Plan your work, and work your plan

I am sorry. But please do not call me the day of and ask me if I could attend this emergency last minute meeting at 4:30pm. This is twice in a row! I work full-time to support my family; I am a mother, and a wife. I go to work at 8:30 in the morning, and sometimes I don't get home till 6PM. I hope you can understand why I kindly declined your invitation to a church meeting at 4:30pm today. Not everyone is a stay home mom.

"Unless we set goals, we risk roaming through life without ever really accomplishing anything meaningful. It can be easy to get caught up in the pace of life and the immediacy of issues and never really plan our lives." ~Boyd K. Packard

Happy First Birthday Miss Sophie

We had a party for Sophie, and lots of close friends and family came! We celebrated the birthday of one of the most friendly, and most loving little girl.

Happy birthday sweet baby girl!!

Traditionally, the Chinese family will have a huge party when their baby turns one. Everyone will gather around and have dinner. The parents, grandparents, friends and family will bring gold, red envelopes (yes, like the ones in Chinese new year) and other gifts to the 1 year old who's having the birthday. The gold usually come in different shapes and size, and each will mean something cool. The parents of the birthday baby will give out red sweet bun that shapes like a turtle, and it'll usually have green bean or red bean paste in it. I can't remember what it all means, but usually it is related to bringing luck. (since it's red. Chinese believes that Red is the most lucky color) And I think the turtle represents living a long healthy live, since turtles lives for a long time. Oh, and turtles are also very wise. Not sure where that came from, but hey, sounds cool to me.

We had 抓周. It basically means grabbing the year one. So what happens is that we put down several items, and each item will represent an occupation. We put Sophie in the middle of the room, an whatever she picks, it'll be her future career per se. All in all, it's just keeping up with my Chinese heritage, and it was just fun. Sophie picked the hair brush, which represents a career in hair styling. Whatever she picks, we'll support. 

Sophie doing 抓周  picking her future career.

So, instead of having the super traditional Chinese 1 year old party, I decided to make mini cupcakes and crepes. Not to say that I don't like making Chinese food, it's just that it takes a long time to make Chinese food, and I kinda like the idea of my house smelling like awesome cupcakes and crepes. The strawberry cupcakes were a hit, everybody commented on the frosting being delish. I gotta brag about it, cuz i am kinda proud of making such fresh tasting strawberry frosting. We can't have cupcakes without chocolate frosting either, so i switched up the recipe, and kinda whip up one with my own twist. The secret ingredient is coffee extract, it brings out the flavor of the chocolate in cakes, cookies, and of course frosting!

Sophie and her favorite Jeff

 oh, when Jeff opened the door, Sophie jumped up and ran towards Jeff and wanted him to pick her up. It was super cute.

Mary and Tina came too!!

Everyone watching Sophie choose her future career

this is how she opens her presents. She stands on it!

Grandma and grandpa got Sophie the crazy bug that makes lots of noise.

Thank you all that came! We are so lucky to have you with us, and thank you for letting us share this special 1st birthday with you.

All I want For Christmas -- Back fired

All I wanted for Christmas, is to have all of Sophie's teeth -- all at once.

Last night was challenging, little miss Sophie is growing 4 teeth all at once. They haven't cut through yet, so it's a bit painful for her.

Maybe I shouldn't have wished it sooo hard for all of her teeth all at once. I thought if they come all at once, then I'll be able to sleep. Can I take my wish back now?

Goals for 2011

One of my goal for 2011 was to be able to do a head stand in yoga. Guess what?!?! I did it!!  now i am working on hand stand.

Set a goal, and work towards it, you'll be amazed what you can achieve. Don't under estimate you abilities.

Hello! From Miss Sophie

Hello everyone!

I'd like to say HI! to everyone, and let everybody know what's going on with me!

I have 4 little teeth, 2 on top, and 2 on the bottom.

I can run, and I run pretty fast, too

I love to giggle at my mommy and daddy's silly games.

I can give hugs, and wrap my arms around your neck.

I can wave goodbye, and blow kisses.

I like the rice thing my mommy makes for me, and I like to climb on my daddy's back.

My parents are kinda nuts sometimes, but I love snuggling with them.

My mommy likes to put funny wigs on me, I didn't mind too much, since it makes her smile. I thought I looked pretty good too.

My mommy likes to spoil me with awesome boots.... and clothes.

 

My mommy and daddy loves me very much!

 

Nu Busy

Hi Friends, or whoever reads my blog. Does anyone besides my husband read my blog anyway?

I used to think it's so cool to be able to travel for work, and stay in a hotel, and go to meetings. After last week, I have adjusted my thoughts on that. I think I like my own bed better. Although having someone make your bed every day seems like a really neat idea, but living out of the suitcases in the past week was quite exhausting.

Yet, I am here sitting in my hotel room... again. 2 more freaking days till the meeting/trainings over. Sophie and Steve left this morning. Sophie is much happier when she is home sleeping in her own bed. She is so comfortable that she had pooped 5 times today.

I can't wait to get home tomorrow, and sleep in my own bed. I don't care if I have to drive up the the meeting again on wednesday... I need to be with my babies.

Here is a photo with the people that I work with. We all worked our @$$ off for the convention, and we are so glad it's over.

October 16 2011

One of my friend was out of town, and needed someone to help conduct the music during the sacrament meeting. I volunteered! I think this is the first time we ever sat in the pew in this ward. We have a baby, so in the past 10 months, we've been sitting in the back of the chapel, try not to disturb other people. Sophie was doing pretty good in one of the front pew with Steve. I think we are ready to sit in the pews now. We can have the whole section to ourselves, and Sophie has more room to roam. Except when she sneak past my legs, and started running away. Not kidding, she runs! Let me stress this again, she is 10 months old.

Sophie made new friends quickly with an older couple sitting behind us. She gives the sweetest smiles, and jabbers with the cutest little voice. She even tried to give the old man her favorite bincky (passie).

One of the talks today was about being parents, and that we have the duty to lead and guide our children with righteousness. Every family is different, and the way each set of parents teaches in different ways. I can't remember the exact quote, but the speaker made the connection of hiking on a trail and ending up at the same place. When you are on the trail with a group of people, you'll see different sets of foot print on the ground. Each is unique, and no one took the same steps. Some walked on the mud, some walked on the grass, some stepped on the stone but all were going to the same destination.

I really liked that quote, i should ask her for it. Just hearing some one saying that out loud made me realzed that I am not doing anything wrong with the way I raise my baby and the way I run my family. It works for us, and this is who we are. It's okay to be different than other people, and it is so nice to hear someone say that. We don't have to do everything the same as other people, there's no specific "have-to's". I do however, would like a copy of the family proclamation hang up in my house. That's on my to-do list now.

The simplest thing will make life easier. It will work, and it will always work. When we are lazy and not read our scriptures or prayers, crap happens.

Still a lot to learn in life. I am glad there's  Yoga class and Milka chocolate to get me through!

p.s. I have accomplished my 2011 goal!! I can do a head stand! Next goal, the head stand without someone spotting/using the wall.