PhotoOp: Siu Jeun “reads”

Ok, this video is several months old at this point, but I just found it on my video camera…and I had to share. (Sorry – my blog, my rules!)

 

So, around the time I recorded this, Ming Wai had memorized her entire Sleeping Beauty story book. She loved to “read” it to herself, and gave special emphasis to the part about how Sleeping Beauty DIES. After pricking her finger on a SPINDLE.

 

As you can see, it had quite an effect on her little brother.

Siu Jeun and the “tong tong”

Ok, so what we’ve got here is an extra 1/4 cup of icing left over after a birthday cake project…and a really mean Mom.

I’ll translate.

No, will take too long. I’ll sum up.

Mom has a bag of icing. Dad has a flip camera. Siu Jeun has a deep rooted love for all things “candy” (or “tong tong” in Chinese) and an innate trust of his mother.

Mom asks if he wants “tong tong”, Siu Jeun hesitantly gets a mouthful…and then realizes that 1) it’s “candy” in his mouth (hooray!) and 2) he really, really doesn’t want any more of that goopy crazy candy!

(This is the video I promised a few days ago. See? He understands Chinese! Awesome, right? Heh.)

PS – You should have seen how much I packed into poor Lo Gung’s mouth.

PPS – Today marks the fifth anniversary of the day that I married my best friend in the whole wide world. To see how we met, go here. I just realized, of course, that I never finished the story. About halfway through, I got a comment that made me embarrassed and….I just stopped. Which was silly. So, maybe I’ll go about finishing that story, yeah? In the meantime, there are four installments there. And the fourth is…short. What can I say, except I was writing it in my spare time…and that day, I didn’t have much time to spare!

PPPS – Lo Gung? I love you, and you’re my favorite forever. Thank you for being the best friend, the best dad, and the best husband I know! And? I love you more than tofu, so there. (Ummm…sorry. Inside joke. See, it’s something I say to bug him…since nobody really loves tofu? And…well, ok. Maybe you just had to be there.)

PPPPS – In honor of our anniversary, I promise never to attack you with frosting again. Cross my heart. *mwah*

Happy Friday!

It's Friday. The week is over, and it’s time to gear up for the weekend. (Is it just me, or does it take an entire week to recuperate from the weekend?!)

 

Here’s something to start your weekend off right. Enjoy!

(PG for BRIEF language.)

 

You're welcome! Got any great plans this weekend?? Friday night, I’m going to be hanging out with 30 of my closest friends and crafting. Hellooooo Freaky Friday! (I’m cheating, though – I only signed up for one of the offered crafts, but I have NO intention of going home at 7:30. So I’m bringing along my sewing machine and a quilt. Heh.)

Ming Wai, Singing Diva!

Because it’s Thursday, because my son is still running around in a diaper, because I have a goal to post more often on this blog, and because I can….I present- Ming Wai, singing diva!

 

LoLoCation: GWL – Dancing Superstar!

This week, we took a quick one-night jaunt to the Great Wolf Lodge, in Grand Mound, Washington. We found a great deal, and we had a great time!

Among the other delights at the Great Wolf Lodge, there was an arcade. We loved it for the kiddos, because Siu Jeun doesn’t really care about actually putting money in the machines. He just likes the bright lights!
At one point, Siu Jeun and I got separated from Ming Wai and Lo Gung. As I wandered through the various beeping and blinking machines, following Siu Jeun, his attention was suddenly drawn to a great big DDR machine. (DDR = Dance Dance Revolution, a game where you dance on a big metal mat, following directions on the screen.) “Ooooh…..!”

Up he got, and away he danced! Carefully stepping on the arrows, and then back to center to groove. At one point, he looked around, pointed to the screen and yelled, “Daddy!!” I assume he wanted to show his Dad his new discovery.

As soon as I could round up Lo Gung (and the Flip camera!) we stuck the kids back on and sat back to enjoy the show.

And, because I love you, and because it’s cute, and because I want to…here ya go. Enjoy! Happy Friday, y’all. (Debbie, make sure you turn your speakers on!)
(Oh, and I know it looks like we fed Siu Jeun the radioactive jelly beans...but we didn't. The arcade is full of black lights. Just so you know. Carry on.)

Ming Wai, Unplugged

I sing. I always have. So does Lo Gung. And now? So do the kids. Siu Jeun, not so much yet…but Ming Wai is starting to get into the spirit of things. I caught her the other day, sitting in her room with Siu Jeun, just singing away (while apparently reading a Sandra Boynton book, Dog Train). If two minutes of Sleeping Beauty, assorted Primary songs, along with some “singer songwriter” originality sounds good to you…then this is your lucky day. Enjoy. (Forgive a boastful blogging mama…I was actually pretty proud of her melodies! She’s got progressions, and cadences, and it just makes my Music School heart want to burst!)

(There’s nothing to see in the video – I was in the hall, quiet as a mouse, taping her while she sang. Just turn up the volume and enjoy! Oh, and Siu Jeun jumps in and sings a little bit, too.)

 

Ode to American Idol

I think I've mentioned before how much BBJ has always enjoyed American Idol? When she was tiny, it was the only show that would ever catch her attention. Now that we are on the East Coast, the show is on too late to let her stay up to watch it, but that is no reason for her not to be able to enjoy the music, right?

After last week's second episode, I had one of the songs stuck in my head. It was bad, y'all. I sang it until I fell asleep. I sang it as soon as I woke up. I sang it until BBJ and Siu Jeun woke up. Then I fixed the problem.

How do you fix a stuck song?

That's right! You teach it to someone else.

Hey, BBJ. C'mere! Wanna learn a new song?

Check it out. I think she's got it down! (Oh, and check out Siu Jeun's dance moves, too. And yes, I know his pants are off. It's called irony.)

China Talk Tuesday - A Nursery Rhyme

It's been a while, hasn't it? I've missed our little China Talk chats!

Here's a little something to ease us back in: a song, from BBJ. It's in Cantonese, and I'm rather proud of her for singing the entire thing, no mistakes, without help! Can you guess what nursery rhyme this is? (Tip: The tune won't tell you anything. The Chinese version of this rhyme is sung to an old French tune. Allouette, I think. Try to pay close attention to the hand motions...)

Siu Jeun 1st Birthday - VIDEOS

That was Siu Jeun...a year ago.

Here's Siu Jeun now. Happy birthday, Siu Jeun.


(Umm...before you watch this next one, you might want to mute the sound. BBJ was pretty sure that Siu Jeun had just been served ALL of the cake. Whining ensued. Not pretty.)



Love you, buddy!!
(More pictures to come...for the grandparents. *grin*)

Video: BBJ & Siu Jeun Waltz

We seem to have a week of videos. Do not fret - there are more wordy posts in the works. I just love to share what makes me smile. And, dear friends, this video does make me smile. Watch Siu Jeun, in particular. He is showing quite a penchant for dancing. You can tell he would be waltzing about the room, if only he knew how.

Siu Jeun Shows His Tricks

Please tell me this has happened to you. You're with some friends with babies the same age as yours. You do some silly little game with your baby (or theirs!) and your friend says, "Wow! I didn't know a baby that age could ~do~ that!"

Sometimes, just for fun, I'll put a baby through every trick I know in their repertoire. I try to do this at least once every other day - it keeps the babies minds limber.

*crickets chirping*

Alright - fine. Maybe I'm the only one that trains babies like dogs. Whatever. It keeps me entertained, alright?

Enjoy the video!

BBJ is a Groovin' Fool

Just for kicks n' giggles on this Sunday evening. Hope everybody had a great and restful day!

Video: Siu Jeun Has Something To Say To You

...and when we figure out what it is, we'll let you know. Enjoy!

VIDEO: BBJ sings Happy Birthday

This one's pretty self explanatory.

And yes, she mispronounces her own nickname. She is now Ba-Ja Jyu.

Heh.

Helpful BBJ

Occasionally, when a bossy toddler is coupled with a needy infant...magic can happen. Enjoy.

We have Mobility!

Service Announcement #3 - If visiting Casa LoLo in the near future, please be sure to leave any belongings that you don't want chewed, drooled or mangled in a safe place. Say...above knee level.




For comparison's sake, here's BBJ's video of her first crawling. She was 9 months old - a little over two months older than Siu Jeun is now.

Send Help...

...she found a microphone.
(Translation after each video)

First, Little Bunny FooFoo, summary version, and a little ditty about strawberries...

Mom: Little bunny FooFoo...

BBJ: Little bunny foo foo, I don't wanna see you, 'cooping up the field mice, and he says, POP you're a gobbledygoo.

Mom: Good job! What other song do you know?

BBJ: Strawberry.

Mom: Strawberry? There's a strawberry on there, huh? (looking at a carton of yogurt)

BBJ: Oh, a strawberry, a strawberry, I love a strawberry. I love the strawberry, I love the strawberry. and JUMP in a da da da...

Second, more about strawberries...and BBJ as Evil Barbie.

I love the yogurt. A mommy, and a siu jeun, go to the doctor, the shots...the mommy, strawberry, strawberry, the mommy loves strawberry. And bow to MEEEEEEEEEEE!

(A little explanation - Siu Jeun and I visited the doctor that morning for his well-child check up, and he did indeed receive shots. BBJ knew this. Also, one of her favorite movies is Barbie and the Diamond Castle. It is full of little Barbie songs, and - honestly- I don't mind the movie. It's sweet, it's sparkly, and it's taught my daughter to say things like, "I look like a PRINCESS!" and "It's so WONDERFUL!" Where's the bad in that?! Anyhow, does she learn the sweet songs? No. There's ONE villain in the movie, an Evil Barbie if you will, and she sings a song that ends in the phrase, "and all will bow to me!!!" You've probably guessed by now, that's BBJ's favorite lyric in the whole movie.)

So, umm...happy Monday, y'all. If you need me, I'll be here with the MiniDiva. Please - nobody tell her what a groupie is, m'kay? Thanks. I don't want to see that pop up on her birthday wishlist!

PS - One last one. This is mostly for Lo Gung's sake - he hasn't heard it yet.
Name this popular song from the radio!

Hope For The Future

My friends, I have seen the future...and it looks bright. So bright.

( It drives BBJ NUTS when he pulls the toys out of his exersaucer...and it's one of his favorite things to do.)

Who's a Big Boy and Do What You Can Do

Every once in a while, I remember to pull out my camera that can take short movies. If you haven't had your Chubby Baby quotient met in a while...I can help.

Enjoy!



I want to tell you a quick story with this video. I adore my baby...and I assume that other people will adore my baby as well. That is probably more than a little conceited, but I'm just keeping it real here.

Yesterday, while we were at church, I stepped into the mother's lounge to give Siu Jeun a snack. As he was finishing, a woman I didn't know very well (Sister B.) came in and laid down on the couch. She was accompanied by Sister H., the Bishop's wife (a registered nurse.) Sister B. proceeded to tell Sister H. her symptoms, and self-diagnose her current state as either a heart attack, or a stroke...in progress. (She's had four strokes already, so the sensation is not alien to her.)

Sister H. left to get some Priesthood to give her a blessing, and to prepare to drive Sister B. to the hospital. I didn't want to leave this sweet sister alone, but I had never talked to her before. I decided that she was in pain, and my shyness didn't matter. I pulled up a chair next to her, and started talking. She was a DELIGHT. Siu Jeun made her smile - he has such a weakness for women, especially brunettes. She started telling me about herself. She has only one daughter, but always thought she'd have at least four children. She, herself, was one of twenty children, no blended families involved. Her father still lives on the property they were raised on. He has no running water or electricity. He dug his own well, and it's never run dry. He dug a cold cellar into the hill behind his home, and that's his refrigerator.

She was still finishing her story when two Brothers, and Sister B's best friend, arrived to give her a blessing and help her out to Sister H.'s car. Sister B's friend, Lydia, was still sitting in her chair, quietly sobbing. Sister B. is very dear to her. I had never met Lydia, either...but I had Siu Jeun. I knew I could offer what comfort I could, and Siu Jeun could make her smile. So, we stayed. I held her hand while she prayed, and then introduced her to Siu Jeun. He laughed and tried to grab her nose. She was smitten.

She left after a few moments, and I started to head back to where I had come from, to help Lo Gung teach our class. I had to pause a moment in the hall. I was drained. To stay positive and hopeful and "on" when Lydia was so scared...and knowing that Sister B's daughter had no idea her mother had just been driven to the hospital...I said my own prayer in the hall, and headed back to class.

I thought about my experience...and knew why I had stayed. Everybody has something to offer. I had a few minutes to listen, and a baby to cheer them up or distract them. Maybe it's a place to stay during a crisis. Maybe it's a fresh loaf of bread when a friend is sick. Maybe it's a few hours of babysitting so a friend can get out with her husband, alone. It could even be a hand to hold. You do not have to know the person well. You don't have to know them at all. The important thing is to act. Something as small as an understanding smile when a new mother is carting a screaming infant through the checkout can make a HUGE impact on her day.

There's your deep thoughts for Monday morning. Thank you, all, for being my friends. I never dreamed I would meet anyone new through this little blog. It was just a space to brag on BBJ. Thank you, all, for making this wonderful! My blog was two years old a little while back. Thanks for being there and watching my kids grow up with me!

Siu Jeun Grooves Out

I can't be unequal in how I brag on my kiddos, right? Here's a little video of our Little Man...groovin'. (Oh, and you don't need sound on this one...unless you like hearing rattles and BBJ saying, "I want Barbie...".)