Nicholas is a second grader now!

Beating Baba in Chess

Well, part of the reason may be that Dad underestimated the 6 year old to start with -- but he only had two learning sessions with Grandpa before!

These days, Nick seems to always amaze Dad.. Just yesterday, he was telling me all about the Apolo missions -- the names of the astronauts, the lunar rover -- apparently, he just read the stories at the school library!

What matters in life

Today, Nick had a thought--  "Baba, it is about being lost, what matters is being alive and safe."

"Good. Did you learn that at school?"

"No, I thought about it when I got lost at Dutch Wonder Land last week." 

Dad was so impressed. 

For the record, Mom took Nicholas and Rachel to Dutch Wonder Land during Dad's trip to Beijing. And according Nicholas, he got lost for a minute when he got off a ride and couldn't find Mom.

Boy in Charge

This evening, Nicholas made some rules for Dad. Just to make sure Dad get it, he posted them on the wall too:

"Do not be mean, BaBa."

"Do not scare"

"Be good"

"I am watching you"

... ... Boy, has Dad been that bad? Sigh...

On the other hand, Rachel played train with Nicholas this evening for the first time. To reward that, Nicholas made a sticker with the word "Good" and put it on Rachel! As Nick puts it, "Meimei loves me the best in the world!"

The boy sure understands the basics of motivation theory! :-)

BTW, last night, it was Dad who Nick "like the most".

Mickey's Secret

Everyone has been looking forward to the Disney cruise in December. A little incident yesterday had almost caused a little scare though.

"Did you know," Nick began, "There is not Mickey Mouse in the Disney World. It is just people pretending."

"......"

"That is because the real Mickey Mouse lives in Mickey Mouse Club House!"

At least, there is still hope...

Mom's Business Trip

Nicholas was so happy that Mom finally got back from her two-day business trip this morning, because he really misses Mom. Nicholas had been asking questions like "Why can't I go on the business trip with Mom?" "Why I never get to be on a business trip?"

While we were waiting for the school bus this morning, Nicholas saw a taxi around the corner and he was so excited -- "Look, Mom's taxi!"

It turned out Mom took the bus back.....

The Tooth Fairy Business

Nicholas lost his first tooth! The one that has been hanging on since Rachel's Birthday party has finally given up today at lunch time.

During the short walk home from the school bus stop, Nick was definitely showing off his knowledge about Tooth Fairy --

"Did you know, she gives you money".

"Oh" (Yeah. Where do you think she gets the money from, baby?)

"... ... and I can buy stuff. If you want something, I can buy it for you too.."

"Ohhhhhhhhhh" (hmmmmm)

"... ... She will give you $100"

"... ..." (damn inflation!)

---------------------------

Just as Dad was writing this blog, and Mom was googling about the tooth fairy business, Nicholas rushed into the room in tears announcing he did not want the Tooth Fairy! He made sure that Mom send an email cancelling the Tooth Fairy appointment -- "she has a special computer that she will get the email, right?" "she will listen, right?"

Biking W&OD Trail

Over this long weekend, Dad and Nicholas Biked the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. This was the first time Nick went on the "bicycle road", and it was Fun!

On Day 1 (Wednesday), we took a short (2 mi round trip) ride to inside the beltway with Nick's little Maqueen bike. But we decided to take a giant leap and bike to downtown Vienna to see the red cabos.

Nick was in full gears today. In the co-pilot's seat, he was such a good paddler, giving Dad a lot help going up and down the hills, and he "was not even sweating". Dad, on the other hand, was totally exhausted.... Sigh...

Nicholas' Homework

Now Mom has talked to Mrs. Weise, these are some of the homework coming back:

- Number of Sides in a Square
- Number of Legs of an otupos
- Value of 7 dimes
- Value of 7 nickles
- Legs of 6 dogs!!!!

Not only did Nick has the answers, he even read the questions right!

And Nicholas' first journal today:
"Win(when) I come home today, I ned (need) to do works! I am doing math and days of the week"!