壁虎功

Actually, Ha learned it two years ago while we were in Sophia's house, but he's getting better and faster now.

Middle Name, Last Name

Hee was calling himself Heehee Huang yesterday when he's playing, and I thought that this name was so cute. He knew that Heehee is his nickname, so he never told people that he's Heehee when he's at school, but he likes this name. I told him that when he was born, we only gave him his first name, and his last name was fixed because he was born in our family; however, when he grows old enough, if he really likes some other names, he can use that as his middle name, or, he may put Heehee as his middle name if he still really likes it when he grow up. Middle name is his own choice.

Then, he's curious about my middle name "Sun".

"Do you really like to be the Sun?" he asked.
Well, Sun is my middle name because before I married to Stephen, my last name was Sun. After I changed my last name to Huang, I chose Sun as my middle name.

" Do I need to change my last name, too if I get married?" he asked another question. "No, only girls need to do so."

"Why?" Why? I never thought about that, so I began to think. "I guessed that it's because in the Bible, God said that the husband is the head of the wife. Husband needs to love his wife, and wife needs to submit to her husband, and changing the last name may represent the submission"

"So, you need to listen to Daddy?" "Yes, I do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Actually, when I determined to change my last name, I didn't really think about what God says in the Bible; instead, a conversation with my client helped me to make my decision. At that time, I was auditing her organization, and I told her that I was going to get married soon. She told me that she has a happy family, but she didn't want to go through the trouble of changing her last name, so her kids sometimes got the questions at school like: "Did your Daddy and Mommy divorce?" "Why did your Mommy and you have different last name?".... Therefore, she encouraged me to change my last name for the kids' sake.

It really was not an easy thing to change the last name because it involved Social security agency, DMV, passport, other license, credit cards, bank accounts....., but I think that it worths the trouble. Now, we are all in "Huang" family. If I went through all these trouble to change my last name, I'd better put in my effort to strengthen my marriage because it would be a big headache to change it again. In the way, it is a sign of submission, isn't it? It meant that I took off what I had and went with what you have, so we are in a unity. Actually, this was originated from Chinese culture. My 外祖婆婆was 任成氏，my 祖奶奶was 孫鄒氏, and we don't even know their true name.

I never thought so deep about the last name until now. It surely is an interesting discovery.

西洋棋規則

We have a box of chess, and we have been playing it. We followed the basic rules, but we never spent time studying for the special rules and reading through the whole game instruction sheet. Last night, we had different opinions about "knight", so I did the research for it today. I'm glad that I didn't insist that my opinion was always right, and I taught my kids that we couldn't say other people was wrong unless we could prove it ( Ha, Hee and I all thought that Stephen was wrong ) because now, we know that we are wrong, and it's a good lesson for us.

I got the following rules from 中華民國西洋棋協會 http://140.112.10.122/chess/frame.htm


行棋規則：



王(King) 橫、直、斜都可以走，但每著限走一步。

后(Queen) 橫、直、斜都可以走，步數不受限制，但不能越子。它是西洋棋中威力最大的子。

城堡(Rook) 橫、豎均可以走，不能斜走。一般情況下不能越子。

主教(Bishop) 只能斜走。格數不限，不能越子。每方有兩主教，一個占白格，一個占黑格。

騎士(Knight) 每步棋先橫走或直走一格，然後再斜走一格，可以越子 （Stephen, you were right!)，也沒有"中國象棋"中"蹩馬腿"的限制。

兵(Pawn) 只能向前直走，每著只能走一格。但走第一步時，可以最多直進兩格。兵的吃子方法與行棋方向不一樣，它是直進斜吃，即如果兵的斜進一格內有對方棋子，就可以吃掉它而佔據該格。


特殊走法：


兵的升變：

任何一個兵直進達到對方底線時，即可升變"王"和"兵"以外的任何一種棋子。

王車易位： 每局棋中，雙方各有一次機會，讓王朝城堡的方向移動兩格，然後城堡越過王，放在與王緊鄰的一格上。王城堡易位根據左右分為"長易位"和"短易位"。


在下面四種情況下，王城堡易位不允許：



‧ 王城堡或已經移動過；
‧ 王和城堡之間有其他棋子阻隔；
‧ 王正被對方"將軍"；
‧ 經過或達到的位置受對方棋子的攻擊。

吃過路兵： 如果對方的兵第一次行棋且直進兩格，剛好形成本方有兵與其橫向緊貼並列，則本方的兵可以立即斜進，把對方的兵吃掉。這個動作必須立刻進行，緩著後無效。


勝、負、和：


西洋棋的對局目的是把對方的王將死。

比賽規定：

一方的王受到對方棋子攻擊時，成為王被照將，攻擊方稱為"將軍"。"王死則輸"。

出現以下情況，算和局：

一方輪走時，提議作和，對方同意。


其他詳細規定：


１．怎樣判定贏棋

（Ａ）將死對方王的一方獲勝注意：甲方走了一步使乙方無子可動的棋， 而乙方認輸了，後來發現最後一步棋使乙方無不可動；甲方將死了乙方而沒有注意到，然後在一著或更多著以後認了輸，後來發現甲方當時已將死了乙方。以上兩種情況應視無子可動和殺著，同時　　　對局早已結束。


（Ｂ）對方認輸得以方獲勝


２．怎樣判定和棋

（Ａ）行棋著的王未收到照將，但他不能進行任何合乎規則的著法，形成所謂無子可動的局面。

（Ｂ）雙方同意和棋。


（Ｃ）當重復局面將要或者已經第三次出現，每次輪到同一方走棋時，在一方的要求下可以作為和棋。

　　　要求和棋的權利僅屬於：　　

　　　(1)聲稱將要走的一步棋會造成三次重復局面的行棋者。　　

　　　(2)發現眼前的局面已重復出現三次的行棋者。



（Ｄ）行棋者證實，至少在五十回合中，雙方沒有吃過任何一子，也沒有走動任何一兵。對於某些局面，如果比賽開始前已有清楚的定論，五十回合規則的回合數可以增加。王、雙騎士對王、兵的殘局如符合以下條件，五十回合規則可延長到一百回合：　　

　　　(1)兵被馬死死擋住；　　

　　　(2)兵尚未越過下列格子：黑方--a4,b6,c5,d4,e4,f5,g6或h4；白方--　　　　　a5,b3,c4,d5,e5,f4,g3或h5。



３．照將的有關規定

（Ａ）當王所在的格子受到對方棋子的攻擊時，王就被照將，對方稱為將軍"。



（Ｂ）被照將的一方，必須立即應將。如果無法避開照將稱為被將死。



４．關於摸子

（Ａ）行棋者如預先通知對方或裁判員（對方不在時），可以擺正一個或更多的棋子。



（Ｂ）除了以上情況外，如果行棋者觸摸了：　　

　　　(1)同色的一個或更多的棋子，他必須走動或吃掉所觸摸的第一個可以走動或被吃的棋子； 　　

　　　(2)一個自己的棋子和一個對方的棋子，他必須用前者吃掉後者；如果下可能吃，必須走動前者；如果前者不可能走動，必須用其他棋子吃掉後者。



（ｃ）如果走到或吃子不可能進行，行棋者有選走任何合手規則的著法的自由。



５．怎樣判定一著棋的完成

（Ａ）當某棋子移到某空格，而行棋者的手已離開該棋子時。



（Ｂ）吃子時，當被吃的棋子從棋盤上被拿走，同時行棋者已將自己的棋子放到新的格子，並且棋已離手。



（Ｃ）易位時，當行棋者的手把車放在越過王的格子上時。



（Ｄ）兵升變時，當兵已從棋盤上拿走，新棋子已放到升變格並且已經離手時，即算完成一著棋。如兵達到升變格後離手，則這一著棋尚未完成，但行棋者已無權把該兵走到其他格子。

Boating at Vasona Park

Every year, our church has a churchwide picnic at Vasona Park in May, and this year, the weather is the best!

We also invited my parents to the picnic because my mom needed some exercise, and it's nearly impossible for her to do the exercise at home by herself. It's nice to take a walk in the beautiful weather!

Every year, when we come to Vasona Park, kids always like to take the little train ride and Merry-Go-Round, but this year, they decided to go for a padel boat ride. (Yes, my kids are growing up!) It's not very expensive: 4 people for one hour, only $12, and the little train ride will cost $2 or $3 per person for a 5 minute ride.

My dad and Stephen went with the kids, and my mom and I sat on a bench  under a shade to look at them.

They took turns to padel the boat, but whenever they changed seats, my mom got nervous. In this photo, Haha standed up, and it's a big No No for my mom. To me, since they wore life jackets, and they knew little about swimming, and my dad and Stephen were there, and the water was not really deep, I think that it's ok if they really fell into the water. It's better for them to learn the water safety when they are young and in the safe environment than learn it when they are old and in the dangerous environment. Well, they didn't fell this time, and they had a very good time. Ha told me that next time, he wants to try the rowing boat. Mmm...I don't know about that because I never try it myself, either.  I guess that we will try the padel boat for few more times, and after I feel comfortable, we may try the rowing boat. ( My mom said that if we want to try the rowing boat, don't let her know. Of course, I won't tell her, but she will see the photos in my blog anyways.)

Coughing, Coughing, Coughing

The first coughing is for me.
The second coughing is for Stephen.
The third coughing is for Hee.

Thank God, Ha is still well and healthy.

I started coughing in early April, and after coughing for 2 weeks, I passed it to Stephen. After he coughed for one week, he passed it to Hee, and both of them are still coughing, but are getting better.

We tried everything we knew to reduce the discomfort: 龍角散，枇杷膏，honey, honey & lemon, Halls, 杏仁茶，雞湯，黑芝麻茶，中藥，羅漢果紅棗枸杞湯，蓮藕茶，冰糖燉梨. 反正這些東西也都滿好吃的（except for 中藥, which I didn't try. Only Stephen and Hee drank it.), 就算沒效也沒什麼損失。

HOC5 Children's Choir

In January, we learned that our church is going to have a children choir, and we thought about having Ha join it because he loves to sing. Ha didn't participate in any other activities since he's not comfortable to be with strangers, so he didn't want to join the choir at first. However, he really loves to sing and didn't want to miss this opportunity; and most of all, his 2 good friends would be in the audition. Therefore, he agreed to go to the audition and give it a try.


Audition's cut off age was 8, and he was just 4 days away from 8 at audition day, and thanks to the kind aunites, he was able to join the choir.

The practice time is on Sat. night, from 6:45 to 7:40. He was so happy after the first practice, so happy after the second practice, so happy after the 3rd practice, and so happy after every single practice. He listened to the music and watched the Youtube link sent from the teacher very often, and he sang the songs when he was alone in his room. (According to him, the songs are the surprise gift for moms, so he couldn't sing nor show the hand motions to me before their official performance.)

5/9, Mother's day, the choir had their official performance on the 1st and 2nd Sunday Service. 3 months ago, he has invited his grandparents to watch the performance, so they were here, too.

The offertory was very nice since all the kids were very concentrated and giving out their best. They were so cute and the singing was so beautiful.

Since there were many other kids in the video, in order to respect their privacy, I only posted the videos in public setting for 3 days, and then I'll change them to private. If you couldn't see it, let me know, and I can email you the special token to view the private videos. 為了保障其他小孩的隱私，只在這裡放3天，3天之後，如果還想看，告訴我，我可以Email你一個特別的link 去看。
GPS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxVci3ct7A

母親妳真偉大 http://www.youtube.com/user/yisunhuang#p/a/u/0/dvuyeXQeS0o

Mother's Day

This year, our Mother's Day celebration party was on Sat. 5/8 because my parents came to our house on Friday, and after watching Ha's choir performance on Sunday, they would go home.

Ha had a longer practice this Sat. till 8:30, and Stephen offered to pick him up. I knew that he's going to buy a cake since we have discussed it the night before. However, when he came back, he also got some beautiful clothes; two for me, two for Mom, 是姐妹裝。This is one. (Hee was not in the photo because he had a cold and went to bed early.)

This is the other one. 一個一個看is fine, but when we standed together, 像不像兩個監獄裡的囚犯？

Well, my dear husband said that I can not write too many good things about him beacuse 他會不好意思, so I'll just stop here. He also told me that it's late, and I should go to bed, so I need to stop here. So I stop here!

By the way, the mengo cake was very good, too.

A Busy Saturday -4/22/10

We went on an AWANA outing to Mt. Hamilton Observatory in the morning. The scene was beautiful, but...........

The road was so winding! I am an experienced mom, so when I didn't hear Ha for few minutes, I asked him if he's ok. He said no, so we parked the car on the side, and I found a plastic bag for Ha. As soon as he got the bag, he threw up. Since there's another 30 minutes of  driving before we arrive the observatory, we decided to go home because we didn't think that Ha would make it all the way to the destination. Everything went fine on our way home, and I got off the car first to prepare for the lunch; however, Ha threw up again! And this time, he had given the bag back to me, and he threw up to the mat and to the back of the seat! I guessed that I was not experienced enough yet; otherwise, I would ask him to hold on to the bag until he's 100% ok.

Stephen started to clean up the inside of the car, and I took out all the mats and cleaned them one by one. After the second throwing up, Ha was completely ok finally.

We prepared the picnic for the outing, so we had the lunch in our backyard...to be as close to the nature as possible. I walked and ate in the backyard, and I found some ant eggs on our cherry tree. We took off all the leaves with ant eggs, and Stephen burned them to death with paper and fire. Then, I continued to walk, and I found that there were many other bugs' eggs on our grapefruit tree. The eggs were bigger and were on the branches, it's too big to be burned, so Stephen cut off the branches and put into yard waste bin.

Then, we helped kids to review the Chinese words that they were going to be tested, and at 4pm, kids went to Chinese school. 6pm, we went from Chinese school to my brother-in-law's house directly to celebrate his birthday. 6:35pm, after Ha had few pieces of pizza, I drove him to the church for children's choir practice and to pick him up at 7:40pm and headed to my brother-in-law's house again to have the cake. It's such a busy day!

雜技團新招

上次看了電視上有人表演平衡東西的特技，黃式雜技團團長輸人不輸陣，也推出一系列精彩節目。

一個椅腳撐起整個椅子

平衡羽球拍 （後面的小學徒也在苦練）

一面平衡羽球拍一面搖呼啦圈（還沒完全練到完美）

小學徒自以為厲害，也來秀一腳。

Community Day -5/4/10

Our state government cut a big chunk of education expenses; therefore, many of our school district's teachers received pink slips, and the class size will be increased for the next school year.

"Their Future is Now(TFIN)" is a partnership between the community, the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation, and the Cupertino Union School District to raise $3 million by 5/15 to keep all the teachers and keep the same class sizes.

Yesterday (5/4) was community day, and many restaurants, retail or service would donate 5 to 50% of the daily sales to the TFIN, so the school encouraged us to shop and to dine in the participating restaurants yesterday. Stephen got his haircut in one of the particpating store after work, and we went out for dinner. We tried TGI Friday first because many Ha and Hee's classmates would be there. The wait was too long. We saw Hee's teacher there, but according to Stephen, “人實在太多，空氣比高山上還稀薄”， and he started coughing hard when he entered the room, so we tried "Elephant Bar" which would also donate 20% of the sales to TFIN. On the street, we saw many people outside on the lawn waiting for the seats, and we knew that it would be a long wait, too. Then, we tried Fresh Choice, which is also nearby. On the parking lot,when we looked through the restaurant window, we saw a long waiting line as well, but at least, the line was inside the restaurant, so we decided to settle down because we believed that the rest of 30+ participating restaurants would be the same thing, and we were too hungry to go to another restaurant.

By the time we got the table, it's 8pm, and the long line was still forming until about 8:40pm. We left the restaurant at 9pm. On our way home, we drove through few other participating restaurants, and they were all still packed, and some of them still had waiting line. It's really the power of the community!