Hot Start

July has been nothing short of epic, and we're barely through the first week!  An engagement (!!!).  Mulitiple Birthdays. Livermore Forth of July at the Aguilar compound.  Anh brought his fiance (!!!) over to celebrate his birthday and in impromptu Huelan photoshoot broke out.  Bubbles in the yard and on the deck.  Patio gardening.  Deutsche Bank crew came over for June's birthday.  And another pool party today at Ray and Bo's gorgeous pad up in the hills of Milbrae.  Needless to say, lots of food.

(wipes sweat from brow) It's a rough life I tell ya....

some pics here

End of June Pics

Whoa end of June... It was a great month, come and gone too soon it feels like.  Bi had her birthday, we hit up the Discovery Museum at the Marin Headlands (where they have a Clifford exhibit and we could stay for an entire day if we could keep up with Huelan) and generally enjoyed being out and about like summer should be.  

Pics here

Puerto Vallarta '12

Patty and I took a well needed vacation to Mexico just recently to celebrate my birthday.  The place was beautiful and the people friendly.  We definitely got our fill with Mexican food and soaked in the sunshine.  On my 33rd birthday morning, I woke up early to wait for Patty to wake up, because I had a surprise for her.  When I noticed her stirring in bed, i leaned over and waited for her eyes to open.  Once open, I confessed my love for her and asked her hand in marriage!  Fortunately enough she said "Yes!" so that we can go ahead and enjoy our day and newly engagement together!  Patty and I have been in a relationship for nearly 6 years now, so it was, "about time" most would say.  No wedding plans yet, but there will be much research and planning needed!

Some pictures can be seen here: PV '12 pics

More Dinos

The Conservatory of Flowers at GG Park is hosting a dino exhibit in a muggy room filled with ferns. It was kinda small and hot, but they had four dinos that made sounds when Huelan push the yellow button, so she pushed it and immediately ran to the other side of the room. Repeat about 95 times. We watched. There was also a red button that started a mini earthquake and volcano- that was pretty cool, but she only pushed that button about 68 times.

We picnic-ed on the lawn outside and saw three wedding parties and a quincinera taking pics and could hear the band from Oysterfest in the Glade. A very nice SF Saturday.

*Side note on Oysterfest. Liz and I absolutely love oysters, but there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to get us to line up for a quarter mile around the park for admission into the glade to overpay for oysters and drink beer from plastic cups with five thousand other people. Does that make us old? Cranky? Maybe. But we prefer to think that we just know ourselves a little better than we used to.

LeBron

Matt & Careey are expecting their son, codename LeBron, in about six days. Actually, it's exactly six days since they have a scheduled c-section on Friday at 12:00 noon. We stopped by to bug them a bit before the kid pops out and peep the new pad, which is basically all set up for the new arrival. That kid is gonna have a lot of gadgets....

Huelan Backyard Bubbles

I know this is a constant underlying theme, but I've actually been pretty good about not harping on it lately. Anyway, I'm succumbing today. She's getting to be a big girl, and it's going by too fast! If you haven't seen her in a while, check out the vid. Definitelty not a baby anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftr0_hFvetI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Choo Choo

The genius of Dinisaur Train is that it combines dinisaurs AND trains. Stereotypically, you'd think that it'd be a boy thing, but Huelan absolutely loves both. We've hit up the Tilden Steam Trains a handful of times, but now that she's been into DT, she has a whole train vocabulary, shouting, "All aboard," and "Time tunnel approaching" to everyone within earshot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9EmmsQQFSU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dinosroooooaaaaarrrs

A little while ago, we discovered Dinosaur Train, one of the PBS kids series. It took about four seconds for Huelan to decide that it's her favorite show and now it's pretty much all any of us ever watch now. All of a sudden she's a dino expert and can't get enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkaM7hhC0z4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dads' Day

Decided to skip the last day of the tourney to hang with the fam. Full day of sunshine and caught most of the Open on the DVR anyway, which was exciting down to the end. Even got in a nap and Q'd up some sausages for dinner. Giants lose, Dodgers win. No complaints.

Last One

Believe it or not, Kevin is the last sibling to finish high school.  The seven of us graduated from four different high schools and attended seven different universities.  Holy tuition.  Kevin we're really proud of you for accomplishing this milestone, and we've seen you excel at everything that you've dedicated yourself to.  Like shredding the dance floor in a grey sweater.  You're becoming quite the young man, and we're really excited to see what you take on next.

Some Grad Pics

Family Tree

 

Last week, Huelan and Grandma patiently put together this family tree, which is no easy task with our families!

We did a little early Fathers' Day in the Sunset with some pizza and some great cards and gifts. I was late coming from the Open, but still managed to score a bottle of fine scotch and a painted egg ornament. Both handcrafted.

Can't Believe my Eyes

Something I never thought I'd see...

Banteay Srei

PART 1 << Click here if the embedded vid is not working


PART 2 << Click here if the embedded vid is not working




In Cambodia, Banteay Srei is a temple filled with intricate carvings in the Ankor area. In Oakland, Banteay Srei is a youth group sponsored by Asian Health Services dedicated to girls empowering themselves that principally serves the Cambodian community.

More about Bantey Srei, including how to make a donation, here:
http://www.girlsempoweringthemselves.com/pages/index2.html

And for the past four years, the group has been led by my sister, Nhuanh. She works with teenage girls, basically trying to help them stay on the path toward becoming proud, successful, mature young women living in a community that doesn't always model that possibility.  She uses heavy doses of mentoring, art, and plain old listening to make sure that these young women can envision a positive life for themselves, and she does it amazingly well. 

Nhuanh has been planning a big move for quite a while now, and this year was her last with Banteay Srei.  A few nights ago was the final showcase of the girls' art and performances that they've been putting together all year.  It was capped off by the girls' goodbye to Nhuanh.  You can see that she's had a huge impact on them, and that though it's goodbye for now, the effect and impression that she's made will long outlast her tenure there.

Mel's BBQ at our house

So Melinda felt like throwing a BBQ, and we felt like it would be a great excuse for us to pull a few things together and have friends over, so we dusted off the grill and rubbed up a few tri-tips and had a party.  Side Note- our friends' pot luck fare rocks- from Spam masubis to lumpia, from crab dip to desserts (Happy Birthday Jeff!), and plain old liquor, there was barely a crumb (or drop) left over.

We benefited from a clear, warm day, and the kids entertained each other til almost 11PM.  Not even the Paquaio debacle could dampen the mood for more than a few minutes.....


More Pics here

This girl

Loves spam masubi