Virginia Louie Chung Ho

Here are just a couple pictures of my grandma - actually her hair is a little longer than this now. I haven't posted until now or checked many blogs in the last few days as I've been a little caught up with things. Last Tuesday my grandma wanted to go home - so the hospital released her and set up Hospice for her at her home. My brother and I went out to visit her to see how she was settling in. Oh how I am glad we went. It was incredibly hard as I had 2 carpool duties and things to work out and Mike was working but as it ended up it was the last time I got to see my grandma. She passed last Thursday night at home. We thought we'd have a bit more time but I'm sure she is not in pain and she is with Heavenly Father right now.

My grandma was an incredible woman. She was widowed very young, as my grandfather died when he was 35. She raised 4 small children alone and didn't remarry until I was 8 years old. She worked in banking and finance for her whole life and even up until last year did taxes for other people. Her birthday was last Sunday - she turned 86. My grandma was extremely intelligent and I can't tell you how much I have looked up to her. She was a no-nonsense kind of lady so it didn't surprise me that she wanted to go home when she did - when she made a decision she always stuck to it.

I can kinda go on and on but what I want to say most is that I loved her and I'm so fortunate that I had so much time with her - I'm the eldest grandchild - and my kids were her only great-grandchildren. And my kids played bingo, mah jong and checkers and all kinds of things with her - I'm so lucky they have such good memories of her......

My parents are here now for a week - there isn't going to be a big funeral - she is going to be cremated and there is going to be just a small dinner banquet with the few remaining friends (she outlived most) and family. It will be a nice celebration of her life. Take care and kiss your loved ones and hold them tight or just send the ones farther away a sweet card or note - it makes all the difference.

Bunco!!!

I love going to Bunco - luckily I was invited to join my next door neighbor's group - she has great friends - and now they are my friends!! This is Pajama Bunco where you just come in your jammies and eat easy out of the package type foods and have F-U-N - I figure you'd spend more on going out to a movie (it's $11 here) and not talk to anyone else than the $10 it costs me to hang out with cool ladies - and hey, sometimes I win so I can pay the babysitter.

I brought my camera and took a quick pix at the end, it was funny they were saying, oh move the wine glass - yeah, let the mormon girl move the glass ha ha, that's why we're laughing so hard. Happy Day tomorrow is Friday!

Happy New Year!

I'm back! It seems like so long - so Happy New Year to everyone! We had a busy two weeks - I really thought I would have blogged way before now. Our Christmas was very nice, but also very somber - my grandma is still hanging in there, but I'm not sure how much longer. She will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow to go home, not because she is better though.

My grandma was stabilized Christmas day so we felt secure enough to go to Utah to visit Mike's family (sorry Brooke we ended up so busy to come visit your beautiful home!) we visited with Mike's old missionary companions, his HS girlfriend (or not, depends on the story) and his best friend in HS & Mike's Brothers. We were busy! I felt horrible though - the weather and the artificial heat are really really bad on my skin (lucky eczema girl) I looked like a zombie!!! (oh yeah, really good for seeing Mike's old friends) My eyes looked horrible, they were swollen and itchy - I felt like my skin was going to fall off!! It is so hard for me to go there in the winter.

But we did have a nice visit with his parents and friends - the kids got to sled most days and made a snowman in the backyard, we went to see Alvin & the Chipmunks, so fun, played Guitar Hero with Uncle Todd & Aunt Rachel, trips to the Gateway, Mike even went on a business trip in the middle of our trip! Centerville/Bountiful has this terrific new community center/gym - I wish we had one! They have everything there! Indoor/outdoor pools, classes, rock wall, running tracks, weights, cardio - so neat.

The airports were a nightmare - security is a joke and everything is so difficult! I hate the cattle call, so different when you fly international business class (for free)!

We spent New Year's Eve with Mike's parents and their friends (they call themselves the Six-pack) so fun - they are all lifelong friends and the 3 couples do things together all the time!

But we're back to the grind, it was so nice getting the kiddies off to school today but it is still pretty dampened now knowing my grandma is going home tomorrow - I'm not sure what is going to happen in the next two weeks but I am certainly happy and thankful for my family and friends.

PS - Melinda - Happy Belated Birthday! I have a little something in the mail to you - and thank you for mine!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Last night we went to dinner for my Grandpa's 75th bday since everyone has come into town for Christmas. We had a yummy chinese dinner. My grandma (my mom's mom) is in the hospital again so it is slightly somber of a celebration. I am discouraged this by her prognosis and her spirit. She is tired of fighting so I'm not sure how much longer we will have with her.

We went to see her last night and then went to see the Temple Lights - it is so beautiful every year - we are so lucky to have a temple so close by.


The hand bell and my flute solo went off really well at Church and we had a wonderful sacrament - well actually we performed in two wards - so I got a double dose of Christmas testimonies and it was wonderful. This year I had our family draw names to hand make a gift for each other - I'm looking forward to it the most I think!!


I'm getting my house ready - we have our big Christmas Eve party with my dad's family tonight and tomorrow with my mom's so I have lots of things to do - Merry Christmas!!!!

Yummy!!!

Between today and tomorrow I will have participated in 3 cookie exchanges - can you hear my pants starting to split right now??? It is always so fun to go to - I never host them because I have two friends that LOVE to do it every year and they are both my neighbors - so since it's their tradition I just attend - nice - I can leave my house messy with flour and sugar and piping and sprinkles and just attend and eat - so nice. And since Ian is allergy to peanut I have to eat his share - the things I sacrifice for my kids.....

Here is a picture from last Friday night - we went to Christmas in the Park in San Jose - it brought back memories for us - Mike & I lived down there for a few years when going to school - actually I used to live in an old victorian house - that they've converted into a Polynesian Cafe - so you can eat Hawaiian Pancakes in my old bedroom! So funny. I should have taken a picture.

It was uber-crowded though and I had had a jam packed day so I was pretty tired but I was very positive and supportive, Mike had been talking about bringing the kids down there for the last 3 weeks. So after school I girl scouts and Chandler had Destination Imagination and I think that day LInda & I may have gone to the mall or something so it was go go go, but it was a fun family outing even though we didn't get down there until after 7 and hadn't eaten yet......but we are certainly getting into the Christmas Spirit!!!

Only a week left! Yikes!

Today is my girlfriend Gloselle's bday - I would post a picture but my scanner isn't working right - she is a great friend - actually we met in the dorms at good ol' SJSU - we are 5 days apart in age both asian and like white guys (wait this sounds familiar). We don't get to see each other often even though we only live about 30 mins away - life keeps us busy but what I love about Glos is that when we pick up the phone and talk - it's like no time has ever passed - we chat and laugh and it's like we just saw each other yesterday - she is one of my "lifer-friends". I was in her wedding - thoroughly honored - she's like a sister to me since I have none - I love her to death - she is a great mother & wife - how she met her wonderful husband is a story in itself - she is talented, creative and beautiful and a great friend.

Actually - it's Glos' doing that I'm a member of the church. Her HS sweetheart was a member and was debating about going on a mission - Glos' wanted to take the Missionary lessons our second year of college - and I had met Mike that year (when he was a missionary) he taught in a Vietnamese Branch so he referred us to the Single Adult missionaries - long story short - she wanted to take the discussions but didn't want to go alone - so being the supportive friend - I told her I'd listen to them with her but I wouldn't join the church - I knew a little bit because my grandma was a member and I used to go to primary with her (the seeds were planted) - well - lo and behold here I am 17 years later - yikes that sounds old - oh well

Hope all your Christmas preparations are going well! I'm off to eat a cookie and go to bed!

A Lesson on saying "NO"!

So last night was a busy night for us - Bell practice that went an hour longer, Bday party for Ian, Ward Party & a family party all at the same time - originally we weren't going to go to the Ward Party - obviously too many things to do - but the Activities Chairlady asked if we were going and if we'd be in the Nativity - so I thought about - okay we'd come - it would be at the end we'd figure it out....

This is my lesson - I shouldn't say yes to everything - I should ask more questions - I should stick to my orginial plans instead of cramming in new ones.

So we do the bday party drop off - then we get back to the ward party late (we're reserving our fun family party for the end as it will go longer anyway) they are doing their thing - when the end comes they call our name - so we go back there - and she says, "so do you want me to do the lights or curtains for you?" WHAT????????????????????????????????????????

I look at her incredulously! I said - as calmly as I could, "I think we had a misunderstanding here, I thought you wanted us to help be IN the Nativity, NOT PLAN the Nativity??!!?????" She didn't give me enough details before - duh.......I knew there were costumes in the hall stake closet, we figured how to open it but we had a bunch of little kids throw stuff on, Mike grabbed a bible and we tried to do it, just with kids, robes, no baby, no props - it was the worst thing EVER! And if you know me - you know I'm a super planner, down to the last detail - it had to be the worst experience - we decided we know why people go inactive or don't come to ward events - and at the safety of our friends fabulous family party after - we said if we were drinkers, we would have had a couple!!!!! I'm so glad we had something to do after - it was mortifying. Good thing the Church is true!!!

So I'm up early - had dreams of - 'we should have just sang Away In A Manger and have the kids come out' oh well - but I'm going to Welfare meeting, perhaps also to defend myself to the powers that be... ha ha - I think we've been in this ward long enough that people know we aren't flakes! Have a super Sunday!

UPDATE: Okay - I went to Welfare meeting - all the (men) people were saying, we didn't notice - it was so great your kids went up there - they did a great job - just reading the bible like you said was perfect! Whew, I don't have a black mark by our name!!! :) We have afternoon church though so we'll see what is REALLY said.... ha ha

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

Luckily I don't need to cry! It was a great day! Yes, today is my birthday - another year older - more wrinkles, gray hair thisyear, little more flabby..... oh well - rites of passage I guess or signs of a good life.

Linda and I planned on going out to lunch and she asked if I wanted to invite anyone else - it sounds weird to invite people to your own birthday lunch but I got over it - I thought I should embrace it - so I thought of the friends that I really like to spend time with the most - it was completely last minute but I was pleasantly surprised so many could make it on a spur of a moment....we went to Tomatinos to make it easy for the kiddos - we ended up having 3 babies there plus Lucas - they were all terrific

Ms. Laura & Ms. Judy

Linda & La La

Michelle & her baby's foot

Sheryl & Bradley

The kids then came home from school - I'm actually still a bit under the weather so by 4pm I had to lie down. Mike came home early to make me dinner - I did the grocery shopping this morning and they got me new PJ's and a Le Cruset pot I had my eyes on - so it was a great day. My dad called me this morning along with my mom - my dad's bday is Saturday so I was like his bday present - it's very fun for me to celebrate my birthday with my dad. My brothers all called me early too so I was a good day.

Me & My honey - I still kinda have sick eyes but oh well, my birthday only comes once a year!

My treasures

Sick Days

I truly have started to blog quite a few times in the last week only to be interrupted and never finished. It was a hectic weekend and I'm happy to report that I've almost finished my shopping but it's all the "other" stuff I am still plucking away at.

We're having Christmas Eve here with my family - and I mean FAMILY - it's my dad's side of the family - we always celebrate Christmas Eve together - but there are about 70 of us now. I haven't had it at my house in a few years but my husband, and my mom seem to think that we always have it because they say - "we aren't doing it AGAIN"? but I'm happy to do it - I would much rather have it at my house than not at all. My aunt owns a bus company so she decorates a bus and brings it and after dinner all the kids and some adults pile on and we look at lights and christmas carol while the adults back at the house sort the heaps and heaps of presents and tidy up some of the dinner dishes. I cannot imaging Christmas without the chaos of Christmas Eve - I'll be sure to post pictures. Mike & I are thinking of throwing a curve at the family too - (since my grandma passed away 5 years ago we're the only Mormons - well maybe the only regular church goers period) so I think we're going to make them participate in a live Nativity - I'll keep you posted!

Tyler had her Nutcracker performance - her best friends the twins shared the role of Clara - it turned out really nice - but am I glad it is over! I've been under the weather all weekend with a sore throat and cough - but there is not rest for the weary mom as you all know.... so yesterday I did a couple quick errands and took it easy - even fell asleep on the family room floor with Lucas watching The Incredibles!





My brother Brian drove in from Vegas for the weekend - the poor guy - he came to visit my other grandma and his friends but Friday night (after driving all day safely) he had dinner with us then went to a friend's house - then his friend drove Brian and they were going to another guy's house when they got into a bad car accident! His friend made a wrong turn and drove his car with my brother in it - into a cement pylon - it was so sad, they were all safe, the car had safety bags - but it was an ordeal - my brother went to the ER - so Mike went to get him because it was late and in scarry-ville - so he hung out with us until he had to leave early Sunday morning! Crazy



Tyler also had a huge project for school so her girl friends were over all day/night and did the projects here then spent the night and I got them ready for Nutcracker. We also had a party Saturday night for Mike's work friends - it was so fun

I'm trying to get all my shopping done early this week - my bday is coming this week and my pet peeve is when I buy someone else a Christmas gift on my birthday - I decided a few years back that I should only shop for myself on my bday! It is always hard having a near Christmas birthday - it's worse when you get a Christmas decoration for your bday - it's not like you can use it all year round! Well enough of my going on and on - hope you are all doing something fun today!

PS - Christina - we had to move hump day lunch day to another day - the kiddos aren't in school on Wednesdays - now it's kind of hit or miss....

Hump Day

This Wednesday is especially good and I'll tell you why:

1. It starts as late day - the kids go to school an hour later - so theoretically we get to sleep in
2. My turns to drive the carpool are over for the week
3. Tyler's dance classes were canceled for the evening - no driving around!
4. I get to go to a craft night tonight
5. Bunco is tomorrow night
6. My house was cleaned yesterday so today I can relax
7. Mike is coming home late so I don't "have" to cook dinner
8. Because of my bad shot reaction (and Ian's scary peanut butter reaction) we don't have shots this week
9. I did inventory and most of my Christmas Shopping is done
10. My decorations are officially UP!
11. (a late add in) It was 70 degrees today so I played baseball in the street with the boys and their friends! I think I threw out my back!

My cute man fixing the lights

Our traditional tree - I love the handmade or
personalized ornaments we have - fun

Linda and I made these homemade stockings about 8 years ago
and have added extras after each new kiddo -
hopefully she'll post a pix of hers too

Yikes

Where did the week go? I meant to post so many other times before but something was always coming up. Here are some of the random things I was thinking this week

1. My house looks like Santa threw up in it - I'm in that "I'm committed" to decorate state - where half of the stuff is out so now I have to finish

2. Dang it's cold outside! It is officially winter here when the temp is about 55 degrees during the day

3. Go put pants on! Those boys - they think it is summer - they constantly wear shorts and a T-Shirt every day - it's driving me bonkers

4. Turn down the Thermostat! Mike grew up in Utah, I grew up here (gas rationing, recycle everything, 2 min showers) Enough said...

5. Shopping - UGH - luckily the crowds haven't been as horrible as expected - however today is just the first day of December

6. Stop the ride - I wanna get off!! The first week back to school after a holiday is great - except you forget all the homework, pack lunches, carpool, dance/sports practices!

7. Go find your own food! Oh I forgot to plan dinner?

8. Dad, dad who? Back to late work nights and dinner meetings - oh well, at least he is in the country!

9. Only 24 more days!!?????? I need to cut my credit cards before the madness is out of control!

10. Thank Heaven for the Internet - I've been trying to grab things with free shipping

11. Gift Cards - the greatest invention

12. Wash Cycle - the constant state of my washing machine - how many clothes do the kids really own???

13. Return of the Cyclops! - had my allergy shot - not a good reaction....

14. Hooray I have my Christmas cards ready - bummer now I have to address them....

I meant to stop at 10 but I was on a roll - hope all is well with all of you!