Christmas 2023

Christmas Eve

Santa letters

Look who got a letter from The North Pole.

Lynn's birthday

Traditional morning birthday donuts.

Dear Elfie

Thanksgiving 2023

Last minute change in "venue" since our original host got sick. Sounds like us last year.

Tennis, pickleball, and glamping

Another busy weekend. Friday night, Andrew and I met up with Anh Vien's family to play pickleball (and to celebrate his birthday). It's such a fun and easy game to play. I can see why it's growing in popularity.

On Saturday, Tyson's first tennis season came to an end at the district tournament. He won his first match 6-2 to advance to the next round. On his second match, it was tied 5-5 and Tyson had triple match point (first player to win 6 games). Subsequently, he lost five points in a row to lose the game and match. What a heartbreaker. For the third place match, he beat the kid 6-0? or 6-1? Basically, it wasn't close and he medaled for the team.

Sunday, we were back at Anh Vien's place but this time with the whole family. I did a little bit of BJJ with the cousins while the kids swam. Afterwards, it was more pickleball action.

Later in the evening, I took Lynn and Elliot on a Getaway, i.e. glamping trip. We got to do all the fun stuff associated with camping (sitting by the fire, making smores) without the misery (sleeping outside on the hard ground).

Thanksgiving lunch with Elliot

Not her usual smile since she had a mouth full of food.

Dad of four kids

That's me. And I'm not talking about my Fortnite profile. While Lynn was gone for a few days on a girls trip, I played the role of the single parent. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle but it just meant that the kids had to "step it up". For example, the big boys had to pack their own school lunch. I resorted to Chef Boyardee for the little ones' lunch. Tyson made it even easier by bringing the whole can and eating straight from it. Haha. And with my work from home situation, it was no problem to take and pick up the kids from school. Everything was doable but just more busy.

Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man ready for action candy.

Back in Cali (Los Angeles, CA)

It's been 10 years since we were last in Los Angeles, CA. Back then, I was almost certain that it was going to be the last time I'd go to LA but times have changed, i.e. we had another kid, so I gave it one more chance. 

But the main reason for the trip was to visit the newly opened Super Nintendo World. Since the kids had a random week off of school in October, this was the perfect opportunity to go since we would be avoiding the crowd. 

Annular solar eclipse

Posing for a quick photo but they couldn't see through those "glasses".

My other genius

Andrew crushed his first AP exam!

Random weekend pics (and more)

Just chillin' at Levy Park.

Elliot's 8th birthday

Traditional birthday donuts.

National Honor Society

Jacob's NHS induction ceremony.

Jacob's confirmation

Jacob's confirmation.

Extended getaway (Portland, ME)

It's been so long since we've traveled without the kids. Sure, we've made quick weekend getaways without them but it's been over nine years since we last booked a flight together sans kids. 

Why so long? Elliot. 

It's always been really hard to leave her. She's fine during the day but when it's bedtime and we're not there (e.g. sleepover at her cousin's place) she might miss us and get sad.

August birthdays

August is a popular month to be born.

First day of school on his birthday

Happy birthday Tyson, time to start your first day of school.

Birthday day trip (Austin, TX)

For my birthday, we made a quick trip to Austin to do what I do best... eat.

College visit (College Station, TX)

San was gracious to host both of our families and give us a glimpse of college life at Texas A&M.

Elliot rides a bike!

Belt promotion

Elliot received her first belt promotion!

Teen driver

It's official. We finally have a teen driver in the family. 😬

SeaWorld and DoSeum (San Antonio, TX)

Lately, my goal has been to give Elliot the same experiences the boys had when they were younger and one of those experiences was SeaWorld (and The DoSeum). It's been seven years since my last visit, when I took the three boys and it's been thirteen years since Lynn last went, when we only had two kids. So it's "been a minute" for all of us.

On this trip, the big boys declined since they had other obligations (and had already been twice) so it was just the four of us.

July 4th weekend (Waco, TX)

'Merica!

Mom's 70th birthday (Horseshoe Bay, TX)

Celebrating my mom's 70th birthday.

Father's Day weekend

Celebrating Father's Day without the kids.

Perm club

Another kid gets a perm.

Kalahari Resort (Round Rock, TX)

For Memorial Day, we made a trip to Kalahari Resorts.

End of First Grade

Last day of school.

Another letterman

Andrew earned his letterman jacket as a freshmen.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day morning with a special guest.

Jacob's first job

Jacob is the first kid of the family to join the workforce. His facial expression says it all. 😅

The Missing Queen

Braces II

Another kid. Another set of braces.

Andrew the referee

The Texas Child Labor Law allows a person to work once they are 14 years old. I've always encouraged the big boys to work. Not for the money but for the experience. And you have to start somewhere.

Being a soccer referee for a kids recreational league is probably the easiest job for the boys, being that soccer is their life.

So I was proud of Andrew for taking the initiative of getting his first referee gig. Working four hours in the blistering sun for minimal pay. #earnedit

Easter 2023

Family egg hunt.

Random weekend pics

Houston (technically Katy, TX) has a Tim Hortons.

Random pictures

Crawfish boil (and plenty of drinks) at Dennis' house.

Ski/snowboard trip (Leadville, CO)

During Spring Break, we made another trip to Colorado. It would be our 5th time to Leadville and our 11th road trip to Colorado. And on this trip, there were many firsts...

Lynn skied for the first time. 
Elliot skied for the first time. 
Jacob snowboarded for the first time. 

Reed snowboarded for the first time. 

Tyson took the chairlift for the first time. 

Andrew carved for the first time. 

But most importantly, we were all together on the slopes for the first time.

Belt promotion

Tyson received his gray-white belt.

Chess

Since November (around the same time as my neck injury), I've really gotten into chess. Some people say jiu jitsu is like physical chess; how it involves tactics and thinking moves ahead. I say, chess is like jiu jitsu without the physicality. And ever since I took a break from jiu jitsu training, I can see why I like it. 

I'm a bit late to the game (we just started to binge watch The Queen's Gambit) but better late than never. I'm trying to get everyone involved, even my parents. 

My mom takes so dreadfully long per move that I had to enforce a clock on her. 😂

Varsity boys soccer

The benefit of both boys being on the same team is that we only have to watch one game.

President's Day (San Antonio, TX)

It's been a long time since we've been to San Antonio.

Jacob is now 17

Happy birthday Jacob!

Random pictures

A typical scene everyday, both high school kids napping after school.

My messed up neck

After a couple of weeks of doing therapy with no signs of improvement, I had to bite the bullet and get an MRI. 

I'm not claustrophobic but I'm not a fan of being in an enclosed space either. And I had no idea that it was going to be that loud. Sure they gave me ear plugs but they didn't fit properly in my cauliflower ears so it was louder than it should've been. 

Year of the rabbit/cat

Family picture with grandma.

Houston Half Marathon II

So I lied, again. 

Well, not intentionally lied but instead had a change of heart. 

Let me count the ways...

First, I said we're not having a fourth kid.

Second, I said I'd never buy a minivan.

Third, I said I was done with long distance running.

And I'm sure there are more examples but that's all for now. 😅

Return of the perm

Look who got a perm!