Happy Thanksgiving

We had our usual gathering at my parents. This year I did all the cooking except the turkey. Everyone raved about my food, especially my Pumpkin and Sausage soup.

I think that was enough cooking to last until the end of the year.

On the bad news part, my Uncle does not look good. He has deteriorated so much in the last week. *sigh* Most of the out of the states relatives are flying in next week to see him, maybe for the last time.

...

One of my Uncles (He is my Dad's oldest brother) has stage four stomach cancer. He was in a hospital earlier, last week he was released to a nursing home. My cousin was looking for someone to drive my Aunt to see him on weekdays. I volunteered myself, since I am the only stay-at-home person in the family. The time I have to pick her up and drive her back is in the middle of the day, which means I pretty much can't do anything else. I am not complaining, but just didn't realize simply driving back and forth, even though the distance is short, can be so much work.

I am so tired by the time I get home from picking up my son, I just want to sleep. Laundries are piling up; we have been eating take-outs every night. But it is the least I can do to help out.

Trick or Treat

Too tired to think of a title

Just got back from OC fair. Geez, we spent almost eight hours there! It was a really good day to go, didn't feel that hot either. The kids had loads of fun and I had loads of food.

Potty training sucess

Amber is potty trained. Yay! Joy! She has been for a while now. What a relieve!

Since my last bitching section, I decided to make her go at least once per hour. If she did her business, great; if not, that was fine too. I did that for two weeks, obviously my persistent paid off. If nothing else, it sure saves lots of diaper money, which means more trips to Starbucks for me.

Off to bed now. Took the kids to circus tonight, or was it last night? JE felt asleep during intermission, but our daughter stayed awake the whole time, not even during the trip home. I blamed the cotton candy.

A day in downtown

Every other Friday, John is off work. That was the case for the past Friday. We decided to make it a day in downtown LA.

We took train, then dash to have breakfast at the Pantry. At 10:30 in the morning there was actually a line out the door. But we didn't have to wait long to get seated. The food was plenty and as yummy as I remembered, which the last time I was there was about ten years ago. JE enjoyed it too and ate everything on his plate.

After breakfast, we took another dash and headed out to California Science Center. It was our original plan, but when the dash dropped us off in front of Natural History Museum, JE decided he wanted to go there instead. We have a membership, so money was not lost on admission. We saw dinosaurs, mammals, displays from the movie Night at the Museum, and butterflies.

When all were seen, we headed out to Philippes for some french dip sandwich. Oh my God! I was so disappointed, the sandwich sucked so badly. Cole's is so much better and bigger, unfortunately it is closed for remodeling. At least I know now. Needless to say I left very angry and unsatisfied. We did end up having some mochi afterwards, so it made up a bit.

It was a pretty good day spent with family and not to mention the gas and parking we saved.

John got a notice for jury duty, it happens to be around the time we are in Australia. He had to call back and reschedule. He is actually excited about it. As for me, long ago I have checked that I have small ones to take care of at home, I have not got a notice for years.

Almost over

Our neighbor finally stopped shooting fireworks. It has been going on for the last hour. So annoying! I love fireworks, but not if it was that close to our window.

Anyway, had a good day today. John and JE went to see Transformer this morning, while Mom and I shopped for gifts for our Oz trip in August. Some crazy sales were happening today. JE really enjoyed the movie, and I just took him to see Ratatouille on Monday. I guess this summer is going to all about watching movies. I personally really liked Ratatouille, except the part about all the rats cooking. That grossed me out a little bit.

Tonight John also took JE to a Dodgers' game. It had fireworks after the game. I think they are still stuck in the parking lot.

Dance, dance

A while back I signed us up for a ballroom dance class in our local community class, us meaning husband and I. Tonight was the first class, we were learning Waltz. Even though I learned when I was fourteen or fifteen, it was still very very hard, mostly needed to get coordinated with John. In the beginning, he kept stepping on my left foot. But I think by the end of the class, we were getting the hang of it

It was actually a very good one-hour work-out. We had loads of fun. Now I need a foot massage, not used to dance in heals.

Bulletin Board III

- We finally got DVR from our cable company on Friday. I am loving it!
- I have already recorded a butch of shows, just hope I will have time to watch them.
- How did I live without it before?
- Had Father's day breakfast with parents' on Saturday morning.
- Went outlet shopping with John afterwards.
- Played "Ghost Squad" at D&B with him after three attempts on three machines. (Ok, I admit. I enjoyed it. Though my arms hurt. Those guns are heavy.)
- Bought some items for mother-in-law, kids, and myself. John got a new cell phone. I guess it was his father's day gift.
- Though we have long stopped giving each other gifts on mother's, father's, and v-day.
- Went swimming at parents' pool this afternoon.
- More like John and the kids swam.
- Amber finally came around. She even jumped into the pool a few times.
- I think it was a weekend well spent.
- Tomorrow get to sleep in a little since there will be no school. :)
- Have to think of ways to entertain the boy. Such as take him to Natural History Museum.

School is almost over! Sort of...

Only one week of school left for JE. Technically only four days, since last two days are half days. Part of me is very happy about it, knowing I don't have to get up early driving him to school; on the other hand, it will only last a week, then he will have summer school/camp. What? You think I am that crazy to have him home everyday, telling me he is bored every second for a whole summer?

On Sunday he is turning seven!! He keeps telling me he will be in second grade after summer. He is growing up too fast.

Sometime in August we are flying to Australia for my MIL's wedding. We are also dragging my parents there too. JE has been there twice already, but this year is the first year he actually understands where he is going and he is very excited about it. All I am hoping is to survive the 14-hour plane ride with Amber.

Crazy weekend

We are going to have a busy weekend ahead of us. John is taking JE for his end of year boy scout camping tomorrow. He had a t-ball game in the morning, but he hurt his knees this week at school, he will has to pass tomorrow's game. On Sunday, two kids in JE's class and a friend of ours are having birthday parties. JE can only go to two of them. In the middle of two parties, he is going to an award ceremony for his piano annual exam that he had a few weeks ago.

All I can say is that I am glad we finally got a second car last year. It will be insane without it. Did I also mention that I signed up ballet class for our daughter, on a Saturday morning none-the-less? I must be on crack when I did that.

hmm ribs

The past Saturday we went to annual work picnic for my husband's. It was also a March of Dime walk. John has always participated in it until this year, one year he even got second place for raising money.



We had lots of fun, especially the kids. There were tons of food, tons of games, the highlight was near the end that for $5/two pies (the money goes to March of Dimes), you got to throw pies full of whip cream to the two big bosses.

Food for Thoughts

Me: How can you think when you just sit there and eat?

JE (my son): I need brain food.

Sappy

this one is going to be sappy, so if you dont want to be grossed out, you can turn away now.

first thanks for all the good wishes, and sorry about the small letters and all the errors, very hard to type when the laptop is on the side instead of in front of me.

as you know by now i had surgery a week ago, and no it wasnt on my bum. you would think life will be great that all i do is being a couch potato, but too much of a good thing isnt that great, not to mention i have to sleep in an angle instead of lying down flat. my bum and my back hurt so badly, where i had the surgery actually dose not hurt that much compared to my back.

john has been working from home and waiting on me hand and foot. the man is so fantastic at taking care of me, our kids. and the house. i dont realize i have been under-appreciate him until got thrown into our current situation.

and thank goodness i am finally allowed to take showers again starting tomorrow. hah.

It is time

So my boy and a few of his school mates are having boy scout weekly meet-up downstairs. My husband was volunteered being the Cub scout leader when he mentioned he was a scout himself a long time ago. They had a surprised fire-drill earlier. It was pretty funny seeing them trying to crawl through each other. Good to know they know what to do. And thanks for cleaning our floor for us.

His best friend came home with us, and all I can say is I am glad I do not have two boys. They mostly entertained themselves cooped up in the boy's room, but when they emerge, oh my goodness, the noise level in the house!

Anyway, major event change in life, I am stressed out, but I do not want to go into details yet.

So how about some bitching instead? That always take my stress level down, especially the family kind.

After two kids, I have this small bulge on my tummy. It is mostly not visible if I wear the right clothes, but I know it is there. (Say what you want , I do have a tummy, so STFU.) At the recent family gathering(it mainly consisted relatives from my Dad's side), one of my cousins asked me if I was having a third child? I just glared at him, and he quickly said he was just joking. Whatever. I didn't appreciate the comment. Then a few moment's later, his Mom said the same thing. Gee, how come I was so not surprised that the comments were coming from them, like Mom like son. I was really pissed off. I could have said plenty equally rude remarks back to them, but I bit my tongue and walked away instead.

I only see them maybe three times a year. Even that it seems already too much if I have to deal with personal insults.

Seriously I can not imagine how can people be so rude! That is one of the things about the Asians, nothing is offensive to them, everything can be written off if you just say "I am just kidding." WTF? I do not understand that. I can sort of understand it when comment came from my aunt, since she is old-time Chinese. But my cousin? I except more from him.