While Luke was in bed in the morning he had a small smile and looked pensive and said, 'mama, I saw a pretty little girl yesterday'. 

I said 'which one? The one from your school?' 'No'

I thought for a while 'the one we saw downstairs who came out from the lift?' 'Yes'

Hmmm interesting. This is the first time he mention anything about attraction to the opposite sex. 

'You want to be her friend?' I probed further. He nodded yes and looked shy. 

'So cute!' I said and he covered his face with Pillow Friend.

My little boy is surely but slowly growing up. What a bittersweet experience. 

Wish we could have more moments like these because shortly after that he didn't want to get out of bed and tantrums were thrown and threats made... 

My White Christmas

Arlington, Texas

I had a white Christmas last year when my mom, Ivan and I went over to Arlington to visit my sisters and brother in law. Was excited as this is the first time I will be seeing snow and reuniting with family members. We were in Arlington from 20 Dec 09 to 26 Dec 09.


Transiting in Chicago. My first sight of snow.


Snowflake crystal taken in the plane when we landed in Chicago. So pretty!


Mom playing Bejewelled on the iphone.


My first frolick in the snow. Outside Chicago O'hare Airport. Freezing!


In Chicago O'hare.


Introducing my nephew Samuel Yam. He is shy...


He finally looks up. hee hee


All bundled up for his morning walk. so cute!


Mom and her grandson outside sis' house


Cute! And I love the tree.


Ivan introducing Samuel to the neighbour's fat cat.


Fei Mao.....


Alan my bro in law said he doesn't like the cat cos it shits in their lawn....


Samuel giving a shy smile... hee hee.


Outside my sister's door


Back in the house, Ivan showing Samuel pics of himself and the fat cat. We taught him 'fei mao'. Then we pointed to him and said 'hong sek kei fei mao'. (Red fat cat)


When we pointed to him in the photo and asked who is this? He said, 'hong sek kei fei mao'. Samuel really is very cute and entertaining.

Fort Worth Museum District

In Texas, you can't go anywhere without a car. So Alan took half day leave on one day and took us around the Forth Worth Museum District which is about 20mins drive from Arlington.


Kimball Art Museum by Louis Kahn




Modern Art Museum by Tadao Ando. So funny I see this in books but I never knew it's so close to my sister's place. This is across the road fromKimbell Art Museum. We only had half an hour before the museum closes so the kind lady at the reception let us see the exhibit for free!


Fighting metal trees


Like how they placed the sculpture in front of mirror


Sticky stream of sweets






This reminds me of the X-men guy with angel wings


Ivan contemplating


Super real figurine!


It's actually very tiny. Like about 40cm high.


I like the dynamism of this scuplture. Wonder how it balances


And the cloak like thing with red on one side and black on the reverse

Dallas Arts District and Arboretum

On another day my sister Lai See took my mom, Ivan and I to the Dallas Arts District


Wyly Theater


Tubular steel cladding


Sloping ramps at the entrance


Winspear Opera House by Fosters and Partners






Interesting glass which becomes opaque as you walk closer or stand at 90deg to it.


Interesting sculpture in Nasher Sculpture Centre




We proceeded to the Arboretum with less than an hour to spare before closing time. Tried to get in free again but didn't work this time...



Love the row of trees...






Love the trees!


Sis and Ivan looking at map... short of time so we had to maximise time.




I like this pair of sculpture blowing the trumpet


Sunset with Dallas skyline


Snow! My sis said apparently in the past 80 years, Texas only had snow 4 times!


Houses in the neighbourhood. People decorate and light up their houses, so Christmassy and pretty.


Sis and Alan's house


Opening presents!


Samuel running around, he looks so happy!


Sis trying to get Samuel to open his presents


Sis making yummy fried chicken wing for her bosses' Christmas party.

Gaylord Texan Resort

My sister and Alan took us to this resort with funny sounding name in Grapevine, a good 45mins drive from Arlington. The resort has a huge glass atrium that allows the internal landscape to look like summer in the midst of winter. We went there to see the ice sculpture exhibition


We had our first Western food here. hahaha.


Quesadilla


Burgers


BBQ ribs and chicken


Pulled pork

The ice scuplture display is based on The Grinch by Dr Seuss. The ice is sculpted by a guy from China, probably from Harbin.








Samuel is sooo cute!!


Samuel cried after sliding down the ice slope but he was very happy to see the penguin outside and kept hugging it. He calls it 'kei ngo' which is penguin in Cantonese




On the coveted spot in the train

This was a good holiday. Felt happy to spend time with family even just hanging around the house. Love the suburban house and the yard at the back. And the highlight was Samuel which is cute as can be and funny.

After Christmas day we left for the Big Apple