What’s Better Than a Birthday?

Answer:  A birth week.   

Aubrie’s birthday was on Monday, March 7.  Her birth week started on Monday, February 28.  She sped up the days by sleeping early—as early as 5 p—and waking up early.  Every day was special because it brought her one day closer to her birthday.

Then she got a double bonus.  On Saturday, she had her friends from church over, Sarah and Elizabeth Porritt (pictured below) and ye ye and nai nai.  Then on Monday, she celebrated on her actual day of birth, hanging out at the bowling alley with grandma and aunt Melanie.

We were pleased on Saturday that Aubrie invited her friends over as it’s a sign that she continues to be more open, and less shy.  Ginger was a gifted event planner.  The kids crafted sun catchers, strung together  necklaces (all made in the factory called China), batted a homemade paper mache watermelon-looking piñata (that Aubrie punched a hole through on her second turn) and topped it all off by digging into a homemade ice cream cake encrusted with Oreos.

At the bowling alley, Aubrie danced more than she bowled (video).  Ginger said Aubrie wanted to bowl more than one game.  But I know it was just an excuse to do the electric slide in her bowling shoes.

Ginger and I have mixed feelings that Aubrie turned 6.  She’s growing up, gaining more confidence socially.  But she’ll always be our baby that drools when she sleeps between us.

PS.  Aubrie promised to get messy in Grandma Scott's birthday apron!

3/5/10: Head of the Class (Catching up on older posts)

Aubrie excels at school.  Or to be a little more specific:  before school. 

Her pre-K class lines up outside of school before class, and she always wants to be the first in line.

Through no fault of her own, this rarely happens.  The competition for first is fierce.  Somehow, every kid has their dad take them to school.  Dads who have apparently nothing to do but to take their kids to school 15 minutes early and obliterate Aubrie's one wish.    

But every now and then, when her grandparents are in town (Janice or ye ye and nai nai - pictured to Aubrie's left), they can always take her 30 minutes early and give her the one thing she desires:  first place.

A Chinese Pilgrim

As a Thanksgiving homework assignment (yes, that's so 2009), Aidan was asked to create a piece of art on what it means to be a pilgrim.  He chose ye ye (my dad's dad) as his subject.  Ye ye was the first Li to emigrate to the U.S. from China.  Our family is very thankful to him and nai nai (my mom) for affording us the opportunity to live in this beautiful country--and have the freedom to make such precious art!

 

Left:  Aidan's representation (before adding real hair on top)

Right:  The real thing with Sneaky the cat.

Aluminum Cone Speakers - A Trend?

Count me as one of those who never really knew what his parents did.

Of course, I knew the labels: my dad was a chemist and my mom was a microbiologist. But what was under these labels -- that we didn't discuss much around the dinner table.

I remember visiting my dad's Sohio lab (Sohio is now owned by BP), probably twice in my lifetime.

I remember we had to pass through a security checkpoint with a guard station and a sliding gate. The man who carefully looked at my dad's photo id was very nice. There was also a large, idyllic pond with geese milling around.

Inside my dad's lab, I recall lots of beakers and other glassware. Think of a nice cozy,warm environment. Now take its opposite and you have my dad's workbench.

My most powerful memory was the smell of chemicals. Hence the rarity of my visits (this was before "Take Your Child to Work Day" and even before "Take Your Daughter to Work Day")

During a phone call this past weekend, I learned about his thread about aluminum speakers on Tech Talk Express generated nearly 700 views and 30+ responses. "Not bad," I said.

More importantly, it gave me a glimpse into another world of my dad, the world of speakers - those things that amplify sound and are connected to receivers which are connected to DVD players.

Around my Solon home, there was always a Stereophile magazine lying around in the bathroom. Speaker boxes littered one half of the basement.

I tried reading the thread and promptly got lost. I may never know anything about "low comprehension" and "diaphragms," but it was still fascinating to take a peek behind the curtain.

Hey, if I need a set of speakers, I know who to go to ;o)

Throwing Stones

Watch at 00:15 seconds.

Happy 129th!

Ye ye and nai nai, per custom, came westward to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We (Ginger) whipped out this cake to celebrate their 65th and 64th birthdays. Nai, nai took several puffs to blow out her one candle. Remember nai, nai during CPR class when she couldn't get the baby's chest to move at all? Hope no one who needs mouth-to-mouth has her as their only option!

Like Ye, Ye Like Granddaughter

Aubrie's pose is much like ye, ye's: arms behind the back, eyes observing the world (or in Aubrie's case, cast down, inspecting small cracks in the floor).

Same gait as well!