Discovering new horizons...

Dato was in NYC for a talk, and Amélie missed her daddy very much, she wanted to call him every 5 minutes - every time she got him on the phone, she kept beaming:



Enlightening overheard conversation between them this morning:
a: daddy, you're a genius!
D: Thank you pingulinho, what does 'genius' mean?
a: Silly!
D: Uh?
a: YEAH, in Korean! Grace (her friend from Korea) told me!
Alright then!

Talking about other languages and cultures, Amélie also had a great experience this weekend, dressing up in gorgeous clothes from India with her new friends Isha and Koel:


On our way back home, we were having a conversation about nap time:
M: OK big kid, once we get home, you can watch one clip, then we brush your teeth, and then you go to bed, OK?
a: no no no mommy, let's make a deal!
M: well, give me your plan and we'll decide...
a: OK here's my deal: I want to watch a long clip, then I want to brush my teeth with my tinkerbell toothbrush and my strawberry toothpaste, and then I want to go to my room to rest ok?
M: WOW big kid, good description, that is an awesome way to make a deal: so OK that's a DEAL!

It's all about control!

My life in pictures...

To some it might seem cold out there, but snow doesn't bother me at all, I just wear my sweater jacket and show my belly off to my mom:


I love my new tent, I take naps in there:


I also like to play with my computer there:


In the bath, I am a real goofball:


I am rooting for the Saints in NFL, but I remain loyal to FLAMENGO:

Vignettes of the week

Amélie has had some ups and downs with helping us these past few weeks. So we have had a number of conversations about how we are a problem-solving family, how we have to help each other, and how when we want something we need to ask politely or make a deal... She has been quite responsive (not sure whether it is the threat of more time outs, or the caring lectures)...

Her favorite video these days is 'Ode To Joy':


And she is learning new and surprising things at her pre-school:
a: Daddy, I am going to punch you in the face!
D: What? Why would you do that?
a: We played this at school!
D: Oh my gosh, what are you learning at school??
a: Scary stuff!!!
Her tongue-and-cheek way just left her dad speechless (hard to achieve)!

Trip to Florida!

First, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone, we hope your 2010 will be filled with joy, good health and prosperity!

We said good bye to 2009 and welcomed 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, we stayed at the Hilton on the Beach! Our suite was on the 18th floor, with great views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and some of the canals on the other side. The colors were unbelievable!

We celebrated New Year's Eve at a restaurant on the marina:



Temperature-wise it was beautifully warm for our first 2 days, which made the pool and beach a must:



After that, it was cooler than anticipated (according to Dato, which means that for me, it was darn COLD!)... So instead of going in the water, we played another game - don't let the waves get your shoes:



Amélie also spend a lot of time chasing seagulls.

To start the year on a high note: On 01/01/10, Amélie fell and opened her chin up (for the 3rd time - for a report of her first time, see here). We therefore had the wonderful experience to get to the ER in Fort Lauderdale, to have a bit of dermabond applied! High end ER, might we add, with high tech TVs in the consultation rooms, popsicle for patient, along with toys and an assortment of stickers. Amélie is doing well, the scar is expanding with each instance, to the despair of her overbearing mom, but hey can't have it all!

Amélie did super well in the plane and during the trip, napping nearly every day, which allowed Dato and I to take time for our most beloved hobby: reading! I finished 3 books (always read several simultaneously), and Dato made a solid dent in his current one.

When awake and wanting to relax, Amélie wanted to read her favorite book: The little engine that could, or watch her favorite DVD 'Meet the Robinsons'.

All in all a great trip - We are now back in Indiana, the temperature this morning was 7 degrees, not celsius, Farenheit, which means -14C, sans le vent!!! Good resolution for 2010: go more often to warmer places!!!!!