social – Page 26 – Kumquat & Peanut

eating, family, outings, play, school, self-care, social, special days

Preschool Visit

July 21, 2015 2 Comments

This morning, Janie went to visit her new preschool for the first time. It was scheduled for 11-12pm and we were asked to pack a lunch for her. We all went together and took the train to school. That was an exciting change for her.

Mama and Dada got to join her for the hour and we all met her teachers and classmates.

She got to play with toys and briefly played with two 4-year-old girls who will be going to the older class next month.

Before lunch, everyone sat on the rug for a couple stories. She got to sit on Dada’s lap today.

Next was potty time and Janie used one of the little toilets all on her own and washed her hands at one of the Janie-sized sinks too.

She joined the kids for lunch and was so happy to see that Dada had packed her one of her favorite meals: Kao Mun Gai (chicken rice with sauce, cilantro, and cucumber). Dada had to leave for work but Mama stayed with her for lunch. She opened the containers on her own and ate like a big girl.

On our way out, we saw where the kids will be napping. It’s in the room next door and they all have their own cots with bedding and blankets that they brought from home.

What a great first visit! It was super easy considering Mama and Dada were there with her. We will have to see how Thursday goes when we drop her off for 2 hours on her own. This is the entrance to her new school. It’s part of Bright Horizons and Marin Day Schools. We hope she will love it.

To celebrate a successful visit, Janie got a special treat while Mama and Yai had lunch.

She got some orange jello from one of the dim sum carts. Cool!!

family, play, social

Big Sis Practice

July 18, 2015 No Comments

With the twins over this afternoon, Janie got to practice her Big Sis skills. She watched Uncle change Toni’s diaper and helped put her pants back on.

She later went back to the changing pad and tried putting a diaper on Big GG. She’s almost got it now.

In the evening, she “helped” Dada put together Baby Brother’s new bed.

She had her own screwdriver and imitated what Dada was doing.

When it was all done, she helped Mama put some supplies in the pockets.

Then she got all her “babies” and put them to bed in their places. It was like a bunkbed with 3 in the bottom storage bin and 3 more on the top part. I guess you can call this her version of nesting.

eating, fine motor, friends, play, social

Waffle and Sand Date

July 17, 2015 No Comments

This morning, Henry and Auntie Teresa came over for breakfast.

The kids shared a table and a waffle together.

Afterward, we walked to the playground by AT&T Park.

Janie shared her sand toys with Henry and they did some major scooping and dumping.

What a fun morning!!

eating, fine motor, friends, gross motor, outings, play, social, videos

Alameda Playdate

July 9, 2015 No Comments

Janie had a playdate with Zoe today in Alameda. Janie wanted to bring her backpack and likes to wear it in front so she can easily access her belongings.

We met up at Twirl. It’s a little place that has arts and crafts, lots of toys, and even swing and slide. She painted with leaves and luckily they have smocks available.

She also did some cutting and tried to keep Zoe company while she was having a hard time being away from Auntie Eleen when she left to buy coffee.

The playdough station was fun too. She made lots of cookies and used a spatula to pick them up when they were done “baking”.

There was a grocery store area and kitchen area too.

She loved the shopping cart, car, and stroller. She gave her baby a ride around the store.
https://youtu.be/vdTy4Pgdt9I

The swing was fun and so was the slide.

We had lunch at Tomatino and the girls got crayons and a coloring page.

They set-up GG on the booster seat between them and took turns taking care of him.

We also stopped for ice cream since the girls did a great job eating their lunches.

Janie got watermelon sorbet and Zoe got ice cream cake flavor.

Janie also did a good job soothing Baby Maya when she started to cry in her stroller.

Our last stop was Quickly where they have toy dispensers.
https://youtu.be/MbEAFI2u1C8
They put the quarters in the machine, turned the knob, and each got a surprise in a plastic egg.

Janie got a Gumba (more Super Mario Bros.) and was so happy to see that she got an angry mushroom. Haha. The cool plastic egg was also fun to play with.

What a fun playdate!! We’ve gotta do this more often, Auntie Eleen!!

family, fine motor, play, self-care, social, videos

Tea Party

June 30, 2015 No Comments

For the past two days, Janie has been asking for a tea party with Alice. Today, she called and the two girls sat quietly scooping, drinking, and playing in front of each other.

https://youtu.be/M67M2dloSoM

In the meantime, Auntie Joy got to start dinner and Mama got to tidy up the kitchen.

Here was Alice’s view of the tea party.

eating, expressions, family, fine motor, outings, play, social, videos

Big Cousin

June 28, 2015 No Comments

This afternoon/evening, we went to Toni and Thomas’ house to hang out and BBQ dinner. It was warm in Redwood City and Janie enjoyed hanging out on the balcony.

She also did some doodling on the chalkboard.

In the evening, Janie was a big helper and kept Little Toni company while Auntie Jia was busy with Thomas.

She became the official Baby Cousin entertainer and also learned how to soothe Toni with some rocking and shushing.

She also liked to say “hi” and tickle her feet.

https://youtu.be/itApcdrRpds
Hopefully Janie will be just as helpful with Baby Brother.

eating, friends, milestones, school, social, special days

Last Day of School

June 26, 2015 No Comments

Today was Mama’s last day of work so Janie had her last day at My First Steps Daycare. She woke up happy, took her shoes off when we arrived, and sat on her morning chair as usual.

Mama gave Tia Maria a box of fruit popsicles for a special afternoon snack.

Tia was nice enough to take some pictures and it looked like they all enjoyed them.

She also sent a coupe of photos of her eating lunch with all her buddies a few months ago.

Tia also had this made for her – it’s a big poster of her handprint (top left), all her classmates, and her two teachers (bottom right).

Janie was really good about giving hugs to her teachers and saying goodbye to her friends. It was kind of sad to take home all of the stuff in her cubby. I guess Mama was feeling a little sentimental. Our little girl is going to start preschool like a big kid very soon.

expressions, family, friends, outings, play, social

Zoe’s House

May 31, 2015 No Comments

This afternoon, we went to visit Zoe’s new baby sister. Her name is Maya and Janie really took a liking to her.

She also didn’t get too jealous when Mama was holding her. We did get a couple selfies taken though.

It took a few minutes for the girls to get reacquainted but they were playing together in no time. Janie even shared GG with Zoe. Zoe even had GG sitting next to her all during dinner.

They were so cute together and this was the first time they actually played together. All previous times involved one of the two being too shy. Janie brought her necklaces and shared them with Zoe all evening.

Zoe was extra happy when Janie sat down to play Legos with her. What a fun evening! Maybe the girls can go to the zoo together next time.

family, fine motor, play, self-care, social, videos

Playtime with Alice

May 24, 2015 No Comments

Alice came over this afternoon and they had so much fun together. Alice brought her toys over and the first thing they did was had another Top Chef Junior Quickfire.

It was fun to watch them play in person instead of over FaceTime.
https://youtu.be/6nUKHcFKT5A

Afterward, they headed outside for a tea party.

https://youtu.be/GppDkLL6dG0
Alice brought her tea set and they got fully hydrated on plenty of “tea”.

Next, they played with sidewalk chalk in the backyard and then moved indoors to do some coloring.

What a fun afternoon! This is when I especially wish we lived a lot closer to each other.

eating, expressions, family, gross motor, outings, play, self-care, social, videos

Disneyland Morning

May 23, 2015 No Comments

This morning, Janie went to Disneyland with Auntie Joy, Uncle Johnny, Alice, and Ta.

They all piled into the car together and got there in time for their opening.

It’s the first weekend of the Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration and Janie was lucky enough to go!

Once they got into the park, their first stop was the Baby Care Center for a potty break.

The kids got stickers for going potty!

The girls held hands as they walked through Tomorrowland and Alice went for a spin.

https://youtu.be/RouIW8gavsI

Here they are at the Jedi Training Academy.

The first ride they went on was the Finding Nemo Submarine ride. Right away, she spotted the seagulls outside saying, “Mine! Mine! Mine!”.

Initially, she was scared to go in the submarine but did much better this time around compared to when she was 8 months old and screaming when the lights went out.