The Deterdings

January Blitz

2012-02-14T11:31:00.000-05:00

January flew by in a blur. Video snippets of our month -- we also had nye (cozy) celebrations, tet (lunar) family-gambling celebration, where the girls got so much li-xi $$, we're going to hersey park in the summer!
Winter is no hiberation for us!

Note, in the video, how indepent the girls are at this age, sweet!

What I want to be when I grow up

2012-01-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

I know the girls are only 5, but momma already has career plans for them. Laurel is the better, more adventurous eater and she's darn cute. So guess what momma hopes she'll be?

She's just a tad shy, but practice makes perfect. Watch out Anthony Bourdain, there's a new talent in town.
Introducing the 'Twin Observations' show on the Deterding Food channel!

Stay tuned for Vienna's professional debut!

Happy Bday Jesus!

2011-12-26T18:13:00.001-05:00

to minimize the commercialism of Christmas, the girls ask Santa for ONE toy wish. in addition, they also get stocking stuffers, a few small wrapped gifts from us, presents fm both sets of grand parents, aunts and uncles...which is more than enough, esp since they are already drowning in toys (stuff) to begin with! i want them to feel grateful for all that they have and not spoiled (always expecting, wanting more).

and i like seeing them not just opening the presents but then also playing with their gifts (versus discarding them to the side). warms my heart to see, they appreciate and like what they were given. thus for us, Christmas morn is a sweet, slow, savory process: open present, play and repeat.

instead we try to emphasize the giving, charity and spiritual experiences of Christmas. they help decorate the house & tree, send Christmas greeting cards, including to their sponsor brother and sister, bake cookies for their whole class (the only time of year momma bakes) and fill shoebox gifts for needy children.
and of course, attend church and celebrate Jesus' birthday!!

For the Veterans!

2011-11-16T21:40:00.001-05:00

bday blowout

2011-11-05T18:26:00.001-04:00

there's a show i record on tivo, 'outrageous kid parties'. we always have bday celebration for the girls, it's ALOT of work (I have to start 4mos in advance to pace myself-- like planning a mini wedding!) and can be $$$, but seeing their faces light up with happiness, with the specialness of their day-- SO worth it. and they grow up way too fast-- way too soon, just memories we'll have to cherish.

we went to our new neighbor's, landon, who turned 5 today. his party could qualify for the show. choo-choo train, moon bounces, magician, face painter, balloon artist and costumed super heros. check out the girls still giddy fm the fun (and vienna's amazing dragon balloon!) and they have another one tmrw. happy big 0-5 to landon and ethan!!!!

Some Firsts!

2011-10-02T16:23:00.000-04:00

1st day of Kindergarten!

the girls got (were put) on the wrong bus home, but good thing, momma took the day off and decided to double-ck. after raising the alarm and a 10-minute search that held up all the other buses, the girls were finally put on the right bus. the first day of kindergarten wasn't without bumps but at least not fm the girls! they were so ready; and love their new teacher and friends.

1st sleepover!

sassy spa mobile was a big hit! the girls (cousins) got pampered with a mani/pedi, then a 'breakfast for dinner' feast before hitting the sack.

they couldnt decide who would sleep with who in which bed in which room, so eric had a brilliant idea: they all slept on the floor together! a true slumber party!

Home Sweet HOME

2011-09-15T19:41:00.000-04:00

It was alot of stress, annoyance, mess, dust, bugs, critters, choas (would never do it again), but we're pretty much finally done with the addition YAY!!
There isnt anything about the design I would change, LOVE LOVE it. To quote, 'it's no longer a rambler', sums it up. And it doesnt look like an addition.
The girls now have their own 'zone' upstairs including their own bedrooms with bunk beds for sleepovers and a playroom (that contains the mess! LOVE it!)

5th Bday Party!

2011-09-10T23:20:00.000-04:00

We're months behind, esp on the bday thank you's.

Long story short, we got a computer virus, got new computer, but doesn't print like it should (sigh)...so instead of mailing cards, a BIG thank you straight from the girls. We hope everyone had a blast! We did! We THANK YOU!

Go Tadpoles!

2011-07-19T08:09:00.014-04:00

The girls are part of Fairfax pool's swim team, the Frogs; for 6 and under, the Tadpoles. For the little kids, it's mostly one-one time with their 'coach' to get more comfortable and progress in the water. Unless you're ready and noticed by your coach, you can be selected to compete in a meet. Laurel swam her FIRST meet last night and she WON!!!!

Even after getting a late start and EVEN after swimming towards her coach vs the wall, she WON! Notice in the video, Laurel is up the steps and out of the water before some kids reach the wall (!)

She may be short & compact, but she's freaking fast in the water!! I'm so impressed and proud.

Vienna also qualified for the meet, but she had to sit out due to a monkey bar accident (fractured elbow). I'm sure it'll be one of many, she is our climber and fearless.

Isn't she lovely...

2011-05-31T22:33:00.019-04:00

Vienna wanted to cut her hair (like Peter Pan-- which ensued into a 'talk'). But It's her hair and makes her happy (and hurts no one), so we let her go for it. This was her choice, a 'pixie dust' haircut.
I think it really fits her, highlights her big, brown eyes and heart-shaped face. Vienna maybe a tomboy, but she can still rock a pink tutu and is just a silly, sweet girl at heart.

More Memorial Day wkend pics fm our canoe trip and trek to dinosaur land , a cheesy, tourist trap-- but of course the girls loved it. And so cute when they recognize and know all the big dinosaur names.

Alittle busy with..

2011-05-09T22:01:00.019-04:00

but we did manage to get out of dodge for our annual mother's day trip to monster trucks on the beach! we saw three shows from the comforts of our balcony (the show is so popular, have to book a year in advance)-- enjoyed every one, esp the crazy, oooh--ahhhh---wheeling-freestyle!

what, you have to go potty? go inside.

what, you need a drink? go inside.

what, you're too hot? go inside.

no lines, no hassle, doesnt get any better than that. happy mother's day to me!

babysitting club

2011-03-28T19:33:00.013-04:00

Once a month, we get four glorious hours of us-only, kids-free time. Enough time to catch lunch and a matinee. We are four families/friends from HMCD school (all within 5miles radius) who take turns hosting the babysitting club. It's a monthly play date for the kids and free babysitting for us. Gotta love that!!

Mini-Vacas

2011-03-16T08:20:00.009-04:00

We take two main vacas over the summer. But we have the travel bug (life is short, get off the couch!). So every other month, we take mini-trips.
Winter fun trip at the Homestead in January. Highly recommend for families and beginner ski-ers.

Camping at Westmoreland State Park in March. Vienna has been asking to go camping to roast s'mores, 'since s'mores aren't good unless at a campfire'. Spring is the perfect time to go, no bugs! And cabins are the way to go, running water & heat... heaven :-)
The kids (we went with Vienna's best bud, Griffy and his family) enjoyed digging for shark's teeth, fishing, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs; even the trails were nice and short for their little legs. No agenda except to relax, hang out and enjoy the great outdoors-- perfect wkend getaway.

In May, we're headed to VA beach for some extreme truck racing!

Deterding Idol

2011-02-27T22:04:00.007-05:00

A couple of presents from Christmas.

Call and vote for your favorite!!!

still rocking on with their favorite band at Jammin Java:

Happy (belated) Tet! Year of the Rabbit!

2011-02-12T11:08:00.009-05:00

Wishing you a rocking New Year!!!!

This year's ao dai couresty of Aunt Louise. Thanks Anh, the girls love their new 'princess' dresses!

Happy (belated) New Year!

2011-01-05T19:34:00.016-05:00

not the best pic from eric's phone. taken at frostival, an indoor carnival. we went last yr and the girls absolutely love it. there was even a countdown and balloon drop at 3PM for the kids!

for dinner, we had our traditional steak & seafood feast in the 'formal' dining room-- a nice touch but mostly lost on the girls. we (esp Eric) like to keep ny eve's intimate and family-oriented--- no festive parties for us!

New Year Interview

(Vienna then Laurel's answers; interviews conducted separately)

How old are you? 4; 4

What did you ask for Xmas this year? a small guitar since I'm small; my little pony

What does mommy do? cook; cook & work on the computer

What does daddy do? watch football; work and starts the fire (in the wood stove)

What is your favorite color? yellow; blue

What is your favorite food? cheese (same answer like last year's); spaghetti

What food don't you like? peppers; broccoli

What is your favorite animal? cat; my cat

What is your favorite song? Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer, ditto

(we saw Rudolph at Adventure Theatre during Xmas time-- a wonderful, well-done production. Vienna's even asking for a Rudolph bday cake!)

What is your favorite movie? Pooh movie; Rapunzel

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla; Chocolate & Vanilla

Who is your favorite person? Tatum (classmate); mommy, daddy and my sister!

Who is your best friend? Griffy (Vienna's best bud for over 2 years); Julia (another classmate)

What is your favorite book? Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer; Baby Jesus book (beautiful children's bible gramma D got them for Xmas)

What is your favorite thing to do? draw; play

What don't you like to do? c ounting; karate

What do you want to do when you grow up? policeman- who checks seat belts; in a marching band! (might have been slightly influenced by the Rose parade from that morning)

Have the best & bright new year filled with love, happiness and success!

4 1/2

2010-12-10T08:30:00.035-05:00

Before we start with the Xmas blitz, some random thoughts I want to jot down before I forget:

Vienna, the tomboy, loves to climb - on trees, monkey bars-- just like her poppa-- skinny but strong. She loves to say 'poop'. This morning she was singing, Rudolph the red-nose poop!

Her spontaneity has a sweet side, she says 'I love you' the most and at random moments. She's stubborn when she sets her mind, there's no negotiating with her--- I try to win the war, since alot times, she wins the battles. Speaking of stubborn, she is slow as molasses. Not only is she slow in comparison to Laurel, but according to her teacher, the slowest in a class of 22! At home, I have her 'following' Laurel , otherwise, she gets distracted and it can take forever to get ready!

Laurel, the gentle soul. She says 'my daddy', 'my mommy' and let's us know, she misses us when she's away from us. She's still my cuddle-bug, esp in the morn when they wake up and climb in bed with us. She is sensitive, like momma, she cried during the movie, Tangled. She's still more girly and has way too many dollies. Her outfits are more coordinated than her sister's (Vienna would pick a favorite shirt and wear it everyday if she could).

Her tough side, she is more competitive. She focuses and wants to do well. When they fight, Laurel almost always wins. She's just as outdoorsy as Vienna-- and has already decided which truck she or Vienna will inherit from poppa when they grow up!

They don't nap consistently anymore, esp during the wkends, when we all sleep in. If they do nap, it's for an hour or less. They're growing, but still VERY petite (maybe 5% on the charts). Vienna is about 27 lbs, Laurel 29 lbs. Who knows when their growth spurt will kick in, maybe in college, like their poppa!

In spite of their different personalities, they play so well together. There are some squabbles (you're mean, you're a diaper, I'm not gonna play w/you, and so on), but 95% of the time, they truly enjoy each other's company. They (esp Laurel) are getting into board and card games, which momma enjoys too.

I know I'm biased, but my babies are growing up to be sweet, adorable kids!

THANKS for 5 yrs!

2010-11-15T13:35:00.023-05:00

To celebrate our 5-yr anniversary and my 40th bday, we took a trip to Maine! Without the kids!!! Our first trip w/out the kids! Otherwise, we've always traveled as a family since they were months old--- they already have a few stamps on their passports!

They had such a good time w/gramma D, they barely missed us. She took them to all their activities/parties, shopping for new sparkly shoes, the play ground, school, etc -- you know, 4 yr olds and their jam-packed schedules!

And we had a blast! We figure we would do something we couldn't (enjoyably) with the kids: hiking and eating lobsters!

Packed sweat pants, sweaters, hat and hiking boots--comfy clothes---my kinda trip! Ate lobsters, sweet sea-tasting lobsters EVERY day--- my kinda trip!

Sleeping in and waking up by the bay to a gourmet, home-cooked breakfast---our kinda trip!

If you love nature, you'll LOVE hiking Acadia park--- Eric's kinda trip!
It's where you'll see:

the ocean coastline hugging the mountains

the sun sets in magnificent hues every night

picturesque mini-waterfalls and streams

to thundering cascades

historical trails and bridges

to a pond with sandy beach! Acadia has it all!!

Thanks baby for 5 wonderful years! You're such a great guy, husband and father!

We Heart Autumn!

2010-11-03T20:12:00.005-04:00

How many different events can you count? Too many!
Yes, we get into Halloween! After summer, fall is our favorite season!

Our Athletes

2010-10-11T22:14:00.007-04:00

if you know me, you know i'm a bit 'athletically challenged'. i play some tennis and that's about it. but i wonder, if i had been more exposed as a kid, i might be more coordinated today (like eric, who plays most sports effortlessly).

sports is a total win-win. kids learn camaraderie, team work, hand-eye coordination and keeps them healthy & active throughout their lives! (life is short, get off the couch!!)

so if i push the girls alittle, it's so they dont have the same 'what if?'.
and so far, it's working, our mini-athletes:

More Toys

2010-09-26T13:47:00.008-04:00

ppl ask me why eric started a side business when he works full time as an IT manger for this company. i answer, he knows i want to retire by 55.

these may be the real reason. after breaking even in 3mos, mr. sucessful business man rewards himself with this:

as an upgrade from this (note only 4 puny vs 6 powerful tires).
i have to admit, all the kids (young and old) enjoy riding in the 'rocket cars':

Wind Swept

2010-09-04T20:59:00.031-04:00

salty ocean breeze to crisp mountain air (ck out the mountain goat in the back giving us the 'those tourist' look)

our annual summer trip to visit gramma D in hilton head. some highlights:

- sunny, sunny days. it never rained except maybe once at night. June is the best time to head south before it heats up.

- warm, super shallow waters. the girls rode (and rode) the 'bumpy' waves in their tubes and boogie boards

- visiting with three sisters who are three teachers. the girls love the attention which means less work for us (-:

- a fun day trip to Charleston, touring the old homes and checking out their aquarium with a cool penguin exhibit

- six full days of beach and pool. enough for us, but the girls could have stayed another week.

for our end of the summer trip, we decided to visit Colorado. Eric's dad was born and raised in CO, so we spent a couple of days visiting family before heading to Denver.

some highlights:

- the girls got to met most of Eric's paternal side of the family, esp Aunt Alma who is 96. they're too young to understand, but it was neat showing them part of their heritage. from the acres and acres of farm land to cattle-raising and live stock kept in the Deterding family for generations. now I get why Eric loves rocks, Indian heads and 4-wheel driving...it's a different world and life style, the heart land.

- aunt LouAnn and uncle Leroy made us a full breakfast and dinner for three days--delicious, local beef and yummy home-made pies! also had my first malt shake straight from their kitchen.

- going fishing where poppa and grandpa fished as a boy. the girls fished before, but first time they caught live ones!

- a quick stay at Black Hawk, a western-like town filled with casinos. mommy actually won some $$, before poppa ended up loosing it. forget how much i love casino buffets. the one at Ameristar can't be beat-- crab legs and cotton candy!

- Eric was right, the Appalachian mountains (of the East) are nothing compared to the Rockies. we drove up (and up) and right on the edge of Mount Evans. The drive isnt for the weak of heart but the view is awe-inspiring.

- wild mountain goats! they are so rare, and we saw a bunch! Laurel caught sight of them first and she was so thrilled. no moose or bears thou.

- checking out the mile-high city of Denver. it's a great town, full of culture and outdoor adventures. known for it's 300 days of sunshine and pristine ski-ing. who needs a thread mill when you have the mountains.

So many parties, so little time...

2010-08-21T20:36:00.010-04:00

Sophia's 'wedding fantasy' bday party this last wkend. They got to wear their flower girl dresses from Aunt Louise's wedding, fully accessorized this time. All the mini-brides and (2) top-hat grooms were so cute!

I've lost count of how many parties the girls have been invited to this summer. It must be bday party season!

2 Weddings and a Party

2010-08-09T17:22:00.007-04:00

Missy's wedding

Aunt Louise's wedding:

Marley's luau out party:

Summer is zooming by!

For Laughs

2010-07-28T21:22:00.004-04:00

been super busy at work, a quick video for laughs.
check out Laurel's moves (our little dancer) and the (jumpy) masked one isnt so bad either.

Ballerina and SuperHero Bday Party!

2010-07-16T11:00:00.011-04:00

Happy 4th bday my darling girls! Each year the girls pick the theme, depending on what they're into. They had a blast with all thier ballerina and superhero friends. And being surrounded by so much love and joy! After the party, it took two days to open presents! It's official, bdays are even better than Xmas!
Enjoy the pics and video. Big THANKS to Kim for being our photographer for the day, you did an awesome job!

Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T23:19:00.007-04:00

Fireworks start way too late for the girls (maybe next year they can stay up), so we always have our own backyard version. VIP seats and just as much fun, esp the fireworks that fart!

Look what momma cooked up

2010-06-09T23:14:00.002-04:00

I know you want one (-;

Summer Kickoff

2010-06-02T07:47:00.009-04:00

berry picking in our front yard

rafting on the Shenandoah with friends and cousins

also hit the pool with gramma D and rounded out the wkend w/the viva vienna festival. we took ginger to the festival since it reminds momma of when we first bought her home one year ago, when she was the cutest puppy around. she has a blast w/all the sights, sounds, smells and occasionally doggy meet&greet. but this year it was too HOT and she only lasted a good 1/2 hour before eric had to drop her back at home. then poppa couldnt take the heat and we headed home after lunch (of chicken on stick, funnel cake, ice cream and cotton candy) and weary from the carnival rides. summer is here!

Horse Lovers

2010-05-20T21:25:00.008-04:00

another bday party with pony rides. something about little girls and horses, esp at this age. does that mean we should get the girls a (miniature) horse? Eric does, he's considering it for their big 5th bday. Am I the only one who thinks that's a bit over the top?

What did you do for mom's day?

2010-05-12T20:43:00.006-04:00

we went to virginia beach for monster trucks on the beach!

since vienna likes trucks, we figure she'd enjoy seeing BIG trucks. BIG trucks racing, jumping, diving, chomping metal! woohooo!!

the motorcycle drag race and the monster free style jumps were the thrilling highlights. vienna stated she would like a helmet, just like the winner on the red motorcycle.

Momma had a blast too!! laurel isnt as big on trucks, but she had the beach and indoor pool.
we've already booked a room for next year!

Now I know

2010-05-04T07:08:00.014-04:00

What kind of bday cake to you want?

the tomboy: Iron Man

the girly girl: princess or ballerina

Who do you want to invite to your bday party:

the tomboy: Griffy, Sevi (Sebastian), Nathan

the girly girl: Ada, Britian, Tamsen, Ella

While in the town of Vienna, hanging out by the train park, Eric spots a karate classroom, 'let's go ck out karate, hichi punch!'.

the tomboy: I want to do karate!

What about you? the girly girl: no, ballerina

at the end of class, soccer coach asks, 'do you want a pink sticker?'

the tomboy wrinkles her nose, 'no orange'

at the school's playground pick up, the tomboy comes home w/scratches and bruises on her leg.

the girly girl is usually sitting on the teacher's lap.

each morning getting ready for school, the tomboy wears socks and sneakers.

the girly girl dons 1 pink croc and 1 purple croc (fashion statement?)

for xmas, the tomboy requests a 'rocket car' (just like poppa). she doesnt like to let anyone else drive and likes to wash and clean her car (just like poppa).

the girly girl got her prancing, ride-on horse.

at the store, they get to pick one toy with their gift cards:

the tomboy wants the spiderman snorkeling kit (she still loves to swim and dive).

the girly girl chooses (yet another) doll, one w/long hair to comb.

our three musketeers:

Happy Easter!

2010-04-07T07:46:00.013-04:00

Easter egg hunt w/all the Vu cousins. We had age brackets for the younger 2-4yr old (easy) and older 5+ (harder hunt).

All the kids got candy goodie bags (easier than filling each egg), with a grand prize (theme toy baskets) for each bracket. Noah and Laurel were the big winners (!)

OK, so we practiced alittle beforehand. Since Vienna gets distracted easily, Laurel was our prime contender. She just had to out-hunt Lindsey (little Ella wasn't a real threat). And she did it, she did it! OK, call us alittle competitive (:

Easter Sunday rock & roll church service then a wonderful, relaxing brunch at Alto Plaza (ate way too much raw oysters!) with Gramma D. Hope you had a fantastic Easter too!

Easter Time

2010-03-30T20:34:00.008-04:00

an easter egg roll not hunt. i had them all psyched up to dodge the bigger kids and grab all the eggs. a roll isnt as competitive.
Laurel was frustrated at first when she missed the egg w/her swipes, stomping off. after Eric cajoled her back, she finished 1st!

ran into willa, their school friend and the Easter Bunny.

theme parties

2010-03-20T21:26:00.013-04:00

Fantasy and imagination is big at this age, esp through dress up. I'm gonna miss this silly, who-do-I-want-to-be-today stage .... I wish they can be 3 forever!

character playdate at Sumi's house

red carpet walk at Jenna's bday party
power pose with Guinivere at Mia's princess bday party

Back to WVA

2010-03-07T20:58:00.006-05:00

We booked a trip to Greenbrier to test our luck for the New Year, but with the 'snowmageddon', we didn't get to go til this last wk.
Old, historic hotel oozing with southern charm. Every room had a unique decor, even the bathrooms!
We only stayed 3 days, but we squeezed in quite a bit. Enjoyed the 'tea party' every afternoon, swam in the Olympic pool with tiles dating back from the 1940s, walked the bunker tour (an underground hideout for our legislative branch during a nuclear threat), climbed a cave dripping with evolving stalagmite, hiked with sweeping views of the mountains; and of course, gambled!
We invited Grandma Vu to join us. She likes to travel. And she also likes to go to bed early, allowing us to sneak out to the casino. A win-win for everyone!
Sadly, I'm not a winner at the cards. Even managed to loose $100 bill dropped fm my purse. Talking about bad luck! Eric did decent, up then down, but overall still up in the end. The year of the Tiger may be a bust year for one of us.

Be Mine

2010-02-21T18:15:00.011-05:00

We didnt get around to celebrating Valentine's until this wkend with Tet last week. Momma got a sweet, home-made card and thrilling lunch at Sakura Japanese Steak house. Vienna covered her eyes when the flames exploded. But we all enjoyed the twirling knives, onion volcano, egg juggle, open-your-mouth-for-a-morsel-toss....

Here we are getting ready to drive to the restaurant.

Yes, this is Eric's present to himself. Hmm, I might have been jibbed. He got a car, I got a card. But Momma has to admit, it is a fun car to cruise in!

Happy Tet! Year of the Tiger!

2010-02-14T09:17:00.008-05:00

momma wasn't as prepared this year, but gramma Vu was. she got the girls these pretty Asian (ao dai) dresses for the New Year:

gambling is a New Year and Vu family tradition (at every age :-)

the girls got tons of li xi money. Check out the ones from Uncle Duy. The serial #s start w/8888. He must have special ordered them, very cool. Another collector's item to add to Eric's cabinet for safe keeping.

funny girl

2010-02-10T08:06:00.008-05:00

to save momma time in the morning, the girls dress themselves . Vienna created this ensemble for herself...ROAR.

ARGH, come on in matee! (yes, that is a clear eye patch she has on via rubberband).

She also likes to go shopping with her swim goggles. Our silly girl.

New Year Interview

2010-01-24T19:35:00.009-05:00

All you want to know about the Deterding twins.
Answers by birth order: Vienna then Laurel's.

How old are you: 3; 3

Who is your mommy? you are my mommy; ditto

What does your mommy do? she works on the vacuum; she works on the computer

Who is your daddy? He's over there; ditto

What does your daddy do? He goes to work

What is your favorite color: purple; pink

What do you want to be when you grow up? tall like Griffy; be tall

What is your favorite food: blueberries; ice cream

What food don't you like: I don't like spaghetti (she'll eat the noodles w/out the sauce); cheese!

What is your favorite animal: cow; horse

What is your favorite song: Jingle Bell Batman song; The purse goes away (?)

What is your favorite movie: Spiderman; ditto

What is your favorite ice cream flavor: vanilla; chocolate

Who is your favorite person: Jacob (fm school); my sister Vienna

Who is your best friend: Jacob (from school); Britain (from school)

What is your favorite book: Winnie the Witch (thou she sleeps with the Wiggles Yummy Yummy Fruit Salad book); Peter Pan (cause it was Poppa's fav book)

What is your favorite thing to do: play with toys; go to school

Who is your sister: Laurel; Vienna

Where did your sister come from: Momma's belly; ditto

Self portraits:

Ice Ice Babies

2010-01-15T21:08:00.012-05:00

We hit the slopes to kick off the New Year. The girls had their first ski lesson. They did really well-- they were able to stay upright going downhill -- Vienna even got the knack of steering alittle-- no poles of course. They both enjoyed the lift 'ride'. It's nice when they start young, no fear.

Wintergreen is chock-full of fun kiddie activities. They also did tubing, roasted s'mores, indoor bounce room and swam in the pool & hot tub. Smack in the middle of blue ridge mountains, the views are never-ending and spectacular. This may be our new New Year's tradition.

XMAS 2009 HighLights

2009-12-29T18:47:00.011-05:00

we also saw a xmas movie with thier cousin and friends, dipped and sprinkled pretzels in choco for their class gifts, read nightly xmas books, made ornaments for their own mini-tree, attended a candle-lit service xmas eve with gramma D.... what a whirl-wind xmas!

at 3yrs old, this was the best xmas yet! they get it all: the magic of Santa, decorating the tree, gift-giving and the story of baby Jesus. Vienna was sad the elf had to go back to Santa and has asked since for xmas back. they love xmas, dont we all!

All in one week...

2009-12-06T21:41:00.011-05:00

From this:

To this:

Crazy Weather Week!
Happy Snow Day!

Super Thankful

2009-11-30T22:33:00.005-05:00

Hope everyone had a SUPER Thanksgiving! We did!

Ice Party

2009-11-22T22:01:00.005-05:00

Pics from the rink-- since poppa doesnt do bday parties, aunt louise came for arm support. The girls had an untimely potty run during the cake & candles, so we didnt get a shot of the bday girl. Plus after cake, Summer was back on the rink (she might be named for the wrong season!) The girls were wiped out, Laurel went down for 2 naps! Happy Big 5 Summer!

My new brother and sister!

2009-11-20T19:10:00.011-05:00

we have so much-- way too much-- and so blessed in so many ways. (momma's small confession: woot kids is addictive = toys overload!)

for thanksgiving this year, we wanted the kids to give thanks and to give back. what better way then to sponsor a child. meet their new 3 yr old siblings: Adisu (fm Africa) and Wiloteya (fm Indonesia).
they will grow up together, share stories, learn about each other cultures and maybe one day, joyfully hug!
(another small confession: momma's always wanted to adopt a little black boy-- isnt Adisu super cute?!)

When it's icky out, have....

2009-11-13T07:48:00.003-05:00

Never Ending Halloween!

2009-11-01T19:48:00.020-05:00

yes, another h-ween parade. each year the children make all their costumes. this year, the girls' class were spiders. ck out the 2yr olds as indians (in paper bag vests)...too cute!

we went to 2 festivals on h-ween . this is the first one at gramma D's neigborhood. do you get our family costume theme?

the night before h-ween, our horse neighbors held a potluck, including a bonfire and hay rides.

the day after h-ween, we hosted a small playdate w/some of their classmates. i wanted the girls to be cowgirls, w/hats, horses and all; but vienna insisted she wanted to be a panda. and since we all loved Kung Fu panda (esp Laurel), and that's how this year's costumes came to be. Happy Halloween!

Hallow Events

2009-10-28T21:58:00.010-04:00

We celebrated a bunch of bdays this past Sunday (mine, gramma D and a belated one for Royce). Afterwards, the cousins did their annual mini costume parade.

Another parade in the town of Vienna. Our first time since the girls' bedtime is later at 8:30PM. Neighborly, old-hometown-feel parade. Lots of princesses, fairies, firemen, but only one Kung Fu Panda and Tigress!

Happy Autumn!!!!

2009-10-19T20:09:00.014-04:00

Our anniversary trip this year was to Deep Creek Lake, MD. We did some fishing right off the lake behind the motel. No fish, and the girls got bored quick.

We did two nature hikes, one to Swallows Falls and to Frank Lloyd Wright's famous FallingWaters house. Autumn is simply gorgeous there, rolling valleys and hills bursting with vibrant colors. Unfortunately it drizzled all wkend, and Vienna as not up to hiking in the light rain. Her constant whining was killing our relaxing zen. Laurel was the trooper, she stodgily hiked along and only once complained, 'I cant walk anymore'.

To top it off, Laurel got very sick our first night there. She vomited everything she ingested and we seriously considered bringing her into the ER, fearing dehydration (but not H1N1 since she was responding and not feverish).

Thank goodness, she felt much better the next day. Since we were up all night, and didnt think she would be up for the horse ride, so after viewing FallingWaters, we headed home. As always with kids, it was a fun but rough trip!

Birth Tree

2009-10-14T09:55:00.005-04:00

the tree we planted when the girls were born. gramma Vu suggested a persimmon tree. it finally has edible fruit! golden, crunchy fruit.

Balance Balance

2009-10-04T11:15:00.021-04:00

my camera bit the sands in OBX. eric was not happy and I heard many, 'I told you so'. i've lost count, this may be my 3rd camera in 3yrs? {sigh} it's not deliberate, but i tend to be hard on things (dishwashers, washing machines, vaccums have not survived).

i did get my new camera this wk. it's water-proof, shatter-proof and hopefully terri-proof.

and in time to capture the girls' first try at ice-skating. it was slippery-going at first. but laurel did better than expected. she found her ice legs and was able to walk on the ice, holding our hands. vienna just held on and glided along.

i was disappointed they didnt have the 'metal walkers' to assist the kids. i can barely skate, relying on the penguin walk. eric is much better and the girls enjoyed gliding and looping around the ice with poppa. their classes begin on halloween. it's a mommy/daddy and me class, so wish us luck (esp me!).

Bye Bye Summer

2009-09-21T22:04:00.009-04:00

our end-of-summer trip to OBX. it rained 1/2 the time we were there. so we did a few activities we didnt do yrs past, like visit the aquarium, go carts , drive on the beach and jet ski. oh and our numerous (humerous) attempts to fly a kite. too windy, not enough wind, tangled strings-- that kite just didnt want to fly!

love OBX, but this will most likely be our last trip. next summer, we'll spend time again with gramma D at Hilton Head and in lieu of another beach trip, maybe visit a nat'l park or lake tahoe. now that the girls are older, air travel isnt as nerve-racking and it'll be good to mix it up and see the rest of the world. bye bye OBX. bye bye summer.

hello fall.

Highs and Lows

2009-08-28T07:08:00.010-04:00

We're gonna be away for a bit. We leave you with this pic:

It's been a tough few last wks. I'm not sure exactly when it started, but the WHINING is at an all time high. WAAAAAH milk WAAAAH my seat WAAAH Ginger WAAAH No WAAAH she pushed me WAAAH WAAAH WAAAH.... ALL.DAY.LONG.
At first they complained about their teeth (molars? cavities?) but that only lasted for a couple of wks. But the crying hasnt stopped! They get sent to their room, to calm down on their own, and mostly so we dont have to hear it. I guess it's another stage/phase we'll have to ride out.

Other days, our green monsters still make us smile.

ISR Graduation

2009-08-17T21:13:00.002-04:00

a couple of ppl have asked about the girls' swimming lesson. they graduated after 5 wks of lessons. they did fantastic.
it was alot of driving in traffic, rushing after school and beacoup costly, but in the end, very worth it. they can swim!

Is it a bird, No it's...

2009-08-07T08:21:00.001-04:00

My Big Girls!

2009-07-21T20:37:00.003-04:00

Since 2 1/2yrs, it's been, 'I do it'. They dress themselves (most of the time, backwards, until we told them 'the sticker' goes in the back), climb in the car; brushing was an old hat, but now they can spit. Vienna likes to gargle, Laurel doesnt.

They love discovering new but simple things, pockets and band aids are a still hit.

They carry conversations, and if one is Max, the other is Ruby or Boots or Dora. For awhile, everyone (including stuff animals) was baby Ella (their baby cousin).
Driving, they have their own game, any spotted yellow or orange car, comes an exclamation from the back: 'Yellow like your Pooh bear! or 'Orange like Tigger on your side'. And 'more ding-ding song please!'

They have no problems communicating their needs, 'I'm hungry' or 'I'm tired' or 'Momma, I'm not Ginger, dont tell me to leave it'. [Sheesh]. It's so nice not to hear a crying baby that cant say what's up!

They love to draw. Vienna will draw shapes (very caterpillar-ish) and deem them her family or pets (the cat is hers, the dog is Laurels, the fishes divided). Laurel has started coloring in between the lines. She enjoys her workbooks, learning to match her colors, shapes and tracing.

They have very distinct, different personalities. Vienna makes friends easily, where Laurel will play quietly on her own. But Laurel is more agressive btwn the two of them. Not sure if it's 'sibling rival', but she CANT be left out. The fastest I've seen her move is when she thinks Vienna is getting there first!

Laurel is more helpful, esp when smiley faces = candy reward. Vienna isnt particular (unless it's her 'poncho' pj pants), thus we always let Laurel pick first (of course, she'll pick the poncho pants- oy!).

There's been many changes when they turned 3. After our trip from Hilton Head, we let the nanny go and now they go to school full time (9- 4:30). They learned to nap in cots at school, which lead the way to big girl beds at home. Momma was dreading the move, but the transition went very smoothly. They picked out their beds and bedding and were super excited. They have yet to sneak out of bed and are still great sleepers. They sleep from 8:30 to 7:15 with about an hour nap. If Vienna sleeps past 7:15, she wont nap and will get cranky (no melt downs) tired by 7PM. So they still need their nap, but I wouldnt be too surprised if they dropped the nap before 4yrs.

And thou they adored Maria (she NEVER said no to them), only a couple of times have they mentioned her--- another smooth transition.

After school, they started ISR (infant swim resource). Its basically swimming boot camp for kids. It lasts for 4-6wks, 4-5 days a wk. The classes fm the rec center were mostly singing and splashing with no real swimming drills. By the time they've completed ISR, they would be dunked over a 1000 times.

But once they get it, they get it. Vienna got the hang of it quicker and now she loves to dive under water or back float in the jacuzzi tub. Here's a video of my big girls in action:

for your viewing enjoyment

2009-07-13T13:09:00.010-04:00

party video highlights, hope everyone enjoyed the show. i know i heard grandpa bill & uncle patrick laughing; and not at the magic (-:

very long magic show video, here's the breakdown for skipping:
1) starts with lotus & rope trick
2) 26:90 - vienna, laurel, anna, lindsey & sorena with flag trick
3) 2:46:02 - timothy and katie with sword trick
4) 8:56:10 - joshua and paper trick
5) 10:10:42 - mia and ball trick
6) 10:27:22 - noah & newspaper trick

magic finale and birthday cake video:

just in case you have extra free time, the big bugs hunt video(w.director commentary,uncut version):

Bugs 3rd Bday Party!

2009-07-08T08:25:00.001-04:00

video to come...

Beachy Good Time

2009-07-02T11:55:00.011-04:00

we visited gramma and aunt alice in hilton head for a week. it was HOT, 100' HOT. lots of beach and pool time, it rained maybe once in the afternoon. the water was warm & clear (not as clear as OBX). there was the extra bonus of large pools of trapped water which became the girls' wading area. laurel called the ocean, the 'waterfalls'.
the (2/12 hr) plane ride was a breeze, we didnt even have to resort to the dvd player. overall, it was a wonderfully, relaxing trip. lazy summer days are best at the beach!

i've been to HH once before and it hasnt changed much. it's a lush and tropical island --- looks more like hawaii than a casual beach town.

we also spent 1 1/2 days in savannah (only 1/2hr drive away). the city is much smaller than i expected and not was grand as i envisioned. but the spanish-moss oak trees are amazing.

Spring Concert

2009-06-11T22:06:00.006-04:00

the girls had a spring festival at their school, featuring a concert by students. the good, they made it onto the stage w/out a melt down (cant say the same for all their classmates). the bad, they barely sang a word-- maybe one EIEO from Vienna.
but we know they know the words, cause they belt out the song on the way home in the car. must have been stage fright.

Nightly Rituals

2009-05-31T22:11:00.009-04:00

Our evening walks before dinner, for momma's waistline and to stimulate the kids appetite--- it's a decent work-out. The trail is right across the street from us. It takes us up and down hills, bamboo-lined arches, tadpole-lily ponds, a rock-throwing creek and friendly horses.

Before bedtime is playtime with ginger. The girls have started going to bed, alittle later at 8ish. More time to wear themselves out w/their new best bud.

New Addition

2009-05-20T08:26:00.013-04:00

HELLO Ginger! The girls' early bday present. She's a labradoodle. She had ALL the criteria momma was looking for

1) pretty white, tan color
2) curly poodle hair (for poppa's allergies)
3) medium build, will be 40-45 lbs grown (for protection)
4) GREAT social personality (to deal w/the girls' craziness)
5) a puppy-- only 10wks old (for the cat's comfort)

her name, Ginger is for:
1) her color (like the cat's name: Red)
2) in memory of Eric's childhood dog, Dinko (named after the tree)
3) it sounds asian-ish (like momma)

she is like a newborn baby. the first night she woke up every 3hrs, lonely and upset, so we moved her into our bedroom and after 2 nights, she's happy in her crate and even at awakening will play quietly until let out.
like a newborn, she is more work, as least for momma (hence the abscence from the blog). Ginger is up at 6AM. she goes potty while momma waters the plants (she is 100% night trained, she'll hold it until morning and 80% day trained, as long as she's let out at regular 1hr intervals---such a good smart girl!).
By the time the girls are awake at 7:30AM, Ginger's been fed, exercised and gone potty a 2nd time. But she's worth it. Like a newborn, she is pure innocence and affection--- but who will never truly grow up!
the girls are still warming up to her, she is secondary to their relationship. but in time, i'm sure all three will be inseparable. and poodles can live up to 15-20 yrs, lots of time for bonding! who wouldnt love love such a cute dog!

What's your name?

2009-05-03T13:43:00.005-04:00

the birthday countDown has begun. if you havent figured out the theme from all the recent posts, it's gonna be a bugs party!

look for your invitation in the mail for a july 4th bday bbq party! cant believe the little ppl are turning 3!

Never Fear, Poppa's here!

2009-04-28T08:19:00.001-04:00

Life is short, get out the house!

2009-04-26T20:35:00.000-04:00

Rocket Time!

2009-04-18T21:34:00.003-04:00

china may not be known for high-quality toys, but they did invent fireworks. for 12 bucks, it's rocket time!

Easter Part II

2009-04-12T22:00:00.006-04:00

the girls dressed for Easter brunch at Sea Pearl restaurant (click on the mosiac for a bigger view). we missed morning church since eric caught what laurel got and was one sick puppy this morning (he's hacking up a lung as i type).

after a good nap (for all three), it was an early dinner at gramma D's house. the girls got more easter (non-candy) goodies! and got to play with another cousin, lotus (and grandpa, aunt georgette and uncle royce). another fun and blessed Easter day!

Easter Egg Hunt 2009

2009-04-11T21:10:00.002-04:00

the weather was drizzy and laurel was under the weather, but easter wouldnt be easter without an egg hunt!

2009-04-07T20:57:00.008-04:00

we had a busy wkend. satday was andrew's 3rd bday party at the little gym. it was right smack in the middle of the girls' nap time, so we had to improvise. we left the house early, taking some back roads for a slow and longer route. sure enough, the girls feel asleep in the car. i did have to wake them, and they were groggy for a good 1/2hr before fully warming up at the party. they got to bounce, stomp bubbles, sing, monkey around on gym equipment, cake, balloons & goody bags--- good times. they LOVE birthday parties. they proudly help wrap and decorate each bday present.

sunday, we cked out club run rec center. for a 1/4 off admission of a regular water park (with 5 yrs under free), it's a steal and a great find. fairfax county parks just get better and better.

no pics from this wkend. here's an older video, back in 9/2008 (it's amazing how much their vocabulary has increased---they speak in complete sentences now; and laurel's voice even sounds different). this is what happens when a toddler REFUSES to nap.

more yard fun

2009-03-30T22:34:00.006-04:00

who needs toys when you have BUGS! let it hop, wiggle, flutter or crawl---yard critters are fun!
by nature, i think laurel is gonna be a girly-girl. but she's gonna have a hard time with poppa and vienna as company. and seriously, i'm not big on the whole-princessy appeal--- wont forbid, but def not encourage either.
i want them to hit a mean baseball, climb trees, rock the guitar --- all the things a princess doesnt do. give me a girl scout any day (-:

Signs of Spring

2009-03-22T20:44:00.010-04:00

soccer tots

2009-03-21T22:18:00.006-04:00

the girls started soccer class for the spring season. it's really alot of running around, kicking balls, but every class, they're taught at least one new skill.
for instance, they try to dribble the ball btwn their feet, or kick the ball fm underneath some one's foot, or try to right a knocked over cone w/just their foot--- soccer takes alot of balancing!

the class lasts for an 1hr and the girls are usually done (and whining no soccer) by 45 mins in, but every saturday, they're ready for more.

vienna sitting on a red square instead of the red line like everyone else. the girl likes to do her own thing.

class ends w/a soccer stamp ...go girl power!

We heart free parks

2009-03-08T14:40:00.005-04:00

Goregous weather means, we're out the door, either romping in the backyard or at frying pan park, a real working farm open to the public. they also hold local horse competitions, so the horses were out in droves today.

poor laurel has a bit of a stomach bug. she had a fever yesterday, but today her temp was back to normal. she's not eating much, but is aleast gettin fluids and in good spirits, if alittle lack-luster.

at the park, she went thru 2 pair of pants. on her last pair, we put a diaper on her. but even with candy bribes, she was insistent, 'no pdaiper'---she knows she's no baby! luckily she (and the pants) survived the rest of the outing.

Spanish 101

2009-03-06T20:17:00.006-05:00

since laurel was kinda iffy on her ABCs in the last post....here she is, ready to redeem herself.
good to know the mucho dinero we pay for school isnt a total wash (pun intended :-)

Arts and Culture

2009-03-02T20:37:00.006-05:00

we took the girls to their first concert at jamin java. we're not a musically trained household, neither eric or i play an instrument (tho gramma D did try piano lessons unsucessfully w/eric and royce), but music & kids are such a natural combo.
there's an excellent selection of children musicians, beyond twinkle twinkle little star; that even parents can enjoy. a four-thumbs-up experience.

one of our current fav chidren author is eric carl. the girls love his books, esp laurel. after the first few reads, she can 'read' the book herself. this video doesnt quite capture it, but the girl has an excellent (visual) memory.

and what's art w/out the foundation of learning:

Bring the Snow In

2009-03-02T18:24:00.004-05:00

the girls had a lot of fun 'painting snow' today. push some holes in empty juice bottles, fill up w/water mixed with food coloring and it's an art project. martha would be proud.

Great Wolf Lodge is Grrrreat

2009-02-14T10:39:00.013-05:00

The wkend after Tet, we left for williamsburg for a 2night/3day stay at Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park kept at a balmy 84'. It was a BLAST. the water slides were 3 stories high; the biggest and curviest i've ever been on. i could have ridden them all day long, but my ride buddy, laurel was a little freaked.

the girls prob enjoyed the 'beach' (sans sand) area the most. vienna would lie on the 'boat' and let the waves swoosh her around. laurel liked the splashy but shallow waves. since the weather wasnt a factor, we were at the water park by 10AM, quick nap at 3PM, then back to the park at 5PM. needless to say, we would be worn out, but fm too much fun!

the lodge is very well design, with areas for all ages, and all the amenities --- and i dont know how they do it, but no strong chlorine smell and the water was clean! it's def worth a trip (alittle on the pricey side, but less costly than flying), but the wkends does get more crowded.

sadly i lost my camera at the lodge. here are some pics fm thuy's camera and eric's phone:

Happy Tet and Snow Day!

2009-01-27T22:21:00.010-05:00

i didnt win at the cards during tet. in fact, when i left my hand, my cousin played it and won with a bonus! but i think it's gonna be his year, congrats on the new job, khanh!

our first snow for 2009--bring out the sled! no beginner's hill for the girls this year. we want some speed!

snow and hot chocolate (or chai latte), just about the only two things i like about winter.

30 MONTHS Update (or 2 1/2 yrs for the non-parents)

2009-01-18T08:26:00.034-05:00

conversations with a toddler:

in the morning
V: good morning momma (she says good morn after every snooze regardless the time of day)
M: good morning sunshine. lets go potty.
V: momma, it's broken (pointing to the empty toilet roll)
M: momma will fix. (inserts new toilet paper)
V: jood job momma (clapping hands enthusiastically)
M: why thank you honey (i almost wanted to take a bow)

M: here's your breakfast honey
L: tank you momma
M: you're welcome
L: i get smiley face
M: you're right, you get a smiley face since you said thank you w/out momma asking. you're a good girl.

lazy afternoon
L: (puts finger in my mouth) no bite me momma
M: then you shouldnt put your finger in there
L: (touches my closed eye)
M: what color are momma's eyes?
L: black and white
L: my eyes are black and white too
L: tigger is a girl like laurel (shakes tigger)
L: kitty is a boy like poppa (the cat is lying on the covers w/us)
M: is vienna a boy or girl?
L: she a boy

laurel can ramble on all day long, but vienna enunciates better. they def dont have any speech delays.
their fav activies: chase (then hug/tackle which sometimes leads to crying), play hide and seek (w/half their body exposed like an ostrich), tickle tickle each other and for the most part, play very well together; so momma doesnt have to be a constant referee.

laurel does have moments of toy snatching 'it's MINE!', is still a fav phrase. we're working on it with time outs and a rewards chart. every good task = 1 smiley face; 5 smiley face = 1 candy reward. vienna isnt as motivated, food obviously, has never been her thing. she does have a fetish for band aids.

a few months ago, they both started climbing out of their cribs. even with her sleep sack on, vienna manages to get her legs over the railing. since i've heard of many reports of children injuries due to crib scaling (not to mention night wandering is dangerous, we keep their door slightly ajar since we retired the baby monitor eons ago), vienna now has a crib tent.

laurel will only come out when she has to go potty, she truly loves the coziness and comfort of her crib. and we love that, once they're in bed, they're ready to settle down and sleep VS running mayhem in their rooms. momma is not looking forward to switching them to toddler beds--- they sleep so well (a solid 12hrs) at night now! good sleep habits helped the terrible 2s, be not so terrible.

they've become more creative, which is reinforced in school. laurel can sit for a good 30 min, painting and stamping (that's translates to a LONG time in toddler speak!)

they like to dress up. laurel is more prissy and will change outfits (for no reason) throughout the day. she also has to pick her clothes---if i dont give her choices, she'll throw a fit. she's def the girly girl. and also momma's little helper.

when vienna dresses up, she tends to look like a 70s track star.

they've graduated to booster seats, like big girls. they were ready, it was gettin harder to box them in a high chair. i love sitting down as a family for meals. i dont know if it was vietnamese culture, but we never did it when i was growing up. i only remember buffet style meals, like ships passing through.
now if we can only turn off their videos during meal time.

they just finished up their winter swim lessons. i checked around for gym and soccer classes. i really like the jw tumbles gym (they focus on motor skills like climbing robe and not just songs and games), and are on their wait list for their new location in herndon. in the meantime, they 'swim' in the big tub.

i know i've said this a zillion times, not only are they stinking cute but fun with full personalities! my fav age so far!

XMAS Rundown

2009-01-04T12:59:00.009-05:00

we had a whirlwind xmas. attended the deterding family brunch, hosted vu family dinner, trotted to 2 friend/neighbor parties, xmas eve church, celebrated poppa's bday, photo shoot, sent out 80 xmas cards, decorated the house and yard, shopped for presents, school holiday house, sat on santa's lap, festival of lights, baked cookies ....whew. but afterall, xmas is the highlight of the (brrr cold) winter,,,we're sad it's over. but there's still more presents to play with!

new year was to wind down with a family movie night, playing kung fu panda. vienna kept saying 'stop, stop' during the fight scenes. laurel thought it was 'scare', but she still asks to watch 'panda' every morning since. after the girls went to bed, eric & i had lobster w/champagne and called it a night at 11:30PM. cheers to being surrounded by love ones during the holiday season!

warning, this is a 8 min video, so get comfortable to view.

leave it to the professionals

2008-12-21T22:04:00.011-05:00

armed w/Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough and a simple royal icing recipe, i thought i would bake some xmas cookies with the girls, in hopes they'll have some memories of baking w/mom, if once a year. i'm not a baker and have even made a hobby of sampling all the bakeries in town

(if you have a favorite let me know).

i rolled and the girls helped pat and shape/cut their dough. eric even did a couple of free-hand animals and tigger. i can see why moms get into this.

here they are out fm the oven. and folks that's why i leave it to the professionals. even decorated, they still looked like blobs, but with color.

they were actually quite yummy-- chewy with crispy edges and not too sweet or buttery. go premade dough. the girls enjoying the final product (vienna likes to eat her cookie face on).

xmas photo shoot '08

2008-12-08T15:08:00.016-05:00

we take professional pics once a year at xmas time. really, the only professional pics not counting the girls' school pics.

love love the magic of christmas, but i always feel extra stuffed fm all the turkey gobbling---not optimal for picture taking. the girls did great, we were able to get tons of shots lasting over 1 1/2 hr--- maybe we should call the child modeling agency hahhaha. our photographer friend comes to us, which makes it awhole lotta easier.

here's this year's photo shoot, the best of the crop shots. can you tell i love props (and outfits).

What I'm Thankful For

2008-11-30T16:17:00.009-05:00

dressed to go to the Vu family thanksgiving dinner. 3 lollipops, 3 takes and way too many 'say cheese' and still only a half smile from Vienna. Crazy, big grins fm Laurel, candy bribes always works with her.

i've been under the weather recently, and havent posted weekly as I usually do, so the next entry should be a doozy with all their toddler updates.

hope you have just as much to be thankful for as i do. happy thanksgiving!

Presenting the tortoise and the hare

2008-11-02T14:06:00.014-05:00

Happy Halloween!

The day started with a h-ween parade at the girls' school. they made their very own bunny costumes, from the pink ears to the bobby tails. there were also bats and pumpkins. it was loud and fun (except for when laurel sees momma, she gets super clingy---i should have gone in costume incognito!). but that's ok, momma loves h-ween and the kids were so darn cute.

Then the tortoise and hare raced off to gramma Vu's house for our very first treats.

Then we headed out EARLY to Fair Oaks church's trunk or treat with gramma D---we learned our lesson last year. After a 15 wait to get in, and 15min of treating, we had two full pumpkins--- who needs blocks and blocks of sidewalks with a parking lot full of candy! Leaving us plenty of time for rides, a haunted house, car show and some eats. We didnt stay for the fireworks, but it was already a full night.

We also ran into my gf, monique & her family. her hubs was showing his company's car, the scion speedster.

Here's a video of our chock-full-of- fun treats day:

School Events

2008-10-20T14:57:00.016-04:00

field trip to the pumpkin patch. the yellow bandannas were to keep track of all the HMCDS kids. and our group was one of the smallest by far. there were bus loads of kids-- like a convention for little people. the girls rode on their first bus. momma realizes buses are prob the safest mode of transport, but the 5pt harness on the bus still helped.

HMCDS nature event with crafts, a trek to the creek to scoop tadpoles, sagvenger hunt and bonfire. we didnt stay late enough to make smores or camp out. the girls did wolf down some roasted hotdogs by the communal fire-- do they always eat like this at school lunches? is it just momma they wont eat for?!

the great depression

2008-10-15T20:42:00.016-04:00

is what eric is calling it. suzy orman (per the oprah show) advises at least 8 months of savings, cause that's how long it might take to find another job. the financial powers are forecasting it will take 10yrs for the economy to turn around(!!!)

it's not sexy, but frugality is in.

i listened to a segment on NPR that other day, they interviewed ppl in their 80s who lived thru the 30s depression. they remember how the 20s was an era of parties and excess before the stock market crashed. to them it feels like the same bad cycle. today we've become a throw-away society, always wanting new, bigger and designer-- regardless if we can afford!

what's wrong with an older but functionality deck, or EUC (excellent used condition in ebay lingo) kids clothing and toys; or original but presentable wood floods. yup, that's our house and that's what the kids get. and the peace of mind we get, by not being in the hole.

we do splurge on family trips, parties, extracurricular activities/classes for the girls,,, cause life is about experiences, not things.

but my dear hubs wants to tighten the money belt even further. DIY haircut:

savings $12/mo. the word jagged comes to mind (-:
(the gunk on their chest is vicks vapor rub, since preschool = cesspool of germs)

his next target, netflix. savings $200/yr. thanks goodness, tivo is paid for!

Greetings fm Florida!

2008-10-08T14:43:00.012-04:00

we had a GREAT time, highly recommend tampa for younger kids, who aren't ready for disney yet. with busch gardens africa, lawry's interactive zoo, florida aquarium and the hotel pool -- we never made it to the beach! some of the top highlights: riding a camel, feeding a giraffe and have its purple tongue lick your hand and seeing a real-life hippo!

going off season is a huge plus (we are an anti-crowds family). absolutely no lines, it felt like we had the whole park to ourselves. the girls loved the dinosaur carousel, and they were able to ride it over and over again w/out getting off.

we end up not needing to rent a car. next to the hotel, there were restaurants and a cvs w/in walking distance-- for the girls' pedisure run. the shuttle fm best western to busch gardens ran only twice daily. which was fine, since right after lunch, the girls would nap in their (inclined) stroller for about an hour (a full stomach combined with the riding motion= dreamland), then we were off again. who would have thought we could spend 14hrs at busch gardens africa. we only had to cab a ride to the zoo; and the aquarium was on the way to the airport.

after this trip, we cant wait until the girls turn 5--- so we can experience the wonder of disney and all its parks. eric has a co-worker who goes every year, he got hooked as a child-- now i think i know why-- afterall, it is 'the happiest place on earth'. Happy Anniversary baby!

School Time

2008-10-01T01:18:00.006-04:00

pics fm the girls' first day of preschool (photo op) and class picture day.

the girls are going 2 days a week, for four hours each. it's a play-based philosophy, so the girls have a lot of fun with their new friends! they've already bought home tons of art work. the school is on a 5 acre farm, so they have pet bunnies, hamsters, chickens, goats and a couple of (older) horses-- for riding in the summer!

we started out w/a transitional week, where i would be with them each day, but then less and less. on the day they were on their own, laurel cried, but was fine w/in minutes (i snuck around back & peeked in the window---she was snug in ms.brownlyn's arms--- who coincidental is shaped like our nanny, maria :-)

even now, they're alittle shy at drop off, but then dive right into the activity. it was hard leaving them at first, they seemed so lost, but when they come home happy and chatty about their 'black and white bunnies', their 'two' friends--- i know it's good for them. and they're learning every class, our nanny is a good care-giver, but she's not a teacher and either am i. it's amazing how advance kids are now, give them the right tools and opportunities, they'll take off!

PS, i was nervous of the girls regressing w/potty training-- esp since they had to graduate immediately to the BIG potty--- but they did wonderfully. i always made sure they went at drop off and pick up, so they were comfortable w/momma there. it also helped there are two other little girls potty-trained (out of a class of 10). now at home, they fight for who gets to go on the big potty first! sometimes peer pressure is good (-:

Ode to Summer

2008-09-23T22:11:00.008-04:00

summer, how we love thee. as we head out to school, fall festivals, pumpkin patches and jacket weather, we must bid farewell to thee.

our montage to summer, thou we'll see you again soon, if briefly in FLA (busch gardens africa!) in a few wks!

oh summer, how we loved thee.

We all have our quirks

2008-09-11T13:01:00.006-04:00

take stuff animals, one likes to hoard them before and after naps, even at potty stops (how many can you count?)

the other lines them up for display (except for good 'ole lucky tigger-- he's not for sale)

Hot September Days

2008-09-04T21:54:00.004-04:00

we havent shut down our pool yet, good thing too, since it's been steamy hot out! after some wading, the girls caught a... no, not a fish, but a...

Happy Hump Day!

2008-08-27T21:57:00.001-04:00

Memory Prints

2008-08-20T12:06:00.014-04:00

their first (teeny tiny) footprints were courtesy of the hospital on paper. to continue the tradition, here are:

their 1st xmas ornaments (6mos) in polymer clay

at 1 year. a bday gift to mudpies keepsakes fm my sister. beautifully captured in ceramic.

at 2yrs, in cement as stepping stones for the garden

i also get these memory boxes to store their first xmas dresses, their baptism candles, first tu-tus, so on--- if they have daughters, it can be passed down to them to enjoy and reminisce.

and one day, (what's left of) pooh & tigger will also go in the box. momma's sad just thinkin about it-- they grow up way too fast.

Not Taking it Easy on a Sunday

2008-08-10T21:37:00.024-04:00

Started with cousin, Ella's baptism. Such a sweet, good-natured baby---look at those squeezable, soft cheeks-- just want to gobble up her baby fat rolls.

a quick nap, then off to an asian fesitval in reston w/aunt louise, where we bumped into little ethan. we also watched a martial arts show and philipino stick dance; and there were every asian cuisine imagined lining the walkways-- i wondered it this is what the streets of asia felt like-- it was that intense.

during the dragon dance, vienna kept sayin 'big doggie'; and laurel was entranced until they got too close, and breathing down her back.

today we started with church, but every night we end w/prayers, g'nite and AMEN!

VivaVienna

2008-08-06T11:52:00.004-04:00

she wears it well, no?
(thanks gramma Vu for the bday dress-up clothes)

and is a multi-tasker:
(thanks katie, uncle khanh & uncle dwight for the bday cash/gift cards= fun toys below)

Our Money Corner

2008-07-27T21:57:00.004-04:00

I'm not a big believer in feng shui, an old chinese philosophy on home design, but i do like some of the 'common sense' approach, like good flow, elements of cleansing water, minimal house stress, ie busy streets, blaring headlights, etc.

but we are fans of 'living with ed', one of the first tv shows on being consciously green before it became a trend. on one of the episodes, rachelle consults a feng sui master to:

'Feng Shui means wind and water; it’s part science, part art and it’s over four thousand years old. Rachelle has Master Yau come over to help get the energy flow of their home at an optimal level to where their prosperity, love life and health are all in good harmony.'

He introduces them to the money corner, the home's financial power spot which is at the most southeast corner of the home. Above is a picture of our new money corner--- holding coins, colors of green and purple and a lucky bamboo plant---to bring in wealth and prosperity.

today, we got excellent news. our rented condo, which has a small ceiling leak (for over 2yrs with numerous fixes and complaints) may be finally done & over! new owners have moved in above and totally gutted the bathroom. good-bye leaky headache!

coincidence? or feng sui at work?

Mid-Summer Vacation

2008-07-22T16:48:00.014-04:00

pics fm our OBX vacation, lots lots of beach, pool and lake fun. perfect weather, it rained for only 1/2 day while we were there.

there were bloopers and troopers. eric bruised his heel badly, the diagnosis isnt in yet, but it might be a cracked ankle. it happened on our first full day there---saturday was spent driving down which use to take only 5 1/2 hours now takes 7+ hrs-- gas prices obviously didnt scare the crowds away.
mr.acrobatics dives in for a frisbee on the shallow end in the pool, shallow as in 4ft. no comments please.
fortunately, he was able to borrow eric w.'s crutches, who also had a foot injury from a frisbee accident! CRAZY i know.

moving on to our trooper, lindsey. she went from screaming mad to (dare i say it) liking the water. yeaaaah lindsey!

and thou it was good family fun, vacationing w/kids is far from total r&r. we realized this w/our first trip to bermuda--- it wouldn't be the same, at least not for a few good years.

with eight kids under one roof (six under four yrs), there was a lot of crying, whining and skirmishes.
poor laurel didnt sleep well in her cot, tossing and turning all night and teething with three new buds-- she was a complete miserable mess towards the end of the trip--and made sure we all knew it, esp han & eric who slept direcly underneath us.

kids, the younger, the more unpredictable-- and only those with kids fully understand this. believe me, even w/my own kids, the fighting noise level still drives me bonkers. wouldnt blame the non-kids couples if they opted out next year---we subject ourselves to it because we have to (-:
but it beats sitting at home, twiddling our thumbs -- so it's all worth it.

2 Already!

2008-07-08T22:25:00.008-04:00

they've really become little people with their own personalities. every age is something new, and we love and embrace it all. babies are cute, but toddlers are fun!

Vienna is sensitive, but more adventurous and social. Most times, she'll loudly announce herself to anyone 'HI!' She's also demanding and very one-track minded. 'Share low-el' translates to 'give me laurel'. and re-direction almost NEVER works. she wants THAT toy, never mind it's the same toy but just different color. we've start lettin her know, some items belong to laurel exclusively, and she doesnt have to share- such is life.

Laurel isnt as social. she's more or less indifferent around other kids, until they get tiresome, esp if they're in HER house, playing with HER toys. but she's very easy-going, really from the day she was born. nothing really upsets her and she takes it all as a game. which can be frustrating when a stern 'NO' is met with a giggle. but overall, momma can only be grateful she has one easy kid. laurel's still a cuddler tho, so she'll have whiny moments where she just wants to be held. (eric and i think she's gonna be a homebody and be the kid we'll have to marry off :-)

Unfortunately, as they play together more, the fighting has begun full force-- slapping, hair pulling, kicking, blocking, pushing--- where do they learn all this?! we want them to use words (NO, STOP), not just w/each other but in every situation where they need to defend themselves. life with 2 two-year olds---wish us well :-0

Lastly, here are some pics fm their bday party. The theme was elmo goes safari--who btw, they barely acknowledge now they have jojo circus and wonder pets. The reptiles alive show was great, it was very interactive with lots of one-finger touching- so cute! the girls even came up and sat with a snake! how's that for a party highlight.

3rd Annual Parade at Gramma's

2008-07-04T20:15:00.012-04:00

Tidbit: after our first time at the parade, the day after, my water broke. the day after that, the girls were born -- independence day celebration has never been the same. Happy 4th!