A: Ken, My Dad

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

Guess who answered this question with "Ken, My Dad"?

a.  Aidan
b.  Aubrie

If you guessed (b), you're correct. (Aidan was playing Settlers of Catan.) This answer was part of a game*  we played at the Stouts during their Swinging New Year's Eve Party in Wilkinson, Indiana. The game asked participants to respond to questions such as:

• What's your biggest fear? (Aubrie said she's scared of being 'pooped in the face.')
• What's your biggest accomplishment? (Aubrie said 'doing the splits.')
• Draw your favorite childhood memory (Aubrie drew a picture of her pooping.)

*We call it the "Alabama" game based on the location where we first played it.

Here's a photo that has nothing to do with poop.

Ginger and Aubrie Dance Dance Revolutionizing!

Sneaky, the Sequel

With all of the excitement surrounding Christmas, the day after Christmas can be a little bit of a letdown.

This year, the kids received a surprise on Dec. 26 that they won't forget soon (at least a week).



PS. Ginger and I even went to a pet store with the kids on Dec. 26, looked at a few kittens and walked away. That's how cruel we are. (We had already adopted "kitty" from a different pet store on Dec. 24.)

Aidan's First Concert

Aidan played a "Practice Concert" this past Thursday at Millennium School. This was a way for him and his fellow band members to show off the skills they've rehearsed in their first year of band.

We're very proud of him for his desire to be the best bells player he can be.

Aidan strikes a pose that only bells players named Aidan Li can appreciate.

Aidan stands "short" amongst his Cadet band peers. 

(Can you find him?)



A sample clip.



Aidan's band teacher challenges parents to play their children's instruments. Ginger responds.

Top 10 Moments of 2012

Here are our top 10 moments of 2012. While most of these photos represent times of joy, we also say goodbye to a beloved family member.

Enjoy, but don't become a stalker.

PS. We also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be grateful for your many blessings, count them one by one.

Top10 Moments of 2012 from Kenneth Li

P.S. A copy of the Microsoft Word version is stored here.

Fun Foos-ing

Fun Foos-ing, a photo by Kenneth Changkuo Li on Flickr.

Forget about high school football. This is how Friday night should be spent: foosing around with your family at the office, then watching Goosebumps (a Twilight Zone for kids) on the big screen plasma display while drinking a mug of dark hot chocolate and scarfing Halloween candy.

We know how to make the most out of delivering Aidan's Cub Scout popcorn to my work colleagues! (Thank you @Kuna_5 for shooting the photo!)

Mrs. Anderson

Mrs. Anderson is Aubrie's second grade teacher.

I've never seen her instruct a lesson, and my daughter never talks about her (more of a reflection of Aubrie's shyness than her teacher's skill level).

But I wanted to meet her during parent-teacher conference earlier this week. Why? Because she emails everyday about what Aubrie has for homework and what we can do better to help her as a student. One email, daily. This is an excellent use of email.

My good vibes toward Mrs. Anderson were reinforced when she had Aubrie lead the parent-teacher conference. Aubrie shared her strengths, weaknesses and goals -- and even set a date to accomplish that goal.

We all benefited from Aubrie taking ownership of the conference, but most of all, Aubrie. It gives her confidence and lets her know that in this world, it's not about waiting for somebody else to take the first step.

You can do it.

P.S. Aubrie's favorite subject is reading. She needs improvement on math, especially adding and subtracting within a time limit. Her goal is to work on her writing and handwriting by Dec. 4.

Aubrie's New Handshake

When Ginger took Aidan to a birthday party on Sat. Nov. 3, Aubrie and I decided to invent a new way of greeting each other. Voila.

   


Steps:
1. Double high five with your partner.
2. Clap your (own) hands.
3. Cross over right hand with your partner, then cross over left hand with your partner.
4. One partner spins the other.
5. Two finger snaps.
6. Shuffle feet right, then left. Repeat.
7. Fake back flip (an Aubrie specialty).
8. Low (right) hand to the partner.
9. High (right) hand to the partner.
10. Partner moves forward while you move back, then reverse.
11. Kick up your feet to your right.
12. Stick out your tongue emphatically!