Cookies for the guests:
Show Time:
Coffee Filter Flowers for the teacher and guests:
May 15, 2012
May 07, 2012
April 22, 2012
Reflections Program State Awards (Visual Arts)
Sophie - Award of Merit (Primary Division)
Laura - Award of Excellence ( Middle Division) (Eligible for final round of national competition)
March 06, 2012
January 15, 2012
二十三 糖瓜粘
进城，置年货，给两个丫头买冬瓜糖(吃不够的糖！
），连这歌谣都给改了：
“小孩儿，小孩儿，你别可以馋，
过了腊八就是年！
腊八粥，喝几天，呖呖啦拉二十三。
二十三，糖瓜粘，
二十四，扫房子， 还是糖瓜粘，
二十五，糊窗户糖瓜，
二十六，蒸年肉糖瓜，
二十七，宰公鸡糖瓜(?)
，
二十八，把面发糖瓜，
二十九，做米酒糖瓜，
三十晚上熬吃一宿糖瓜，
大年初一扭一扭糖瓜！
December 27, 2011
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
We originally went for the glass art by Dale Chihuly, but the show won't be open until the New Year's Eve. Instead, we were carried away by another exhibition called "Faded Elegance" --- the Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman.
Although each photo is up to six feet, the scale feels right because when you look at the photo, you feel you could enter the print. I was never a fan of photographs. But I found myself enjoying thsoe oil-painting-like photos enormously. Girls also had fun looking at the details of each photo. The layout, the perspective, the color, the light, the texture, and the scale, it's amazing. "It’s very important for the viewer to be able to discover the narrative of that photograph and of the person that lives in that space. Those details are on the wall, they’re in the chairs, they’re in the artwork, they’re in the peeling paint, they’re in the chandelier..."
If you cannot make the trip, here is what I found on Youtube, beautifully composed, with much more photos by Michael. I especially love his photos of interior architecture. Enjoy (with Full Screen)!
December 25, 2011
Christmas Sewing
Sophie "preordered" these plushes, and I made sure they're "delivered" by Christmas.
Took pictures before wrapping them up. The girls are in bed. On the chair by the Christmas tree, set the food tray for Santa. This year, girls decided to put Clam Chowder instead of milk and cookies. Laura even put a lemon for Santa in case the sleighride "sick" happens.
We're ready! For the sweetest and happiest moment of the year (for the girls)! I wish you do too!
Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2011
December 23, 2011
Cello Journey(V) - Smooth Drive
With all the dramas along the way, I have to say it's been a quite smooth ride. So much more pleasant than I expected.
Here are some moments captured along the "Journey". It's such a joy to watch her taking music to her heart.
She was 4 when she started, so she treated her cello pretty much as one of her toys. She played cello for her then-favorite doll, Selina. She got the doll from her auntie June in Seattle.
Sophie tucked her Cello for a cozy nap with her.
Both cellos were wrapped up cozy on carpet after a rainy day out for lessons. Sophie said they caught cold and needed medicine, a tomato and some bagels.
Sophie has been enjoying playing wherever she goes: 1- in kitchen showing me what she just figured out while I was cooking; 2- on backyard patio on a pleasant weekend afternoon; 3 - on driveway when the fall sky is high and sun is still warm; 4 - on the lawn in backyard in early spring.
Once Sophie insisted playing cello for the ostrich in the Oklahoma Zoo. She wanted to bring her cello and play outside the fence. Only for that request, we kindly rejected. But for others, they're quite acceptable: 1 - outside the local Community Center while Laura's having dance lesson inside; 2 - outside the Seretean Performing Arts Center right after her cello lesson(She looked pretty serious, she's playing a sad song she just made up); 3 - in the park; 4 - in our minivan( doesn't it feel like a limo?!)
No instrument, no problem. See how Sophie makes music on the go without her cello: 1 - in hotel on our Vancouver Trip; 2 - in car on the way back from our Houston Trip; 3 - in bed.
December 22, 2011
December 21, 2011
Cello Journey(III) - One Thing At a Time
Sophie learns fast. She listens to the songs on CD, then she can play it on her Cello. By that I mean she can make the tune right, but not necessarily the right bowing strokes. "Mom, I want to figure out the next song!" That's what she likes to say most. And she always did, at least so far when the songs are not very complicated.
Once she insisted playing even after the shower. In her pajamas, she tried and tried the new song, but couldn't get it completely right. Even if she messed up at the last note, she would start from the very beginning.
"Sophie, just do the wrong part. You don't have to start again." It's already very late.
"No!"
"How about we try it tomorrow?"
She ignored me, which happened quite often when she's into her playing. So almost an hour later, she figured out the whole song and played perfectly right.
Then came the problem.
It's not fair to say she didn't try hard on the bow hold when she paid so much attention to get the notes right. Just as Sophie started to cruise along the songs in Book One, she was asked to slow down and do "Cello Stuff" right. Cello Stuff here means: loose relaxed bow hold, straight back, even shoulders, tucked cello hand thumb, curved cello fingers, raised elbow, playing in "pasta", the right place where the bow is supposed to land, and keeping "T" shape, the right angle of the bow and the string!
I felt that's too much to ask for a 4-year-old child. I assumed everything would fall into its right place when she's ready, or when she's bigger. But Dr. Blecha was very firm and clear about her expectations, even though I didn't understand her zealous attention to details until later on. "If the child learn incorrect bowings and fingerings, it's very difficult to undo the learning."
Now looking back, I felt so grateful that she didn't gave in. We got the right instrument, the right program, the amazing teacher, all we need is the right attitude.
So we decided to handle those "Cello Stuff" one at a time. This week, let's just do loose bow hold, and next, we made sure the shoulers were even and straight, the following week, tackle the elbow... bowing, posture, finger, tone, dynamics, rhythm... one at a time. Each time, she had only one thing to take care of, and she's more relaxed and less frustrated.
Every day we practise, every day, we take on new challenges.
December 20, 2011
Cello Journey(II) - Bumpy Ride
The 30-minute lesson is offered twice a week, one as group, one as individual. They spent first few weeks learning the Cello's parts, clapping to different rhythms, playing by plucking rather than bowing the strings, which is called pizzicato, probably the first of many music terms I learned along the way. It was not hard. By the time they had their first Christmas recital, they got on stage and "pizzicato" two short songs. It was cute. I remember Sophie kept asking me when it was her turn to go on stage again. She couldn't have enough. She enjoyed it.
That was 7 weeks since she started. Things went real smooth until...
About 2 months into the program, Sophie started to learn a brand new bowing technique - push bow, or upbow. The bowing appeared in song No. 6 in Book One, called "Oh, Come, Little Children". Up to that point, every song started with a pull (bow), although she only leraned 5 songs before that.
The seemingly-easy bowing became the first ever obstacle. It seemed that she had to break her life-long playing habit for it. Every muscle and every nerve had to be tuned and "rewired". She tried, then realized she did wrong; tried again, wrong again; one more try, even worse. It's not just the beginning of the song. Every sentence of the song begins with the upbow. She got the first right, then messed up the second one; She made it through the first 3, then she lost on the 4th. She didn't throw the bow, or stop. She kept on going, with tears swirling in her eyes. She was not only upset, frustrated, she was furious!
"I don't like upbow!"
"I don't like it either!" I acknowledged her feeling.
"Why does it have to be upbow?"
"It's the way this song is composed, I guess." What could I say.
"I don't like this song."
"You're very upset! Why don't we just stop here today?" I admit I had to try hard to resist the temptation to let her try even one more time.
We didn't practice the next day, which rarely happened. I just didn't want her to associate the negative feelings, if there's any, to cello playing. I was thinking about that all along though. That's when I say, "She started. We all did". You just cannot break away from it. How could I do it to help her? Which part did I do wrong? Or when should I back down and when should I push forward? Are there any better approaches?...
The third day, just out of blue, she said,"Mom, I want you to hear me play."
"OK! Just pick any song you'd like to do."
"Mom, guess which song I'll do first." She gave me this very mysterious grin.
She played "Oh, Come, Little Children" from beginning to the end, with every push bow perfectly right. "Mom, this is my favorite song now!" I remember that smile on her little face. The enormous joy and pride.
You thought you knew your kids. Prepared to be amazed.
December 13, 2011
Show Time
This is supposed to be the last in the Cello Journal series, but I got caught up, AGAIN, in this hectic December schedules.
Sunday. Still felt guilty that I couldn't find a chance to say Happy Holidays to all my Chinese students at the last lesson, I tried to make myself concentrating on the next mission: baking cookies for friends who will come to Sophie's Recital. But I. Am. Not. A. Baker! I have this issue with measuring. Laura always complains to me, "Mom, will you ever use measuring cups? The ribs/cakes/soup don't taste the same."
"Do you like them?"
"Yes!"
"So, what's the point? Life is unpredictable!" I did say that.
So I spent the whole evening (not including the countless nights last week) baking, cutting, frosting and decorating. I wish I could say I enjoyed it. But I would rather do something else. Homemade cookies! Since when they become a required skills for moms?
Then Sophie fell sick two days before recital. Fever. Then my mind went frantic. "What if the fever doesn't go away for days?""What if she couldn'd do it? she's been preparing for this for the last whole month.""All the invitations are sent out. The room is reserved..." But those just went silently inside. Outside, I was calm.
To make things more complicated, my car broke down that morning. I was stuck in the parking lot of Walmart, with two bunches of fresh cut flowers in my hand. They're for Sophie's Cello Recital that night.
But things worked out just fine. They usually do.
1 The show's on!
1 year of learning. 33 group lessons, 35 private lessons. 17 songs in Book One, 5 variations. Over 3000 repeats of practice over the past year. It all came down to the 15-minute recital.
As she cruised along the songs near the end, I found myself trying very hard not to get emotional. She's so serious, at the same time, the way she played, the way she held her cello, she looked just so majestic!
It was a great recital. Almost flawless. I suppose I should be thrilled and content with where she's right now. However, I feel it's just the beginning. The beginning of another year's journey.
"Never hurry, never stop." It's good. Now, we're more ready.
December 12, 2011
November 13, 2011
Simple Gifts
We spent a lot of time in our backyard this weekend, digging up the old dead roots, picking out the rocks and weeds, pulling up the old plants, preparing the soil for the new (winter) vegetables. Sophie was so excited to watch the seeds spilling out of the pods, that she insisted on doing it all by herself. I told her those seeds she helped getting out of the pods will be planted next year, and we'll have a brand new garden! The fresh start is an exciting thing to talk about at this time of the year. That's a good thing to keep in mind, ANY TIME of the year.
It never took much make little kids happy. We ended up listening to the song "Simple Gifts" afterwards, and Sophie even figured out how to play it. We made a short movie using all her recent drawings.
November 11, 2011
Cello in the Garden
We went back to the Botanic Garden again, this time, with Sophie's cello.
We picked some new leaves, got some acorns, played lots of cello. Sophie even got some bark that she peeled off the sycamore trees. She painted on it after coming home. It was fun!
October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Sophie's Costumes ( Yes, I made two. The cello one is kind of "formal"looking, doesn't like a costume; that must be the reason Sophie wants to be a "Dust Bunny" for Trick-or Treating. She loves Dust Bunny very much!)
October 23, 2011
September 27, 2011
September 23, 2011
September 21, 2011
一.
天凉了
。早上总想在暖暖的被窝里多赖一会儿。嗒嗒想早到学校，好能在画画桌子边占一个椅子。早饭好了，午餐盒也装好了，嗒嗒还不起。我走进卧室，小人儿还缩在被子里，“吃手”呢！
。早上总想在暖暖的被窝里多赖一会儿。嗒嗒想早到学校，好能在画画桌子边占一个椅子。早饭好了，午餐盒也装好了，嗒嗒还不起。我走进卧室，小人儿还缩在被子里，“吃手”呢！“嗒嗒，该起啦！”
“嗯嗯” 
不的意思。
不的意思。“去晚了就没有drawing chair了。”
“.... ” 不理我。
“那，那我们冬眠吧！”
“... ” 我知道她在听我说话。
“像熊呀，青蛙呀，蛇呀的，睡上整整一冬天！不吃，不喝。”
“嗯嗯。” 
不愿意，可大拇指还在嘴里，依旧不翻身。
不愿意，可大拇指还在嘴里，依旧不翻身。“多舒服呀！在被窝里。妈妈和你一起冬眠。” 说着我就躺下，贴在她的身边。
... ... ... ... （嗒嗒在想）
突然，小人儿一个翻身，自己坐了起来，“睡多了会变傻的！” （声明：这不是我教的。肯定是爸爸！）
（声明：这不是我教的。肯定是爸爸！）二.
嗒嗒画叶子。
“嗒嗒，画叶子，如果画上叶脉就更像叶子了！”
“嗯嗯。” 嗒嗒使用频率最高的词儿。
“没有叶脉，叶子怎么喝水，怎么长大呀？”
“(叶脉)太细！看不见的！”
嗒嗒画鸟。
“嗒嗒，这是什么？”
“鸟。”
“鸟的翅膀呢？”
“翅膀是透明的，你看不见。”
August 31, 2011
Another Cell Book
By Sophie
(Please click to enlarge to read)
Sophie did the painting first.
Actually every time she told the story, it's kind of diffrent. This is the most frequently repeated version. Of course, an abridged one.
August 25, 2011
Happy Birthday, Sophie!
Sophie turned 5!
