A Note

Today was C-bao's first day back at school after an extended holiday with the family, and our little one had a tough time with morning goodbyes.

C-Pop had to make multiple promises involving early pickups, snacks and sundry other bribes, which together with a series of minor threats ultimately convinced C-bao to stay in her classroom, but not without a few tears.

When C-Pop went to pick up C-bao at the end of the day, she had apparently just finished dictating the below letter, which Teacher Soara had jotted down for her.

A heart-warming (and slightly heart-breaking) note. The plants referred to in the last sentence were little beansprouts that C-bao has recently grown in a plastic bag with the help of moist soil and sunlight, which she proceeded to show C-pop enthusiastically.

As we departed, C-bao also collected from her cubby a large swath of cards and papers, amidst which C-Pop found the below, written at some point in the recent past. To the delight of the C-folks, an ever-expressive C-bao has now taken to putting her sentiments regularly down on paper.

Hopefully the beginning of a series of lovely notes which undoubtedly over the teenage years will morph into printed complaints about how the C-folks are the strictest and meanest parents in the world. Well, enjoy it while you can, C-folks.

Year 2

This has been a very productive Year 2 for C-bao in preschool. While her school's approach is definitely play-based, we've noticed our little one making significant progress both socially as well as in specific cognitive and academic areas (such as sums and subtraction through 20, which C-Pop regularly tests her on).

She has also started to find her voice, and now has a steady group of friends who she hangs out with (though, troublingly, still mostly boys!).

One activity she has hugely enjoyed is hands on cooking. Here she makes a grubby little pizza with three friends.

She also has progressed a ton in terms of physical strength and agility. Her climbing and particularly her monkey bars -- an area her sister has always excelled at which in turn has inspired C-bao's determination -- have been highlights.

Storytime

As part of C-bao's birthday celebration last week, her preschool class, the Gray Whales, invited C-Pop and C-Mum to come tell a story about the little one to her classmates.

At the appointed time, C-Pop and C-Mum showed up and took their seats next to the birthday girl. With the help of a few pictures on an iPad, C-Pop told the class about C-bao's experience as a flower girl in Singapore back in 2014, as documented on these pages here.

Afterwards C-bao participated in the traditional birthday jump, signifying her leap from a lowly 3-year-old to a big-girl-4.

After her class sang her her birthday song, she got to blow out a candle and then pass out some ice pops (brought by C-Mum) for the whole class to enjoy.

Despite C-Mum's claims to the contrary, C-Pop insisted that the class paid rapt attention to the story. Luckily, one of C-bao's teachers kindly shot a video of the anecdote, excerpted below, which only partially supports C-Pop's theory.

Abiyoyo

At school drop-off a few weeks back, C-bao, as usual, requested C-Pop to read her a story before leaving. On normal days if C-Pop has the time he will try and do it. Her school is quite accommodating of parents taking their time with dropoff and staying around in the classroom as long as they want.

Most mornings C-bao has a specific story in mind, and this day was no different. "Abiyoyo!" she cried, confidently walking to the bookshelf and picking out the volume. "I want Abiyoyo!"

As C-Pop read the story of the naughty boy, his magician father and the slobbery giant, other kids from C-bao's class started to gather around.

As the story progressed, more kids found their way over, and soon C-Pop found himself reading to a veritable crowd.

It turns out the story is class favorite. Indeed, C-bao is so tickled by it that C-Mum has now ordered our own home copy on Amazon, along with the Abiyoyo sequel.

One of the dads in the room took a couple of quick pics and was kind enough to send them to us afterwards.

Playdate

A few weeks ago C-bao participated on a playdate with a couple of her buddies from school. Below is a snack break after the kids had probably completed a good half-mile running crazily inside the playground.

"You dropped some crumbs, C-bao"

C-Pop noticed that there was a some genuine affection between C-bao and her young friends.

"Yes...in your hair!"

Indeed, the last couple weeks from school, when picking up the little one, C-Mum has overheard a few boys from the class shout out "Goodbye cutie!" and other similar tokens of friendliness. But for the fact that no one in the preschool class is older than three, there might have been a little alarm from ol' Papa Bear when he heard this story. But alas, there's plenty of time for that in the years to come.

Um, where exactly are you going, kiddos?

Preschool

C-bao has started at her new preschool for several weeks now. With her array of experiences over the summer at various summer camps, C-bao was emotionally much readier than the C-folks had anticipated, though there were still some moments of sadness at various points during the first couple of weeks. Overall, though, our little one has adjusted to her new environment like a champion.

Both the art and music programs at her new preschool are areas of emphasis, which the C-folks really like.

So is hands on learning. Above C-bao collaborates with a friend to build a Magnatile tower.

The school also has an extensive playground in the back that is entirely covered with sand. We all know what this means: daily sand in the shoes, socks, sandwiches, car and everything else she comes into contact with.