One thing I really like about my job is actually how far I have to walk between the bus stop and the office. It’s just over a mile and takes me 20 to 25 minutes. Comparing to Midtown or Downtown Manhattan, I think it’s a much nicer walk, simply because there aren’t as many smokers and the cooler weather is perfect for fast pace walking.

Since I sit all day at work, I feel like even walking two miles a day doesn’t quite do it. So whenever I can, I try to finish lunch early and then go outside for some air and sun.

Lately, I’ve been walking in the direction opposite to where Union Square and all the tourists are. It’s literally an uphill battle, but once on top, the view and the feeling you get is breath-taking. There’s something about a “view from above” that seems to help put things in perspective.

I had my camera with me today, so I decided to take some photos.

Enjoy!

Here’s our March photo recap. We started the month with a few surprises for Kaitlyn.

Forgive and forget is not easy and takes time, but it’s sure beats being those who offended you — they having to live with guilt and shame for a lifetime, and pass it on to their children and their children’s children.

Life is good. =)

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! We wish you all good health, true happiness, and peace at home!

Here are some New Year photos of us with our photogenic lil’ girl.

In case you are wondering, we never tell her how to pose. I always tell her to “stand properly and look at the camera,” and she will figure out how she wants to look in photos.

It’s definitely not a genetic thing.

She is just very comfortable in front of the camera, probably because I have taken more than 15,000 photos of her in the past 5 years.

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin Maggie & her family stopped by and stayed with us for a night, while on their way to Seattle from L.A.

I think the last time we saw them was like 6 years ago, on our wedding day, when their son was only 2 months old! We went back to New York and I think not long after, they moved to Taiwan for a little while before settling in Hawaii; so we haven’t seen each other since.

Although it was the first time the kids have met each other, I was great to see that they had no problem playing together and getting along.

The visit was short, but now that they are in Seattle and we are in SF, it will be much easier to visit them as well as my Grandpa more frequently then ever.

Of course, I’ll need to find a steady job first.

Benny is one of Kaitlyn’s new friends from church and he just turned 4. He had his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese last Monday & we were invited.

Here are a few photos I took from the party. I guess I was having such a blast there that I totally forgot to even take a picture of the birthday boy! Sorry!

Here are some of the funny things that Kaitlyn says from time to time. We intend to update this post with new ones, so for your convenience, we will keep it at the top of our site.

Check back often Enjoy!

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2012-04-14

On our way back from the neighborhood park, Kaitlyn noticed some blooming yellow & red tulips in front of someone’s house.

Kaitlyn: Oooh, Daddy, what are those flowers called?
Daddy: Tulips.
Kaitlyn: Oh yeah! I know that. It has two colors & they look like lips!

Half way home, she wanted me to carry her on my shoulders. While on my shoulders, she put her left ear on the top of my head.

Kaitlyn: Oooh, Daddy, I can hear your heartbeat!
Daddy: No, it’s my footsteps that you’re hearing.
Kaitlyn: Oh. What does your heart look like? Is it a circle or is it like a heart shape?
Daddy: Mmmh. It’s not like a circle, but it is…
Kaitlyn: Daddy, I wish you will die so I can see what your heart looks like.

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2012-01-??

Melanie & Ether picked up Kaitlyn from school. While in the car…

Kaitlyn: I really hope you two won’t be here someday!
Daddy & Mommy: What?!
Kaitlyn: Because I want burger!

Because sometimes when her grandparents pick her up, they would take her to Wendy’s or McDonald’s.

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2012-01-08

Kaitlyn was watching Benji (an old movie about a dog saving 2 kidnapped children) with Daddy.

Kaitlyn: What do dogs eat?
Daddy: Ah, dog food.
Kaitlyn: Dog food spiders?
Daddy: I don’t think so.

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2012-01-06

We were at Wal-Mart, a woman over the P.A. system called for a “code Adam” to all store associates. I think code Adam means “drop everything you are doing look for a missing child.”
The woman over the intercom went on to give a description of the child said something like, “The boy is wearing a grey shirt, blue jeans, has brown hair…”
Looking a little lost, Kaitlyn said, “Oh dear, what’s that??! I don’t know what that means.”
But then, after giving it a second thought, she understood it.
“Oh, she’s talking about him because it’s his birthday!”

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2011-12-17

On our way back from Kaitlyn’s dance class, Paw-Paw (means “Grandma”) asked Kaitlyn if she gave Ms Lyons the Christmas gift bag in Chinese. Kaitlyn said yes. Then Paw-Paw asked if Ms Lyons said “Daw-Jeh” (means “Thank you”). Kaitlyn replied, “No, she said ‘Thank you.’”

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2011-03-21

Kaitlyn was on the floor coloring. She sneezed.

Kaitlyn: Who’s going to say “bless you” to me?
Daddy: How about me?
Kaitlyn: Yes.
Daddy: Bless you.
Kaitlyn: Thank you! Now you say “you’re welcome!”

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2010-12

Mommy: Now I can’t get that song out of my head!
Kaitlyn: Because there’s no hole. That’s why. (said it matter-of-fact-ly)

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2010-11

We were having dinner at home. Kaitlyn was eating Chinese-style steamed spareribs pulled a small piece of bone out of her mouth. Speaking in Chinese, Daddy told Kaitlyn to wipe the chipped bone off of her finger with the napkin, he said, 「Kaitlyn, “hi”喺呢度。」(“Kaitlyn, wipe it here.”)
Kaitlyn, holding the bone close to the napkin, with a soft, squeaky voice, she said, “Hi! Hi!”
“To wipe” in Cantonese Chinese is pronounced “hi”.

It’s been almost a week into the new year & I hope all of you have had a happy 2012 so far! A “new year” is the perfect excuse for everyone to be grateful for past trials, hopeful about the future & excited about life again — at least we are!

Since we arrived here in the East Bay in September, we have been hard at work settling in, getting Kaitlyn in school, finding our ways around, applying for insurance, finding work, and even planning a side-business.

And it definitely hasn’t been easy emotionally either, since we had to start with having zero friends here. Yes, we miss you guys in New York dearly! No more birthday dinners with Mel’s friends, playdates for Kaitlyn, video game nights, basketball with the Elders, or morning jog with Jeremy. And as much as we loathe the crazy weather, pothole-filled roads, and the rat-infested city, the Big Apple has spoiled us with Coney Island, great parks & museums, $2.25 subway rides, & cheap-but-authentic ethnic food from all over the world just down the block!

I’m sure we’ll discover great new places & find new friends here in the Bay Area, but we’ll forever miss New York & the experiences we had there.

Although we struggled through most of 2011 — even after moving out west — but with plenty of help from family, tons of support from friends, & countless prayers from everyone, we are more hopeful than ever in 2012. And when Melanie actually gets her driver’s license some time this year, watch out! Nothing else will be impossible for us! Hey, this super mom lost like 30 lbs. in 6 weeks last year & has kept it off since! There’s no stopping — at least for her!

We sincerely wish you all the best. You’re always in our prayers, because we’re grateful for you!

Enjoy the photos!

Back in June, there was Father’s Day, Helen’s wedding banquet, a visit from Elder & Sister Gong of the Quorum of the Seventy to our branch, plus a glimpse of the old Mel before she lost that whopping 30+ lbs. in a month! =-)

Sometimes we forget that it doesn’t take much to be kind, and it doesn’t have to take much of our time, either. Quoting Nike: Just do it.

I strained my back earlier this afternoon so I was lying down on the couch with a blanket over me.

Kaitlyn entered the room & saw me with the blanket.

“Poor Daddy…,” she said.

She walked over, bent down, gently held my face with her little hands and gave me two soft kisses on the cheek.

Then she stood up, put her hands together, and closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m praying for you.” she said.