Valentine, Ski and Self Expression

We are able to get Max involved in more activities this year.

Max and Renee are making the Valentine crafts together this year.

As usual, we took Renee to the kids class for ski. She is getting beyond this level now.

Max is getting in the class too this year.

I was playing with them one evening. I was lying on the floor, taking a break. The kids were putting stuff on me. Then I asked Max and Renee for a massage service.

Here is Renee in Spring Concert.

Renee loves her teacher in the 1st grade, Ms. Valladao

Max learned to comb his hair now. He pays a lot attention to it.

Warm Winter

The January was a dry month. We got out door a lot. The coldest place was the iceland, an indoor ice skating place.

Max has grown up so fast. He is a big boy now, when he is not whining at least.

We visited our favorite spider-wide park. This is a good distance that sometimes I would run with them biking on the curb.

Max started ice skating lessons. He is learning fast and enjoying it.

Renee is sliding now! That is really exciting because she would be more comfortable from here on. Here is Renee and her friend in the class hanging out in rink with Max after the lesson.

We found a small trail nearby with pretty steep hill. We walked up then around for over an hour. We saw three deer and a pond of ducks.

We also climbe Mount Diablo on a Sunday. I was amazed by how much these kids walked.

Max took a great picture at the top of the mountain.

I won the lottery and got to spend a day with Renee on her field trip. We went to a college and watched the show "Pussy with the boots".

I also joined Renee on her Chinese New Year's party. I had the discovery that Chinese was not as well adopted in this school. I am just glad that we have enough adults speaking Chinese at home.

New Year Break

December was the month of break. We started the month with Daddy time while Mom is visiting Vegas with Uncle and Aunt.

Renee keeps practicing piano. She likes it when she can master the song, and gets frustrated when she is not. Sometimes I just want her to enjoy the song.

Max enjoys reading now. The benefit of following everything his sister does is that he enjoys learning new words and likes to practice, most of the time.

Renee wrote a letter to her mom and I sent the picture over.

We picked one evening and decorated the tree.

I brought everything downstairs and put them on the table. Then I just focused on putting on the light and the star. Renee and Max did the rest.

Ta-da!

Renee drew a picture beneath the letter that she wrote earlier.

I joined "Save the Bay" volunteer event and brought Max with me. He enjoyed the most about pulling weeds out of the ground with me.

As I cleaned the ground, Max put them in the bag.

After we are done, we took a walk around the area.

Max loves to play around and be silly.

This is also Max' first reason on the snow! He was doing well. The whole family can now hit the slope at the same time.

Renee enjoys her art class the most, we think. She said that she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. I guess we will have a talk at sometime to make sure she understands what she wants. :)

We also visited Santa in a restaurant area near by. Renee got a candy crane.

Max got a sword and a belt!

With the break, we are able to do something hiking around the area.

They enjoyed the hike, most of the time. Max looks like her sister more now.

Here is Renee's piano recital. Her teacher likes her very much. She said that Renee is doing well. Renee does take pride in her piano songs.

I also took the kids with me and do short hikes. We are lucky to live in this area where we can get a lot of great views like this.

Gift unwrapping time! Renee got what she has been eyeing for a while: Rainbow loom!

Max mostly built this truck by himself. On a side note, he started this fake smile these days.

I saw three deer one day when out running.