Not Too Bright

My boys have big pupils (from daddy), so they're very sensitive to light when they wake up. When they emerge from their room in the morning, the shutters must be closed or they can barely see where they're walking! If you turn on a light while they're sleeping, they cringe and cover their eyes like you've just shined a police spotlight in their face! One time, I flicked the light on while Russell was sleeping and he said, "OUCH!" I was like, "Are you kidding me? OUCH? From just turning the light on?" I teased him about it so much, that of course I would have both boys turn out the same way!

But I came across this on the Home Rejuvenation website...
This would be so cool to have at naptime. It would make the room not too bright, not too dark!

The shade is by Elina Aalto of Fiasko Design, and it is part of a traveling exhibition called SAUMA in New York. It's handmade and doesn't seem to be for sale. Even if it was, I know we couldn't afford it!

The Hills are alive...

Freshman of the Year!

Those bruised knees paid off! My niece Elle made Freshman of the Year for her high school basketball team! I had to use the same picture because I haven't seen her since softball started. Busy busy!!

We Left Our Wallet in El Segundo

Well we moved from El Segundo, a cute little town in the midst of the Chevron refinery, a steam plant, DWP (Department of Water and Power), a waste water treatment plant and LAX! YIKES! So even though we were a block from the beach and the weather was perfect most of the year, I was getting a little scared about what we might be breathing in each day. Also, I was TIRED! It was really hard for a lazy butt like me to have the two little ones all day. It was also hard to live in an apartment with the two loudest kids ever. AND Russell wanted to try for another one! WHUUUUT? So I said, "If you can get us back up to San Jose, near my family, before I turn 40, we can try for another one, otherwise, we can stay down here and move east."

He ended up finding another job in Santa Cruz. We moved on June 30, 2007. Less than seven months before I turned 40. Holy crap. He actually pulled it off.

HOWEVER, we cannot afford to live BY my parents. So we are living WITH MY PARENTS! It is the greatest thing ever for me (besides the unsolicited parenting advice). My mother cooks most nights, I get to see both sisters and their kids five days a week without even leaving the house! I can run errands with only one kid (or none!) because we are living with babysitters! And I don't even miss having control of the digital cable tv as much as I thought I would!

But here are some drawbacks, which I find more interesting to post than advantages:

1. We miss Russell's family & friends. Obvious, but it's hit harder than I thought. Cody has been asking to go see Grandma & Grandpa Chen, which is what they used to do almost every weekend before we moved.

2. We are totally squished in here! It looks like we are living in Tokyo or something! I will post pictures later, so you can totally appreciate your own space so much more!

3. My parents have to see every single meltdown (the kids and mine). Sometimes I think they fear for the kids because I am so enraged by some of the things my boys do.

4. I don't mind living in Toyland, but it drives my parents and Russell NUTS!

5. Their crazy dog, Hazel, makes going in the backyard hard for the boys. She has to be tied up, which I don't want to do unless I want muddy paw prints all over my back and chest.

6. The constant conflict of parenting between the new school (us) and the old school (my parents). My mom always says we're too nice, even though we yell, even though we use the naughty corner. Which makes me think what she really wants is us to whip out the wooden spoon and beat the kids like she used to do to me and my sisters. However, they have stopped rolling their eyes at our purchasing organic milk.

7. I'm sure Russell would post more drawbacks (living with his in-laws!), but he's too nice to make such a list.

8. I'm sure my parents would post more too, but they wouldn't want to see me any grouchier than I already am!

Water for Elephants

Oh my goodness! I can't believe I did #15 on my resolution list! I read Water for Elephants the other day! I had terrible insomnia at 2:15 am so I read until 7:30 am, then was able to complete the book by the end of the afternoon! Boy, was it hard to read once the boys woke up! Good thing the bulk of it was finished by then!

My cousin Kristeen had recommended the book, then I happened to see it at Costco, THEN I actually made time to open it, so I guess it was meant for me to read! I found it very entertaining. My niece Kylie is going to read it next. I can't wait to see what she thinks of it because I've heard mixed reviews.

No more penvy!

Not a very good picture, but that's because I took it myself, instead of having Ansell take it. I just couldn't wait any longer to post this...my sister, the one who owns numerous pens and pencils, bought me this set for Valentine's Day! Yesss!!!

Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
It was quite busy around here the past couple of days! We had cardmaking, wax heart making (didn't turn out too good), and cookie baking! Excuse the mess, but here are some of the lovely things that arose from it!!!

My niece Sydney with her gorgeous card creation...

My niece Evie with her beautiful card creation...

My nephew Koehl with his wonderful card creation...

I heavily hinted how much I love pink and brown...so guess which card Syd made for me?

We also made Linzer Cookies!

The Water Boy

No, it's not Neo arising from his Matrix slumber! It's just Tanner at bath time! I wanted to say he loves water, but last time we went to the beach, he screamed bloody murder when his toe touched the ice cold surf! I guess he's a warm water kind of guy, so Hawaii would probably be a better choice. Anyway, he loves to blow bubbles in the bath water, sip it (GROSS!), and his newest thing is to lay back in it! Which is what he is doing in these pictures Russell took. All I can think of when I look at them are a work by Sir John Everett Millais called "Ophelia", which is quite a creepy painting! Good thing Tanner is smiling!

Michelle's 40th Favors!

My dear friend Michelle turned 40 on Saturday, the 9th. Her mother asked us out for a surprise birthday brunch at California Cafe. It was a great little get together, but get this, she had FOUR different kinds of favors at the table!
Here they are...Kimi made these. She found pictures appropriate for each person and put them in the frames for us! She said we could take out the pictures and do whatever, but I'm keeping mine just as it is, tulle ribbon and all!

Her brother's girlfriend Jenn made these, they were all different kinds of ribbon and paper, but all coordinating. Jenn's best friend Marci made the glossy "amazing 40" tags. Jenn and Marci are extremely creative and detail oriented. Oh, and there are delicious lemon cookies inside of each box!

Her mother made these. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies! I would keep this too, but I don't want that cookie to go to waste!

I made these because Michelle loves cosmopolitans! The tag inside says, "Happy Fabulous 40th Michelle!"

Happy Rat Year!!!

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!!!
Happy Year of the Rat!
My in-laws are in Hong Kong to ring in the Chinese New Year, and they said that people over there say, "Sun Tai Geen Hong" (body healthy) instead of Gung Hay Fat Choy (wish you wealth) now!



Here are the boys with their rubber rat. I don't think we have anyone in our immediate families born in the Year of the Rat. Russell and Cody are monkeys, Tanner is a rooster, and I am a sheep (but I grew up thinking I was a monkey, until I married Russell, and he told me the lunar new year starts in February, not January 1st!). Oops!

Our Little Gardener

Here is Tanner with his new bubble lawn mower! Back in 1990, I had bought one for my first niece, Kylie. I have been wanting to get one for the boys, but we didn't have a yard back at the apartment in El Segundo! So now we finally have a yard (grandpa & grandma's) to "mow".

I like it because it keeps them on the move. Usually, they are going nuts in the house, so I take them outside to run around, and they end up squatting in one place (playing in the dirt, looking at ants, etc.) instead of burning off some of that endless energy! I hope they keep their interest in this because I just bought a GALLON of bubbles at Target!

p.s. I went and had Tanner's hair fixed, but it's looking more Lloyd Christmas than ever!!!