The New Happy Hallow in San Jose

We didn't go anywhere for spring break because Joshie had a fever the whole week. When he got better, we went to the Exploratorium and Happy Hallow Park and Zoo with Auntie Melissa. Thanks Mel for getting us in for FREE!!!!!!!!!!

Joshie loves feeding animals. He can do that all day if we have enough money to pay for all the food.

C's first piano recital

Caleb has been taking piano lessons for 8 months now.  This is his very first recital.  Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Ngo, Auntie Nina, Uncle Andy, and Auntie Melissa for attending and for support.

My #1 Child Accepted Christ

Today is a special day for me because I had the priviledge of sharing the gospel with Caleb.  Caleb is 6 and is able to reason and think logically.  So I thought he would be ready to make the decision for Christ.  I booked a Saturday so Hebron can spend some time to Dai-dai and I can share with Caleb.  Since Caleb likes to read alot, I used the wordless book to spark his interest.  I told him what each color meant.  It turns out that Caleb is very familiar with the gospel.  He said teachers told him about what Jesus did on the cross in preschool in room C6 and also in Kindergarten.  I guess he heard it, but have yet to make a decision.  So I asked if he believed in Jesus and would he want Jesus in his life and he said, "yes!" 

I don't expect drastic change in his life from here on, because as a child, I am not sure if he completely understands what it means to accept Christ as his personal Savior.  But at least hearing the gospel will give him a good foundation and moves him toward a life long relationship with our Creator.  I pray that as he grows, he will make this faith his own.  In the meantime, Hebron and I will try to be a good role model for him.

After his decision, I told him that angels in heaven are rejoicing because he became a child of God and is born again.  So we went to Chuck-e-cheese to celebrate.

Scrapbooking Marathon

Hebron will tell you that I am crazy, but I volunteered to help Caleb's teacher document kindergarten memories for her class.  When I volunteered to do that, I thought I was assisting the teacher.  Little did I know that I volunteered to take on the whole thing.  2009-2010 school year was like a big scrapbooking marathon where I document every activity in his kindergarten class.  Basically, I am creating 24 books (one for each child)  that document all the activties in the whole school year plus two additional books for the teachers.  There are at least 2 photo opportunities per month.  So there are at least 25 pages per book. 
Amazingly, I am almost done.  5 more pages per book and I am completely done.  I can't believe I did it despite, the holidays, tax busy season, and my MBA class.  I have to say, the memory books are quite nice and I am sure all the parents will appreciate it.

Caleb's first experience of answered prayer

For Caleb's 6th birthday we decided to host two parties at home.  One in the morning for school friends and  one in the evening for church friends.  Caleb wanted to rent a jumper with slide.  As you know, we can't have a jumper in the backyard if it rains.  The whole week before his birthday, the weather forecasted that it will rain for a week starting on Saturday, the day of the party.  So we prayed nightly that it will not rain.  And God answered.  Feb 20th was a cloudy day with no rain.  It started to drizzle alittle at about 6 pm and the next day was pouring rain. 

This was Caleb's first experience with answered prayer.  We took this opportunity to tell Caleb that God loves us and cares about our lives.  When we present out request to Him, He will answer according to His.  Thank you Father for showing Caleb that you care about every aspect of our lives.  May Caleb grow to depend on you through prayers.

Snow trip in February

Well, it's not our first snow trip.  We went with a couple of families from our church and it was first time for some people.  Everyone had lots of fun sledding for three days.  Poor Hebron was sick and hit his head on the fence post.

A Note From My Son

Sometime I feel like, as parent, I focus on teaching Caleb what not to do, but fail to focus on telling him that he is valued and loved.  So yesterday when I packed him his lunch, I wrote him and note to tell him I love him and gave to a bunch of gummies to share.  I am so glad he can read now.  He said he was happy and surprised.  Today, he responded to my note.  This is what he wrote.

Dear Mammy. I love you to! And I lice to play with you!
Love, Caleb

Caleb also drew four stick figures and put initial under each one.

D.M.    M.M.   C.M.    J.M.

Fome: Caleb
To: Mommy


He wrote it by sounding out each word.  I guess sometime it's hard to hear all the sounds.

Because "I Love You!"

We implimented house rules at the beginning of the year to teach the boys with their behavior.  They get a good point for obeying the rules and a bad point for disobedience.  Everyone can give each other a good or bad point because everyone must follow the rules, not just the kids. Then at the end of the week we add up all the points.  Whoever is in the positive will get stickers added to their crown. 

One of our rule is no yelling.  Well, today, I had to write an important email, but Joshie is always around me asking to get him food, play with him, turn on the TV, help him with the computer.  After awhile, I got upset because I was still not don't with my email.  I yelled at him and asked to stop bothering me and play by himself.  I felt soooo bad immediately after doing that.  So I apologize to him and told him he can give me a bad point for not obeying our house rule. 

He said, "No." 
I asked, "Why not?" 
He said, "Because I love you Mama!"

That just completely melted my heart.  How can I be upset at him when all he wants was my attention?  And all because he loves me.  Joshie is very effectionate; he shows it by kissing me millions of times a day and saying "I love you."  I wish this stage would never end.

Sinful Nature

I was sad to hear that Caleb was in trouble at school for lying.  I was astonished!  My sweet Caleb?!  NO! 
The bad Adam and Eve brought sin to the world.  Or else how can you explain how a sweet innocent child learned to lie.  His teacher told me that she heard some screaming in the bathroom and knew the three kids that did it.  Caleb was one of those screaming and when she asked him, he said he didn't and that someone else did.  The teacher, Mrs. Hui, told him the wouldn't be in trouble if he told the truth.  He is in trouble not for screaming but for lying.

Of course at night, Hebron talked to Caleb about lying and how it makes God and us sad.  We told him the story of George Washington and the cherry tree.  And we emphasized that lying will only get him into more trouble.  He was sorry and realized himself that lying was what got him in trouble.  I know satan tempts the "good boys" to lie because they don't want to get into trouble.  I know Caleb, if he knew that doing something is wrong, he would not do it.  I knew he was scared so he lied.  Perhaps it was my fault in waiting too long to teach him about lying.  I should have been on the defense and warn him about sin.

Our 3rd House

Praise the Lord that He has graciously given us this house. It is newer and bigger. I hope we will never out grow this one because I just don't like moving. We are in the process of remodeling the kitchen and I can't wait to see what it looks like. I had to pick out all the materials for the kitchen; From the cabinets, to the tiles, to appliances, to trims. There are so many choices and so much research. Being a financially conscious person, I want to choose products that's cheap and long lasting. Finding good products and good deals take work. And of course everything should match. Choosing all the materials was a long and gruesome process. Prior to this experience, I always thought that building a house from scratch would be fun because that way you can design everything according to your style. After just picking out the kitchen, I don't think I want a custom house. Too many choices, too much money, and too time consuming. Demo is completely and I hope everything will go smoothly.

I noticed one similarity between all our houses; they are all within one block to a public elementary school.  At 1600 142nd, we were directly in the back.  At 19146 Christensen, we were also in the back.  And now we are directly in front of Jensen Ranch.  I wonder what that means.   Hmmm........