Graduations

Elliot was named Ms. Caring for her class.

Crawfish festival

Every year there's a big crawfish festival held at Vietnamese Martyr Catholic Church (aka Các Thánh Tử Đạo) but I've never gone in the years prior. Once I was old enough to make my own choices, I vowed to never come back.

I grew up going to that church but only have bad memories of that place. I dreaded every Saturday because that meant I'd be at Bible school. The school was so poorly ran. Classes were full of wannabe gangstas who showed no respect for the teachers or nuns. It was out of control. And the classes were taught in Vietnamese, which I barely understood. I was stuck in the second grade level for at least five years straight. It was miserable.

Elliot's First Communion

Andrew's confirmation

Family with Andrew. (My parents were absent since I told them it was postponed due to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.)

Cherry blossoms, museums, and monuments (Washington, D.C.)

After five years, I made the trip back to DC. This time, there would be no government shutdown. This time, the cherry blossoms would be in bloom. This time, I would bring the family. But not the whole family. 

The boys HS soccer team made it into the playoffs and advanced. Unfortunately, the second round game would be on Thursday night (the day we leave for our trip). And if they were to win and advance to the third round, they would play on Monday (and we would still be in DC).

I had let the big boys decide if they still wanted to go to DC or stay home and play with their team. Jacob decided to continue on with the trip as planned and Andrew decided to stay home and play in what he said was possibly "a once in a lifetime" opportunity. So with that, we took a family trip (five nights) without Andrew.

Jacob's confirmation

Jacob's confirmation.

Easter 2023

Family egg hunt.

Easter 2019

Someone loves Easter.

Tyson's First Communion

First communioners. (Is that a word?)

Easter Sunday

Our Easter Sunday began with mass at 5 a.m. It was still dark outside when we were leaving!

Random weekend pics

Elliot, all up in your grill.

Birthday and baptism

Last weekend we celebrated Venus' 40th birthday. The big four-oh. When I hear 40, I immediately think that's old. Then I quickly realize that I'm not too far behind. In fact, I still don't feel like an "adult". That title belongs to my parents, aunts and uncles. I will forever be a "kid" although my body is telling me otherwise.

Memorial Day weekend

Summer break officially began for the kids this Memorial Day weekend and we started it off by going to the Houston Zoo on Saturday. We went since our membership was set to expire at the end of the month and I wanted to check out the new gorilla exhibit for the first (and last) time. After seeing Blackfish, I don't want to continue supporting organizations that keep animals in captivity. If you really think about, a zoo is an animal prison and we're just gawking at them.

Andrew's First Communion

Going to church doesn't make you less of an a**hole

Jacob's First Communion

Tyson's baptism

Tyson is saved from eternal damnation, for now at least. Today he was (finally) baptized. It went really well, he didn't cry once. It's surprising given the fact that a complete stranger was touching him on the head and chest then poured water on his head, all against his will. Wait, he did cry once... when my mom held him afterwards. It seems like Tyson will accept anyone holding him except for my mom. She has the power to make him instantly cry.

Reed's baptism

This past weekend my sister-in-law Julie baptized baby Reed and guess who's the godfather. That's right, yours truly. It was probably by default since Lynn is the godmother but I'll take it.

He already has my hair.

If you count my two godsons/nephews, my two bad boys and unborn child... that's five boys and zero girls. Boys will forever dominate this family. Thanks Y chromosome sperm, you've made a couple ladies in our family very unhappy.