2023 Vegas Trip

This summer vacation is very backend packed.  After Taiwan and SF, we're off to Vegas for the first time in about 4 years to meet my sister Carin and her family.  Vegas is always hot during summer, and we just happen to arrive during a heatwave, so the high everyday was around 107 to 110 degree Fahrenheit (~41-43 degrees Celsius).

I took the kids to the hotel pool every morning before it got too hot..

The girls went to shop at the outlet mall and I took the boys to a trampoline house.

We also visited Circus Circus where Christopher won a stuff animal dog.  He really wanted one from the hotel we stayed at in SF, but it was $35.. He won his doggy at Circus Circus for maybe $2 or $3 :)

We ate and caught up and generally had a great time.

2023 Summer SF trip

A week after Sandy and the kids returned from Taiwan, we have more trips lined up.  First, it was a weekend SF trip with Huei and Joe's families.  It was just a short weekend trip, but it was pretty event packed.  

We went to Golden Gate Park Saturday and enjoyed the scenery and did some paddle boating.

Lunch at Surisan and dessert at Ghirardelli Square 

In the afternoon/evening, we met up with my college friend Lance at Presidio Tunnel Top and had dinner afterwards.

On Sunday, we met up with Sandy's college friend Jenni.

 

2023 Summer Taiwan Trip

 Melissa found a volunteer teaching opportunity in Taiwan this summer, so a summer Taiwan trip was on.  Unfortunately, as I was still recovering from my hip surgery (1st of 2), I did not participate.

Melissa's program involves teaching English to Middle school Taiwan students.  She worked with a group a taught online on a weekly basis from April to June, then from July 1-10, it's an in person camp in Taiwan where she stays with her fellow "English Teachers", camping out at some middle school.

She travelled to Taiwan first by herself, as she also wanted some Taiwan "vacation" and not just for the program only.  Sending her off at SFO.  Melissa went to stay with Aunt Carin first for a few days and hangout with her Cousins.

 

Then Sandy took Christopher to Taiwan 4 days later.

After Sandy and Christopher arrived at Taiwan, both sides of the family met up.

Then it was off to Shi-Tao (spelling?) resort.

Melissa went off to her English Teaching Program after that

 

While Christopher spent time with Grand parents, Uncle Eric, and cousins.  

In the middle of Melissa's program, there was one day where families could visit.  Christopher was excited to ride the High Speed Rail on the trip to Taipei.

Apparently, Melissa and her fellow teachers had to wash some of their own clothes and hang them out to dry..  Learning about how things are done in Taiwan :D

Some more photos of gatherings in Taiwan.