Dec. 25, 2007 - Christmas

12242007 - Christmas 002, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Christmas was good to us again this year. The kids were more excited than they ever had been in the past. We had the missionaries over for dinner, and Xander couldn't wait for them to leave, so he could go to bed, meaning Santa would come even sooner. They left milk and cookies out for Santa, and went to bed. After Xander finally went to sleep (way too excited to sleep) Khai and I both started getting sick.

After a rough night we had a great Christmas morning. Santa left a lot of toys for all of us, and we had a great time. Christmas dining was white rice and leftovers, as Khai and I still were not up to real food. Despite a few challenges, we had a great Christmas.

照例呢， 聖誕老公公會在聖誕夜送禮物給小朋友，所以在這天晚上我們都有好藉口叫小朋友早點去睡覺，不然老公公就不送禮物了. 上床之前小朋友會留餅乾及牛奶給聖誕老公公吃，這樣他送完禮物後如果還肚子餓就可以吃了．看小朋友們多們期待聖誕老公公趕快來呀．

Dec. 16, 2007 - Snow

12162007 - Snow 003, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

We finally had a snow day. Church was cancelled, and school was cancelled the next day too. We had fun playing in the snow and drinking hot cocoa though.

Nov. 29, 2007 - Gymnastics

11292007 - Gymnastics 003, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Today Khai got to go with his class to the gymnastics center. They got to stretch, jump on the trampoline, play with hoops, and generally have a lot of fun. Khai really enjoyed it.

Nov. 20, 2007 - Khai's Special Day

11202007 - Grandparents Day 006, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Today was Grandparents Day at Khai's School, since he doesn't have any grandparents that live close, He asked me if I would join him as his special guest. We made a potato turkey, and Indian headband, and ate lunch together. We all had a lot of fun.

Oct. 31, 2007 - Halloween

Halloween 004, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Halloween with kids is the best. Xander was a fireman with an axe, and Khai was Buzz Lightyear. We had Halloween parties at Xander’s school, Khai’s school, Chinese school, and at church. Then on Halloween night, we walked around the block. When we got done, Pei-I and the kids handed out candy. As usual, they got way too much candy, but we had a blast.

Oct. 13, 2007 - Xander's Birthday Party

10132007 - Xanders Birthday 33, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

We decided to have a big shin-dig for Xander's birthday this year. Usually birthdays at our house are pretty low-key, but what the heck.

We invited all of Xander's friends, and when they arrived Xander gave them a cowboy hat and scarf. Then the kids could decorate their own paper grocery bag cowboy vest.
After everyone had arrived, we went to hand out the treat bags to all of the kids, but wouldn't you know it, Black Bart had stolen all of the goodies out of the bags. Fortunately he left a treasure map that one of the kids found. The map lead around our yard to different locations where Black Bart had dropped the goodies.

After the kids found all of their treasure, it was time to ride ponies. The ponies were so good, and gentle, and the kids loved them. They rode them time and time again. While the kids were taking turns riding the horses, we served a lunch of hot-dogs, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and homemade root beer.

After lunch the kids did some more crafts like beading and tortilla teepees. When it was time for the ponies to go home, we fed them some carrots, then blew out the candles and ate cake. Xander's friends brought him lots of really cool toys. When asked what his favorite is, he says, "All of them".

We all had a lot of fun, but it will probably take a few months to fully recover.

Oct. 9, 2007 - Khai

10092007 - Khai 01, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Nothing to report, just posted a few GQ pictures of Khai.

Oct. 6, 2007 - Soccer

10202007 - Soccer 12, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Xander & Khai have both been playing soccer this fall, and they are both doing great. Last year, Xander would just stand in the middle of the field with his head down, sulking. This year he is one of the best players on the team. He has scored 2 or 3 goals, and does a really good job on defense.

Khai does a great job chasing the ball. It is so cute to see him running down the field with all his might. Until last week, he hadn't actually ever touched the ball. This last week there was some bad weather, and most of the players didn't show up (even Xander was home sick). Khai played the entire game, and kicked the ball lots of times, and had a lot of fun.

At this age, they don't keep score in the game, but as any father can tell you, our team usually scored between 8 and 10 goals to the opponents 2 or 3. We dominate!!! Most importantly, the kids have a lot of fun.

Halo 3!!!

My wife has made a mistake. She dropped by blockbuster and used one of our free monthly rental coupons to rent Halo 3 for me.

Hopefully I will be able to continue to be a contributing member of the family, and make it to work with this rather large distraction placed in front of me. I will report back on how it goes

Sept. 22 - Lunch with Firemen

09222007 - Firemen Lunch 01, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Our local fire department had a chicken BBQ fund raiser yesterday, and we are always more than happy to eat for charity. We had so much fun.

The firemen cooked up some mean bbq chicken, with baked beans, coleslaw, a roll, and yummy desert. After lunch, we walked around talking to friends and the firemen. The firemen offered to show the kids the firetrucks. Xander had one of the firemen that lives on our block show him every corner of every fire truck they had. He must have asked him a thousand questions. Thanks Phil!

Then the blood hound came by to say hi. After licking all of the chicken off of the kid’s faces he showed us what he could do. One of the kids wiped his arm with a clean tissue. Then he ran through some trees, behind a building, came back around and hid behind a car. They gave the dog the scent. The dog was amazing, he followed the exact path that the boy did sniffing the ground as he went, and went right to the boy.

We all had a lot of fun, and it is good to know that we have these guys (and dog) looking out for us.

Sept 8 - MiniGolf

09082007 - MiniGolf 01, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Xander has been begging us to take him golfing, so on a nice Saturday, we decided that it was the day to go. We all had a lot of fun.

Don't Forget Khai

DSC03033, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Not to be outdone, Khai has started school today as well. Khai is now going to pre-school, and he had a great time. He finally gets to do what he has seen his brother doing for 2 years. They are both growing up so fast!

Xander Starts Kindergarten!

DSC03019, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

OK, so I know that we haven't updated this blog in so long, I have been trying to update som vacation photo's, but have finally decided to let you all know what is going on in the meantime.

It is that time of the year. Today, Xander went to Kindergarten. We are all so excited for him, and he had a blast. Way to go Xander.

February 18, 2007 - New Year Hot Pot

0218 - New Year Hot Pot - 01, originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

It is annual tradition to make warm delicious hot pot for Chinese new year. For any that do not know, hot pot is kind of like a Chinese fondue. Fresh vegetables, meats, and noodles are added to a boiling pot of soup broth in the center of the table. As the items are cooked, they are removed, and eaten. It is really yummy. Each food item makes the soup base taste even better, so by the end of the meal, you have a great tasting bowl of soup to finish off your meal. Pei-I out did herself this year. We had a great meal!

新年除夕夜我們家的傳統是吃圍爐火鍋, 在台灣總是媽媽一手包辨, 我們在旁邊幫忙. 到了美國, 在加州時還可以到中國城去吃自助火鍋, 可是現在到了東岸, 一切就要自己來了. 過去的3~5年來我都是自己準備湯頭和到中國超市去買火煱料. 老公也喜歡吃火鍋, 小孩子們喜歡吃玉米,魚丸和海鮮. 雖然我們家的火鍋沒有在台灣的那麼豐富,可是熱情不減..今年的湯頭還特別的甜, 令人喝了還想再喝一碗. 在家裡自己準備火鍋的好處就是剩下的料還可以吃好幾餐. 哇, 你可以看到佩憶的臉上都笑瞇瞇的. 火鍋, 嗯....有媽媽的味道.

February 17, 2007 - Chinese New Year Party

0217 - Chinese New Year - 01
Originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

Tonight we went to the Chinese New Year Party held by Xander's Chinese School in Ann Arbor. It was a lot of fun, and Xander did a great job in his program. This is the first time that he has been willing to get up in front of people and perform. The best we have ever been able to do at church is have him get on the stand for a couple of seconds before skulking back down. We were so proud to see him strut his stuff. He did a great job. The other classes did different skits, dances, and songs to entertain. The high school students performed a play in which the emperor lost the Chinese Zodiac, so he held a race of all of the animals to determine the new list and ordering. It was so hilarious.

傑升的中文學校有舉辦新年晚會. 老師平常上課時就會跟小朋友練習, 傑升會很高興很賣力的唱歌及比手指謠. 可是我們今年不期望傑升會上台表演. 因為在教會有時會叫小朋友到前面去唱歌, 傑升每次都不要到前面去, 最高的紀錄是站在講台上站了1分鐘然後就開始坐在地上. 果然在預演時傑升就坐在地上拒絕表演. 等到正式表演時, 其他的高年級先上台表演, 傑升跟煒勳坐在椅子上看的目瞠口呆. 老師帶著大家去後台準備表演. 哇, 傑升竟然在台上高興的唱著歌, 跳著舞, 三不五時還會跟我們揮揮手. 看的我眼淚都快流下來了, 太感動了. 第一次看到傑升上台表演還表演的那麼好. 吾家有子初長成.

February 3, 2007 - Indian Food

0203 - Indian Food - 01
Originally uploaded by Sean Whittier.

We decided to try to make Indian food tonight. It was really yummy, but lots of work. We made Mattar Paneer and Royal Chicken with naan and rice. Yummy!

肖恩的同事給了肖恩一些印度菜的材料所以我們決定要做印度菜 需要切好多菜可是做出來的菜佷好吃哦