Finding the next school

JJ's Taekwondo school just closed for good due to economic reasons. There's one within walking distance to our house. One of his classmates is transferring over so we'll give it a try. JJ did a great job in his last belt test. Great form, good kicks, lively sparring and strong and confident board breaks with axe kicks. Quite impressive if not entertaining. So much fun watching two five year olds kicking and sparring up a storm.

JJ's Japanese school X'mas show

The small kids did some fun Japanese dances. Very cool. Then, when it came to the "big" kids. One class (probably in their early teens) did "Kanji research" and the oldest group of kids did "Japanese food culture". Formal presentations with slide shows. They were lectures! There's no stopping Japanese education. Even at the X'mas party!

Electricity

JJ has a fascination of electricity. May be it's because his old man is an electronic engineer ...
Anyway, we were heading over to grandma's place in hollywood. JJ noticed that there weren't any overhead electric cables like we do in our neighborhood (i.e. suburb). after some explanation, JJ got to the core question and asked daddy " how do you make electricity?'' Ok, daddy was driving and was trying to sort out how best to explain electricity generation to a 5 yr old. Before I could get to some kind of a explanation, JJ blurted out "do u use water?". Man, how did he jump to hydro electric so quickly.. Anyway, daddy had to explain to him later when we got home.
We got home, daddy forgot to do that and JJ did too. We'll have to revisit this soon. May be a science kit w/a dynamo for xmas ...

when u beome a child again

JJ loved his Pinecrest sweater and wore it everywhere. One morning, he seriously looked at daddy and said " when you become a kid again, go to Pinecrest in America and get the sweater, it's really warm".
Good advice, JJ. daddy will it in mind ...

Destroyed?

Daddy helped JJ practise sight words - single commonly words for kindergartner
Daddy and JJ took turns making sentences out of sight words

Word - Are
Daddy - Some simple lame sentence
JJ - "Are we destroyed?"
Daddy - Speechless ...

JJ said that he just wanted to be funny.

Daddy's birthday today

JJ and mummy bought a new halloween costume for daddy's b-day. Went to SR's Woodranch bbq for the first time for b-day dinner. Had bbq half chick, baby back ribs and pulled pork. Quite a lovely place and reasonable price for family dinning.
After a great dinner. Went back to put on my red "mayhem" bad guy costume. Red and gray. Face mask shows eyes and ears only. JJ couldn't help giggling at it.
JJ put on his bakugan Dan's costume which was also read. Had a big brawl w/Mayhem.
Good fun!
JJ's looking forward to his good friend (pinecrest's classmate), Joshua's b-day party tomorrow at chuckle cheese.

The Principal's office please

JJ said " My friend, Brennan, got called to the Principal's office"
Daddy " Why?"
JJ - He said to a first grader (they were kindegarteners) "Nice butt"
Daddy - Oh, i see. you know it's impolite to say that, right?
JJ - Yes, i know.

JJ's first Nintendo DS

JJ had been asking for a DS for over 2 years. He was told that he would need to write a letter to Santa for it.

Today, mum got an used DS from a colleague and had been hiding it in her luggage. She did not hide it well in her luggage so JJ discovered it as he rummaged thru mummy's stuff for omiyage.

When JJ took it out, mummy said it actually belonged to mummy as part of the "damage control". JJ said ok, i understand. As mummy put it back into the bag, JJ went up to 2/f to make his own paper DS and said this is my DS (This is what JJ had been doing for as long as he started wanting one - a self made paper version with lots of imagination...)

As he was playing his paper DS, he ended up in a dark corner and started to weep intensely. Very miserable and helpless. Mummy softened up and relented to his quest.
Mummy said " this is for JJ and mummy". JJ was overjoyed and replied "Yes, this is for nihongin only" and happily walked off with the real DS and having a hell of a good time.

This was how our JJ got his first DS!!!

Violin or not

JJ's piano teacher (a violinist from Russia- Karin) informed mummy that JJ's ready for violin. Mummy would like to wait because she felt that it would be important for her to be able to play as well to help JJ practise.
Daddy informed Karin of mummy's intention. Teacher looked disappointed. She's into getting JJ started soon. JJ can read music, handle rhythm, kid's a sponge,...
Conclusion - have JJ perform at his first piano recital in Nov that move on to violin afterwards. Mummy wants JJ to progress further with both hands playing. OK!

Girls getting boys at Kindergarten

Picked up JJ at school and went shopping at Walmart.
Walking around at W and JJ said " Ashley asked me on my shoulder today"
Daddy - Why?
JJ - They are trying to get boys
Daddy - Oh, really. Did she get you?
JJ - No, I am with Shannon!
Gee, what's up with this kindergarteners!

日本語学校第一年の成績

慈英、
頑張ってくれて，ありがとう。素晴らしい！
ＤａＤａ　＆ＭａＭａ

Sukebe hanashi suki

Family vacation in Niigata Aug 2010
Daddy took JJ to mum's jikka first. Mum came later due to work.
Daddy went down Tokyo for a few days after mum got there. Mum spent time with JJ and cousin Takun.
One night, 3 of them about to sleep in downstairs 和室.

Someone told JJ that Takun's mum's coming to Niigata.
JJ asked - Takun no ままのおっぱい 大きい？
Takun - Nande soiu hanashi?
JJ - スケベの話好きだから!

Frustrated friend from Sunshine

JJ told Daddy that his good friend, Kevin, had said to him that JJ was not a cool guy anymore. JJ was ok with it because he stil had his "cool guy's uniform and belt", which was, at the moment of our conversation, did not really exist. Good imaginative power for positive thinking, I suppose.

Daddy asked why Kevin would say that to him. To which he replied - "He is frustrated with Ryan (Kevin's older brother") at home"

How JJ feels about his female friend

JJ said to Daddy today - " I think Shannon whines too much"
Dadd asked - "Oh, what does she whine about?"
Reply - " I don't know. It's just her style!"

First piano lesson

Today JJ had his first piano lesson w/Karin, russian trained teacher covering piano and violin.
We decided to switch from violin to piano for now to get him a good music foundation so it's easier for him to move over to violin when he turns 6 which according to Karin is the typical starting age.

Mum and I went w/him. The teacher thought 4 was probably a little to young but JJ was almost 5 so it's ok. Teacher seemed to love east asian students. may be they take it more seriously and practise more.

She tried rhythmic clapping with JJ who did ok not too great. JJ was still confusing left and right hands. She introduced the finger sequence (1st, 2nd, ...) and beat -duration of a note. Also, talked about right hand and left hand notes. Hah JJ draw some notes in a music workboard and play a few notes while counting beats.

JJ seemed to like it but we asked him.

Mum practised w/JJ after dinnner. He seems to be into it. Hope it lasts.

I like West Virginia

April 3rd, 2010 - Duke vs West Virginia -Final 4 of NCCA Tourney
Watching w/JJ who said, " I like West Virginia". Daddy, a Duke fan of course, asked why? JJ's answer "I like their black shirt!". Go figure

JJ and basketball

Duke made it to the Final 4 today!

JJ watched a little of the game and got bored. He wanted to play instead of watching it. Went to "W" to buy a basketball w/JJ. Man, it was cheap. $4 rubber ball made in Vietnam. Good enough for us.
Went to Richard Rioux park. Nice and new basketball court. Big guys playing half court and so we joined some kids on the other side. JJ tried but was really too small to get the ball close to the hoop. He seemed to enjoy himself nevertheless.

Good for him to get used to other players and be more alert around the court.
Threw him a ball which hit him in the face. Cried a little. No big deal. Good to have get used to this. He was ok and boucned right back.

He enjoyed watching big guys play. He enjoyed having others around on the court. When the other kids left. he wanted to go too. He said " It's no fun if there are no other kids". Also, he kept asked for a hoop for kids so we'll have to get one for him.

Great assessment - 95% percentile

Had our annual parent teacher meeting yesterday with Ms Tina @ Sunshine Preschool. Topic - JJ's development assessment. Mummy is back in Japan visiting her 90 yr old grandma who is on the brink ...
Great report on JJ who has mastered all but one area - speech. His enunciation needs work but the rest looks great. According to Tina who has a long history of teaching this age group and has a frame of reference tied to Legacy Academy (a priviate school with high academic standards serving K thru 6), JJ is probably in the 95% percentile academically - way above average.

Wow, daddy almost cried! So very proud of JJ. What an amazing kid!
May be magnet school is a distinct possibility...

I am just a kid!

Daddy was trying to convince JJ to practise Taekwondo when JJ did not feel like doing so. Daddy said that getting to black belts would hard work and daily practice. JJ looked into daddy's eyes and in a sincere and serious tone said "But, I am just a KID!"

4yr old JJ at the bar

Met up with old friends for brunch at Hummus Bar and Grill in Tarzana last Sunday. Nice Israeli place famous for it's hummus and laffa bread. 4 adults and 1 JJ.
Upon arrival, JJ was seated on the outside near the aisle close to a bar.
It was a Israeli Halloween so the bartenders, waitors and waitresses were dressed up in costume. JJ was fascinated by the bartender and the action at the bar.
Before we knew it, he had relocated himself at the bar where there was nobody else but himself and the bartender, Arvi.

It was an interesting sight - his tiny stature (with his back facing us) alone at this big long bar hanging out with this bartender who was an extremely nice fellow and kept JJ entertained. Mum tried to tip him afterwards for "looking after" JJ and he refused. JJ had a great time, we got to have some adult time and the bartender was quite amused himself.

Is this a sign of things to come?

No wasting please

JJ and daddy went to our fav (FreshWorks) for dinner after Spectrum/Kids' Club. Tuna sandwich for daddy and chicken strips w/fried for JJ. The chicken strips shrunk by about 50%. What happened! Oh, daddy as usual helped JJ finish his fries but left some of his chips on the plate. When we were about to help, JJ stopped daddy, pointed at my plate and said "No wasting, finish the chips!"
He was right and caught me in the act of wasting food. Chips came home with us and daddy ate them the next day for lunch together with baked beans and egg.

yes, JJ, no wasting. thanks for keeping me in check. God knows how many times I did the same to you before. Good teamwork.

First Speech Contest

Yesterday JJ particpated in his first speech contest at the Japanese Academy on Sawtelle.
We practised with him over a month ago 4 basic sentences for this class of 4/5/6 years old.
Boku wa Jay Leung desu
Boku no suki na iro wa ao desu
Boku no suki na tabemono wa osushi desu
Boku wa okikunattare pokemon ni naritasi desu

It was on a big stage in a pretty big hall which could easily sit over 200. There were about 100 or so people including kids. JJ's class (Kaori-sensei) went up first. 25 kids sitting in front of everyone.
JJ was no. 13. One by one, the kid went up, held the mike and delivered the speech. Some were good, some were ok, some refused to do, but most of them were very very cute. Some were very relaxed like JJ, who was one of the most relaxed ones playing around and putting his fingers into mouth once in a while due to probably boredom. Some were too nervous to speak at all and some squeaked by.

When it was JJ's turn, he walked up confidently, bowed to everyone, picked up the mike and delivered a perfect speech. OMG, it was much better than we had thought. It was spot on, flawless, great speed and volume. Being a critical father that I was, even I couldn't find anything wrong. I was sOOOOO proud of him. I couldn't almost cry. Upon completion, he bowed again (he was the only kid who did bow before and after, which is the proper way to start and finish)!
Ok, this is oyabaka kamo. But, who cares! This matters for he delivered exactly what he was supposed to through quite a bit of pracfice and focus.

What a great day today! GREAT job,JJ!