A tribute to Japan 9 (Part 1)

It's been a month since the tragedy :-( Hope people don't forget and still help and pray for Japan...

Back in 2008.... We took the boys to Japan.... It's so funny that my boy actually fit in this little box in the plane...

In this part 1.... Please notice how SUPER DUPER CLEAN the streets are!

Big brother is indeed a world traveler already. He LOVES to travel!

My gracious host in Japan.... She took us for a very good meal after the long trip.

Those are fried bananas dipped in chocolate in the background... These stalls were in front of the train station.

We were lucky to be there during the local festival. It was interesting to see the small parade.

This big float full of people must be very heavy!!!

Yet, they were pulled by all these people! Along the way, bystanders, children crowds, etc are welcome to help...

I think not just an image of how they work together to carry such load but also shows how strong and determined Japanese people are...

Another view of the cart/float full of people....

To be continue.... Did you notice how clean the street were? Keep in mind those pictures were taken during a street festival that had crowds following the parade :-)

Conference and FEAST

I went to a conference last week to present my poster.... That was my first time ever presenting in a national conference... I had a great time with friends.... The highlight of the trips were all the meals we ate for dinner.... Especially when the university is picking up the expenses.... We got buffet breakfast at the hotel and lunch was provided at the conference....

Anyway, here are my dinner pictures....


First dinner: MEXICAN... super good and authentic... I had a huge burrito (like the "C" restaurant chain u might know :-) )...

Second dinner: Korean

Amazing Bimbim bap

That's a cotton candy machine in the corner!

Making my own mixed.... mint and strawberry cotton candy...

YUMMY cotton candy for dessert!

Third dinner: Japanese

I actually presented as well....

All and all, I had a great time in the conference and out of the conference around that city. It was nice to be able to eat and not have to be interrupted (by kiddos)....

A Year List of Weekend Projects

We have lived in this house for more than 8 years. Unfortunately, none of the room is completely finish (decorated), mainly because of my lack of decorating skills. However, upon looking at all the different DIY and inspiring before and after pictures at various decorating blogs, I am SO INSPIRED!

So I have a list of things that I am going to attempt to tackle around the house. Sometime a project may take more than 1 weekend. Sometime, I hope to tackle more than 1 project in a weekend (Wishful thinking!) but let see how it goes……

The list has 25 projects right now… I am sure I can add more if we progress faster than I anticipated… (Keep it positive folks! )

As of now, we are going to give us 52 weeks (a year) to finish the list...

Hope you ride along with me and have fun!

1. Organize the boys’ closet
2. Organize the linen closet
3. Paint & decorate first floor bathroom
4. Paint and decorate master bathroom
5. Paint & decorate the kids’ bathroom
6. Paint & decorate master bedroom
7. Organize and finish the loft work area
8. Organize, finish and decorate my office
9. Paint, decorate and finish laundry room
10. Organize pantry
11. Organize kitchen cabinets & drawers
12. Decorate kitchen area
13. Finish flower bed in the front yard.
14. Finish and decorate great room
15. Decorate and organize loft area
16. Create a mail center & a system for school's papers and homeworks.
17. Clean up and plants in the backyard.
18. Organize baking stuff (move them to the basement?)
19. Organize music studio stuff in the basement
20. Finish library area down in the basement
21. Finish supply area in the basement
22. Display and organize the kids’ birth keepsakes
23. Allocate and finish play area down in the basement
24. Frame and hang the 4 seasons Chinese painting
25. Create gallery wall in the hallway

Caught off guard by a 2nd grade research project...

I was sitting in my lab today thinking, “Nice weekend, finally I can relax a bit”. Then an email came from koko’s teacher. It was a reminder for a research report and a research poster due this coming Monday about a famous American….

I was stunt… thinking, “WHAT project??” since I did not know anything about it.

Here is the research web and rubric for this project...

YES! That is what is expected out of 2nd graders in this day and age…
I think I did not hear the word “research” until high school. Yes.... I am rather old...

Frantic, I emailed her back. She said the assignment was sent the Monday after spring break…

AHA!… That crazy week, when I frantically tried to finish MY research before my advisor left for sunny Florida on Wed… so I can present the following week in NY (which I just came back from last Saturday)


So, I was embarrassed… Actually, I was rather upset that my dear hubby and I did not know about this project. Apparently, koko just put the papers in his room instead of giving them to me…

Well, not really his fault… I usually check his folder daily when he came home from school...

Keep in mind his folder usually is filled with AT LEAST 5 sheets of paper... ranging from permission slip, math worksheets, reading reports, news, etc....

Though that week, it was me that neglected that routine as I was rather "too occupied" with my deadlines and my research...

I was mortified, playing “what does his teacher think of us? Ignorant parents?”

Then, I was even more mortified by the thought of “3 LOADS of homework and projects” by the time "titi" and "mei-mei" are in school…

For Koko," Wednesday-spelling test, occasionally math test, read 10 min everyday, sign the RAH journal...., read the book that came in the book pouch, fill in the book report sheet, practice math facts, sign permission slips,etc, etc, ... on and on... and on....)

Imagine that for 3 kids and all on different days....

Keep in mind, by that time I hope to be running for tenure (which can most likely be equally as demanding as now).

I felt bad… felt inadequate too …

I wonder, “How will my hubby and I manage the loads?”

Once I told myself that I don’t want to teach others and let my kids be educated by somebody else… (That’s why my kids are in my kindermusik classes). Will I be a hypocrite to my own words if I decided to hire a college student from 3- 6 pm daily so that my husband and I can come home from work… Simply enjoying dinner and family time without worries of home works and drilling for tests?

What do you do? Any advice?

First hair cut at Sweet and Sassy

My mei mei needs a hair cut really bad... This was her first haircut and she turned 2 last week.... Yes, I love her hair and has prolonged cutting it ... However, since she has blossomed into a young girl, I think it is time for her to get  a real haircut rather than Daddy's occasional buzz on her bangs....

So we went to Sweet and Sassy.... (I tried to get her ready by visiting the store since the week before) because I am petrified of what the experience would be... She would not be still for even 2 second for her daddy...

So on one fine Saturday we all went... By all we really meant ALL! Those boys were her entourage :-)
Her 2 big brothers and the other boy behind "koko" is "Q", koko's bff.  Mind you, "Q" thinks he is entitled to call mei mei his "girl friend" from the day he visited her at the hospital on the day that she was born....

Of course big brother rather go to "game stop" his face tells all...

We had to wait for 20 minutes... Marketing strategy?? Look at the store.....

Obviously she was having a blast shopping here and there...

Then her turn came... She sat perfectly happy wearing a cape that said "SASSY DIVA"

The whole entire time... enjoying her lollipop.  The lady LOVES her as she let her do anything!!

Result 1: Beautifully layered back....

Result 2: Perfectly cut bangs....(she sat still!) and purple and pink stars on her cheek...

A lesson from planting tulip



Beautiful tulips from my bestfriend to surprise me on my birthday last year!

It’s a beautiful day today...

I remember when I first came to the United States back in 1992.  God had a great sense of humor when he sent a city girl from hot Indonesian weather to live in a small 2000 people town in Minnesota.

I am glad HE did.  I learnt a lot from my host family.  One of the lessons I learnt was about planting tulip-my favorite flowers.  I told my host dad that I wanted to take some of the bulbs back to Indonesia to plant.  I remember clearly how he chuckled and said,” You can’t plant them in Indonesia.  They need to go through winter and snow before they can bloom in the spring.” Being me I said,” well, can I put them in the freezers for few months?” He laughed and said that I could try but surely, it will not work because the tulips need natural sunlight, and dirt as well as real snow. So we decided to plant those tulip bulbs in front of their house…  When I went back last year… My host mom told me only few survived L  I guess they were not planted deep enough that they were eaten and stolen by raccoons and rabbits.

This morning, I saw my tulips peek through the wet ground.  They remind me of all the different seasons that God has created.  Sometimes, we are going through the winter season of our life.  Things are hard, cold, and we have to stay put and move so cautiously. But then come spring when hope flies in the air and everything are peeking through beautifully. 

It is important to go through each of the season with full dependence on God’s love and Words.  See, we can’t tell God, “Why do I have to go through this God… Why can I just do that instead, speed the process.” Just put me in the freezer!  Who are we to think that our plan is better than HIS?  (I for sure has always been guilty of this and had fallen sin over this quite often).  

However, I am glad my God is not giving up on me… I am glad that He is so gracious of my limitations.

God wants us to be planted deep into the ground (deep in His words, surrounded by His presence). 

Only by being deeply planted in the ground will we draw nutrients needed to grow and bear flowers in the spring.

                Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35

Only by being deeply planted in the ground will we be safe in HIS presence despite of the fierce winter and threat from sin that we will have to endure.

                "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are safe.

                                                                                                                                                                                Proverbs 18:10

These tulips came to my mind in perfect timing (as God’s timing is always perfect)… So… what season are you in right now? Remember even if it is “winter”, there are so many blessings you can still count…

Share with me via comment or message.. Would love to hear your responds!!

Mei-Mei's sweetopia 2nd birthday party

My baby girl turned 2 years old!  I love her so much... I can't believe how fast time flies... Do you know I almost died after I gave birth to her?  Perhaps I share the story someday but as of now... Only happy thought....

Her theme was "Sweetopia"  the land of sweetness.... full of goodies and sweets..

I order the party paper decoration from dimple prints .  They are so patient, generous and awesome to work with!  Everything was sent lightning speed as well... So here are some of the pictures taken by my buddy Maya from figura photography .  Check out their  figura photography blog  for awesome pictures!  Seriously, their wedding and engagement pictures are beyond awesome!!

More about the party details are coming soon....