Dear friends,
Another year passed. We have had a biggest snow storm in early December 2010 since 1991, a sign for a prosperous new year. (瑞雪兆丰年）In one of the pictures in the link below, you can see the snowbank is as tall as the twins.
Katie looks like a young lady - sometimes / most of the time she is still a kid. She is 5'6" (1.68m) tall and likes long hair. Katie faces new challenges in school as she attends a middle school (Grade 6-12) starting in fall. With five subjects all having graded homework, quiz, and unit tests, she is as busy as a student in China :-) She decided not to compete in skating any more but focus on dancing. Making decision itself is important for Katie, to balance her time and choose a better fit. Katie received her first State Fair grand prize for her acyclic painting - a girl with white-dress by the ocean. She is blended into the new school fairly quickly. Katie is a fan of Taylor Swift, Harry Potter series, and Twilight series.
Minkai loves reading and math. He loves both fiction books and non-fiction books. He likes to know why, how, and what. I am somewhat relieved to see at least one of my children is interested in science and technologies. I have been wondering whether I have misled them by offering them many opportunities for non-academic activities. I want to nurture their passion and support their growth but not to influence them strongly. Minkai is very lucky to have a teacher (a group of teachers) whose goal is to "work hard next year to continue to challenge Minkai in math to support his incredible math knowledge." He is having fun in the world of numbers, from integer to fraction, from addition to power.
Minkai loves to play soccer, even in the heat of 92F (33C) or in a breeze of 42F (5.6C). He runs tirelessly on the soccer field. He is the fastest runner in his school team (C K-1, mixing Kindergarten and 1st graders).
Minda's dance team won first place of 6-10 years old large-group dances in Star Quest National dance competitions at Wisconsin Dells in July. Her team also won Fancy Footwork Award for tap dance. Minda is definitely passionate about dancing - she cannot stop moving her feet. In the competition season, she has no complaints to get up at 5:45 AM to be ready for warm-up at 7 AM and competition at 9 AM.
Reading is Minda's favorite subject. She likes to read to me. She is capable of writing with details, opening, and punctuation. She is still a super student at school. Minda has amazing memory for movements, actions, and music. She plays piano with sounds and motions, not from notes.
Minkai and Minda join swimming team in December. Their team practice three times a week. Fuming is proud to be a dedicated father in bringing them to swimming lessons and practices every week in the past three years.
Fuming receives a promotion just before Christmas. It is a nice reward and recognition from his managers.
I learn a lot from school and work. I am more and more efficient in patent prosecution. Having passed Patent Bar in July, I am qualified to sign my name before the Patent Office. Joggling school, family, and work is still a challenge.
We have traveled six weeks in the summer, first to Wisconsin Dells for my girls' dance competitions, next to California for some fun time in Sea Worlds and Disney Land, then a four-week stay in China. Kids do like China, for seeing our relatives. Katie and Minda went with me for grocery shopping, so they had the surprise/pleasure to see a dissected pig.
Wish you and your family a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year!
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
