Conference Weekend

I'm still a recent enough convert that I always think back to the first time I ever watched Conference in April 2009.  I count ... this is my ninth General Conference!  Twice a year, my Church.. the LDS Church aka Mormons aka Momos take time off from Church and attend four two hour sessions split over two days listening to our Prophet, Apostles, and other Church leaders speak.  It is always a very uplifting and edifying time and I always feel that ticklish, heartwarming, teary eyed familiarity that I recognize as the Spirit.

This weekend was the first time Jordan seemed to get that we were staying in to watch Conference.  Unlike the past when he's become bored or not been able to function when we're focusing on the messages... he was easily entertained with a few things.  The rather makeshift tent that Andy put together with some of our actual tent sticks, pipe cleaners, ribbons, and sheets, and his other toys.  He stopped to listen to the Prophet when we told him he was on, and seemed to understand, at least a little bit, that it was important to be reverent and pay attention.  I know he sings songs in Nursery on Sundays, so he seemed more intrigued by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's music every now and then, and for the most part, he kept himself busy and didn't bother us.  As a result, I was able to listen to many of the talks during the session (which hasn't exactly been the case for the last three or four sessions).

I also stayed focused in on the messages by taking notes on my phone and using twitter.  I'd scroll through the posts with hashtag #ldsconf and also retweet things I liked and tweet a bit of my own.  It was really fun (I didn't do it the entire time.. but for a majority of two sessions).  Some of the tweeters would tweet quotes as they were being said, so it was as if I had a plethora of great notes right in front of me to review right after.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it helped me focus instead of fall asleep (guilty as charged.. fell asleep during the Prophet's closing talk).

We also got to see a lot of family (Andy's cousin is leaving on a mission soon so he was in town with his parents, his aunt was visiting his cousin who just had a baby so we got to see them, a two week old - so small!, a few cousins, and of course Andy's immediate family all weekend long).

We had hot chocolate, baked pancake, apple cider, chicken fajitas, omelettes, and fresh squeezed lemonade from Chick Fil a.  Twas a great weekend.  We also took some photos of the grandkids with Ogo and May for their Christmas cards.  I had a fun time editing the photos and can't wait to create our own family Christmas card.  These are just some of my favorites.

California Recap: C&O Trattoria

Italian is probably the last genre of food I'd pick when given an option, but while in Venice Beach, I couldn't have thought of a better place than C&O to take the family.  Outdoor seating, all you can eat hot garlic rolls, and even a bright blue parrot chilling outside for us to fawn over.  The fact that it was within walking distance was just an added bonus.  Who am I kidding?  Free rolls within walking distance?  Mmmmmm mmmm garlic rolls!  Nom nom nom!  

And what sort of Asian would I be if I didn't have any photos of our scrumptious food?!

I'd actually never been to this location, the one closer to the beach (literally a block away), but both are on Washington, so really not that far.  

Epic Surprise 60th Birthday Party for My Pops

So we originally planned a trip to LA for a wedding and on the side.. to see my family since they're all there.  But then Bubba wouldn't really take the bottle and we found out the wedding was "no kids allowed."  So... we made lemonade with our lemons, changed my dad's surprise party to Saturday and went to Disneyland on Friday!  I'm glad we did.. because there was so much to plan for the party.. we might not have been able to do it all Friday!

My mom handed out this invite (made by yours truly) to all my dad's friends. 

The execution of how exactly to get my dad out of the beach house we rented for the week was a little more complicated.  I told Andy his only job on Saturday was to get my dad out of the house at 3:30 PM.  Unfortunately, my Dad decided he'd go get some pop for what he thought was going to be just family over for dinner.  He left on his own around 3 PM (in retrospect, we should have stopped him!) and came back, sweating, with the wrong drinks I requested (I wanted Diet Dr. Pepper not Diet Coke and he got no Seven-Up, just Coke) and refusing to step out again.  Even when Andy suggested he go for a walk with him and the kids and needed help with the kids, he simply stated "It's too hot and I just want to rest."  It wasn't hot by the beach, but I guess carrying a ton of drinks a few blocks can get quite sweaty.  

Then, to make things worse.. he ran into his old buddy who happens to be a photographer, trying to get all his equipment into the beach house.  Turns out my mom had asked him to bring his stuff along so we could capture the event on film!  I quickly improvised and said I had asked Uncle Jimmy to come take family photos for us by the beach.  My dad didn't think much of it since I always have photographs of our family done.  Although... I'm unsure if he wondered why I'd ask Uncle Jimmy of all people.  All I know is... we were all in a frenzy trying to get him to get out of the house as people were arriving.  My cousin had just flown in from Hong Kong, come straight from the airport, and went along with my dad and Andy and Uncle Jimmy to scope out locations for our photoshoot.  Meanwhile, I was hiding with a bunch of guests I did not know, but assumed they were guests (the only Asians walking along the beach house... they had to be in our party and they indeed were!) in the patio of the neighbor (good thing they weren't home!) while my Dad was outside, still begrudgingly on his way for another walk with the boys.  

 Even Fatty came along for the fun.

The surprise worked out.. everyone there hid above the loft in the middle living room space and we arranged for them to stand up and shout "Surprise" right after I asked my mom where the avocados were.   The look on my dad's face was priceless.  In our family, we don't really do much for birthdays besides maybe go out.  I can't remember the last time I got a birthday present from my family.  We usually just use "birthdays" as an excuse to get something we want anytime during the year, but really it's a loose classification.  So being able to celebrate my dad's 60th was sort of a big deal and I'm glad we did.  When he turned 50, I didn't even know until it was after.  It was just sort of another birthday that we didn't really do much for besides maybe have some cake.

Jordan and I had gotten my dad a "Rockstar" big pin that he sported all day and night.  It was awesome.  As for food... oh it was a feast to be remembered!  We had homemade spring rolls, chicken soup, Chinese noodles, guacamole, salsa, galbi ribs, pig's feet, salad, fruit, a crispy cake, a ton of Chinese dishes I don't know how to translate, and Porto's cheese rolls and fruit tarts.

Here he is chilling with his Asian homies in the patio.  They later moved their party to the rooftop deck for the rest of the night.

We got a half sheet of Porto's Milk and Berries cake.  Mmmmm!!  The guy holding my dad's hand as they cut the cake, he was responsible for picking up all our Porto's goods and it was also his birthday that exact day, so we celebrated together! 

Our family

My dad's side of the family

because it was also his birthday too!

The men...

The females and babies (because Jordan really wanted to be in the photo too!)

 My brother and his girlfriend with me (twas a long day of planning and cooking for us!  These two went to the store to get everything we didn't have multiple times, brought us lunch, and my brother marinated and grilled some amazing galbi ribs, also Grace has been to culinary school before so she is amazing at cutting up stuff - so quick!).

 The winners of the little game we played to see who knew my dad best.  

It was a good day except for the fact that Utah beat BYU that night.  Booooo!  My mom requested my brother and I both toast our dad so I went first after hosting a quick game with silly prizes, then my brother went.. and sadly, the slideshow I made didn't make the cut since we couldn't connect our computer to the TV there cuz our cord was broken.  Oh well.  

My dad and mom partied like they were 20 again.  A bunch of people crashed in our huge beach house and they were up until about 4 AM on the rooftop, just having a great time.  

It was so good to see my parents so happy with their friends.  I'm grateful that our unfortunate exclusion from my friend's wedding since it was no kids turned into a great night.  This one's going into the books!

Work Problems

Whenever we have a quarterly meeting approaching.. life gets extremely busy with work and I find myself working anywhere from 20-30 hours a week.  We (there's two of us now!) are having meetings with search executives to update their account plans, updating our profit and loss statement, finalizing presentation details and logistics with our vendors on top of all our regular responsibilities.  As a result.. my bathroom is disgusting and I have not worked out since we came back from LA.

It's really sad.

Rant over.

Back to work! Yes... all while my 2 year old screams from inside his room, refusing to nap and my 5 month old whines on the floor next to me as I work. Not sure why I took the 5 minutes to blog but probably because in retrospect, it will be funny.  Maybe.  Hopefully.  Eek!

My Lil Kiwi

Me: Do you want to try some kiwi?
Jordo: No
Me: It tastes just like.......scanning brain to figure out what it tastes like that he likes....raisins? What the heck, kiwis taste nothing like raisins!  But in my defense, he had a huge cup of raisins yesterday so here was hoping...
Jordo: No.
Me: Just try some... please?  You'll like it.
Jordo: No Looks at the kiwi suspiciously
Me: You can spit it out if you don't like it?
Jordo: No Looks disgusted now
Me: I'll let you have my phone if you try some.
Jordo: Ponders a bit... Okay.
I give him a bite of the kiwi.  He looks suspicious even as he's opening his mouth to take a bite. There's no doubt in my mind that he knows it's good now.  The kiwi was delicious!  
Me: Wasn't that good?
Jordo: No.
Me: Do you want more?
Jordo: No.
Me: *sigh... fine, I'll just eat it myself then!  Without even thinking, I put another spoonfull in front of his mouth.  Just in case... He gobbles it up.  I go to take another spoonful for myself and he says...
Jordo: Can I have more mom?
Me: Yes!  Yes you can!!!

I JUST KNEW IT!  I KNEW HE'D LOVE KIWI!  I know it's bad to bribe my son to try something.. but hey, this is the same boy who wouldn't try a cookie until I made some crumbles fall into his mouth.  He just has to trust me!

Also...I know it's a bad habit to let him watch TV while eating.. but tonight he had 3/4 of a cream cheese with chicken taquito and half a roll before the TV came out.  Then, he ate two kiwis, an entire bowl of Mac n Cheese and the other half of his roll.  Methinks the television is the way to go sometimes.  I can't believe how much he eats when he has something to watch.  Amazing.

Tiger Who?

Bed Made, Clean Sink, Clear Desk.

That's all I really need to feel like my home is clean.  There could be dust floating around, hair covering the floor, but so long as the bed is made.. the sink is cleared and my desk is clutter free... I feel like things are okay.  Of course, the bathroom toilet, heaps of post-maternity shedding hair contrasted against the white tiles, kitchen floor crumbs, mountains of clothes both dirty and clean yet to be folded and put away and of course.. toys, toys, toys, would beg to differ.  But really... all I really need to be slightly deceived is a bed made, clean sink and clear desk.  Unfortunately, the only thing I tend to have is a made bed (5 out of 7 days).

But right now... in the probably 15 minutes I have left before Andy gets back from his weekly softball game, both boys are asleep in their shared room, the sink is clean and I feel good about the potential of a clutter free desk.  Of course, today is the one day the bed never got made since Bubba fell asleep on it and then I loaded clean and folded clothes on it, in hopes of it encouraging us to put it all away before we go to bed tonight.  Sometimes, we both just keep the clothes at the foot of the bed and go to sleep.  Yes, we are that lazy.  Other times, they fall to the floor and become unfolded.

Isn't it funny the little things that make our home feel comfortable and us feel relaxed?  I love nothing more than to sit in my immaculate living room to watch a show while on the computer or read a book with music playing in the background, but I cannot get there unless the living room is tidied up, otherwise, I will start to clean it instead.  I also don't mind taking the time to put things away at night just so it can get taken out again in the morning just for the pure joy of the few minutes it is clean in the morning when I awaken.  I've noticed that my son has slowly become conditioned - not necessarily to appreciate the cleanliness, but to understand that when Mom says it's time to clean up, it's business.  He will help, albeit a few pieces instead of the whole shebang. I am a huge fan of this habit we are building together.  I also don't like him taking out a million toys to play at one time.  He's pretty good about cleaning up before taking another item out so long as I'm supervising and request it of him.  What choice does he really have right?