Hills of Hayward

Our neighbor Maria and Steven threw an killer birthday bash for their son Caden. With attractions such as a water park big enough for 10 kids to run around in, a bbq banquet lunch with five or more different kinds of meat (I honestly thought it was catered until I saw Steven over the grill), and Lightning Mcqueen themed decorations and goodie bag for the kids to take home, I called this party the best kids birthday bash ever.

Most inspirational of all was that Maria was a week away from her delivery for her second child! Both Anders and Arden had a great time and passed out immediately after they got in the car. Although we only live a couple minutes away, they were fast asleep by midway home.

This post is dedicated mostly to her photos and videos as Arden is really coming into her own.  She loves my company, unlike Anders at this age.  She greets me at the door with a happy shriek and cuddles in my arm contentedly when we watch Blues Clues with her brother.

Just a side note, Christine and I share the camera, so it is quite hard to determine who took what photo.  As with everything in life, she’s good at some types of shots, and I am with others.  Giving credit where credit is due.

Summer of 2010 is the happiest in my recent memory.   The kids are growing nicely and everything is stable.  Unfortunately, I had an incident of shingles, and may have permanent dark spots around my eye.. but hey, as my dad put it.  I’m married with kids.  What do I care about looks!

We’ve been to this annual Berkeley chalk event last year.  This year, Anders was more into the art.

Some photos captured of Arden at 14 months old.  She’s really starting to develop a personality now as she is interacting with the people around her.

This last Christmas, we made a trip out to Texas to visit Harrison’s parents in Laredo, TX, and Christine’s sister in Houston, TX.  Christine’s youngest sister flew in from UK to join us as well as Christine’s mom came in from Taiwan to join in on the festivities.

Our trip was split into two parts, the first half in Laredo, and the second half in Houston.  Some of my memories of the Laredo:

• The gang of 3 geese in my dad’s townhouse complex attacked me and Anders.  I kicked the lead geese in the body and he improved his disposition.
• Christine, Mom, and the kids went to a Christmas party at the complex, and proceeded to win a bundle of prizes from the drawing.
• Mom and Dad watched over the sleeping kids as Christine, I, and Shine-May enjoyed Avatar in 3D.  I loved that movie.

Other memories from the Houston leg of the trip:

• Really enjoyed the Oyster Po-boys in Houston.  Sooo delicious.  Christine loved the etouffee and the gumbo.
• Steve and Michelle’s new MDX was beautiful.
• Steve cooked his pot-roast dinner and green bean casserole dinner.
• I picked up some bread pudding from a place Steve recommended.  It turned out to be an African-American only type of place.  The pudding was awesome, but the minority on minority discrimination was not.
• We exchanged gifts including germs, and almost everybody wound up a little sick and feverish at the end.  Germ summit 2009.

Any other memories that you all remember from back in December?  As many of you now, my memory is spotty at best!