le journal de Ming Ming

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Claire at the Jefferson vineyard / 明明試酒

wine tasting / 在葡萄園試酒

"I got my own bottle too!" / "我也有一瓶"

外婆和我都不喝 ...

Not too happy that we got to try eleven different wines but she only got one bottle.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Tonton Nico et Sylvie sont la!

tonton Nicolas, arrive tres tard dans la nuit essaye de reveiller Claire...

avec Sylvie et Tonton Nicolas

Avec la Girafe offerte par les Canadiens

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Aunt Selina and I

dreaming of a big milk bottle?

aunt Selina thinks that Claire looks like this cartoon animal, do you see the resemblance?

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Les JO ne sont pas loin

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Natural Born Boxer

Monday, August 4, 2008

Swinging wild

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Super Baby... standing up at 7 weeks!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

les expressions de Claire / 表情多多

Sunset Latino

Friday 01 august 2008, outdoor concert in Charlottesville

Mere et fille / 母女母女

Dancing with aunt Selina ....

downtown Charlottesville, 10:30pm

Friday, August 1, 2008

At home in everyone's arms - Claire's first BBQ

Books we have read and love

Magic Tree House Series - Since she started first grade, Ming Ming has been taking one or two of these books home from the school library every week. It was a bit boring for me, but she loves them. The strength of the series is that it introduces lots of culture, history, geography (from ancient Japan, the vikings, depression era New York, etc) through the story of an ordinary pair of kids' magical adventures through time and space.
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Vol 1: Ancient Times -- This must be one of the best introduction to history series for kids. I got the books first and then the audio CDs for MM for X'mas in 2014. Even Antoine and I love them, make our car ride (eps the daily commute from the lycee) much more enjoyable. Ask Ming Ming the name of Alexander the great's horse, or who invented silk, or where Asian Minor is, or who built Rome, who are the barbarians who invaded the Roman Empire...
all the Leo Lionni book
All the FROG and TOAD stories -- Ming Ming has loved them for years and now she is picking them up again to read it on her own.
Rainbow Magic series: Isabelle the Ice Dance Fairy -- I don't think it is very good but this is the first chapter book (67 pages) that Ming Ming read all by herself, so I am noting it here. (Feb 2015)
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Ming Ming did not know it but we skipped most of the first chapter (too scary for a young kid)
Classic Fairy Tales told by Berlie Doherty, Candlewick Press
The McElderry Book of Greek Myths, retold by Eric A. Kimmel - the best Greek Mythology for young children
Harry Potter Book 1 to Book 4 - Took us a long time, eps book 4. We are on Book 5 now (Jan 2015)
Ramona Quimby Book 1 to Book 4
Judy Moody Around the World in 8 and 1/2 days
Judy Moody Declares Independence
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum -- the first chapter book we read, Ming Ming was four. Packed with twist and turns, lots of action, we really enjoyed this one.
Abiyoyo Book and CD by Pete Seeger
The Canary Prince by Eric Jon Nones Ah-ha! it is the princess who saves the prince this time!!
Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months by Maurice Sendak Sendak's text is both amusing and amazing! At 4 year old Ming Ming could chant out most of the text if I remind her the name of each month.