Ouch ! The deaded cold temp is hitting us again.. Tomorrow (Wed) will be windy with a 48degC ! and Wednesday will be a wet day before temp goes up slightly again..
Hope it won't be too cold for the kids and myself !!
Monday, February 18, 2013
2/17 - IMS AZ Marathon & Skateland
2/17 - completed my 2nd marathon in a month.. Check out details in another blog (http://www.mycoolrunning.blogspot.com/)
Came home after the run. Decided to bring the kids to Skateland since they have discount program on in view of President Day holiday. Just me, Jadyn and Jaden. The mommy went shopping elsewhere. US$7 for entry, $7 for skate rental, and another $10 for the 2 skate-aid that serves like a walker.
Was there at 2.30pm and left around 3.45pm. Had the most stressful 1 hour managing them as they had hard time to move. What to expect. This is their very first time putting on a skate !
Jadyn did pretty well, after 15mins or so, she bravely ventured into the ring. Some fumblings later, she was able to complet the loop and in the end, she completed ~8 loops.. Pretty remarkable for a first timer !
Jaden was the opposite. Had difficulty moving even with the Skate-Aid. Somehow, he could not grasp the technique and I can't help either ! So ended up with him just trying and moving at the ring-side. He was feeling quite sad and disappointed. Always the next time though....
Came home after the run. Decided to bring the kids to Skateland since they have discount program on in view of President Day holiday. Just me, Jadyn and Jaden. The mommy went shopping elsewhere. US$7 for entry, $7 for skate rental, and another $10 for the 2 skate-aid that serves like a walker.
Was there at 2.30pm and left around 3.45pm. Had the most stressful 1 hour managing them as they had hard time to move. What to expect. This is their very first time putting on a skate !
Jadyn did pretty well, after 15mins or so, she bravely ventured into the ring. Some fumblings later, she was able to complet the loop and in the end, she completed ~8 loops.. Pretty remarkable for a first timer !
Jaden was the opposite. Had difficulty moving even with the Skate-Aid. Somehow, he could not grasp the technique and I can't help either ! So ended up with him just trying and moving at the ring-side. He was feeling quite sad and disappointed. Always the next time though....
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| Skateland @ W Ray Road |
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| Jaden's expression tells it all. Jadyn was OK, successfully made 8 rounds in the ring |
2/16 - Salome Arizona Outback Chilli Cookoff !
Jenny browsed thru the web and found this interesting themed contest. It's a AZ Outback Chilli Cookoff where they have a chilli and salsa cooking competition. Web-site :
http://www.azoutback.com/chili.htm. They also have other activities for the family (line dance, art show, fund-raising, games).
Salome is 115miles to the west from here, took us ~2hrs. Passed thru Phoenix and used the I-10 before turning into Salome Hway. That was a really long and lonely stretch of 16miles. What do you expect at an Outback ! Had a difficult time keeping myself awake. Reached the venue @ ~10.30am. It was a large open space with some stalls (Indian Hillside Airpark). The Salsa competition food tasting was at 11.5am whike the chilli was at 2.15pm ! Can't believe we have to stay until 2+ !! Had a short walk around the fundraising display inside the community hall. As it was an open space, the noon sun literally sun-burnt us all, except Janny of course :)
To be a taster, one has to buy a button for US$4, quite resonable.. For lunch, had some bites with the Polish Sausages (quite salty), didn't like it that much. The burger was better (US$5 also).. The set usually come with burger + chips + drinks..
By 1pm, we couldn't stand the heat and long wait for the Chilli cookoff, so I sent parents and kids to the car and turn on the air-cond. At least they get to play their iPads to kill time and parents took a quick nap. Around 2pm, I made my back to the Chilli Cookoff place. There were 5 stalls vying for the top prize of US$200 1st prize. Well, we do not know who won at the end since we went off before the results was announced. Hopefully the web-site update the result later.
I voted for the Fire Dept while Jenny voted for Mr Walter, the one with the least set-up (cooking under hot sun, no tent !). The Texan (beef cooked under pressure cooker) was quite good too. Mo's Chilli was similar to our Indian curry.
Jenny went back happy with all the secret recipe. Looking forward to her own Chilli Cookoff soon :)
http://www.azoutback.com/chili.htm. They also have other activities for the family (line dance, art show, fund-raising, games).
Salome is 115miles to the west from here, took us ~2hrs. Passed thru Phoenix and used the I-10 before turning into Salome Hway. That was a really long and lonely stretch of 16miles. What do you expect at an Outback ! Had a difficult time keeping myself awake. Reached the venue @ ~10.30am. It was a large open space with some stalls (Indian Hillside Airpark). The Salsa competition food tasting was at 11.5am whike the chilli was at 2.15pm ! Can't believe we have to stay until 2+ !! Had a short walk around the fundraising display inside the community hall. As it was an open space, the noon sun literally sun-burnt us all, except Janny of course :)
To be a taster, one has to buy a button for US$4, quite resonable.. For lunch, had some bites with the Polish Sausages (quite salty), didn't like it that much. The burger was better (US$5 also).. The set usually come with burger + chips + drinks..
By 1pm, we couldn't stand the heat and long wait for the Chilli cookoff, so I sent parents and kids to the car and turn on the air-cond. At least they get to play their iPads to kill time and parents took a quick nap. Around 2pm, I made my back to the Chilli Cookoff place. There were 5 stalls vying for the top prize of US$200 1st prize. Well, we do not know who won at the end since we went off before the results was announced. Hopefully the web-site update the result later.
I voted for the Fire Dept while Jenny voted for Mr Walter, the one with the least set-up (cooking under hot sun, no tent !). The Texan (beef cooked under pressure cooker) was quite good too. Mo's Chilli was similar to our Indian curry.
Jenny went back happy with all the secret recipe. Looking forward to her own Chilli Cookoff soon :)
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| Mo Chilli - a multiple winner in the past - the dad |
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| Mo's son..also many times winner in the past |
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| The burger from one of the stalls. Pretty good. US$5 for a burger + chips + coffee |
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| Jenny trying the salsa |
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| Jenny trying the chilli from Walter - she voted for him. See the large button on her shirt ? |
2/15 - the start of a nicer weekend weather
Brought the kids to the San Cervantes playground. Friday was supposed to be the start of a nice weekend weather going into the Presidential Day holiday. Met this boy Champion (or Champ as they call him) playing with her sister. Champ is in the same class as Jaden in Kinder, and he has this curly hair that makes him resembles a girl :)
In the photo below, it's Nick, Champ, Fowler (Champ's sister), Jaden and Jadyn..
In the photo below, it's Nick, Champ, Fowler (Champ's sister), Jaden and Jadyn..
Jadyn's accelerated spelling list !
Saw this small paper in Jadyn's folder.. Jadyn has been identified as a string speller and is placed on an accelerated spelling list. Good for her. Remember she was always good at spelling. During her 4 year old class @ Smart Reader Kids Permatang Damar Laut, she was supposed to be selected for spelling bee contest until we moved away and missed the chance. Glad that she is enjoying the education system here, although for a short 5+ months..
Thursday, February 14, 2013
2/14 - It's the V-Day !!
2/14 (Thurs) – It’s the V-Day. Since we decided to skip a romantic dinner out (way too expensive and will be crowded too), Jenny decided to cook Pasta Roni’s angel hair pasta for lunch. Went back early for lunch.
The boy came home from school wearing this.. A large love signboard "Special Delivery".. Was told the parents had a good laugh seeing him jumped down from the bus wearing that.. A nice Valentine's Day for the kids too with the gift exchange.. Jadyn, being in the kinder, has more gifts compared to Jadyn..
A simple & hot angel hair on Valentine’s Day,
On a cold and dry winter day !
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| Bought the angel hair from Bashas' 2 weeks ago. Quite good actually.. |
The boy came home from school wearing this.. A large love signboard "Special Delivery".. Was told the parents had a good laugh seeing him jumped down from the bus wearing that.. A nice Valentine's Day for the kids too with the gift exchange.. Jadyn, being in the kinder, has more gifts compared to Jadyn..
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| The Special Delivery boy |
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| Jaden and his gift exchanges for his class.. |
Valentine's Day eve....
2/13 (Wed) – Brought the kids out for Valentine’s Day shopping for the school. Bought a V-card each for the teacher (Ms Maize and Ms Clifford), and 2 packets of food to be shared with their friends..
V-Day is a huge celebration in the States.. Gifts, flowers, cards, cookies etc sells out like hot cakes.
Accoding to the survey, total spending is expected to hit US$17.6bil !! Unbelievable indeed !
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-02-09/valentines-day-spending/53031676/1
V-Day is a huge celebration in the States.. Gifts, flowers, cards, cookies etc sells out like hot cakes.
Accoding to the survey, total spending is expected to hit US$17.6bil !! Unbelievable indeed !
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-02-09/valentines-day-spending/53031676/1
Our 1st one month @ US
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| Bought this Oreo cheesecake from Cheesecake factory (US$25). Pretty good, but very creamy too ! |
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| One for the photo :-) |
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| Jadyn's Birthday !! Going to school, damn cold that morning. I believe it's around 3-4deg C |
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
2/11 - Jadyn and Jaden's school results/performance
2/11 - Today is the Parents-Teacher Conference @ Conley Elementary where the parents are supposed to get the overall assessment from the teachers on the kids’ academic & school performance. It’s considered as Q3, so I suspect they use summer break as a cut-off and we are into the Q4 after this.. For their semester break, they will have a 2-week spring break in mid-March, followed by a summer break on 1 June, then school reconvenes on 3rd week of July.. So looks like they will have another 2-3 weeks of schooling in Q1 @ Conley after all J
Back to their performance..
1) Jaden – Met teacher Maize @ 3pm. She gave a glowing review of Jaden and I was really touched and amazed how he has performed so well at the school..
a. + bright student. Can recognize all his words and more.. The only student in the class who could do so.. She gave more words to read
b. + Phonics – this is most impressive.. he scored a 68, way better than goal of 17 at his age group ! That was astounding considering that a year plus before, he was having difficulty in reading.. What a year it was @ Smart Reader Kids.. What a transformation !!
c. He loves to draw and can draw in such details.. He is gifted on drawings.
d. His readin skill is so good Ms Maize pushed him up to the top of the class and gave her more difficult books to read (instead of middle of the class).
e. – A couple of times, ran around the class, took off his shoes, and even took off his pants in the room (he was wearing 2 layer pants due to the winter). So Ms Maize placed in right in front of her in the classroom.
2) Jadyn – Met Ms Clifford @ 3.20pm. Comments : Jadyn can sometimes be very quiet but sometimes can be talkative J
a. + She is a good addition to the class
b. + She has completed all her multiplication ahead of everyone (well, she has studied in her Kwang Hwa School)
c. + She completed her work fast in the classroom.
d. – She sometimes did not complete her homework. At times approaches the teacher on Friday asking how to do the homework. Should have asked earlier.
So overall, a satisfying result considering we have been here for only a month. Another 4 months of schooling for them J
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