Fall is a time for discovery

Only a couple of weeks since our last post but there have been a lot of new discoveries for Hui-Hui.

Discovery #1: I love creamees!!
A couple of Sundays ago, we spent a few hours strolling around the "Tunbridge World's Fair", a truly quaint country event nestled in the green mountains of Vermont. This fair has run continuously since 1867 except for 1918 due to the flu epidemic and during WWII due to so many men being away in the service. There were great old time exhibits, loads of cows, and some pretty yummy fair food. The highlight for Hui-Hui was devouring a "creamee" which is a softie ice cream cone. Here she is in the moment she discovers this is heaven on earth.

Discovery #2: I make friends easily.

We attended a Families with Children from China picnic to celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival. Though Hui-Hui was the youngest and smallest girl there, she made a few friends and was quite popular with the adults! Here are some pictures with her new friends and a good shot of her in her fall polka-dot sweater outfit. (Auntie Sharon - - you were right, she probably could have taken the larger size!)

Discovery #3: Music Class is Fun!

We have enrolled in a weekly music program called "Music Together". The class is made up of kids from as young as 6 months to up to 5 years old plus their parents. They dance, play with instruments and sing to music that is pitched in just the right range for children’s voices. The program advocates role modeling so parent/caregiver participation is important. They also encouarge parents to incorporate music/singing/dancing into their every day activities. So, for those coming to visit us, be prepared for a musical time ("let's waaaaash our haaaands before diiiiiiin-ner")! Here are some shots of the class and of Hui-Hui doing a song using scarves. Since Hui-Hui has started to walk so well, she really favors exploring and trolling around more than anything else. So, in class she wanders a bit "off to the side" from the crowd, so the shots are of her alone.

The center has a nice playground and a log cabin playhouse (we need one of these!). After class, we played with their blocks in the log cabin.

Discovery #4: My facial expressions can get me a lot of attention!

Hui-Hui has discovered that she can make different expressions with her face and that they all get reactions from us. I swear, I don't know where she learned the frown from, but she does it really well. She does it to just play around and get a rise out of us, but she also does it at appropriate times, like when she has a wipe-out when walking. Here are a few shots Paul took of Hui-Hui doing her facial expression "tricks" while we were eating in a restaurant.

"This is my oh-so-sweet innocent girl face - - aren't I cute, Mama? Can I have anything I want, Mama?"

"What do you mean I can't have my own cell phone?"

"Ok, I'll use your cell phone. I'll turn that frown upside down!"

Discovery #5: I love books.

Hui-Hui has gotten much more interested in books. She particularly likes the interactive or action ones, where she has to open up a flap or there are pop-up surprises. Below is a shot of her discovering a fun book in the center's toy chest.

Discovery #6: I'm becoming a big girl!

Sigh...she is growing so fast. But it really is fascinating to see how quickly she is developing and learning. She loves to explore and experiment. This is a shot of her just yesterday, playing at the home of our good friends, Carlos, Susan and Julian. She had a grand time exploring their wonderful yard with the fall leaves and cried when we had to go home. Big girls DO cry!

That's about it for this time. We're marching into October and the air is starting to get really crisp here. It's time for mama and Hui-Hui to go shopping for some tights!

We love you all and thank you for watching our blog.

Love,

P, C & HH