Tongue Action

I just can't resist. This collage is too cute. Enjoy!

From Collages

- Lei

Visting the Windy City - Chicago

Jaime and I wanted to do a quick vacation before he starts his new job on Thursday, so we went to Chicago for a long weekend to visit Emily (Jaime's sister), Gabrielle (her six month old baby - our new niece), and Roy (Em's hubby). We had a blast! Chicago is a beautiful city and the weather was perfect.



Best times remembered

• Meeting our adorable niece, Gabrielle (Boomzy). She is such a sweet baby and such big brown eyes. Pretty easy going and smells so good. We had a lot of fun playing with her for 4 days (although I missed Isabel terribly as I have never been away from her this long)
  
• Going to Jazz Fest by Wrigley Field and then a micro-brewery for blueberry beer, bratwurst & chips, and fried pickles.
  
• Taking a beautiful 90 min. boat tour of Chicago architecture - perfect 80 degree weather
• Smoke's pulled pork and two kinds of smoked ribs - Smokes was featured on Triple D - Food networks "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives"
• Home-made Shrimp soup with Simquat and noodles Friday night - it was awesome and so perfect after our long flight - Roy's mom made it. We didn't even see her that night, but I got the recipe (sort of) on Sunday and will try it at home. Like Jaime's parents, she couldn't tell me how much of each sauce she put in. I guess good food is always done without recipes. We will see how I do.
• Millenium park - giant silver "bean" - weirdly huge reflective mirror with all different perspective. You will have to see the photos.
• Late night walk to Chris and Ricky's 29th bday party at North Side Cafe. We left around 1am (only 11am SF time) from Emily's house. She lives only 3 blocks from a main street full of restaurants, stores, and bars.
  
• Great grilled chicken and tomato/basil salad that Roy made on Monday night - a whole chicken was only $1.99 from Shop and Save - Roy's favorite store and tomatoes and basil grown from his own garden on the deck. How cool is that!
• CPK but in a fast food format - we had great salads.
• Enjoying "I love you, man" at home with Jaime, Em and Roy.
  
• Realizing that I now have 5 siblings - a nice change for an only child. Em is my wonderful sister in law. Roy is her husband and now my brother in law and he has two brothers (Ricky and Chris) and a sister (Cindy). Very cool for me!

All in all a great trip!

- Lei

Getting ready to do laundry

Isabel is starting early. She helps with laundry every Wednesday. Such a good girl!

- Lei

Loves the slide and the swing

We went to this outdoor concert in Redwood city and there was a huge playground for little kids. Isabel tried the swing and slide for the first time and loves both.



- Lei

Playing at the courtyard

This courtyard is on the 3rd floor in the back of our building. She loves running around here and play hide and seek. enjoy the video



- Lei

Eating Banana on Her Own

Isabel loves bananas. We have been feeding her with a spoon, but last week we saw a kid her age eating a banana on her own by just holding it. So we thought we try that. She took to it very well and boy can she eat a banana. Enjoy!




Happy eating the banana during the concert!




















- Lei

First class at the Library

We rediscover the wonder of the public library - free books, free DVDs, free baby singing classes. This is the first one Isabel attended @ the Mission Bay Library. She loves the shaker.



- Lei

The petting zoo

First encounter with animals. The petting zoo @ Webb Ranch. We also went to pick strawberries. Isabel was fascinated



- Lei

First Merry-Go-Around ride

First Merry-Go-Around ride @ Pier 39



- Lei

Isabel's new moves

Dancing holding mommy's purse (Calle Ocho music). Soooo cute...



- Lei

The Poor Bunny

Isabel was playing with the (jumping)bunny @ Jeannie and Hans'. She kicked the bunny, picked it up and held it at it's ear. She made it bounce up and down but she's banging it hard on the floor. Just heck of funny...



Although my laugh in there sounds pretty disturbing to me...
-Lei

Walking around at Carl's Jr

Walking around, we were at Carl's Jr. Mommy and Daddy were sold by the burger commercial.



- Lei

Isabel's little spot

Two pairs of adult tennis shoes: $88 total
One pair of kid size 6 Puma shoes: $43
The look on Isabel's face every time she wears them: Priceless!

We bought these shoes 10 days ago. I originally was against paying too much for kid's shoes since she will grow out of them so soon.

Her first pair of sandals was only $8 but they are not really great for walking or cold weather. So we went to Nordstoms 10 days ago to look around. They had quite a selection.

We put this pair on Isabel and the shoes sold themselves. She was so happy trotting around in them. $43 was worth every penny. Besides, unlike adults that may have dozens of pairs of shoes. She will probably only have 1 or 2 at a time. In that case, it's pretty worth it.

We smile every time she wears them, which is also priceless. Now when she sees us about to go out, she would go grab her shoes and try to put them on herself. It's so cute.

- Lei

When In Doubt

- go to Bikram yoga (great for headaches, stress release, exercise, and a calming mind) and dance classes
- talking to someone or several people (very cathartic to just vent or share. Amazing how many people are in the same boat. Helps me realize it's not such a big issue - many go through it)
- distract myself (go shopping, go dancing, go to a new music group for Isabel, watch a funny movie, do anything different from routine, also gives my analytic brain a rest)
- color (well this is more clear for "sex and the city" movie fans. I won't elaborate, but it's great for curing headaches and tense muscles :-) )
- let it take its course (life is about rhythms. There is always up and downs, but just remember whatever it is it will pass)
- remember it's ok to have flaws (not the end of the earth or a major issue. It's just insecurities)
- forget about it (don't try so hard to fix it - instead go do something fun and forget about it. The mind and the body have a natural way of working itself out)
- don't get attached to the result (just enjoy the journey, if it doesn't work out, try something else. don't force it)

So why am I writing this list? well, it's really to remind myself to read it when I am down or stuck in something negative. I have had trouble sleeping in the last week and had a headache (no more) pretty much for that long. Mostly due to silly insecurities and an overly analytical mind. Jaime and I have been working a lot on our business ideas. So I have been thinking day and night about them. Guess I haven't let my mind rest for the last few weeks and it's so tired that it forgot how to stop thinking.

At first, I tried so hard to fix it - fix my sleeping, fix my headache. I guess I am a problem solver. Well, it just made it (headache and trouble sleeping) worse - trying too hard is not always the answer. Now I am trying other things (list above). so far so good. :-)

Enjoying life with all its up and downs. ;-)

- Lei
p.s: I wrote this last night and went to sleep at 11:45pm. Fell asleep right away. I already had a back up plan to get up and read my Chinese karate book if I didn't. I was actually looking forward to it. I guess I was no longer attached to falling asleep and that's when it happened. I slept until 8am. :-) Life's lessons are sometimes hard but good to learn.

Purse Snatcher

The latest game Isabel got into is imitating mommy. She apparently realized that mommy has a lot of purses as I switch them based on outfit. I would put them on and then check the mirror to see how they look.

I then sometimes leaves my purses by the bookcase or on the table so I can use them again that week. Either way, she has managed to snatch them quick and often. These two are her latest favorites - one from Tita Tusa for my bday and one I got from LA. She would put them on and then walk to the mirror and look at herself. It's so cute until you try to take them away from her. C'est la vie. I guess I have to share my purses now and also watch what I do as I don't know what she will imitate next. Watch out for yours when you come and visit!

- Lei