MY SON IS APPLYING FOR PRESCHOOL! Sorry for yelling, but that’s huge to me. It means no more funny conversations when I need a break from work.

One of the preschool admission requirements is to pass an observation session, just to make sure he can communicate his basic needs. He did not pass the first round since he failed to answer the teacher any question. The only word he said was “car” when he showed the teacher a puzzle piece that he was holding. It was obvious that this three letter word was not magical enough to win him admission.

So today, I was trying to give my boy some basic English training so he can do better in the next round. This is how my attempted conversation went…

Me: How old are you, Christian? (with great anticipation)
Christian: … … (looking puzzled)
Me: Are you two? (with persistent hope)
Christian: No. (paused to think, then confidently) Friday!

I stopped there. Simply didn’t know how to respond further but whispered to myself, try again tomorrow.

Here is  a frame of him at the shower today. Watching him wash his own hair is as fun as talking with him…

My nanny went back to Mexico one week ago. Her dad passed away so she had to take a temporary leave without much advance notice. I’ve been through a whole week of dish-cloths-all-over-the-kitchen-counter and no-folding-clothes-after-laundry. Being a mom of two young kids forces me to put efficiency first when managing our home.

To avoid cleaning the kitchen counter, I cover it with big dish towels. When the towels get dirty, I just need to drop them into the washing machine. Five yays for not having to clean any kitchen counter. But it’s too embarrassing to show you how my counter looks like.

When my nanny folds laundry, she does it like the ones you see in the stores. When I do it, I throw them into four different baskets (no folding of course) and make everyone wears these clothes before the next laundry day. And we have to wear our pajamas for a week before washing them. I’m praying that we don’t have to go a week without a bath!

With these little homemaking tricks, I was able to find time to try out my new 50mm f/1.2. Man, how could I live without it in the past 60 years? Thank you Jesus for giving me such a treat. He sure does love me!

Last Saturday, I took some photos of two super cool rock stars, Karen and Jason. By the way, Karen is my sister and Jason is her love. Karen and I are seventeen years apart. But hey…don’t think I’m that old. It’s just that she’s really young. We look totally different. We are from two different worlds. Two different generations. But we have two things in common. We are both cool! In different ways. And we have the same voice. Even my parents cannot distinguish between our voices. Next time they come visit me, we will play the voice guessing game.

This is how cool they are…

I’m officially an affiliated photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS). NILMDTS is a non-profit organization that helps parents who suffer the loss of a baby with the gift of a portraiture. Before I read about this organization, I was praying that God could use me and my camera in a way that is pleasing to Him. When my friend Susanna sent me this article about NILMDTS, I applied to be their volunteer right away. I agree with Aurora Onorato, who shared her volunteering experience in the article, that – how could I not do it?

Really, how could I not.

I know it is not going to be easy for me emotionally. I cry every single time I surf in the NILMDTS parents’ forum to read their stories or browse through baby photos on the NILMDTS facebook page. But helping these families create beautiful memories of their child, whom they will not get to see again, is more important than my emotional well being.

Since I just got accepted as an affiliated photographer last week, I’m still waiting for my first dispatch call. I am nervous about doing the first session.  To be honest, I’d rather not having to do one.

If you have a few minutes, watch this clip about NILMDTS on the NBC Today Show. You do not need to be a photographer to help. You can volunteer as an area/parent coordinator to serve as the hospital contact and to help promote NILMDTS in your community. There is currently a need for an area coordinator for Central/North Orange County. Please consider this opportunity to help these families who are going through tough times.

I thought designing and assembling thirty valentine’s was hard work for me. Who knows there is a more challenging part afterward. It was Annabelle autographing each one of them. It took lots of encouragement, bribery, and negotiation to have thirty of them signed by a four-year old girl. But she did them all, one by one with her little hand. I’m proud of you girl! Now you can give them out to your “beary” special friends at the valentine’s party at school tomorrow.

Sometimes, it drives me nuts when I hear Annabelle and Christian fighting or not getting along. Sometimes, I’m so happy and satisfied that they have each other as company, especial when I get photos like these…

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I love lavender. If lavender fried rice is on a menu, I would order it.  Thanks to our friend Vivian for bringing us to the Lavender Cottage Farm in Taiwan.  It was definitely a highlight of my trip. Hmm, how should I describe the lavender forest…romantic, relaxing, delightful, aromatic, and full of fantasies. Enjoy!

Trees of wishes…

There was no breakfast, lunch or dinner in Taiwan. When you are eating every 10 minutes, there is just no such thing as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Most food and drinks sold on the streets of Taiwan cost less than one US dollar. When money is not a concern, weight is. Ricky gained eleven pounds after the trip. Fortunately, he lost eight within two days after we came back. Thanks to my empty fridge.

Famous oyster fry…

These are called “flamingo clams”. So yummy, in both color and taste…

This store has all kinds of Chinese goddess for sale…

We took a break from eating and did some sightseeing, just so we could eat again…

We were so lucky to see the soldiers practicing right when we got there…

Every one in Taiwan owns a motorcycle…

I’m so in love with this shot by Ricky, showing the world’s tallest building disappearing in winter fog.