Time goes by quickly like a shooting star; year 2008 will soon come to an end. In the midst of everyday routine (or shall we say craziness?), rushing from point A to point B, even wonderful moments are pushed to a corner of one's mind that can hardly be sought. Reviewing all the important events and milestones surrounding the family gives Karen an opportunity to dig deeper and to savour moments that have been put into storage.
Karen had no idea that the family had done so much in year 2008. The JKLMN made a few trips back to Waterloo -- a place where Karen and Michael have always considered their second home. They enjoyed seeing familiar faces at UCC and have visited the Butterfly Conservatory at Cambridge. They also went to Center Island, Ontario Place and even attended a Disney on Ice show. There was only one wedding that the Dings attended this year, however.
Starting this September, all the children go to their neighourhood St. Cyril School making it a lot easier for morning drop-off and evening pick-up. They all seem to enjoy skating; this makes it easier for Karen when she wants to go skating on Sunday afternoon. December was busier than the past this year. In addition to the numerous school/daycare Christmas concerts, there were numerous dance rehearsals in preparation for their Dec-20th big performance with the Orient Dance Co.
In the midst of December craziness, they went shopping for a gift for a 2yo little boy (via a program called the Angel Tree). The department store was of course loaded with toys making the selection process even more difficult. Nicholas finally chose a big truck with four little cars. Joshua wanted this toy too, but Karen told him that it's Jesus' birthday, not Joshua's. After a few trials in explaining to him that giving gifts to people who are less fortunate is really to give Jesus a gift, Joshua seemed to have grasped the idea. At the check-out, Joshua re-iterated that the toy was for Jesus and he innocently asked if we could visit this little boy someday (so that he could play with this toy truck set).
Karen brought home a World Vision Christmas catalog and asked the children to help pick something this Christmas. To set the right expectation, Karen told Nicholas the amount that she plan to donate. From the way how Nicholas was flipping the catalog and asking questions, anyone could tell that he was considering different aspects for each of the listed gifts. He finally decided that the family should let a girl go to school. When Karen asked him why, Nicholas said as-a-matter-of-factly, "Boys are often sent to school, but not the girls!" Karen is very proud of Nicholas.
No tears!! Joshua has nicely transitioned into St. Cyril's JK!! This was quite a pleasant surprise especially because Joshua had always asked Michael to bring him to his school (Central Montessori School) each morning during drop-off time when attending St. Cyril's winter camp (Jan '08) and March Break camp early in the year. He likes his old friends and teachers at Central Montessori School and always wants to visit them.
Joshua enjoys knock-knock jokes, reading books, watching numerous TV shows as well as watching Chinese dance shows. His favorite TV shows are Diego and Super Why. He loves being mommy's kitchen helper and likes to call himself a "Little cook".
"On PA days, you can wear anything you like. (Looking very serious) However, you cannot be naked."
Karen hosted her biggest ever Sign, Say & Play class at the beginning of the year. There were seven parent-baby registrants and each baby was accompanied by both parents each class. Work, her real full-time job, has been busy for her this year. Looking back, she feels quite accomplished to have coordinated several website projects. She still enjoys her job at the Canadian Cancer Society
If not busier, life has been as busy as it has always been. That's why Karen was looking forward to a little time off at the end of her contract, but became increasingly worried as the economy deteriorates. She was indeed overjoyed to receive an early Christmas present from the Canadian Cancer Society -- another 14-month contract.
Karen and her workout buddy has lost their traction and are no longer swimming/working out together. Karen still enjoys skating and has picked up Chinese dancing again since September.
Karen has finally handed down her first pair of ballet slippers to Leona. By chance, Karen and Leona visited a Chinese dance school that has a nice costume room in the front. Attracted by the glittery costumes, Leona started Chinese dancing in the summer. On a similar front, Leona started gymnastics at the beginning of the year with encouragement from Michael. She is now in Seneca's pre-competitive gymnastics program.
Karen and Michael had a hard time comprehending why Leona wanted to join soccer practices. She is a very girly girl and soccer seems completely out of place. The truth unveiled when Karen and Michael overheard the following conversation:
(Joshua did not want to join the other kids for soccer practice...)Apparently, she was going for the entire jumbo freezie!
Karen thinks that Michael's biggest accomplishment this year was to launch the new website for St. Cyril. The design was actually done by Karen over two years ago, but the content of the website was never migrated. Michael single-handedly migrated all the content for the website and he is glad about all the positive feedback.
Michael is quite a lucky guy this year. He constantly won big prizes at the Teashop 168 making the children think that it was easy to win; Michael won a big Pikachu for each of the boys, a Minnie Mouse for Leona, a stitch for Karen and many numerous small prizes that the family packed in various shoe boxes for Operational Christmas Child.
The biggest prize he won, however, was the 42 inch TV. It is quite a fancy TV. Using a remote control, the TV can be swirled to a different direction. Karen, however, is still scratching her head, trying to figure out how the rest of the furniture should be re-arranged.
Nicholas still enjoys reading. Other than Pokemon novels, he is a fan of the Magic Tree House series. This year, Nicholas has joined the school chess club and is studying hard for the upcoming Spelling Bee competition. He also enjoys playing various sports at school including soccer and basketball. Nicholas had tried a few new things such as drumming & gymnastics, but was not too keen to continue. Karen really hopes that Nicholas would be able to find an interest about which he is passionate. Nicholas also helped out at the Dance Recital doing a few Kung-Fu like dance moves.
Nicholas went on his very first camping trip with Uncle Edmund and Aunt Dawn to Algonquin Park in the summer.
Nicholas loves to surprise Karen and Michael with breakfast in bed on the weekend. His thoughtful breakfast often consists of fresh-made coffee and fried eggs.
"Thank you for having children..." "You have three children? Wow, you are so fortunate and wealthy." These are the messages that Karen have heard repeatedly recently. She is deeply thankful for her three little ones. Although they can be a handful and quite challenging at times, they are the jewels in her eyes -- they constantly cheer her up and spice up her otherwise boring life. She thanks them for all the hugs, kisses, and thoughtfulness. She also thanks them for giving her countless opportunities to grow as a person.
Karen woke up in the middle of the night with sharp abdomenal pain and needed nothing but cranberry juice. Who would head to the grocery store 3 a.m. in the morning to get cranberry juice for Karen? Other than Michael, no one would.
Karen's mom continues to play a very special role in their lives. Not only does she prepares a veggie dish for them each weeknight, but she is also wonderful in helping the children with their Mandarin homework; Karen and Michael are quite useless in this department. She would always try to attend the children's concerts and even attended Leona's first gymnastics open house event in place of Karen. Karen would also like to thank her mom for paying all the dance and music lessons she had had since a very young age albeit Karen's lack of talent in those areas. Dance, piano and violin are things in which she finds pleasures especially during stressful and upsetting times.
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