Bryan's Mini Book

I was cleaning up the room yesterday, and found this mini booklet. It's covered with dust. The page corners were folded already. I was ready to throw it into the garbage can. But after I glanced through the first page, I couldn't help reading to the end -- (Below, I preserved all the original spelling and capitalizations.)

Once upon a time, there was a train. The train liked to carry passangers to far away places and palaces even the mountains in mounthood, even big briges. But one day the leader of the trains called a meeting. Evry train on the island that lived on, they came to the meeting. The leader of all the trains were at the meeting. The leader said today the briges are dangeoras. But the one that liked to give passangers rides, he was brave and healthy. So he went to the brige but he clever. He rescude the captured trains. But the really dangeros thing was the mighty spiders and the deadless snakes. But he was clever. He told the mighty spiders and the deadless snakes that there was a Apple tree and the mighty spiders and the deadless snakes were exited about picking apples down by the Apple tree. So excited they went there. But they were poisanis Apples that wild people made so all of the mighty spiders and all of the deadless snakes died and all the trains were safe and sound and they had a party. -- The End.

Bryan wrote this mini booklet when he's at Ms. Michelle's class from Bethany Village Montessori. He's always been a good reader, but not like writing. That time, Ms. Michelle told me: "I know he can, but he just doesn't want to write, not even one paragraph. " Slowly, she was able to get Bryan write down little bit. After Bryan left there (at five and half years old) for elementary school, I often brought him back to visit Michelle's class room after school, and he sometimes would leave a sweet note to her. :)

City vs. Country

"Mama Mama". Hannah was looking for me the moment she got home from school. "I have something to show you.". 

Out of her red folder, she pulled out a picture. "Mama, I drew this for you. But I made a teeny tiny mistake. It needs to be switched. The right side should be on the left side, the left side should be on the right side. Isn't that funny? Haha" I didn't quite get it yet. But instead of telling the girl that I didn't understand her, I pointed to the right side and asked: " Are those grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, brother, and you?" "No, they are sisters, brothers. In a city, there are many brothers and sisters. But they should be on the left side". 

Ok, I heard your logic, but not sure if I can follow it. -- I thought in my mind, but said this to her instead: "But there are lots sisters and brothers in country also. Why is this one for city?"

"Country has small houses, one or two stories, but City has big huge houses, many many floors." Okay, that makes a lot sense to me now. I can see the small house on the left side, but I can't see any building on the right side, unless we are talking about the orange tall "building" line. Hannah confirmed my doubts. "Yes, that's the tall building. Do you like my picture?" "Yes, absolutely!" 

Angel - by Bryan (8 years old)

Mom found this writing from Bryan's homework folder -- 

I silently paw through the house. I am careful not to make a sound. I jump onto a sink. I stare for a long long time. I start licking myself with my hooked, scratchy tongue. Then I look at myself in the mirror. There, I see another me! I decided no to waste time with hallucinations of mine. I crawl behind a picture frame and bend my head. My tail was sticking out but I guess it's okay, cause after all, if I cannot see them, they cannot see me. That's the way it works! I come out and look down. It's the toilet. I wonder if I am the smartest cat around cause jumping into the toilet could ruin my preened fur, my good looks, and my popularity in town. I remember my grandfathers words: "As our hearts soar, so can ourselves". I suppose that if my mind is soaring, I'll be able to fly down! I decide to jump off. The next thing I knew, I was covered in toilet water. What a sight!

Then I went to the window,. I purred and made myself comfortable. I yawn, and look out the window. Another me! I decide not to bother my hallucinations. But the more I stayed there, the more tempting it was to leap up and fight. I started hissing and growling. The hair on my back stood up. I finally leaped up, ready to fight. Bang! Now that's what I call a solid shot. I crashed into the window, and all I got was a big, blueish, purplish bruise on my head. I tried a few more times, but all I got was a fully-mastered bruised head. I saw myself do all kinds of odd things, jumping, running, and jumping without falling! I must be dreaming. I guess its time to go to the vet's office again!

Ahhhhhh..., isn't this the life. My bruised head is gone. I am not seeing things. I look into the mirror. Ahh! Geez, I must be really sick or something. But I wouldn't want to go to the vet's again, in the same week! Boy, is life tough!

First Day at Kindergarten

This is more of an adventure day to daddy and mommy. Hannah is going to ride on the school bus. According to the schedule, she is at the 1st stop, the total ride is about 25 minutes.

In that morning, daddy reminded mommy again to ride with Hannah if allowed.

At the bus stop, Hannah and Mom met a little boy - Alex, who was also a kindergartener, but for West Mercer. His dad came with him and told us that Alex's bus route # was the same as Hannah's. "Hmm, that's strange. Perhaps, the school district dedicates one bus for all kindergarteners... "

Finally, the bus came. "Can I ride with my daughter for the first day?" asked mom. "Sure!" driver replied with a big smile.

Alex's daddy was not planning to get on the bus. The boy happily waved hands to say "bye" to his daddy and got on the bus also. The driver asked: "Are both kids going to Lakeridge?" "No, Alex is going to West Mercer" ... Oh no, Alex belonged to a different bus group. That's too bad. Mommy wished Alex were on this bus to ride with Hannah. They would be wonderful playmates.

It was a very pleasant bus route. Hannah and Mom saw mountains, trees, flowers, birds, lakes, ... Hannah didn't pay attention to the path, she was so comfy sitting with mom. Though mom was worried if the little girl could ride the bus home by herself. More and more kids got on the bus, finally, the full load bus arrived school's loading zone. All the kindergarten teachers were waiting to pickup their little student. Seeing Hannah joined her teacher and her classmates, mom relaxed a bit. Daddy drove to school that morning to pickup mommy. There were many many parents there, and even more in the classroom after the class begins. :)

Around lunch time, Mom and Grandma were driving around to see houses nearby the school. Mom and grandma missed the little girl already and decided to drive by the school. Hannah would be in the playground since the lunch should be over by then. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the playground from the driving path. So, we drove into the parking lot, still nothing except several kids were walking back to their classrooms. One little girl seems got lost. At the end of that long building, she peeked this side, and then disappeared, and then showed up again. Apparently, she's looking for her classmates or teachers. "Oh no, that's Hannah. She got lost!". Grandma confirmed it also. Well, mom wanted to see if the girl could find the way back by herself. So, mom and grandma drove around the parking lot for another circle. Oh oh, the girl was still there wondering around. Mom decided to rescure her ... By the time mom got there, the girl disappeared. She met her teachers then.

In the bedtime talk, mom started:

"Anything interesting happened today?" "The school is so cool, there are ropes you can hold on to slide from one side to the other side."

"How about the lunch?" "It is so so yummy, ..."

"Did you meet any new friends?" "Yes, three ..."

To mom's surprise, the girl said a lot of things. Apparently, she had so much fun at school. But she didn't mention the "lost" part at all. To save time, mom asked her directly about what happened after lunch hour. Hannah said:"Richard and I couldn't find others after recess. So, he asked me where is everyone, and I asked him where is everyone. Isn't that funny, mama?" Apparently, she had an companion when she got lost, that's better. :) "Mama, how do you know about this?" Hannah asked. ...

The day was over. Everyone in the family rest happily.