Monthly Archives: June 2013

Fathers Day Brunch celebration

Father’s Day sneaked up on me this year and came around very quickly!  Nevertheless, I managed to find a card, which is no mean feat in China!  The kids made beautiful cards for their Daddy.

To celebrate, we went out to the Kerry Parkside Hotel for brunch with 2 other families.  This was a new brunch location for us, and it did not disappoint.  All of the food stations were marvellous – I especially enjoyed the noodle soup station.  All of the kids loved the pasta station (plus the fantastic kids club area).

Georgia, Isabelle, Ava, Saskia, Ethan and Oliver at the children's area of brunch.

Georgia, Isabelle, Ethan, Ava, Saskia, and Oliver at the children’s area of brunch.

In the photo above you can see the abundance of sweeties and goodies for the chocolate fountain behind the kids!  The kids area also had a big screen tv, beanbags, face painters and other activities.

Isabelle getting her face painted at the Kerry Parkside Brunch - children's area.

Isabelle getting her face painted at the Kerry Parkside Brunch – children’s area.

The end result!

The end result!

Ethan and Oliver chilling out on the bean bags!

Ethan and Oliver chilling out on the bean bags!

All of the girls getting pampered.

All of the girls getting pampered.

Shanghai can be such a small city sometimes!  While we were at Brunch with Jo, Scott. Emma and Matt, we bumped into Rob and Jen who were out with their boys.  After we had all eaten, they joined our table to socialize!

Jen, Matt, Jo, Scott, Emma. Owen, me and Rob

Jen, Matt, Jo, Scott, Emma. Owen, me and Rob

The Fathers on Father's Day - Scott, Matt, Rob and Owen

The Fathers on Father’s Day – Scott, Matt, Rob and Owen

Georgia, Saskia, Ava and Isabelle - good friends enjoying a lovely day.

Georgia, Saskia, Ava and Isabelle – good friends enjoying a lovely day.

After a very leisurely long lunch (4+ hours!) we finished with some lovely family photo shots – it is great when you have friends who can take photos of the whole family 🙂

Saskia, Scott, Georgia and Jo

Saskia, Scott, Georgia and Jo

Emma. Ethan, Ava and Matt

Emma. Ethan, Ava and Matt

 

Sara, Oliver, Owen and Isabelle

Sara, Oliver, Owen and Isabelle

Then, it was back to Jo & Scott’s home to continue the party!  Lots of water fights, trampolining and running around screaming at the tops of their voices – well, that was the kids anyway!

For us adults, it was more fizz and bubbles!  A lovely Sunday with friends 🙂

Get ready for the water......

Get ready for the water……

It's coming......

It’s coming……

 

YEAH!  Drenched and soaked!  And.... repeat for many, many times!

YEAH! Drenched and soaked! And…. repeat for many, many times!

WOW - that was AWESOME!  Let's do it again.....

WOW – that was AWESOME! Let’s do it again…..

Round 105.......

Round 105…….

What a fantastic way to end the day :-)

What a fantastic way to end the day 🙂

 

Advertisement

No. 2 and No. 7 – more Tooth Fairy Visits

Within just a couple of days, Oliver had lost tooth number 2 and Isabelle lost number 7.

Oliver’s 2nd wobbly tooth was soooo wobbly that when Owen said “let me pull it out”, Oliver said “ok”!  So, one little tug and out it came.  Oliver was happy because it meant another visit from the tooth fairy.

Isabelle’s 7th wobbly tooth had been like that for weeks.  When Owen said “let me pull it out”, she said “no way!!”  So, we had to wait for a couple of days before we were sitting at dinner and suddenly Isabelle said, “my tooth has come out and I am bleeding”.  After that mini drama,  she was pleased to have another tooth fairy visit.

Oliver’s bottom 2 big teeth are already half way to full size!

Number 2 and Number 7!

Number 2 and Number 7!

Can't see the holes from missing teeth , but I liked this photo of my 2!  I love the stickers on Isabelle's ears - she really wants her ears pierced!

Can’t see the holes from missing teeth, but I liked this photo of my 2! I love the stickers on Isabelle’s ears – she really wants them pierced!

VCOP – Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation

Isabelle has been learning all about Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation this term as part of her Literacy circulam.

They put on a fabulous end of year show complete with a song to the tune of Village People’s YMCA – VCOP.  FANTASTIC!!

Maddie, Isabelle, Ava, Saskia and Sarah

Maddie, Isabelle, Ava, Sophia, Saskia and Sarah

She had 1 line to say and also to introduce the VCOP song with Ava.  (2.38 minutes long.)

It was a fun show and a great showcase of talent across the whole class.

Isabelle, Ava, Sophia, Saskia and Sarah.

Isabelle, Ava, Sophia, Saskia and Sarah.

As both children get ready to finish the school year, they have just been informed of their classes for next year.  Isabelle will be moving into 4B with her new teacher Mrs Sinclair and Oliver is moving into Year 1 with Mrs Finan.  About a month ago all the children were asked to complete “top 5 friends list” for consideration of class placement for next year.    Both of my children are happy that they got 3 out of their 5 for classmates for 2013/14!

Last Thursday and Friday were transition days for their new teachers and classes.  Thank goodness they came home very happy to come back after the summer holidays as they liked their new teachers!  This is a good thing as their current teachers are FANTASTIC and have managed to inspire them both to be the best that they can be, work hard, love learning and have fun while doing all of that!

Mini-Beasts

Oliver has been learning all about Mini-Beasts this term.  Anything from worms to spiders to ladybirds has been been discussed and di-sected this term!  We have had some fabulous dinner conversations about all sorts of animals, insects and flying beasts. Oliver has really enjoyed this subject!  The end of this term subject resulted in an end of year show on “mini beasts”.  Oliver had 1 line to practice to say:

He was the best at delivering his line (because Owen and I had him practicing saying it from his bedroom at the opposite end of the house – loud and clear to us in the living room!!)

His class were divided into Spiders and Ladybugs.  Oliver was a Spider and had made his own costume!  He loved this topic and every night was full of stories and examples of all the different “mini beasts” that he had learnt about!

I love my Spider mini beast costume!!

I love my Spider mini beast costume!!

I made all this myself

I made all this myself

Oliver made a spider cupcake for Owen to enjoy!

Oliver made a spider cupcake for Owen to enjoy!

All the kids also made "wiggly worms" for the adults to enjoy!

All the kids also made “wiggly worms” for the adults to enjoy!

What a fantastic end to Reception for Oliver.  He is sooooo ready to move into Year 1 now!

Shanghai Sculpture Park

The Shanghai Sculpture Park is a wonderful day out, especially with a dog!  The Park opened in 2005 and is located in Sheshan area in West Shanghai.  It covers an area of 85+ hectares, surrounded by the Sheshan mountains with Lake Yuehu (Moon Lake) at the center.  It is a beautiful location with more than 70 sculptures located around the park.  They were truly magnificent and the park encourage you to touch them, sit on them and experience them!

On a lovely sunshine day, the whole family plus Tetley piled into the car for the 1 hour drive across to the other side of town.  We had prepared a picnic so that we could spend the day enjoying the sunshine.  John, Dan, Luke and their dog, Poppy, also joined us for the day.

Dan, Isabelle, Luke, Tetley and Oliver - climbing all over  1 of the sculpture displays.

Dan, Isabelle, Luke, Tetley and Oliver – climbing all over 1 of the sculpture displays.

2 of the beautiful sculptures by the lake

2 of the beautiful sculptures by the lake

These tall poles rotate around and catch the sunlight.

These tall poles rotate around and catch the sunlight.

This park is quite unique in China as you are allowed to have your dog off leash.  Tetley and Poppy both loved this and were racing around all day.  Poppy (being a Labrador) was in the water as soon as she saw it!  Tetley was so busy chasing her around that she was in soon after, much to her disgust!!

Clever rock formations - into a village of people.  The 2 in front are real!!

Clever rock formations – into a village of people. The 2 in front are real!!

I was amazed that not only are you allowed to climb and touch the exhibits, but it is encouraged!

I was amazed that not only are you allowed to climb and touch the exhibits, but it is encouraged!

The sculptures are made of all sorts of different materials and are of varied style and design.

The sculptures are made of all sorts of different materials and are of varied style and design.

Me and Isabelle trying to re-create the poses.

Me and Isabelle trying to re-create the poses.

Everyone enjoyed climbing all over this one!

Everyone enjoyed climbing all over this one!

The walk around the lake takes some time if you are doing it at a leisurely pace.  About half way around there is a man made beach (with people sculptures on the beach too!).  There is a small amusement park, several attractions for kids and places to eat and drink.

Tetley paddling at the man made beach.

Tetley paddling at the man made beach.

All of the kids - Luke, Oliver, Dan and Isabelle, sitting in a rock boat!

All of the kids – Luke, Oliver, Dan and Isabelle, sitting in a rock boat!

Oliver got quite wet here – thank goodness it was a hot and sunny day!

A tree house.  87 steps take you to the top where there are some gorgeous views.

A tree house. 87 steps take you to the top where there are some gorgeous views.  You can also see a water Zorb that is available to rent for fun on the lake.

One of the views from the top of the tree house.

One of the views from the top of the tree house.

Looking down into the water park from the top of the tree house.

Looking down into the water park from the top of the tree house.

One of the activities in this area of the park is a giant bouncy sculpture.  It is called the Fuma Fuma Dome and is a cross between an inflatable bouncy and a trampoline.  I had a go with the kids.  They loved it and spent considerable time running, bouncing and rolling around on this huge bouncy “thing”.

The Fuma Fuma Dome.

The Fuma Fuma Dome.

As you can see from the photos, this park is not crowded.  It was an absolute delight to discover this park that is well maintained, clean, quiet, fun and a great day out.

Isabelle riding on one of the attractions at the small fair at the back of the park.

Isabelle riding on one of the attractions at the small fair at the back of the park.

Here is Oliver - telling us all how he is controlling the plane going up and down!

Here is Oliver – telling us all how he is controlling the plane going up and down!

This reminded me of a Dr Suess character.

This reminded me of a Dr Suess character.

I liked this stone fish on the top of the water.

I liked this stone fish on the top of the water.

Almost all the way round the park at this point.  We were all tired, sweaty and hot!

Almost all the way round the park at this point. We were all tired, sweaty and hot!

I like the frame of the shade.  The

I like the frame of the shade. The main museum can be seen in the background.  There is a magnificent church on the top of the mountain .  (This is a rare sight in China!)

Even the toilets were lovely!  They were set in man made caves and the water comes down the stalactites!  (Normal too - no squats here!!!!)

Even the toilets were lovely! They were set in man made caves and the water comes down the stalactites! (Normal too – no squats here!!!!)

I can highly recommend this day out.