It is a play day!

Brushy creek montesorri gangs. From left to right, Will, Ray, Cira, Ethan, Tony, and Viviane. I bet Ray was having a Harry Potter Fantacy. 

Ray looks like a flower, Tony doesn't care

This Halloween

When other kids came for trick or treat, Ray was the host man and Tony was little helper. Dad was having his drink on the couch and watching.

Kids Jean Competition

Mrs. Emory was preparing Kaia for Gap kids' Jean competition. When we knew this, there were only a few hours before the submission deadline. We had a last minute shot, but the last minute Gap website login was mission impossible, so we just kept photos for ourselves.





Starting from patting a grown-up ball

Dad planned to start Ray's basketball training with a junior size ball at age of 5. What surprised dad was Ray preferred starting from dad's game ball and could pat it fairly well. So we have this designed point guard pose. "Move quick, my man."

A pair of tricky eyes and a pair of worried eyes

Self-promotion master ONE TWO THREE

Ray wasn't the best scorer in the soccer team. The little hesitation in front of the gate always cost him a chance to score. But Ray ran pretty fast and certainly was a good defender. The second half of last week game became Ray's show time. Ray's teammate Kevin and B&B twins all were too tired to run. Ray was the only guy on his team, who still could play. And he played against three guys in the other team and scored twice. The other team got nothing, though they won with a big margin in the first half. Ray's heroic behavior impressed many moms and dads, so that they came to ask what other sports Ray liked to do other than soccer. Ray earned a name of a great endurance.

To encourage Ray, at bath time in the evening, dad mentioned to Ray:" Ray, you did a good job. You played against three guys today."

"Yes, ONE person plays against THREE persons. And HE won TWO points!!!" With a great pride on his face, Ray looked like talking about a sports legend.

Austin Mountain Bonnet

Arboretum Renaissance hotel

Fix Tony

Tony started complaining about going to school. He refused to go to his own class. Instead he wanted to go to Ray's class. According to Mrs. Betty's analysis, he figured out school wasn't as fun as he thought in the beginning. Thus the first week honeymoon was over.  In the morning, Tony often made a scene with kicking, crying and rolling on the ground, as long as it was not dad sending him to school.
Dad was out of town for China for a couple of weeks. Then it was completely mom's job to send them to school. Mom was worried.
One morning, on the way to school, Tony was complaining that his tommy hurt.
"I want to have medicine." Tony cried.
"No, you are lying. You just don't want to go to school." Ray said.
"My tommy hurts. I really need medicine." Tony insisted.
"We are not doctors. How could we give you medicine." Ray replied.
Tony kept mourning, which really annoyed Ray and Mom.
"If you stopped crying, I will give you a candy." Ray offered.
Like a miracle, Ray did bring out a candy somewhere and put it into Tony's hand.
This bought a peace on the way.
Then when they arrived school. Tony refused to get into school.
Then Ray offered again. "If you stop crying and get into school, I will put a candy into your pocket." Ray did get another candy and calmly put it into Tony's pocket. Then Tony stopped crying and got into school as happy as a magpie.
Since that day, Tony never complained about going to school. We had no clue how it happened.

The second watermelon we harvested this year

Revisit Schlitterbahn

New Braunfels is famous for its water park. This was the second time we went there. The first time was when Tony was not even a year old! This time both Ray and Tony engaged well. Ray even took a long tube sliding. We all got a pretty good sun-tan. One good thing was Qualcomm sponsored both events. We all had a lot of fun.

Ray likes stickers

Ray likes all kinds of stickers. And certainly he knows to put them at the right spots. Here came a Super-sized seeded watermelon.

Soccer is fun

Ray continued his soccer odyssey. Not only he was in game, he made great plays. His team won this week's game with a score 4:2. Ray made three goals himself and Daniel made one.
After the game, Ray told dad: "soccer is fun."
You bet if you scored three.

Buchana lake water fun

It was Will dad's birthday. Ray was thrilled to take boat tubing. Tony was dropped into water twice, while he was on the tube. It never happened to Ray. There was something worth a mark. Ray couldn't fit in any kid's lifejacket, not even XL. So he ended up with having an adult size S.

Soccer breakthrough

We met an old friend, Mr. Gang Li and his family in Sichuan Garden restaurant a few weeks ago. Though they only saw Ray once when Ray was four months old, they all remembered Ray, as Ray was a star baby with of a super size.

Gang was a cool guy. He was organizing a Sunday morning soccer camp and acted as a team coach. Ray was invited and that was how Ray started playing soccer in team.
The first week was not too exciting. Ray was reluctant even getting into soccer field.
The second week Ray showed up in team play, but just showed up literally. He stood there like a rock, doing nothing. He even occasionally put his hands into his pockets like a coach.
The third week was July 4th. No team play, just a little practice.

We tried many ways to motivate Ray to join in team play on Sunday training and at home. But Ray seemed not very interested. It was just too early to say Ray was not interested in soccer or team sports.

Here came the fourth week. Ray still put his hands into his pocket, when it came team play time. Dad was so anxious about it. But what can you do? He just stood there like a log. Ray didn't kick the ball even when the ball passed at his feet. It looked like that Ray didn't belong to here. Ray wasn't ready.

But dad is smart! Super smart! Super duper smart! Dad had his plan.
He put Tony in field during water break playing with Ray. Just dad, Tony and Ray.
Ray played.
Then when it came team play. Dad also put Tony in game. Tony blended in like a fish thrown into water. He had no fear at all and carried the ball to mid-field himself, though two and half years old was a little too early to be in a game.
Inspired by Tony, Ray on soccer field started acting like Ray in pool. Man, coach was shocked by what Ray could bring on the table. Even dad was shocked by how much Ray could do. He knew how to use his body to block defenders. He controlled the ball just so well, there was a play Ray was carrying the ball from left to right, from right to left, with a bunch of guys chasing him, but the ball just stayed under his control. Ray was a real soccer player now. It all started with Tony, who made a move.
After the game, dad asked Ray why he suddenly started playing. Ray said he saw Tony played.
It was so inspiring that what a difference an attitude change could bring in. It was amazing. 
This made dad's day.
We are looking forward to next Sunday soccer game.

Feels like heaven

This was this year's dad company 'yearly' baseball game family event. We gathered at Round Rock Stadium to watch Round Rock Express play against Oklahoma. Technically, it's Tony's first real experience of this event fun, as last year event was cancelled due to financial crisis and Tony was only a few months old the year before. Ray knew how to get stuff he wanted and helped Tony along the way, just felt like home. They did swimming, self-serviced various kinds of ice creams bars, and stuffed themselves with a bunch of hamburgers. 

How does it feel like to pick ice cream bars yourself as many as you want?  

Jumbo lunch box

This morning we couldn't find Ray's lunch box. Dad had to find an alternative, our mini-Igloo box. Ray didn't complain anything about it on the way to school. He just picked some Star-war lego parts and a bakgun and put into his pocket, as usual.
But when we entered Ray's classroom, Ray stopped right there. "I don't want this lunch box." Ray was a little worried.
"It is OK. Just a little bigger." Dad said.
Actually it is a lot bigger.
"I don't want this lunch box." Ray didn't yield.
Fortunately, Miss Shima came by and complimented Ray's Jumbo lunch box and even offered to trade hers with Ray's. Then Ray finally OKed with it.
Ray seems not to like being a maverick.

Ray is already a swing master now

Dad was not able to swing until he is thirty something. He didn't get much chances as swing was only available at park in China and there was always a long line waiting. The failure experience of a few available trials did put some shadow on his mind. That is why he picked this up at his thirty something. So don't get upset no matter when or if you learned how to swing.

Pioneer Farm

Ray's class had a graduation event in Pioneer Farm as many of them will leave for elementary school this fall. A few miles away from I-35 ~exit 240, the farm is a real farm. They kept a gigantic wild flower bed. Many houses in the farm are still made with logs.
Ray is going to stay in BCMS for another year. So will be Will and Cira.

How we make a good shot

We were waiting dad to set up his cam. Waiting was always a little boring, even it's just counted as seconds.

Here we go. Ready, set, go, Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeees...

Tony's smile was just like salt in Macaroni's Grill's pasta , it's always overdone, even you told them not to do so.

OK, we will figure out a way to fix it.

Fantastic ipod touch

Believe or not. This product is named unanimously in our family as the best product we bought in the last few years. The ecosystem created by Apple simply made this product choice a no-brainer. Ipad is also on our list but we prefer waiting for an improved second version, as there are a few improvements really really needed.
Here is what we do now with ipod touch.

Tony's list
1). Dora Lite
2). Shapes
3). Puzzles
4). Memory Pro
5). Farm sound and I hear Ewe
...
Ray's list
1). TaptapNinja
2). Ice hockey (it definitely works better on ipad)
3). Shaun #1
4). Shrek Kart
5). TicTacFree
6). Spelling
...
Mom's list
1). Web surfing
2). Chinese ancient poems
3). Labyrinth
...
Dad's list:
1).Ebooks (a tons of them) for dad and for Ray and Tony
2).quick mail and calendar checking (Fast than going to PC)
3).QQ with grandma (no video yet as there is no cam) but it is not bad to just do audio chat
4).free VOIP phone calls
5).Pandora
6).Web surfing while laying on the bed (the first pocket mobile device dad would like to surf web with)
7).Uncountable apps for all aspects of life.
...

The list is growing. Dad even has a little invention of ipod touch accessory. We are gonna show it later.

This product is beyond being cool. It is just practical and economical! Fantastic design. Hat off to Apple for this fantastic product.

BTW, this is the first practical COMPUTER our family use other than PC. Watch out. Microsoft and Intel.

An impromptu song

lyrics by Ray Yang

There is a snowman in the snow

He wants to eat his nose

He is funny

He likes to eat his nose

He likes to drink something

His breakfast is bagel and drink

That is his breakfast when he wakes up

His mom always cooks that

He always go to cold places

He sometimes go to hot places

Then he melt a little bit

He fixes himself in the snow

Rolling over on Kettleman meadow

Kung-Fu kid

A spring new addition - Our yard bench

Two mountain cedar logs moved with our wagon cart from our neighborhood, one old pine wood at home and a $4 new pine wood from homedepot composed our new bench in our backyard. The bench location has shade most of a day. A perfect spot in our yard to watch Ray and Tony playing.

The power of candy

This is not a picture as peaceful as it looks like. It was taken at the outside of a candy store in Fredericksburg. The time was after Ray and Tony had already had a visit to an icecream store and also right after dinner. You can read out from two little ones' body language.
Ray certainly is a master of candy. Not only he knows more candy names than dad, but also he has various ways to get candy, like in restaurant cashier desk, HEB etc.. He ofter saved a little bit for Tony. And gradually he established his credit of gaining candy in Tony's little mind.
So here comes a familiar scenario happening at home.
...
Tony and Ray are fighting for something, whatever it is.
Tony started whining, yelling and crying for it.
Then Ray gracefully released it. Just said: "OK. No candy any more."
Tony thought a little bit. And put the something back into Ray's hands. "Take it, take it." Tony repeated it with a great worry.
"No." Ray refused and raised his head way up high.
Then Tony started crying again. "Take it. Ray, please."
That is the power of candy.

Enchanted rock

Located at southwest of Austin, Enchanted rock is a unique place. Maybe mother of nature thought Central Texas was too plain. Pretty blue bonnets only blossom for a couple of weeks every year. Thus she created Enchanted rock. Two hours drive from North Austin, Enchanted rock deserves a trip for all people in Austin. A great place for hiking, rock climbing and camping. Be careful to go there on weekend as it is often fully packed so guards have to close it so you have to wait and it is not guaranteed that you can be admitted.
Tony climbed up the rock all the way himself. And he slept down all the way back in dad's arms.
Ray was so tough that he wants the next rock when we got the top. Dad promised him that we would get the next rock next year, when Tony gets older and stronger like him.
Then we went to Friderzburg. It was a nice cool sunny day.

Ray will have a school photo day.

Tomorrow's school photo day. Mom picked up a dress for Ray in Costco and Dad had a pre-shoot at home.

We got snow this winter!

Global warming?

Olsen Meadow Park

Not quite a dancer

Ray's one year dance experience stopped last week, as Ray showed little interest in it. A few bright dancing moments he showed brought him into this dance class but it didn't work out. Ray proposed for art class himself. Soccer class is the second option. OK, we will see how that goes.

Snow fun

We had a serious snow today. Ray's school closed at 1:00PM. Back home, Tony and Ray had a lot of fun.

Round Rock Library

Mom took a vacation for some personal business developement. Dad brought us to RR library. And we also brought a special guest.

Chinese painting

First of all, mixing color is critical. It is a magic that yellow plus blue becomes green and red plus yellow gives you orange. It is fun to know it.

Spiderman

So easy to be a caveman

It is Ray's idea and Ray's masterpiece. We built a cave in our house. Tony was thrilled about it.

Farewell to Aaron

Aaron and auntie moved to San Francisco Bay area. Ray wanted to go with them. On the way back home from airport after we saw them left, Ray was not happy all the time. Ray believed that the reason he couldn't go was he had no ticket. That was why the airport guy stopped him but let Aaron in.

Ray said when he grew up, he would move to San Franciso, work in the office and make money. Mom asked Ray if she could come with him. Ray thought for a while, then finally said:"OK".

Night-story

You can be a storyteller without knowing many words. That was how Ray did it. Tony must admire Ray quite a bit as Ray was 'reading' the book along.