Book recommendation

To all you Twilight fans out there, I highly recommend the book Shiver! I was hooked from the start!

I just read it for my book club . Check out the book club and read with me so that we can discuss!

It has a similar draw to it's characters that Twilight had for me. The story is told in first person between the two characters, Sam and Grace. As a reader I bonded with both characters from the start. They are both very human and likeable. The writing in the book is very descriptive, and flows beautifully.

Try it...you'll like!

kthanksbye.

Grandma's work picnic

This year, Grandma and Auntie Andria took the kids to the picnic. So I only took these two pics when they got home!

These two spent the entire time in line for face painting! Haley and Payton didn't want to get their faces painted, so no pics of them.

Thank you so much Grandma and Auntie Andria for taking the girls, they had a blast!

Gymnastics time for my pre-schooler

Payton was so excited to start her gymnastics class this year! This year, the mommies and daddies aren't allowed to stay in the class. So this is major big kid status.


Her best friend Dev is in the class with her! Here they are waiting on the bench outside for Teacher Marilyn.

Parachute time!

Shaking some eggs during music and movement.

Stamp time! At the end of every class, Teacher Marilyn gives 4 (yes 4!) stamps. One on each arm and one on each leg. Dev can hardly wait!

Finally, Dev's turn!

Pay can hardly wait for her weekly gymnastics class!

Wedding Shower

One of Dao's sisters is getting married on Saturday! We are super excited for Suong (nickname is "B") and Rob. This will be the first marriage on both sides of our family in over 10 years (as far as immediate family goes). Dao and I are so happy to gain a brother like Rob, and the girls can hardly believe that they finally have another uncle! Check out the adorable couples wedding website here..... http://www.pugaroo.com/default.html .

Last Sunday, we had B's bridal shower. Her best friend Remi, had the amazing idea to do a carnival theme. Her friends, Remi and Lisa, and her sisters, Linh and Xuan, and I collaborated and brought all kinds of goodies.


This pic was done before we brought all the other food out. I wanted to be sure and take a pic before people starting eating and it was gone! We also had cupcakes, egg rolls, fried noodle, and fried rice. So much yummy food!

Pulled pork sandwiches.

Funnel cakes made by Remi.

I think these were macaroons? I never got to have one, they were gone so fast! Remi, did you make these??? I must know!!!

Hand made caramel apples (great job Linh!)

Beautiful cupcakes made by Xuan.

The beautiful bride to be and her two beautiful sisters.

Her best friend and the Maid of Honor, Remi. They have been friends since elementary school.

This is Lisa, a close friend of B's since Middle School, and one of her Bridesmaids.

Again, we are all so very happy for this wedding! The girls are especially excited because Haley is a junior bridesmaid (she even gets to spend the night before the wedding at the hotel with her Auntie!) and Kaylin, Em, and Pay are flower girls.

Thanks also to my Mom and sister, Robin, who also brought goodies for the shower!

More wedding posts to come!

Fall Soccer Kick-Off

Fall soccer is in full swing, and this year we have three kiddo's and one Daddy playing. This means our weekends are jam packed! But we ♥ it!

Her is Coach David (Dev's Dad) and Coach Daddy have a team huddle with the Storm Troopers. Payton loves having her best friends on the team (cousin Livia and BF Dev)!

So far she has actually been trying a little harder this season. Last season was all about the snacks! Although us Mommies have strict orders from the Daddies that we are not to open snacks until after the game!

Emma is playing on an all girls team this season! This is a big deal to her as it has been co-ed up until now. She has the same coach, who is wonderful with the girls.

This age cracks us up because they still run around like a swarm of bees all huddled together.

Em played keeper for one quarter. It was a super hot day and the sun was beating down on her.

Haley, playing soccer with the "big" kids. This year she plays other leagues and we have to travel for her games.

She still loves it though and is showing great improvement on her new team.

Dao is playing on an indoor and outdoor team this season, so it is a busy time for us, but it allows us to have lots of family time, and we love that!

Back to School 2009

The first day back was a huge success! We got there just in time (I drove, and always misjudge how long the drive will take) got the kids settled and I still had time to take a few pics!

My oldest, Haley, on her first day of 6th grade!

Kaylin will be a big 3rd grader this year!

Emma is now a 1st grader and is in school for a full day. Last year we did 1/2 day kindergarten, so this is a big, big deal! She get's to eat lunch at school this year!

Our youngest, Payton, who will start kindergarten next fall. ::sigh:: I don't even want to think about that right now!

Yes, these little guys get lockers!!

Very cool!

Haley, said I could take her little sisters to class (we were running late) and she would be fine. So off she went. We later stopped by to make sure she was settled in okay and she was.

Cousin Luc excited for the first day!

Our school has Multi-aged, so my 3rd grader and 1st grader are in the same class together! We had a long talk with them both, and as you can see, they are fine being together. Emma is especially happy to have her big sis as one of her mentors!

While walking to the parent brunch, we ran into Emma and cousin Luc (also in the same class) who were on their annual school tour. The girl in front of Emma is her locker partner and big kid buddy. She was so sweet to Emma all day!

Pay and Dev snacking at the parent brunch. Madi was on Sheree's back (for awhile) but soon got down for some yummy snacks. Sheree and I sat and drank some coffee while chatting with a few other Mom's.

The G6 girls are new to our school this year, and we are all super excited to have them there!!

Week of Birthdays (last day!) family party/glam night

The birthday girls! 5 years and one day apart!!

Em blowing out her candle. Goo-Goo Linh made her famous Cherry pie! She always makes two, one to share and one just for Dao! What a good sister!

Haley wanted Lemon Meringue pie again (big surprise!)

Em opened her presents first and the kids all gathered around.

Haley opening hers. Check out cousin Luc to the right, is that the Star Trek sign?

Goo-Goo Linh with her BF Brian, The Ambassador of Wine, himself. Check out his amazing blog! If you are a wine drinker, you will not be disappointed!

Pay, Livi, and Dev outside "fishing" for balls.

The Goo-Goo's (Aunties) were available after the party, so a glam night was planned!

Goo-Goo Linh did every one's nails! Her back must have been killing her by the time she was done!Goo-Goo B and Goo-Goo Xuan did make-up....

here she is with Nana, doing her pretty eyes...

although, the girls had to put their own finishing touches on.

Pretty Pay with hair and make-up done. She is getting her nails done.

Isa and Kaylin with hair and make-up done, waiting for nails next.

Haley set up a "hair chair" in her room, and Goo-Goo Xuan kindly volunteered to get her hair done.

Em and Goo-Goo Xuan with hair, make-up, and nails done. She chose such mature colors! Where is the "Lynnwood blue"??

The soon to be bride (Goo-Goo B) is still a kid at heart! She did her nails herself, each one a different color! The wedding is just around the corner, Sept. 26th! We are all getting so excited!

Goo-Goo B brought her wig from the baccalaureate party, and the kids looked so funny with it on!
The glam night girls! But, the party wasn't over....

Everyone headed downstairs for the fashion show/rock concert!

Em decided to smudge her make-up and became a zombie/rock star! Pay ♥'s to strike a pose for the camera!

Haley and Isa rockin' out!

They all totally got into it!

Em with her back-up dancers.

Poor Pay, at then end of the night, Dao looked down, and he saw that our baby girl had crawled under the coffee table and fallen asleep! She was exhausted (as we all were)! But what a fun week!

Thank you everyone who helped make this such a fun and amazing birthday for my girls! We love you all and are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives!