Welcome Baby Braden!

Braden Hin Fung

April 24, 2010

3:11pm

7.5, 21 inches

Yay! He's here and he likes his fingers!

New daddy with the boys...

Sleeping through the visit...

New Mommy and Daddy!

Another nephew!

Daniel takes a break from his DS

to acknowledge his new cousin!

Family portrait!

Mommy and Braden!

Bryce and his new cousin!

A thinking baby pose!

Don't Mess With Teachers!

(Photo By Bryce)

This is my 23 year teaching for LAUSD and my 27th year in education (I taught preschool all through college). So when you insult my profession, you insult me. The Supervisor to our student teachers this year made a bold statement to one of our amazing younger Master Teachers in front of the preservice teachers... She said that all "excellent teachers leave the classroom after five years" and she must not be an excellent teacher (she is in her 6th year of teaching) because she was still in the classroom. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? What the heck is someone with that kind of thinking doing supervising our future educators? Lets just say I am a little pissed off that someone working in the school of education would even think that. Why is it that people always see "moving" way from kids and the classroom a step up? I may not be in administration (with a bigger paycheck and more respect), but my experiences are as rich and valuable, but in other ways... I influence the lives of children and families.

And the Supervisor... I am just waiting for her to say that to me, so I can challenge her to a google search! Tell me I don't make a difference! Teachers Rule!

Congrats Liz!

I miss teaching at a Primary Center. They were small, but much more like a family. I spent 11 years at White House Place, where I learned to teach and develop my teacher leadership skills. I was at La Fayette Park only 2 years and worked with an amazing principal. Sometimes I wish I were still at a primary center. It definitely would make life a little easier.

When I was at La Fayette Park Primary Center, I had a wonderful, sweet teaching assistant. Yesterday, she married her high school sweetheart on their 13th Anniversary. Liz was the most stunning bride! "A Princess" -Bryce called her from photos, and her wedding reception was the most beautiful setting I had ever seen! Every detail was amazing! I am thrilled for her and Dennis and know that this is just the beginning for this lovely, young couple! It's nice to witness love like that.

Wife and Hubby!

The simple, yet elegant cake!

The table decorations were just beautiful!

Before the photo booth...

Cutting cake... (Liz and I have a thing for sweets

and cupcakes!) She brought me a slice of cake from

Sweet Lady Jane once and I knew we were going to be friends!

So this was the second wedding where there was a

self serve candy bar! Everything was purple!

I got the boys lollipops!

Congrats Liz and Dennis!

LIVE!

My old roommate Kristi won tickets in a silent auction to see Jimmy Kimmel Live and visit the Green Room. So Romy and I met up with her for a fun night in Hollywood. Set was much smaller and more intimate than I thought it would be, but that made it all the better. Nice to get away... but then to get a text from your babysitter saying your big boy is being "violent" and out of control... well that's another matter! Thanks Kristi!

Tanaka Farms Cook Out!

Daniel has the best Big Brother in the world! Joseph gave us a bunch of certificates to Tanaka Farms. The farm is the place we went in the fall for pumpkins and Bryce had been asking to go back. It's strawberry season now and we were planning a day trip with friends when... Joseph happened to mention he had lots of extra tickets! What a treat! So off we went down the 5 South to Irvine! It was a perfect day!

The boys ready for action!

The gang is ready for some pickin' and some eatin'

Family Photo

Ready to ride...

Cousin Joey joined us for the day...

Getting ready for the tractor ride!

Daniel!

Bryce gets a front view...

Celery uses more calories to digest

than any other food!

We got to each yummy flowers that tasted like

broccoli! Bryce didn't like it so much.

Gotta love the view!

Veggies!

Green is the color of the day...

Time to wash and clean...

Cut, season, and steamed!

The Garcia kids!

Bryce loves veggies too!

Joscelyn and her lovely mommy!

Baby Lucy and her mommy!

Eat up!

Time to eat!

"When is the real food coming?"-Daniel.

Smiles!

Sam loves her strawberry!

So does Bryce!

Picking strawberries with Cousin Joey!

FRESHLY PICKED!

Refusing to look up and smile!

One for the road!

Sam and Bryce doing what they do best!

Last Day of Spring Break

We spent the last day of our spring break hanging out with my friend Patty and her kids. It was a fun day for the boys and a nice break for me!

Here is a boy that pretends he needs to be pushed on the swings!

Emma and her beautiful mommy!

Daniel tries to fly a kite!

Someone else wants to fly one too!

A pony ride!

What is a zebra doing at a petting zoo!

Everyone wants to eat!

Beware of goats...

The white one just ate Daniel's plastic baggie! Ugh!

Lets try a cow instead.

Someday Bryce will not do what I tell him

to do for a picture opportunity...

until them, I can keep telling him to hug

lovely young ladies!

Here is a shot I love that Bryce took!

Then Samuel took this one of us!