Spring yard

Last weekend report

Last weekend, we attended Texas military show hosted in Texas military force museum. I watched crossfire show, toured military truck, cannon, tank, fighter jet, and helicopters. I also tried military camouflagers helmet.
The bat tattoo on my face was got from another event a day before. Oh, Our Weekend is busy.

Crape Myrtle transplating

Last winter, dad transplanted an 18 years old crape myrtle in our backyard. I was borrowed as a reference to show how big the tree was. Buying a tree with this size could cost a fortune but dad got it for free as some nice guy wanted to replace it with palm tree.
It took quite a bit effort to get the transplanting done. After the tree was trimmed down to half of its' height, it is still like 8 feet tall. Dad has been concerned about if the tree can survive the transplant, as the tree was so mature. But myrtle was a tough one. People just said you can not kill it.
They are right. This spring, the myrtle survived. The new leaves relieved dad. Otherwise, getting rid of such a gigantic tree is a headache. Remember the swing set story?

We like fighting games

Arron is taking some martial art training class. Fighting with Uncle Bo was one of his favorite games after class. Ray was encouraged to join in as dad wants to toughen him up. In general, they teamed up together to fight dad. Here is a little script mom eavesdropped from these two dudes,
......
Ray: Arron, I can beat you in a fight.
Arron: How can you beat me? I am four years older than you.
Ray: So? (mom figured Ray ran out of answer, but this answer sounds so cool)
Arron: ...... (Arron was a little shocked so he didn't know how to answer either)
After a little silence,
Ray: You are not that big. I will eat lots of rice and lots of RouRou (means meat). Then I will be bigger than you.
The conversation continues ......
Well, Ray never really committed this promise. But a verbal fight is as important as a real one.

Mom, I am not shy any more.

Every kid is unique. Ray was considered as a shy kind. When Ray was little, he was afraid of big kids. One of the most deep-impressed moment on mom and dad's minds was Ray turned his face away and kept perfect still, but kept sneaking glances by just moving his eye balls, to a big boy eating ice cream on a bench in a shopping center when Ray was just one year old. That serious face was molded into mom and dad's minds. If it happened to Tony, Tony probably had hugged the boy and got a share of ice cream from his new friend. When Ray went to school, he insist not to say hi to his teacher every morning even when he was three year old. He just stood still there. Certainly Ray liked his school. It took some effort everyday to get him out of school when mom picked him up, as he was always busy with some 'projects'. It is just kids' personality. But what is ironic is Ray was born with some showmanship. He is not afraid of singing song and dancing in front of mass. Actually he really enjoys attracting attentions. He likes making songs ad lib, such as a pirate song, a shark song, a dinosaur sone etc. and makes a show.

With endless encouragement to talk to people, to greet people, to play with other kids, Ray started saying good morning to his teachers, though the volume needs a 20dB audio amplifier at least. It shows progress. When he says 'Hi, Mr. Brian' to our neighor, the whole street can hear him.

Yesterday, as usual, after school, mom brought Ray and Tony to park. They met Sohen and his dad. Then Ray started talking to Sohen's dad while Sohen and Tony were running around. The extent of that conversation certainly was beyond mom's imagination. Ray even gave some idea when Sohen and Tony can come to his school and what they should be prepared. When it was over, Ray came to mom and said:'Mom, see, I talk to people. I am not shy any more'. In the evening, mom got an email from Sohen's mom. The email said, 'My husband told me Ray and he chatted quite a bit in the park'.
Ray certainly impressed all of us.

I can hold it for thirty seconds

Pre-easter weekend

Last year, Ray was still scared of Bunny. This year he couldn't have enough poses with Bunny. He picked so many egges but there aren't candies inside. Instead, he traded a goody bag with the eggs. It was definitely a beautiful spring day but we noticed the attendence was way below last year's level. Economy related?

The highlight this year is the train ride. Everything of this train was homemade. Ray'd like to stay on forever and he ened up with having three rides.

The next day, Ray went to movie theatre first time ever. Well, maybe add an adjective 'non-3D movie'. Ray felt asleep last year in Moody Garden IMAX 3D show 'the seamonster'. But now Ray was ready. Ray was so excited that he refused to step out to get popcorn as he was afraid that he couldn't come back in. The movie was "Monsters vs. Aliens". Ray finished the whole movie without stepping out once. And he enjoyed a bottle of juice and a lot of popcorn. He said he definitely will come back again. Well, you got to earn it with being a nice boy.