Blogs through July

July marked my one-year anniversary when I went part-time, and I'm still grateful for the opportunity every day (well, maybe every other day). :D Of course I sometimes feel like I'm not doing anything all that well -- that I need to be a more engaged employee, better housekeeper, or more present mom -- but I also feel like I'm better at everything as well because I still get adult time, make enough money to pay for daycare, have hours at the house alone to get chores done, and still have more time with the kids than if I were working full time. I'm lucky to be in the organization I'm in, work for the boss that I have, and am surrounded by the talent that is around me ... and to have a husband that supports me, kids that love me, and friends and family that are there sharing the laughter and memories that abound.

3.25 ft tall

2.58 ft tall

Looking at the July pics, some memories stand out. One is when Claire was doing her dance camp and we dropped Gavin off at school first for a couple of the sessions. Even though Claire is constantly wanting more "just mommy and me" time, she was quite concerned that we were out and about having fun without her baby brother and let me know (multiple times) how much she missed him.

Dropping Gavin off for Western Day at school before Claire's dance camp

Another is when Dwo and Crystal came to visit after Zong moved up to Dallas. It's pretty cool to have a weekend of play "just because" with my little bros. I hate to brag, but -- like Claire -- I think my baby brothers are pretty darn cool, and we always have a blast together even when we're not doing much of anything. Come to think of it, what these two stand-out memories share is the bond of family and the love we share. I guess my parents taught us right, and I'm hope that I continue to do right by my kids as well.

Family love

Please check out all the July blog updates on the kids' sites plus our July album. Until next time!

Claire's blog
Gavin's blog
July album

11th Hour Blog Updates -- June Done!

Well, I managed to get the blogs updated through June just before the year ends. :) Looking back at June, I realized it was a year since I went part-time, and I have never regretted my decision. I am eternally grateful that I have the opportunity to spend more time with my kids while also still make a dollar (it at least pays for day-care and taxes!) and have "grown-up time".

Happy kids = happy mom = happy kids

Girlfriends

Claire continues to amaze me by what she's learning. Take karate for example -- she's memorized creeds (phrases I have trouble remembering!), perfected forms, and shows amazing discipline and listening skills. I thought that three might be a little young to start something so structured, but she's definitely shown me how wrong I was and look forward to watching her continue to grow.

I really like seeing how other students mentor each other

Gavin's still a momma's boy, which is both a blessing and a curse. He's inquisitive, brave, and a great tagalong to all the activities the kids attend.

Patiently watching karate class

Zong officially moved to Dallas in June which is great! I know he's busy with his residency, but it's still nice to know he's nearby. Funny moment recently: I told him that if there's a zombie apocolypse, he should definitely join up with us to be safe because we could use a doctor in our group ... to which he replied, "plus I'm your brother". Oh, well, yeah, there's that. Of course we want you, Zong!

I feel pretty

Check out the kids blogs and the June album online!

ClaireDeLing.blogspot.com
GavinDeXiang.blogspot.com
June album

May Blogs Done!

Here I am at the end of the year, and I'm finally getting around to finishing the May blog updates. As I shiver in the cold (yes, northerners, 40's is COLD), I look at all the spring pictures and look forward to the warmer weather again!

Some highlights in May ...

Mother's Day at The Fields.
A perfect day of beautiful weather with my beautiful family.

Claire's first dance recital. We were so proud of her!

Gavin got hand-foot-mouth,
but it wasn't enough to actually wean him

Co-hosted Nina's baby shower in NYC. Love you, Dopey!

Dwo's graduation from UT at Austin.
Good for you for following your dream.
Congrats, baby bro, and we look forward to your future successes!

Please check out the kids blogs and the various albums from May ... and look forward to the June updates soon(ish)!

• Claire's Blog
  
• Gavin's Blog
  
• Mother's Day Album
  
• May Album
  
• Austin Album
  

April Blogs (Finally!) Done

Yes, I realize it's been two months since I last worked on the blogs which means that I continue to fall farther behind. Here is where I finally admit that trying to maintain a separate blog for each kid was probably a little bit over-promising, but you gotta shoot for the stars, right?

Looking back, the highlight of April was probably the Easter weekend trip to Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, TX. It was a rare vacation where I actually felt rested and ... vacationed? ... afterwards! The food was amazing, the service was impeccable, and the kids had a great time. We had such a great time, we've decided to make it an annual tradition -- friends welcome!


Other than that, we spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying the weather and continued to have fun.

All the details are in the kids blogs ... 9 postings total. Enjoy!

Claire's blog
Gavin's blog
April Photo Album
Easter in Glen Rose album

March Blogs DONE

Yes, I realize it's already September and I'm just getting around to updating the kids' blogs in March ... so sue me (no, don't, I'm only working part-time and really like what money I actually make). As I looked through the March pics, a few things jumped out at me as my March highlights ...

We had an all-too-rare moms night out with the girls from Claire's playgroup. It was a going-away dinner for Cathy G who moved back to Colorado to be closer to family, and we also celebrated Tina's birthday.


Our family got to attend Sesame Street Live at the Ambit Energy suite in the Verizon Theatre. What a great company perk! James also took the kids to see Thomas a couple of months later.


The Pees/Parks had our annual Spring outing, and the Arboretum was beautiful as usual. It was extra-special this year with the dads attending as well.



Gavin got his first haircut and has had a few since. It shocks me how quickly the kids grow! We're still working on having him actually sit in the chair by himself ... it's getting better. Claire has become a pro, just calmly sitting in the seat without moving for the duration of her haircut.


Even though I was horribly sick on my birthday, it was still special one with both James' and my parents in town to celebrate quietly at home (just the way I like it!). Thirty-three has been just fine, though I admit that I almost corrected someone when they said I was 33 in June because I honestly thought I was still 32. I've got two kids; no time for aging!


The kids had their Spring school pics. They turned out ok. Claire's would have been great except that her headband was across her forehead, reminiscent of a 70's throwback, and Gavin was pouty and all scratched up. But they sure were cute! They ended up getting re-takes that I sat on the side and helped wrangle.


Check out the kids blogs to see what they've been up to!
Claire's Blog
Gavin's Blog
March Pics

I'm on a roll! Blogs to Feb

February blog postings have also been posted! This time, I even managed to get a couple of videos included. Pretty cool, huh?

Reflecting back on February, the crazy snow week definitely stands out. I managed to stay at home with the kids for seven days straight without leaving the house, a feat previously incomprehensible, but actually not that bad in actuality. We did lots of the usual (arts and crafts, playrooms, baking) plus some extra to fill in the gaps (bounce houses, blanket forts, and snowball fights!).

A huge event was Claire turning three. She has grown up so much over the last year, and it's hard to face the fact that she's not my little baby anymore. She's talking in full sentences (paragraphs sometimes!), making tons of decisions on her own from what to wear and what she wants to eat, and teaching her baby brother everything she knows. At the same time, I feel like I am probably tougher on her because I think of her as so much older than Gavin ... and then I realize she's only three!

I can't wait to get the blogs up to date to July so that you can see what the kids have been up to the last four months since these Feb postings -- karate, dance recitals, swimming, family trips, and more!

January Blog Postings DONE

FINALLY posted the January blog updates for the kids. I know, I know, it's now July, but what spare time I have doesn't seem to be devoted to sitting in front of a computer for recreational purposes.

That being said, I honestly love going through the pictures of the month and picking out a handful that I think others would like to see. Picking out the pictures themselves is an art. It's a blend of what's good photographically-speaking (composition, lighting, all that jazz), what does the best in capturing all the events of the past month, and what I think others would actualy be interested in looking through. As I pick out each picture, I have a silent monologue of the caption that would post right underneath the picture in the voice of each child because I've been told it's the captions that really express the moment.

It also gives me a few minutes to reflect on how much I love my family and am so proud of them. It makes me appreciate my friends and feel blessed at everything we have. It forces me to actually enjoy the moments that seem to pass all too quickly and to give each memory a moment of respect to acknowledge how it has helped to shape who I am today.

Plus, I get to re-smile at pictures like this:

This is me ... as soon through Claire's eyes and drawn by Claire's hand
01/17/2011

Don't forget you can check out pictures from January in our album online!