbread men this time.

Both children enjoyed rolling out the dough and cutting the shapes.

They most enjoyed decorating them. I hadn't planned ahead for that step and only had one kind of sprinkles on hand. So we raided the cupboards and found peanuts and raisins and sunflower seeds and jelly beans.

Introducing Charlotte's blog

Charlotte wanted to post some photos and videos from a school trip to share with her friends. But she didn't want her friends to see everything that we post about the family. We decided to let her start her own blog for this purpose. It means she might not post here any more, so check her out at http://adventurouscharlotte.blogspot.com/.

Can't touch this dynamite

As part of the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program at our school, the students receive ten weeks of modern dance instruction once per week. Ten lessons are not enough to perfect a routine, but are a good introduction to a physical activity they might not otherwise attempt.

Charlotte's class participated this semester and had their performance just before Christmas. Alexander's class will have their turn in the spring.

Charlotte's class danced to MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This," choreographed by the dance teacher. I believe the visual is quite enhanced by the Lost and Found in the background.

Then the five classes danced to Taio Cruz's "Dynamite," choreographed jointly by the children. I was very excited for Charlotte when she told me that she was selected to dance on the stage. Once the dance started I was a bit horrified that she had worn a skirt and that she had to raise her arms so much. Thank goodness for black tights!