WEEKEND RECAP:

So Friday marked the last day for Mia as a "Pre-K" student. She'll be starting her Kindergarten in the fall - still at the same school, so there shouldn't be any problems with her getting used to new surroundings. It might be a different story come 1st grade though... well, we'll jump off that bridge when we get to it. Mia's school put on their year-end show where the students all sang, danced, and performed some gymnastics for us, the parents. Mia was great, as usual - and we have the whole thing captured on video!! Here's Mia and her friends enjoying lunch on this, their last day of Pre-K.

We stayed up late on Friday after Mia's stellar performance. We ordered pizza and played a few rounds of Chutes & Ladders. Before too long, Mia was ready for bed. It was a long day, indeed. I think we'll make it a tradition to celebrate every "last day of school" with pizza and game night. =)

Saturday:
Well, I was able to sleep in a bit - but Jacob fixed that in a hurry. It's supposed to be in the 100's in the valley... not fun. =( I spent the morning looking at the light fixture in our kitchen/breakfast nook - wishing there was a ceiling fan there instead. I know that it was suggested that we put one there to help circulate the air better, but it's not something I was eager to take on. My last experience installing a ceiling fan (in our first home in Vallejo) was difficult, and I'm never comfortable around electrical wiring. Still, I knew it had to be done sooner rather than later, so I made the decision to do it today. I went out to the circuit box to see which breaker I needed to throw to turn off the kitchen lights... *hahaha* big surprise that NOTHING was labled. So HieRan and I spent the next several minutes on our cell phones chatting with one another - as I threw a switch, she'd tell me what lights in what rooms had turned off. After about 11 switches we hit it! Then we went online to Lowes.com to shop for the right ceiling fan to match our kitchen - BINGO... found it quick... AND it was on sale!! *score!!* I drove out to buy it, surprised to see how busy the celing fan department was. But I was in and out of there in a couple of minutes.

I rushed home, made sure the circuit breaker was turned off, and began to take down the existing light fixture in the kitchen (start time 12 noon). This thing was a mess to take down!! And even though I was sure that there was no power coming through the wires, I was still uneasy messing with all the exposed wires. =S *It's on projects like these that I wish my dad (an electrical engineer) was around to help.* But with my family looking on, I pressed on and tried to look as competent as possible. Like the Mighty Thor weilding his hammer, I grabbed my tools and got to work! *Okay, it's a bit of a stretch, but who else is going to do this?* Everything seemed to be going fine - I was really hitting my stride after connecting the initial wiring and mouting everything flush to the ceiling. But as my luck would have it, nothing is ever as easy as it should be. My cordless screwdriver ran out of power, and the spare battery wasn't charged either (great job there, Arnold - can you tell I was never a boyscout?) So the remainder of the project, which included another 20 or so screws, was done manually. <=P

Well, as you may summize by my writing here, the installation was a success - no electrical fires to put out, no fingers missing, and a hearty "good job daddy" from my Mia (who, by the way was outside enjoying her pool with mommy and Jacob). But the ceiling fan is not just for looking at - it actually works!! *whoo-hoo!!* Yep, and it only took me 2 hours to install!! =S So now I'm ready to take on the rest of my home-improvement projects (oh, the list is quite long and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight). I think I'm going to follow the lessons learned from My Name Is Earl. I'll make a list and try to cross stuff off my list over time - that should do it!

Sunday:
Started the day thinking about my list. Then I turned on the tube to watch some World Cup 2006!! That pretty much took the wind outta my sails, so I played with the kids, had Korean BBQ for dinner and here I am!! I'll start the list tomorrow... unless there's another World Cup Soccer match on!! *heh*

WEEKEND RECAP:

Ahhhh yes... FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND!!! Even though I tend to downplay this day, HieRan and the kids made sure that the weekend was all about ME!!! *yippeee!!!*

Saturday:
Okay, so I was told not to shave myself for the week leading up to today. Sadly, my facial hair takes about 6 months to really take shape, so I did the best I could. HieRan made an appointment for me at this place in Beverly Hills called The Shave. I was a little skeptical about going since I don't feel right about paying for something I can blast away with my Mach 3 razor in a matter of seconds!! But I'll admit that the experience is quite interesting, and very relaxing. Along with my shave, I was given a mild "facial" treatment (warm preshave oil, a hydrating mask, and an after shave lotion), hand massage, and neck massage - all while reclined in a comfortable barber's chair. Oh, and I should mention that while the shave was done by a gentleman from Australia, all of the other treatments were provided by a rather large-breasted woman in a low-cut top. Don't worry babe, my eyes were closed most of the time... *ahem*. I was quite surprised with the end result. My face was cleaned, shaved, and soft as a baby's bottom (well, that's what HieRan told me)... I also had a strange craving for melons! =S

We drove to the Beverly Center afterwards, trying to kill some time before going to dinner. Originally we had planned on a dinner at a Beverly Hills hotspot, The Ivey, unfortunately our plans were quickly altered when one Mr. Jacob decided he wanted to go home. It took us about 45 minutes to get home, and Jacob managed to cry and scream the entire way home... pretty impressive, actually. Of course as soon as we pulled into the driveway and got out, he was done. =T So we ordered a large thin-crust pizza and watched the USA vs. Italy in the World Cup (on our DVR, of course). With a tie they need to win against Ghana... AND Italy needs to beat the Czech Republic. GO USA... and Italy!!

Sunday: (FATHER'S DAY)

I awoke with my wife and kids singing a "Happy Father's Day" song to me this morning. Then Mia presented me with a gift bag that had about 8 cards she made for me, PLUS one iPod (2G) Nano with a sports band!! *score!!!!* I took some time to download some music and move it from my computer to my iPod, then we decided to head out to Calabasas for lunch. We got ready... and about an hour later, we were ready to go! (Jacob had eaten and was due for a nap... so he took one as I held him). I had the opportunity to call my big bro (also a dad) to see how his weekend was going. He told me that his 2 boys bought him some new Craftman's tools - naturally Paul thought, "... okay, what did you kids break!". *haha - good one, bro!* I also send my dad a message wishing him a happy Father's day in the Philippines (it was about 2am there, so I didn't think I should call and wake him up). We ate at the Italian restaurant Mi Piace, and while the service left a lot to be desired, the food was excellent!! Mia and I shared chocolate chip waffles to go along with my California omelet, and HieRan had some eggs Benedict. After lunch, we strolled along the outdoor shops, ran into Lisa Rinna and hubby Harry Hamlin at the movies, and ended up at the grocery store for a bit of shopping. We arrived home around 2:00 and watched Korea play France in the World Cup... again, on the DVR. That was a pretty exciting match - and they also showed all the Koreans who gathered at LA's Staples Center to watch the game. Talk about fanatics!!

Dinner came about a little early since Mia was craving her noodle soup. Also, she wanted to watch a movie on the Disney Channel, "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior". HieRan laughs at me because she claims I'M more interested in watching this than Mia... yeah, roite!! But let me just say that the martial arts choreography wasn't half bad - and the wire work was pulled off pretty cleanly by these kids. SO THERE!!

I went to the gym with my new iPod strapped around my arm, and enjoyed being in my own world of 80's music as I worked out!!

So how great a weekend was this?!?! The best!! Can't wait for next year... *ahem - iPod Docking Station*.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF DAY?

Well the kids are asleep, and I can get to work cleaning up the house... *yay!*. My favorite time of day used to be early in the morning. Before Jacob (and even Mia) was born, I'd get up early in the morning and head out to the gym before going to work. Don't worry, I showered and cleaned up before going to work... sickos! *lol* Even on the weekends I'd get up early to go to the gym or to Starbuck's. After Mia was born, I still got up early to enjoy the crisp morning air. There's something intoxicating about the morning air - even nostalgic. Camping trips taken with the family usually come to mind. Then there were those summer mornings growing up in Michigan when mom would open up the windows and we'd awaken to the "new" air of the day. I still enjoy the mornings, although I can't fully describe the "freshness" of the air when it's tainted by Jacob's rather full diaper. =S

These days my favorite time of the day has shifted to the evenings when the kids are asleep (sleeping like angels), and I can spend time catching up with my wife, HieRan. Usually we try to catch up with our TiVo shows… but since all of the season (and series) finales, there really isn’t much to watch these days. Oh, we do watch The Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. It’s about the Alaskan fishermen who catch crabs (not the disease, mind you) out in the Bearing Sea… and wow, I can’t believe what they’ve chosen to do for a living. (MENTAL NOTE: thank mom and dad for my education). Anyway, the evenings are “our time”, and it’s nice to be able to spend the quality time with her and talk about... well... our kids, mostly! =) <3 Love you, babe!! <3

FLYING SOLO:

Well, this week HieRan is in Anaheim for her annual company meeting. Usually she has to fly out someplace, so it's nice that she's close by this year. So it's me and the kids until Friday - looks like we're eating a lot of SPAM this week!! *hahaha - j/k... well, maybe just one night*

Last week was a blur - I didn't really get a chance to write here. Don't worry though, you didn't miss much. Jacob had his 6-month check-up at the doctor's. He's in the 50th percentile for height, 75th percentile in weight, and 25th percentile in head size. As big as he seems to us, he's actually smaller than Mia was when she was his age. I'm not worried... he's eating well and will have his growth spurt in time. Oh, I noticed on the first episode of Paris and Nicole's The Simple Life, they were at the same hospital that we go to (West Hills Hospital)!! Funny, right? And no, we didn't see them there. I even know the strip club that Nicole took the husband to... I mean, I pass by it when I go to Costco... *ahem*... really!! =S Oh, and speaking of hospitals, HieRan told me that she was visiting with a doctor who works at the same hospital that they shoot Grey's Anatomy!! Sorry, there was not sightings of Dr.McDreamy (who will always be the pizza-deliver-guy-who-almost-slept-with-his-mom, to me... remember Can't Buy Me Love?).

The other day when Mia got home from school we agreed we'd bake some cookies. After Jacob went down for a nap, Mia and I got to work. It wasn't too much work actually... the cookies were pre-mixed, and all we had to do was put them on the cookie sheet and into the oven. When they were done, we let them cool off a bit while we watched a couple of her tv shows. I must have dozed off, because I was awakened by Mia holding a small plate with a couple of the mini-cookies on them for me. When I thanked her she said "you're welcome" and started going back to her seat - she stopped, came back to me and told me "... these cookies come with a hug", giving me the biggest and sweetest hug she could. *ahhhh* I can't say enough about my Mia... she's such a good girl. =*)

HE'S A SNEAKY ONE!

Eating some watermelon when mommy's not looking!

PUCKER UP!!

Kiss me!

YEEE-HA!!!

Howdy y'all!

WATCHING THE APPRENTICE:

So HieRan and I are watching The Apprentice right now. Not really feeling Lee and his team of misfits. Lenny is a HUGE liability... geez! I think Sean will win... although I'm not thrilled with either candidate this time around. Compared to the winners of the past, these two just don't measure up. Sure they're accomplished in their respective fields - and it says a lot that they've made it this far in the interview process... still, they don't strike me as the leaders Mr. Trump needs in his organization.

I guess we'll see how things turn out in the next 90 minutes...

*tick tock tick tock*

(90 MINUTES LATER):

Well look at that... I was right!!

WEEKEND RECAP:

Saturday:
Hot, hot, hot... I can't believe how stinkin' hot it is down here. I got up early to take the Highlander to get an oil change. I was outside at 7:30am to clean the car first and it must've been in the mid 70's alredy!! So I drove to the local Pep Boys to get the oil changed and tires rotated, relaxing a bit at Starbuck's (across the street) while I waited. I got home after about an hour and thought he kids might want to hang out in their kiddie-pool. Unfortunately, a nearby wasp's nest ended our water adventure a bit premature. We decided to head out to the mall where we could all enjoy the comforts of someone else's air conditioning. =) We had lunch and did some window shopping before being taken into the Disney Store by our tour guide, Mia. Here's the thing that I think the Disney Store does right. They are constantly changing the store around - bringing in new mechandise, moving old stuff around, always making the store appear "new" to their customers (namely the kids in Mia's age group). So, whenever Mia wants to go to the store, we can't say that it's the same stuff, and that she's seen it all before... how could she? Thanks Disney!! *sheesh* And by the way, we picked up some water guns for the kids... again, thank you Disney for making them readily available and on the shelf that only the kids can reach! =T

After getting the kids to bed, HieRan and I spend the next few hours doing something we don't normally get to do together. That's right... LAUNDRY!! *haha - get your minds out of the gutter people!* ;) I think we were up until 1:00am doing laundry!!! It's never-ending here at our place... and if/when you have kids, you'll understand.

Sunday:
This morning started off like yesterday.... hot hot HOT!! Record highs in the valley - we're talking triple digits, folks!! But we were scheduled to go and visit with some friends today. Their little girl is 1 year old, so we were invited to have cake and ice cream (fitting, considering the heat). They had a pinata for the kids to break open - too bad the chocolate candy was all melting *hahaha*. Still, Mia and Jacob worked well together. Jacob pulled the string that opened the trap door while Mia gathered their loot!!

THE QUEST IS OVER:

Miami (MIA) vs. Detroit (DET)... guess whose team won?

So my Detroit Pistons failed to advance to the NBA Finals this year... rats! There was at least one person happy about this in our household. And to add insult to injury, Mia has also made up a dance (I think she called it the "Ha-Ha-Your-Team-Lost-And-The-Team-With-My-Name-Won!!" dance.

Thanks, Mia... now go to your room!! *j/k*