Christopher playing piano

Christopher practicing for recital, winter sonatina

Christopher practicing wild horseman

Resuming Posting, 3 timelines

 After not posting for about 12 years, I've recently resumed writing some entries as I have more time now.  There's so much to catch up but I also don't want to just start only from where I left off.  As memories of the more recent past is fresher and more interesting often times and we definitely want to develop some entries about Christopher too.   So I've decided to try to work with 3 timelines.  

First timeline is to continue adding more entries from about 12 years back and just incrementally add entries.  The second time line is to start with Christopher's birth, about 7 1/2 years back, and create some entries there.  Both the first and second timeline will move forward in time and eventually first timeline will end when it hits the start of second timeline.   Then I have a third timeline, roughly the present, where I will try to add some recent entries which could go forward as latest events happen, but also back into the recent past..

So there will be new entries popping up all over the place soon.

August 2023

After all the whirlwind of travelling in July, it was time to get into back to school mode..

However, first.. We caught the dreaded Covid..  It took about a week and half as it spread from person to person within the family but we all got through it (somehow Melissa never tested positive)..  It might be a good thing as now we don't have to worry as much (at least for a little while) about it.

First day of second grade

August also had another important event, which was my 2nd hip surgery..  This time it's a total hip replacement as there was just too much joint degeneration and the initial surgery wasn't able to alleviate the pain.  It's pretty amazing the medical technology now a days, I went in for the surgery early in the morning and am back home recovering in the afternoon.  Able to pass the test of 1) able to walk a bit using walker, 2) being able to pee :) to get discharged.   Of course as I learned over the next few days and weeks, the amount of pain medication has a big impact on what you are able to do while recovering.  Anyways, so far so good. 

 

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.