singing duet

Ater christmas morning, Marek got a video of the singing duel as they were eating breakfast:

The song "EVERYBODY DANCE NOW". Sorry, the kids are a little tone deaf :<)

Christmas 2009_2

More of Christmas Eve. Got some videos of the kids singing and opening presents. There should of been lots more, but the camera died of low battery...my bad, should of recharged it before the evening began ;>)

The girls singing Jingle bells..poor Tuan didn't know the song.

Kara opening presents..Uncle Danny accidently gave Kaylee's present to Kara for opening. Kaylee's reaction after she notice that Kara got what she had asked for for Christmas was priceless:>) Poor Kaylee! Then Kara's reaction of what she got from Uncle Danny was great.

Peter Vinh opening present from Uncle Viet:

christmas 2009

We did Christmas at our house..as with most years on Christmas eve. We had the whole family..Grandpa and Grandma, Viet's family (Viet, Thi, Ngoc Han, Tuan), Uncle Dung and Uncle Nam. Our dinner this year was a Lau..lots of meat, seafood, and vegetables dipped and cooked in a boiling broth in the middle of the table. Of course part of the meat included turkey :>)

Then after dinner we open all the presents. I know the tradition is suppose to be open presents early Christmas morning. We figure this way, we have everybody at one time and they can sleeep in the next morning.

I had a late start this year. Didn't get the tree up until the night before Christmas eve..was lazy and fearing what Peter would do the tree!!! I put the tree up after the kids went to sleep..stayed up until the wee hours to finish :>0
Took some pictures of Kara and Peter with the tree Christmas Eve morning.

Beautiful Kara Mai. Loves to pose for the camera.


Kara with her little bird.


Peter Vinh, what's goin on?


Classic case of Peter Vinh..charge!!!


Tried to get pictures of all the kids at once..not so easy, but I did prevail..sort of. These are the kids before opening the presents.

Everybody, say cheese!!! Kara Mai with cousins.


Got Vinh to stay put for a picture...had to take picture real fast.


Peter Vinh finally smiling!!


Follow onto the next blog for videos...Christmas 2009_2.

friends

Had lunch with a dear friend, Janet. We have done this annual Christmas get together for almost 11 years, I believe. We do a catch-up of the year. Mostly talk about families. It's amazing that I've known her almost twenty years. It's hard to believe that she has a nine year old and a seven year old. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were studying in the UNR library.

We went to Red Lobster- what great food. Got to love their garlic cheese biscuit :>)

happy carolling

Got to see and hear Kara Mai carolling at the Blue Kangaroo. If the parents were five minutes late they missed the singing..it was that quick. Guess the kids didn't have that much attention span.
There were four short songs: Jingle bell, Christmas time, Santa is coming to town, Merry Christmas.


Jingle bell:


Christmas time:

christmas e-cards

This year I've sent out paperless Christmas cards. It in gives a quick summary of our so call year. This way there is no stamps or envelopes involved...I know just the lazy factor :>)





The content of the letter had this:

"Hope to find everyone in a festive holiday mood. It’s been a busy year for us.
Peter is 28 months and Kara is 4 1/2 years old. It’s hard to believe that Kara will be in Kindergarden next September!! Peter is talking (sort of-his own language) and will enthusiastically give loud kisses. He still loves to taunt his sister; you can see the devilish smile as he waves a toy in front of her and runs. Kara-Getting some hair, but since it’s still so short she gets mistaken for a boy, even though I dress her in girl’s colors (lots of pink and purple)! Go figure!!
Marek is still rock climbing away. We’re having some hearing loss since Peter has a tendency to emit these high pitched, ear piercing screeches. I’m surprise that the glasses in the house haven’t shattered!! I’m still working at strengthening the knee since the ACL reconstruction in April.
We’ve gone camping to Bishop quite a bit. Marek has taken the kids to Lake Tahoe and Donner quite a bit also since he has been at home most of the year. Well we got to go.
We all wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and better things to come in the following NEW YEAR!!!"

Well, hope for a better coming new year!!!!

Camping in Bishop- Nov part 2

More videos. Kara in the pool with daddy !!!
And Peter jumping again.

Camping in Bishop- Nov

Some more camping. This time Nathan didn't come with us and the grandparents. The weather was a little cooler.
Hiked down the lower gorge with the kids Saturday. This time they both slept in the double stroller. Kara in the back and peter in the front. Marek was off with his climbing buddies.
As usual we went to Keough hotspring the next day for some warm fun. This time Peter was brave enough to jump into the pool. Got to be careful with this one, he doesn't check the distance from his jumping stance to the pool. He landed on his bum several times when he jumped short:>0
Kara wore her life vest this time and swam alot on her own..she loved the freedom;<))

more halloween 2009

More pictures of cute kids:

halloween 2009

Kara this year, was another princess. Sleeping beauty.. Kept asking if we're going trick-or-treating. This year we went going with her cousins- Ngoc Han and Tuan around our neighborhood. Peter was a "can you get any cuter" dog.










I was surprised at how far we actually went. Of course Peter only goes a very short distanct then he wants to be picked up. Uncle Viet was accomodating alot of the carrying Peter. Didn't get any pictures of Nick, but he came for his very first Trick-o-treating...He's 3 1/2! He was a cute fireman.

camping in bishop

Went camping with the grandparents and Nathan.
The weather was real nice for hiking down to the Gorge. Marek was off climbing with his buddies. The kids got a kick out of playing in the dirt.

silly ones :<)

Marek and I went hiking with the little ones. We're hiking the trail behind the Montrous Golf course. Kara walked the whole way..impressive. Peter got carried by Dad using the baby back carrier..lazy little one:>)

It was a nice fall weather in October. Very colorful leaves. We saw alot of dogs along the way. Lot's of expensive homes.

The kids raided some chocolate on the ride home..munchkins.

Kara at the zoo with Dad

Marek took Kara to the Sacramento zoo. Got lots of pictures of her and the animals. There were Anteaters, lots of birds. She got to go on the Merry-go-round. Overall a good outing with Dad.

peek-a-boo

This is cute.
Kara's hiding place while playing hide-n-seek with Dad. She hopefully won't be able to fit there when she's a teenager....:>)

hiking Galena creek

We went for a nice hike up galena creek this Sunday afternoon. Well I did a slow walk while Marek hiked and the kids hiked/ran all over the place.

The kids showed off some bouldering skills.
Peter has an issue with alot of walking. He'll only go so far then he wants to be carried. If you don't accomodate him then he gets into a fit and sits there and wail. Can't count how many fits he threw.!!! He kinds of gets the jist that I won't carry him and that he would have to walk on his own, but he still tries ;>))

Peter flying

Took the kids to the climbing gym. They ran around alot with Kara only climbing once. Marek took a break from bouldering and gave Peter some attention. Peter loves it when daddy throws him around and in the air.

I of course just gasp whenever he does ;>)

Family at Silver Legacy

Sunday, the family went to Silver Legacy for dinner/birthday for Nam and Thi since their birthdays are on 9/15(Nam) and 9/22(Thi). Nam turned 39 and Thi 33. As usual the get together was very noisy. What do you expect with four little kids five and under!!!
Got to take a sort of family picture..I'm not in it, I'm taking the picture ;>0.



Kara with the cousins:


Pirate Captain with Kara and Kaylee: Daddy looking out for the kids :<)

wild water fun-2009

Took the kids to Wild Water for the IGT picnic. Lots of fun in the water. Lots of food to eat and of course Ice cream. I believe that Kara had three ice cream--yikes!!! Marek was able to get Kara to go on some of the bigger slides.

tahoe fun

Marek took the three kids somewhere in tahoe for the day on Tuesday. Looks like they had great fun playing in the sand, water, and rocks.

Marek said that Peter was flirting with some lady down at the beach..sitting on her towel, reafing through her magazine. What a charmer, only two and breaking hearts already :>)

Peter' is two!!!!

My baby is already two--8-23-09 Pretty soon he won't be a baby anymore...Here comes toddlerhood. I still love holding him for his nighttime milk...I'm sad to say I didn't do that with Kara. It seems with him, I'm more easy going..O.K I'm a sucker. Here are some pictures and videos of his birthday bash.

Oh peter

What a heartbreaker. You are just my cuddle bear. Can't get enough kisses from you.