San Jose Children's Museum

We went to the Children's Museum in San Jose with three of Caleb's friends from school. The boys loved the hands-on experiments. This is Curtis, the friend Caleb plays with a lot at school. Caleb even speaks Cantonese to him. For some reason, Caleb thinks he can only speak Chinese to Curtis. One time I told him to tell Curtis something in English, Caleb said, "Mommy, but Curtis speaks Chinese." Actually, I can relate to that. I only speak Chinese to certain friends.





The boys' favorite exhibit there is the Water Way. It's a water play area with lots of small pastic balls that you can put through tubes and specially designed paths so the water can shoot the ball up high or to another water tank.





Joshie must have spent half an bour here. He loved collecting the balls and feeding it through this tube. The tube sucks the ball in and shoots it out on top into a tornato funnel.


Dai dai loved touching everything.

Harvest Festival

This halloween we didn't go trick-or-treating because the Trans invited us to join them at the Harvest Festival at Joyleen's school. Caleb requested to be Bob the Builder because he wanted to wear the hard hat and the flash light on his head. Joshie was a lion. He didn't want to wear the costum. But we made him wear it anyways. After he got to the festival and saw that everyone wore a costum, he was glad he had one too. Then he quickly got into character and even gave out loud roars.

Melissa went with us, but first we stopped by Chipotle for our annual FREE halloween burrito. I think this was our third year where we wrapped ourselves in foil and got a FREE burrito. Even Caleb got one. Here the boys helped carved the pumpkin. They worked really hard at it.

I'm a Pro

Who's that handsome boy with a great smile?This was Caleb's second time as ring bearer. He's a Pro this time. He knew exactly what he had to do. He walked down the aisle smiling and at a good pace. He stood proudly next to the groom, one of his favorite teacher, smiling at Daddy for a good shot. I'm so proud of him. What a brave boy!

Disney On Ice

Up until now, I have not taken Caleb to see a movie or any kids's show. I fear that movies might scare him or that he won't like the show. And I didn't want to waste money if he didn't like it. My uncle gave us Disney On Ice tickets, so we took the boys. It was a two hour show and it was very entertaining. Caleb talked through the whole thing; asking questions about what he saw and telling us his interpretation of the show. Joshie was the complete opposite. He was sooo mesmerized that he didn't blink and kept his eyes wide open in fear that he might miss something. He also sat very still through the entire show. He didn't even want to eat his favorite gummy candies that I brought for him. He just didn't want to miss a second of the action. Now, they kept asking us to bring them back to the show.

Pumpkin Patch

We visited the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin and some fall decorations. This was our third year going to G&M Farm in Livermore. It became one of our family's favorite tradition. We spent a couple of hours there and had a picnic lunch on site. Family with kids should definitely go, I am sure your kids will love it. We will head back to the farm next October. You are welcome to join us at our 4th annual pumpkin patch extravaganza in 2009. It will be the first week of October, so mark your calendar.

There were many fun things for kids to do at the farm. The boys worked their way through tunnels and dead ends in the hay maze.

The pony rides and cow train were popular kids' attractions. Picking out the perfect pumpkin was not as easy as it seem. Since all the pumpkins cost the same, we wanted the biggest and most perfect one.

This year the farm added a play structure and a corn box. What's a corn box? It's like sand box, but instead of sand, it's filled with corn. The boys loved it. They liked digging in it, being bury in it, and making snow angels. Oh no, corn angels.

Look, yi yi, the boys wanted to take this picture just for you.

Caleb said, "Where are my legs, yi yi?"

Joshie's nightly releases

Ever since Joshie was a baby, I enjoy going through his night time routine with him. Before he can talk, I enjoyed reading, singing, and cuddling with him before putting him to bed. As a baby, he would put his head on my shoulder and relax all his muscles while I sing him a lullabye. He usually waits for me to kiss him and say goodnight before he flipps over to sleep on his belly.
Now that he can talk and actually have things to say, our time together become a nightly venting session and a time where he tells me about different events. Our conversations usually take place while we cuddle in the dark. Here is a memorable conversation. Keep in mind that we communicate in Cantonese.

Dai Dai: Penguin! 哥哥 mo share bi dai dai uh. (This was triggered after he saw the toy penguin in his Toy Story book.)
Translation: Penguin! Big brother didn't share it with me.

Mommy: Penguin is 哥哥's special toy.

Dai Dai: Daddy thell chiew chiew.
Translation: Daddy threw away my golf club that I used as gun.

Mommy: Mo wan chiew chiew.
Translation: Don't play shooting with the golf club.

Dai Dai: 哥哥 chiew chiew dai dai uh.
Translation: Big brother shot me with those golf club gun.

Mommy: Mo, 哥哥 mo chiew chiew dai.
Translation: No, Caleb didn't shoot you.

Dai Dai: Sook sook gap gui dai uh.
Translation: That uncle squeezed me tight.

Mommy: Bin go sook sook? Sook sook hai ah yi tho?
Translation: Which Uncle? Uncle at Auntie Grace?

Dai Dai: Mm hai. Dai Dai hai quai.
Translation: No. Little brother is a good boy.

Mommy: Jian hai? Dai yow mo hum?
Translation: Really? Did you cry?

Dai Dai: Yow, buck goc Dai hai quai. Daddy fun giao.
Translation: Yes, but little brother is a good boy. Daddy is sleeping.

Mommy: Hai, Daddy fun giao. Dai fun giao too. Good night! I love you!
Translation: Yes, Daddy is sleeping. Dai sleeps too. Good night! I love you!

Dai Dai: Good night! I luv you too!

It's so funny he just jump to another topic. Sometimes in the middle of a sentence. Or maybe it's all related and he doesn't have the words to express it. Humm, who knows.

Big Brother Caleb

Today, we invited the three couples in our small group over for dinner. Hung and Fanny brought Joyleen and Jalen. The kids played well and had a blast together. They chased and followed each other everywhere. Toward the end of the night, I gave each child some chips. Fanny told me that Caleb asked Joyleen if she wanted water and she said yes. Caleb then got her and Jalen some water. Wow! What a good host! I am so proud of him. Caleb is a good big brother. He used to help Joshie take off his shoes when we get home. Recently, he taught Joshie how to take off his own shoes. Caleb is a kind, gentle, fun loving, and obedient boy most of the time. He has his moment where he whines, does not do what he is told, and fight with Joshie. But overall, Caleb is a good boy and we are blessed to have him.

Good bye summer

Wow, I can't believe summer is over already and the school year have already started. This summer was eventful. We went to 7 birthday parties in three months. We didn't even attend all the parties we were invited to. The boys' social calendar is taking over ours. Let's re-cap all the things we did this summer.

- Celebrated Joshie's 2nd birthday at Gymboree.
- Went to Jadon, Jalen, Camden, Isabella, Nathaniel, and Andrew's birthday party.
- Camping at Lassen National Forrest with Uncle Hysan and Auntie Noel.
- Went on SL Marina for a picnic and kite flying.
- Rowed boat at Lake Chabot.
- Visited the Zoo many times.
- Went to a pool party and swam. The boys are beginning to like the water just a little.
- Went to Summer Reading Program carnival at the SL library.
- Went to bowling and miniture golf.
- Took a mini vacation to Gilroy Garden.

First day of school

Yesterday, I started graduate school. I was a little nervious, like I always am. I didn't know how I can balance it with a job and two kids. The first class was not as intense as I imagined. So praise the Lord for that. My goals is not only to get an MBA, but to do it with little or no disruption to the boys' life.

Mini vacation to Gilroy Garden

Since I am going back to school, I thought we need to squeeze a little more fun out of summer before starting the school year. So during the labor day weekend we took the kids to a mini vacation to Gilroy Garden. They loved it, there were lots of rides that's appropriate for their age. This is the symbol of Gilroy Garden. The theme park rescued many circus trees. This is a cluster of many trees grown together to make this shape. They have many other designs.

The boys loved all the rides. We spent a whole day there and we still have not gone on it all.

Joshie loved this fire truck ride so much that he went on it FIVE times. Two time was when we first got there. Then before we left he said it wanted to ride on it again. When I went to get him after the third time, he smiled at me and said, "Dai dai go again." He turned around and climb in by himself. The only way I can get him to stop going on that ride was to lure him to another ride.

This fish ride actually goes pretty fast. Joshie was willing to give up the fire truck ride for this one. He rode on it twice and had a blast.

The boys usually doesn't like to run through water parks, but this time they were willing to get wet. We tried to take them swimming and had water play with them this summer. I think that's one reason why they are willing to get wet. And because Hebron and I were in there getting wet with them. They were soaked.

Noticed my face in this picture. It was more work on this ride than fun. I had to hold on to Joshie so he won't fall into the water and peddle at the same time. To make it tougher, I can hardly reach the peddle. Things a mom is willing to go through for her son.

I can't believe Caleb would ride on this one. It actually spins pretty fast, like the tea cup at Disneyland. He even did it by himself.