afw

I'm between jobs this week.  My last day at A was last Thursday and my first day at AI is next Monday.  I have a GLORIOUS week off to clear my head and prepare myself for my new role.

Now, I'm sure that one day my kids will read this and give me an earful, but for the week (at least the start of the week), I'm continuing the facade of going to work just so they don't get used to me being at home.  Of course, I come home a couple of hours later (to take Josh to skating!), but at least the kids think I'm still going to work.

I'm sure many of you parents are wondering if I'm doing this for them or me, and, truthfully, I guess it's a bit of both!  Here I am at Starbuck's on my second day off, enjoying my coffee, scone and free wifi for just a short while. 

I am finding, however, that between 7:45 (my usual departure time) and 9:30 am, there is not much that can be accomplished.  I have phone calls to make and appointments to schedule, but most people are still commuting between these hours.  I'm not getting much done in the way of errands at this hour.  Instead, I'm skyping with my peeps back east, organizing a plethora of photos since Fall 2010 and catching up on my blog.

Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours each morning...

family time

We went camping at Bear Creek Provincial Park in the Okanagan this past weekend.  I don't think its been a typical Okanagan summer, but it was fine by us Lower Mainlanders who have yet to see summer!

We had rain clouds come and go all Saturday afternoon and we even had a brief thunderstorm over dinner.  When the clouds rolled in and we took cover in our trailer, we managed to pass the time having a bit of fun...

jeans, pants and weighing in

Here are 2 unrelated conversations I had with Josh on 2 separate occasions:

(After we've taken him to bed, Josh comes back downstairs to find me on the phone.)
J: Mommy, who are you talking to?
Y: My friend, Jean.
(Josh looks puzzled.)
Y: You would call her "Miss Jean".
(Still a puzzled, contemplative look.)
Y: Josh, you don't know Miss Jean. She's my friend from work.
J: Mommy, since I don't know her, I'm going to call her Miss Pants!

(In the bathroom, Josh is getting ready to brush his teeth; I step on the scale.)
J: Mommy, can I see how big you are?
(As he pushes me a bit so he can see the numbers on the scale.)
Y: How big am I?
J: You are 60 lbs!
Y: Wow! 60 lbs?!
(Josh pauses for a bit.)
J: Mommy, I know you are 1-x-x (the EXACT numbers on the scale!) but I'm going to say that you are 60 lbs!

something to talk about...finally

It's been awhile.  I haven't felt like saying much lately.  This year started out quite sad when my grandmother died.  It left me feeling melancholy for longer than I expected.  I guess that contemplating mortality is not something I do often.

I started seeing glimpses of my former self as Aves birthday approached.  It was definitely the highlight of those first few months for me!

But then, sadly, my colleague and friend, Derek Miller, lost his battle with cancer and passed away on May 3rd.  Devastating.  Derek was only 41 years old.

So, I've sort of retreated this spring and tried to spend alot of quality time with my family.  I think I've really needed this time to reflect and appreciate what I have around me.  Especially on the eve of my 40th birthday.

Little did I know late in 2010, when I got together with my friends from UW and we decided to celebrate our 40th birthdays together in Vegas in June - that it would be so perfectly timed!

Honestly, I thought I would use this "vacation" to get some RnR.  I was pleasantly mistaken!  We spent a few days lighting it up in Vegas and, man, did it ever feel like old times.  I didn't think I had it in me to go out drinking and dancing anymore and I guess I was wrong!

It was a blast.  From our luxurious accommodations at the Venetian (thanks for organizing, Rav!) to shopping sprees with Em (pina coladas and Christian Louboutin...sigh...) to a perfect meal with French food, good friends and great memories (thanks for organizing, Jen!), I really can't think of a bad moment all weekend!

I'm not going to get into details about the weekend because, quite frankly, it's true that what goes on in Vegas needs to stay in Vegas!  All I know is that I have come home feeling re-energized.  It's weird to think 15 hours of sleep over 4 nights wouldn't make me feel like a zombie (reminiscent of having a newborn!).  But there is something that needs to be said about re-connecting with friends of 20 years and finding that you can pick up right where you left off 20 years ago!

So, thanks Em, Jen, Steve and Rav.  I love you guys.  I will remember our trip for a long time to come (at least longer than I remembered where I spent the night after IRS!).  And I can't wait for Fifty in Fiji!

Oh, and I need to mention that when I arrived home, Bri gave me an early birthday present.  My husband is the best - first, a Vegas trip all to myself and then an iPad 2!  Seriously?!

ipod

I'm not prepared for this post, so I will follow it up after we do Aves "real" birthday celebration this weekend!

Today Avery turned 2.  I can't even believe it!  The time just keeps passing by faster and faster.  I will reflect on Aves' past year in my follow-up.  I just have 3 thoughts to put in this post along with the photos from her mini-birthday celebration at dinner tonight:

1. It truly is a sign of the times when one of your child's first 100 words is "iPod".

2. Thanks to Grammy and Kong for the Disney Princess ride-on toy.  Aves (and Josh!) loved it!

3. Even with all this digital gadgetry, I still fail to capture a good photo of my 2 kids!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Aves!  You are such a blessing to us and we have had a blast watching you grow this past year.  We love you!

oei hiang nio liem (1919 - 2011)

My grandmother died yesterday.  She was 91 years old.  She brought so much familial love to our lives everyday.  We love you and we will miss you, Emak.  Rest in Peace.

Clockwise from top left: Aunt Irene, Dad, Mom, Uncle George, Aunt Eve, DD, Kong, Jon, Me and Emak.

From left: Kong, Jon, Larry, DD, Lenny, Me, Mom and Emak.

new addition

My brother sent this birth announcement and I thought it was so fabulous that I wanted to post it as is.  Congrats to Larry, San and family! 

Video games... makes a dad proud.

 
Beauty sleep... makes a mom proud.

One big happy family... makes any parent proud.

Introducing the first Liem boy, JC Liem.

Born: xxxx

Weight: xxxx

Height: xxxx