Okay, I am not-so-secretly tickled that Justin seems to really enjoy baking. I guess since Justin is a spitting image of Jay, it's nice to know that I've instilled my genetic love of sweets in him too...hehe!
It started with him being fascinated with watching me crack eggs - must be a boy thing. He's actually pretty good at it if I hold his hands and we use a separate bowl to crack into. Now I'm finding myself looking for recipes that use more than one egg!
He also enjoys measuring out all the ingredients and seeing what's next on the recipe. It's also been good for teaching him how we always watch our hands before and after cooking and how we don't wipe our noses with our hands during :)
My dad took the video below of Justin helping to bake brownies at my parents' house. Please don't feel obligated to watch all three minutes :) And yes, he is wearing a Home Depot kids' apron...does that make it a manly activity?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Birthday Celebrations
With my mom's birthday being the day after Christmas and mine being a couple days after the new year, we decided to start celebrating it together. The problem with our birthdays is that they're after the holidays and no one feels like celebrating anything else! If you ask me, mine is worse because that's typically the day everyone goes back to school and work! Oh well, such is life :)
We went to dinner at Layang Layang in Cupertino which was yummy as always. Afterwards, we went back to my parents' house for (more) cake and presents. Of course, Justin is really getting into the swing of birthdays with the candles and singing and whatnot. And what kid wouldn't enjoy his seventh straight day of getting to eat dessert??
We went to dinner at Layang Layang in Cupertino which was yummy as always. Afterwards, we went back to my parents' house for (more) cake and presents. Of course, Justin is really getting into the swing of birthdays with the candles and singing and whatnot. And what kid wouldn't enjoy his seventh straight day of getting to eat dessert??
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| Strawberry shortcake from La Patisserie. We were trying to go for something a bit lighter... |
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| Justin placing the candles very carefully on the cake |
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| No, he's not excited at all! |
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| Someone got a head start on blowing out the candles! |
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| Justin is "sharing" his cake with Daddy. |
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| "Helping" to open more presents :) |
Holiday Round-Up
Since I have a moment to myself, I thought I catch up on the holidays...I'm actually impressed I'm only a week late with these pics :)
Christmas weekend was craziness, but I love the holidays and Justin was so excited to open presents and play with all his cousins. Christmas Eve we spent at my parents' house with my uncle's family from Antioch. When it was finally time to open presents, Justin actually paused and did a double-take since we had been telling him for weeks not to touch the presents. Once the kid got going though, the living room was a battlefield of wrapping paper and ribbons! Dinosaurs and Cars 2 were the theme this year. All I know is that I need to brush up on all the names of the Cars. I've got most of my dinosaurs down, but now on to Cars! Yikes!
We hosted Christmas Day at our house for Jay's side of the family. We must have had over 30 people at our house and even though it's a new, big house, it was still a tight squeeze! But as long as the food was good and plentiful and the wine/beer were flowing, no one seemed to mind. I never seem to get any pics of the festivities when it's at our house. Mainly because it's controlled chaos...between checking on the rib roast, getting the food plated and served, and making sure Justin isn't getting into trouble. Luckily Justin is old enough now to entertain himself, and luckily Justin's older cousins are nice enough to play with him. We had a spirited white elephant exchange that was lots of fun. Except for the fact that several white elephant gifts seem to have been "conveniently" left behind by their recipients (you know who you are, owner of the purse-shaped cookie jar!) So if any of you need a good white elephant gift for next year, let me know...I've got plenty!
It was a great Christmas all around. Justin was full of excitement and wonder and it was just so much fun for us to watch. Santa didn't visit our house this year since Justin is still a bit young to know who he is. But I think we need to gear ourselves up to host the jolly old guy next year!
Christmas weekend was craziness, but I love the holidays and Justin was so excited to open presents and play with all his cousins. Christmas Eve we spent at my parents' house with my uncle's family from Antioch. When it was finally time to open presents, Justin actually paused and did a double-take since we had been telling him for weeks not to touch the presents. Once the kid got going though, the living room was a battlefield of wrapping paper and ribbons! Dinosaurs and Cars 2 were the theme this year. All I know is that I need to brush up on all the names of the Cars. I've got most of my dinosaurs down, but now on to Cars! Yikes!
We hosted Christmas Day at our house for Jay's side of the family. We must have had over 30 people at our house and even though it's a new, big house, it was still a tight squeeze! But as long as the food was good and plentiful and the wine/beer were flowing, no one seemed to mind. I never seem to get any pics of the festivities when it's at our house. Mainly because it's controlled chaos...between checking on the rib roast, getting the food plated and served, and making sure Justin isn't getting into trouble. Luckily Justin is old enough now to entertain himself, and luckily Justin's older cousins are nice enough to play with him. We had a spirited white elephant exchange that was lots of fun. Except for the fact that several white elephant gifts seem to have been "conveniently" left behind by their recipients (you know who you are, owner of the purse-shaped cookie jar!) So if any of you need a good white elephant gift for next year, let me know...I've got plenty!
It was a great Christmas all around. Justin was full of excitement and wonder and it was just so much fun for us to watch. Santa didn't visit our house this year since Justin is still a bit young to know who he is. But I think we need to gear ourselves up to host the jolly old guy next year!
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| My mom's tree. It's much prettier than my tree. |
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| My grandma's recipe for fried chicken made by my mom. I gotta learn this one day! |
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| Justin took this pic with Uncle Kevin's fancy camera |
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| Waiting for present time to start |
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| Finally getting to tear into his first gift! |
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| My Uncle's family...and Justin |
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| The cousins...and Justin |
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| My parents, Kevin, me, Jay...and Justin! |
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| Inspecting his gift... |
Monday, December 19, 2011
AGG Christmas and my Martha Stewart Moment
I often have Martha Stewart ambitions (who doesn't?) but seldom have the time/inclination to act on those impulses. Well, the holiday season got the better of me and I decided to build graham cracker "gingerbread houses" for my girlfriends' annual AGG Christmas get together.
I built nine houses in total...after I muddled through the first one, the rest were actually fairly easy to assemble. It did take me all morning and early afternoon, several batches of royal icing, and Justin's entire stockpile of graham crackers from Costco to get everything ready though. I think that's why I only have these Martha Stewart moments once a year or so.
It turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone and wasn't as messy as I thought it would be. But maybe next year we'll stick to sugar cookies ;)
I built nine houses in total...after I muddled through the first one, the rest were actually fairly easy to assemble. It did take me all morning and early afternoon, several batches of royal icing, and Justin's entire stockpile of graham crackers from Costco to get everything ready though. I think that's why I only have these Martha Stewart moments once a year or so.
It turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone and wasn't as messy as I thought it would be. But maybe next year we'll stick to sugar cookies ;)
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| Ready for the kids! |
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| The kids feasting on Christmas pizza |
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| I managed to convince Justin not to eat any of the candies while decorating! |
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| Let the creativity flow! |
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| Mommy had to learn not to be so "Type A" and just let Justin do what he wanted :) |
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| Justin's final masterpiece - it was HEAVY |
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| Our annual AGG picture. We are of course missing Akiko who is in Bethesda and Yoriko who passed early this year, but we are AGG Forever :) |
The Big News
I know that most of this little blog's readership is on Facebook and already knows this news, but since I posted this link on our annual Christmas card, I thought I should include the news here as well. Here's the big Wong news of the season:
Baby Wong is due somewhere around June 9 (I'm currently 15 weeks). And to answer the typical questions:
1. I've had a lot more nausea than I did with Justin. Most of it has subsided, but I still get queasy in the evenings (not a good thing for a working mama who's trying to wrap Christmas gifts)
2. And no, Justin has no clue. We've mentioned it to him a couple of times, but he's more interested in his trains and dinosaurs. In the meantime, we're trying to transition him out of the crib and starting potty training so he doesn't regress too much come June!
Stayed tuned in the next few weeks when I go into for my regular ultrasound to see if we can tell what gender the newest rugrat is!
Baby Wong is due somewhere around June 9 (I'm currently 15 weeks). And to answer the typical questions:
1. I've had a lot more nausea than I did with Justin. Most of it has subsided, but I still get queasy in the evenings (not a good thing for a working mama who's trying to wrap Christmas gifts)
2. And no, Justin has no clue. We've mentioned it to him a couple of times, but he's more interested in his trains and dinosaurs. In the meantime, we're trying to transition him out of the crib and starting potty training so he doesn't regress too much come June!
Stayed tuned in the next few weeks when I go into for my regular ultrasound to see if we can tell what gender the newest rugrat is!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
San Diego Redux
We finally made it to San Diego the other week - no massive power outages or anything! I booked us to go right after I finished my major tradeshow at work (which in retrospect, wasn't the best idea since I was so worn down from working, I caught a cold over the weekend! Bleah.) The weather was chilly, but sunny. We went to Legoland and Seaworld.
Legoland turned out to be the hands-down winner for its rides and food (surprisingly). While the food was expensive as all theme parks are, there was actually a lot of choices and we didn't feel completely ripped off (all you can really hope for at a theme park!)
Seaworld is in need of some updating I think, but Justin loved the pet variety show. He was less than impressed with Shamu since the whale doesn't jump around as much as he used to.
All in all, it was nice to get away as a family. Justin is already asking when we can go back to Legoland ;)
Legoland turned out to be the hands-down winner for its rides and food (surprisingly). While the food was expensive as all theme parks are, there was actually a lot of choices and we didn't feel completely ripped off (all you can really hope for at a theme park!)
Seaworld is in need of some updating I think, but Justin loved the pet variety show. He was less than impressed with Shamu since the whale doesn't jump around as much as he used to.
All in all, it was nice to get away as a family. Justin is already asking when we can go back to Legoland ;)
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| Justin had a hard time figuring out steering and stepping on the gas at the same time... |
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| Enjoying Granny's Apple Fries with whipped cream |
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| Building a snowman at Seaworld |
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| Mommy trying to be artistic and failing |
Thanksgiving
Well before Christmas is completely over, I thought I should post some pics of Justin's Thanksgiving celebration at his preschool. Now I now this is all typical for all schools, but it still cracks me up to see Justin dressed up in his construction paper pilgrim hat and vest, with woven placement and turkey made out of handprints. The room was full of little pilgrims, pilgrimettes, and indians (Native Americans??) as well as LOADS of parents. I think the gym wasn't quite big enough to hold this crew of the Mayflower, but everyone seemed to enjoy their turkey dinner (at 4 in the afternoon no less!) And true to form, Justin cleaned his plate...
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