You can read a whole book by yourself at the age of 4 years old

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
I was thinking to my self the other day of how to teach you to read. And since I did buy a series of books of a dog called Spot, so I decide to teach you using that series of books as the words are easy and big and short sentences. 

I start with the book where Spot say goodnight to everyone. I don't know the title of the book because it's in Chinese. But on the inside it's written in Chinese and English. I started to tech you on Wednesday Night. It's very simple. 

Time to come in, Spot.

Goodnight Tom.

Goodnight Helen. Helen: See you tomorrow, Spot.

Spot puts his toys away. Goodnight Car.

Are you ready for your bath, Spot? Spot: Nearly

Now Spot is awake and having fun.

Goodnight Dad. I'm all clean. Dad: You smell nice, Spot.

Goodnight Ginger. Ginger (cat): I'm coming with you.

Goodnight Teddy. Teddy (teddy bear): I'm ready for bed too.

Goodnight Mum. Mum: I'll be up to tuck you in.

Is there anyone else to say goodnight to?

Oh yes. Goodnight me!

You can read all that by yourself. To say that you recognize the word I don't think so. I think you memorized it. But for a 4 year old to memorized a whole book in one night is pretty fast. I teach you how to get the sound out from the letters of the word and I think you did that and you can read it a bit and also from memorizing it. I'm so proud of you. I don't know that you force yourself to do that or you really can read. I say that because on that day that I tech you I told you that if you can read the whole book by yourself then I'll get you a surprise present. So I don't know if that's the reason you can read it so fast or you are really that good.

The conclusion is that I'm very proud of you my Jwo Jwo.

Autumn School Trip to Yue Yuan Yuan - Shanghai Sculpture Park

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
The Autumn School Trip is the day after your 4th birthday that is on the 22nd of October 2010. And it's so lucky that your daddy is back from Beijing.

Yue Yuan Yuan is a sculpture park. Your class were in bus number 4. It take us about 50mins from your school to the park. Your were very excited and happy. I'm also excited as I can visit another new place in Shanghai.

Your school charge us RMB278 for 2 adults and one child. So I think it's worth it and transportation provided and child's food provided.

It also happen that on the 22nd October 2010 is me and your daddy's 5th wedding anniversary.

The below is the pictures taken on that day.

Entrance of Yue Yuan Yuan

In the bus. Just reach Yue Yuan Yuan

Queue up to go in. All your classmates

All walking in the park

Me and you

Sculpture at the park

Tree house

Bubble. The kids are all jumping up and down

This is the place that your school gather to do excercise

Teacher Tai playing with you kids

Jwo Yi 4th Birthday

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You are so excited 2 days before your birthday. On the 19th October morning you ask me today is my birthday? I said not the day after tomorrow. Then on the 20th October you ask me tomorrow is my birthday and I said yes. Then on the actual day that is 21st October you wake up at 6am and wake me up and the first thing that you said is that you want to open your birthday present. Hahaha...you were so excited to open your mickey camera. As soon as you open you ask me to put batteries for you and you start to snap pictures.

Then since your daddy come back the night before from Beijing for your birthday you want dad to brush your teeth and change for you to get ready for school. You are to celebrate your birthday at school. We drop you at school then me and dad go and get your cake from the cake shop called Jingan Bakery. We get 2 cakes for you. One for you to celebrate at school and one for you to celebrate at home.

When we drop you at school I ask you Teacher Tai what time you'll celebrate your birthday at school and she told me 10:30am. Then she ask me how old are you and I said 4th birthday and she said the people in Shanghai don't like number 4 and ask me to get you 5 candles or the number 5 for 5th birthday. So when me and dad go and get your mei yang yang cake we get another one for your school. Not much choice end up we get you a flower cake and I ask the shop assistant to give me two different candle. One number four and one number 5 candle.

Then at 10:30 we went to your school and your class were still having your English lesson with a new English teacher call Lily. Then after class finish your teacher ask us to go in and your teacher put a table in the middle in front of the class. Then set the cake there and you sit in front of the cake and your friends start to sing birthday song in English then in Chinese. Then those that bring present are to come out and wish you with birthday wishes and you are to feed them the birthday cake. Then after that you give out the goody bag to all your friends. They are so happy and so were you.

Then we go home and when you see your yang yang cake you are so happy that you want to cut the cake and eat first before we go out and eat and walk.We went to Long zhe mong and walk. Daddy take you to play at the arcade. You play all the games that you like this time and you enjoy it so much. That's about it.

Teacher Zhang set up the table for the cake and Jwoyi is skipping happily to the front.

Your friend singing birthday song to you

You blowing the candle

Teacher Zhang said you have to eat the first month of the cake.

Wang Tan give you a present and you feed her the cake

Wang Tan is one of your good friend

You give out goody bag to friends

You give goody bag to your firends

You give goody bag to friends

Mei Yang Yang birthday cake to celebrate at home

You pose with your birthday cake

Look how happy you are

Jwo Yi being cheeky

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You are  very cheeky now. Last few weeks when your daddy is back in Shanghai you want him to brush teeth together with you. So you stand at the basin and you quickly take you daddy's tooth brush. Then your daddy said give me my tooth brush. This is mine and that is yours. Then you cheekily said this is mine not yours. That is yours.Then you laugh and laugh and laugh as your daddy tickle you.

The next morning again you do that to your daddy and end up daddy said okay that is your tooth brush from now on and your this so cute tooth brush is mine. Walau! You quickly snatch it back from daddy and give him back his tooth brush. Hahahahaha......

Then I still remember this, there is once I open my water bottle lid and put it on the table and fill my bottle with water. Half way I saw you come in and run out very fast and giggling. Then when I look at the table for my lid you stand outside the kitchen laughing and show me the lid in your hand. I said give me back and you ran off very fast to hide. Tell me are you cheeky or not? Then I tell you that you better give it back to me before I get you and you return the lid tot me.

What a cheeky Jwo Yi. I really beh tahan!

Guess what is in the tin?

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You like to play guessing game now. You ask me to let you play with the Yang Yang biscuit empty tin. I give it to you and you ran off with it. I'm in the kitchen and you come in again.

You said mummy guess what is in the tin and I said I don't know. Then you give me a hint by drawing it on the wall using your finger. I can tell it's a square shape thingy but not sure what is it. So I said it's your block. You said no guess again. Hmm......I can't think of anything that small and square that can put in the tin so I said I give up. Tell me what is inside.

You open the lid of the tin and show me. It's a red dice.
hahaha......

Jwo Yi's First Bicycle

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You got your first bicycle in Shanghai. Daddy bought it for you from Carrefour in Zhangsan Park. The brand of the bicycle is Goodbaby. We bought it in February 2010. Of course you don't have enough strength to cycle.

Until now you still cannot. I need to tie a rope in front and pull then only you can cycle. This is because you cycle not more than 10 times. Hahahaha.....
I let you cycle to school in the beginning but stop as it rain a lot here in Shanghai. Then when summer come you did not cycle at all as too hot. Then now is Autumn and you start to ask me and let you cycle to school again. So we'll see when you can cycle by yourself. I hope soon.......

Jwo Yi with her new bicycle

Jwo Yi with her Mickey on her new Mickey bicycle

Jwo Yi first real scissors

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You were cutting paper this morning with plastic kids scissors and you don't seems to be able to cut. So I told you that I'll get you a real one but for kids. We went to Imago but can't find one. On the way home we stop at one of the stationery shop and we found it.

You enjoy cutting paper with the scissors but I keep on reminding you that don't accidentally cut your hair and fingers.

Then you said mummy take a photo of me and my first real scissors. So here goes. This is your pic.

Jwo with her first real scissors

Chocolate Swiss Roll

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
Yesterday after school you tell me that you don't have school today and I was like how come you teacher did not tell me. Then I ask you if you are sure and you said your Teacher Tai won't lie to you. So this morning I took you to school and true the gate is close. Hahaha..... This prove to me that you are getting bigger and can take in instruction and pay attention to you teacher. I'm happy.

So after that took you to market as I'm cooking tofu soup with fish balls and egg and spinach. Then after lunch I took you to Imago again and you are so happy. We went there to get some pork for this week and also rice. Then on the way back still in Imago we go in the cake shop call Croissants de France and I got you yummy Chocolate Swiss Roll. YUMMY!

When we reach home you keep on asking me to cut it for you but I'm busy storing all the pork in the freezer. Hahahah...... So at last I cut it for you and you enjoy the Swiss roll.

Oh! I almost forgot to put in the price.
One Chocolate Swiss Roll = RMB38!
Yesterday's lunch is only RMB31 so I'm crazy to get you tat Swiss roll! :p

Yummy Chocolate Swiss Roll

Lunch at Saizeriya Ristorante E Caffe

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
After dropping you at school yesterday I come home and started to scrub the stove. It took me the whole morning and end up by the time I finish it's time to pick you up from school. And I did not manage to cook lunch at all.

End up I took you out for lunch at Saizeriya. You were so happy. This restaurant is near to our house, about 10mins walking distance. The food? It's just okay. Not very bad and not very delicious. Just okay. Lots of people because the price is not too expensive.

I ordered a cheese chicken and you ordered potatoes wages and small chicken balls.

Cheese Chicken     = RMB15
Small Chicken Ball = RMB10
Potatoes Wedges   = RMB6
                          ---------------
                TOTAL = RMB31
                          ---------------
The most important is you are happy. And I'm happy. GOOD!

Jwo Yi Pre 4th birthday - Part 2

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
You are so happy today because the goody bag things arrive today. Daddy and me order it from Taobao. When I receive the parcel you still don't know and you ask me is it things for you that daddy order from Taobao and I said no it's mine. Then you were playing with your own things but when I open up the parcel and you saw what it was you were so happy that you said this is my Birthday present. All my friends sure like it.

Hahaha.....I'm glad that you like it. We order the following.

1. Mini slipper eraser = RMB0.35 x 30 = RMB10.50
2. Sponge-bob Pen   = RMB1.50 x 30 = RMB45.00
3. Sticker                  = RMB1.05 x 30 = RMB31.50
4. Fruit Pencil            = RMB0.90 x 30 = RMB27.00
5. Small note book    = RMB0.50 x 30 = RMB15.00
6. Rubber pencil        = RMB0.38 x 30 = RMB11.50
                                                             ---------------    
                                            TOTAL = RMB140.40
                                                            ----------------

  

Goody bag - slipper eraser, small note book,sticker, fruit pencil, rubber pencil & Sponge-bob pen

Jwo Yi + Chicken = Chickadee Jwo

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
I took you down to have a stroll and we walk towards the market. Even it's already 4:00pm all the stalls selling vegetables and fruits are still open. As we walk you see a man selling chicken. ALIVE chicken. You were so afraid of the chicken until you walk to the middle of the road. I tell you to look at the chicken's feet. The man tie the chicken's feet with a string to the basket and the chicken won't come near you at all. But you are still afraid end up I have to carry you on the way back as you scared that the chicken will eat you up!!!!!.

Jwo the chickadee!

Sleeping by yourself

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
I started to train you to sleep by yourself early this year during winter. But not successful. So now I start again because I really have enough with you already. Every night have to scold and make me angry so end up I warn you. If you don't want to sleep by yourself then I'll send you to school full day and let your teacher to train you to sleep by yourself. Once you can do that then only you can go for half day. As soon as you hear that you sleep by yourself.

So when your daddy come back form Beijing for the China National day, daddy said want to sleep with you but I said cannot because since I start to train you I don't want daddy to spoil it again. I feel bad but I have to be firm with you if not then it'll fail again. And your daddy insist want to accompany you to sleep and I said to you that if your daddy want to cause you to stay at school full day then you can let daddy sleep with you. If you don't want then you ask your daddy to go out and you sleep alone.

Sorry Jwo, I know you miss you daddy very much but I have no choice here. Hope you understand. But daddy still tell you bed time stories. And I still tuck you in and kiss you goodnight. I think it's a success this time and I'm proud of you. Good job Jwo.

Piano Lesson at Happy Valley School Part 3

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
As we were walking up to your class your piano teacher ask you to go for lesson first alone. Then later she'll go get another child  as it's still too early. Then you start to whine again and I tell your Teacher Chang that get another friend then only you'll go for lesson.

Then she start to tell me your progress. She said that you are very intelligent. You learn very fast except that your finger is still not good. Then she said when you observe your friend learning new notes and song and your friend were trying to play you told your teacher at one look you know how to play.

I'm happy that you can do it but you are a bit too much don't you think so? Even if you know how to play at one look also you don't have to show off.

English words that you know as of now

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
I started to teach you how to recognize English words. I start with simple words like at, in, it and an.

I start with at. Then I ask you to add a letter in front like bat. B sound then at you get bat. So now you know the following. Bat, Cat, Fat. Hat. Mat, Pat, Rat, Sat and Tat.

Then the next one I teach you is in. Also same make the first letter sound then in. So now you know the following. Bin, Fin, Gin, Kin, Pin, Sin, Tin And Win.

Follow by an. Now you know Ban, Can, Fan, Man, Pan, Ran and Tan.

I just teach you this last 2 weeks. It and also same make the first letter sound and then say it. So now you know the following. Bit, Fit, Kit, Lit, Pit, Sit, Tit and Wit.

You also know some simple commonly use words like The, of, on, off, have, like and good.

Jwo Yi's life Part 3

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
Part 3 change is not that drastic. It's just that we are still in Shanghai but your daddy need to be in Beijing for the next half year starting from Sept 2010. He'll be back for the weekend only. Meaning daddy will be in Beijing for two weeks then fly back to Shanghai for the weekend then fly back to Beijing again. Then after two weeks he'll fly back to Shanghai for the weekend then back to Beijing again.

You are still not use to it. You'll tell me I miss my daddy and show me your sad face. But the funny thing is that when daddy call you won't talk to him but you'll tell me you miss him.

And now you are counting down to the day your daddy come home. Every morning I have to listen to you counting down. Like this morning you ask me what day is today and I said Monday. Then you'll said tomorrow is Tuesday and the next day is Wednesday then Thursday then Friday. YEAH my daddy will be back. Then when I pick you up form school you'll start again counting when your daddy is coming home.

I really feel pity for you as you will miss your daddy when your daddy not calling you and when your daddy call you, you are busy with your own things. The timing always not good when your daddy call end up you did not talk much to daddy.

At first you don't take it well because I can feel that you feel not safe and stable without your daddy here. You'll whine and cry and make lots of problem for me. But now your are alright but still miss your daddy dearly.

Poor baby.......  

Shanghai Weather

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
The weather here in Shanghai change so fast. Last week it's still hot.
I still remember on last Tuesday it's so hot and feel like around 40C. But the weather forecast is only 34C to 36C. The thermometer that I put near the window is 50C.

Then the next day you won't believe it. It's only 19C. Nice weather. The weather can change so drastically. I just can't believe it.

This morning it's raining and the ayi at school ask me why I let you wear only short sleeve T-Shirt and pants. Aren't you cold? The people here start to let their kids wear long sleeves and cardigan and long winter pants. My god it's only 20C just like air-con room. So I ask you are you cold and you tell me you are not cold. Good.   :)
 

Your imaginery friend "The Square"

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
As we were walking back from school today you suddenly tell me this friend of yours "The Square" again. You tell me that they follow you to school today again. Then I ask you where are they now. You said holding your hand. I said I'm holing your hand and you said holding the other hand.

Then you tell me one is white and one is pink. The white square is a boy and the pink square is a girl. I change the subject to what we are going to do after we get home. We are going to take our bath then going to eat dinner. Then you said you are going to bath your two square and feed the two square dinner.

When we get home you take out two of your chair and said one will sit here and the other square will sit on the other chair and you are going to feed them dinner later as they are only 2 years old. They still don't know how to eat by themselves yet.

Then you draw on your white board on your square friends. Cute!

Mummy touch my forehead, I'm having fever!!!!!

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
After three days break for the Mid-Autumn festival you need to go back to school today that is a Saturday. We wake up in the morning and you say this to me.

Jwo: Mummy touch my forehead. It' hot.
Mummy: *I touch your forehead and it's normal.* Not hot lah. You lazy bum bum. You don't want to go to school!!!
Jwo: *laughing*

You are such a lazy bum that after three days break don't want to go to school already. But when I pick you up from school you tell me that you have an enjoyable day at school today. So mummy is always right. Once you go to school you'll enjoy. Silly Jwoyi.

Iron my own clothes

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
Jwo I hope I did record this down but I can't as this happen thru conversation. So I'm just going to blog it down here for you. Hope that you keep to your word when you grow big and this is the proof. Hahaha....

Your kuku were ironing his clothes and you said pity kuku have to iron his own clothes. In Penang Ahmah do his ironing for him and here he have to do it himself. Then you said to me next time when you grow big you will iron your own clothes. So I said to you you won't say that when you grow big. You'll just ask me do it for you. Then you said to me I won't lie to you mummy. I'll do my ironing my self when I grow big.

So I hope you keep to your words. Hahahaha.......

Shopping for clips

by Ida Khoo @ Jwo Yi’s mummy
We went shopping as it's holiday in China. It's the Mid-Autumn Festival and school is close for 3 days that's from 22nd Sept to 24th Sept. So I took you to Imago to shop for pork and some other stuff. Then after that took you to McDonald and over there there are lots of small shops selling hair clips, manicure, hair extension and tattoo.

Bought you and Kelly some nice hair clips.
Then we went for a stroll at the lake near the hair clip stall.

Imago Shopping Center

Small stalls selling hair clips, manicure, hair extension and tattoo.

Hair Clip stall

Jwo Yi 's hair clips

Hair clips for Kelly

The lake near the hair clip stall

Lake near the hair clip stall

Jwo Yi with Hai Bao

Jwo Yi with her new hair band