May Recap

I wanted to share some fun photos from our association annual carnival at our place.  Every year they have a carnival with face painting, balloons, music, and the In-and-Out truck!  This year we had this hamster ball thing that the kids just loved!

Nathan and Kristen in the hamster ball - pretty brave!

Stephanie in the hamster ball - you can see how the ball looks from a different view

Chun Kids hanging out....

Pre-K Graduation

The twins had their graduation on May 23rd - the teachers do so much for the children in getting ready for their spring program and graduation.  We loved the songs they sang and the provided videos on facebook if you're interested.  Here are some pictures of our little ones growing up way too quickly.... Kindergarten here we come!

San Diego Weekend

We also made a weekend trip with Mom to San Diego and spent time with Benson .... any way you view it San Diego is just a beautiful city - we went over to Children's Beach and saw the seals and just had a nice relaxing time hanging out... no shows or tourist attractions other than Balboa Park where we caught an IMAX and hung out at the park on a nice sunny afternoon... we need to go back soon!

  

Karate Kids Times Three

Whew!  What a thrilling weekend - the kids are taking karate together (somewhat) and had their testing for the next level belt.  Stephanie and her friend, Syd, were orange belt working on their yellow belt while Nathan and Kristen were white belt starting to move into the orange belt level.  The big thing as getting the invitation to take the test which was the two weeks prior.  We had missed a couple of sessions and I felt that I needed to take the twins on both this past Thursday and Friday.  Fortunately, both of them got their invitation for the Saturday testing.  Stephanie and Syd got their invitation Friday night even though they didn't take the minimum number of classes.  Nathan was a bit touch and go since at times he doesn't seem to be paying attention to sensei.  We were hoping that karate would instill some discipline in listening, and following directions.  Sometimes, I think Nathan is the type of boy that if he knows it he doesn't like the repetitious work which many times the class does with all the standard blocks, kicks, and combination moves.  They all passed with fairly decent scores (Nathan and Kristen, 75; Stephanie, 78).  Only one person got a score over 80 - tough graders!

Chun Kids with their certificates

All the lower level belts group picture

Sporting their new look!

Stephanie Gets a A+

I came home after the twins' karate and piano lessons today and Stephanie said "... come over here Mom; I have something to show you!" As it turns out it was her Chinese school report card! I didn't even know they get report cards, much less letter grades. My little girl scored an A+ in her class - best in class! She was the only one that got an A+ . We think it's mainly due to the fact that she tries really hard and can hold her own, right there with the best, fluent speakers in her class. We're soooo proud of her! She doesn't always know what the characters are or how to say a lot of basic conversation still but she learned so much the past few years. Nathan and Kristen has a tough act to follow! ;-)

Celebrating 50th Wedding Anniversary - January 16th

Actually not our 50th wedding anniversary yet... we joyfully celebrated my parents' anniversary.  They are a very typical, traditional Chinese couple who doesn't highlight the fact that they've been married this long or even celebrate their anniversary over the years.  It was the kids that decided that we wanted to recognize the fact that they have such an awesome commitment and love for each other.  My dad was in the hospital but recovering well and actually went back to the nursing home the following week.  We came up to spend some time with Dad and had a cake to celebrate -  the Lord has really blessed their lives and in turn we are blessed and we learn so much in how they love and care of each other.  It's not a movie line of undying love, but it's a growing steady fire that continues through the years..... sometimes I wonder how marriages last and why some do not.... it is so disheartening when you hear about good friends breaking apart and we continue to be thankful for the Him that watches over us and takes care of our needs.  True love has been demonstrated by God and how He loves us... in term we can try to be more like Him....

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad - we love you!

Thanks Steve for taking the picture!

Family Gathering - January 9th

It was great to see Auntie Pinkie and Uncle Edward and the family in January.  They were out visiting Marisa and her family so we benefitted in seeing them again!  It was so nice to spend quality time with them and it was great for the cousins to get together and play.  Cammy came in an Ariel dress and right away the girls took this as a signal to jump into their princess costume! 

2009 and First Days of January

Christmas Day is always special and it's one of our family's favorite holiday - Benson got here early since he forgot what time to come.  He did remember being a little kid the anticipation of Christmas and all the presents under the tree... We let the kids open a present with each person that came through the door to help them since i think they were about to burst with excitement.  It's so fun to re-live through their eyes and to remember how we felt when we were young.... oh to be five years old again....

Christmas 2009

(after many attempts to get Nathan to

give a decent pose...)

 The next day we got an early start with the Hom Family to head up to Big Bear for the day of playing in the snow.  It was really nice and fairly warm and we weren't sure if we would find a nice spot on the side of the road.  Fortunately, we stopped where we did a few years ago and ran into a friendly family who pointed us across the street where the snow was fresher and more room for the everyone to play.  I am always amaze at how friendly people are up there.  They always seem so willing to chat and to help.  I guess growing up in L.A. I'm always wary when "strangers' talk with me and I tend to be a bit more reserve.  But kindness breeds kindness and we were able to enjoy the snow that day.  The kids had a blast sledding the down the snow ... brrrr it was cold when the mittens got wet but thrilling nonetheless....

  

2010
The new year started off with a pretty busy rush of activities - New Year's Day we headed to LA to see my Dad and then off to the Rose Parade float viewing.  It was fun since I have not been there since I was a kid and it was Alan's and the kids' first time.  It was fun catching the shuttle to the float area and getting up close and personal with all these floats... the kids got tired of it soon enough and we didn't get to see everything but it was fun nonetheless.  The Shanghai float also had a show every hour on the hour with Chinese dancing and music which really drew a crowd...

Chun Family in front of the Angel's float

Welcome 2010!

Jan 2nd - we went to the Nixon Library - there was the Festival of Trains and we thought the children would like to see the train and we would get some history lessons in as well.... what an interesting library!  It was beautiful with all the Christmas trees decorated around the exhibits.  We went through the exhibits at kid speed (if you know what we mean).  Alan and I will need to come back another day to look at the exhibits in more details.  The kids had more fun running the in the open area outside.  We did get to walk through the house that Nixon grew up in and were fortunate to have a docent that was able to talk about the history of the house and the Nixon grounds.... turns out the following week was a special celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Library.  Could it really have been there this long already??

                                                   

                                                                   

                            

My silly angels!    

Entry into the New Decade

Happy New Year!
Thought we would try this new mode of communication as we enter the new decade - let's see how this works out...