"I left my heart in San Francisco..."

We just spent a nice weekend in the Bay Area for my dear friend Karen’s wedding.  I was honored to be the officiant for the ceremony and it was a beautiful and fun evening. 

You know it's a good party when the kids fall asleep like this within 5 minutes of getting in the car

Here are some other highlights from our trip.

Jelly Belly Factory
I’ve always loved Jelly Belly Jelly Beans – they are like little bombs of flavor: Juicy Pear!  Root Bear!  Buttered Popcorn!  They offer a free tour of their factory and we had such a great time. 


Harry Potter portrait done with 10,000 Jelly Beans



Yes, these are actual Jelly Belly flavors - we opted NOT to try them!

Sonoma Train Town

This place is known for having “The Most Well Developed Scale Railroad in the Americas”.   They have an awesome train ride that’s 20 minutes and goes through tunnels, over bridges and stops at a miniature town and petting zoo.

Ashley's first time on a carousel!

California Academy of Science
This museum located in Golden Gate Park was so much fun – it has a planetarium, a rainforest and an aquarium.  It was well laid out and great for kids and adults alike.

As we were driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, Jimmy says "Look! Just like in Soaring over California!" (it's the first thing that appears on that ride in CA Adventure)

It had just stopped raining so we went up to the "Living Roof" where they've grown a garden and saw this beautiful rainbow.  It was REALLY bright - that's why their eyes look like that...

The aquarium is under the rainforest - one of the coolest things at the museum. We pointed out a lion fish to Jimmy and he asked "Does it say ROAR?"

There were butterflies and birds flying around the rainforest.  I took a picture of this one with Ashley wiggling around in a carrier in front of me!

Six Chinese Words

It is my mom's job in life to give me advice.  Over the years, the same information has been repeated to me over and over again.  The advice ranges from strange ones such as "don't point at the moon or your ears will fall off" and "don't worry about eating an ant or two, it will help you sing better" to ones that are totally unproven in the medical field such as "don't eat beef or mango while pregnant or the baby will have itchy skin" and "don't use a hammer while pregnant or your baby will be born with a cleft lip."*
Our family moved to Los Angeles from Taiwan when I was young and I always thought and took for granted that my parents would be around.  Now that my mom and dad permanently live in Shanghai and only come once or twice a year to visit, I miss her and her advice dearly. Who else is going to tell me not to put Styrofoam boxes in the microwave or not to go out after 10pm to avoid being attacked?

Now that I'm a mom myself, I realize why my mom makes all these suggestions. Even though I am an adult with children of my own,she cannot help but want to protect me.  She worries about me constantly and truly wants the best for me.  It's just like when I tell Jimmy to "go potty before leaving the house, put on your jacket, take off your jacket, drink your milk, say may I, please and thank you, etc."  And when he's older, I'll make sure to tell him not to put Styrofoam boxes in the microwave and not to go out after10pm.

This past summer on the night before she left for China, my mom pulled me aside and handed me a piece of paper with six Chinese words written on it.  She wanted me to teach Jimmy these things.  The six words basically mean:

• To be content (not in a slacker kind of way but to be happy with all that you have)
• To be appreciative (and cherish everything that you have)
• To be grateful (for all the blessings in your life)

She explained how important it was for Jimmy to learn and understand these six words. Although some of her suggestions are ridiculous, some are absolutely right on target.  I don't think she saw the tears in my eyes as she kept on explaining way longer than she needed to... first of all, I can read it (but she always thinks I can't read Chinese) and she's taught and instilled those six words in me ever since I was young.   I am so lucky to have been raised by such an amazing woman.  I love you mom!!

*these are not made up, this is real stuff my mom says (over and over again)



"Always wear a hat" is another thing my mom says all the time. Can't believe she's not following her own advice here!



Parasailing with mom in Hawaii - what a great experience!

Huhlet Humor

The bedtime routine at our house is that I put Ashley to bed and Pete puts Jimmy to bed.  After Ashley is down, sometimes I will turn on the monitor in our room so that I can hear the conversation in Jimmy's room because usually it's cute and/or hilarious. 

Last night, I heard Pete explain to Jimmy that he was going out of town to Chicago early next morning so that he will not be here when he wakes up.  They discussed where Chicago is, what types of famous things are there and when Daddy will get back and how they will miss each other... it was very sweet.

This morning, Jimmy comes in my room and announces "Daddy is out of town, that's why he is not here." 
"Oh really? Where did Daddy go?"
"He went to church!"
"Church?!?  Hmmm, do you mean Chicago?"
"Uh... yeah, Chicago. But actually, it's last name is CHURCH!"

This is when Jimmy was about 2.5 yrs old and he wanted to get into the freezer at Sam's Club. Please don't share this picture with anyone else, it looks like bad parenting....

The Huhlets Have Taken My Brain cells

It started in 2007 when I was pregnant with Jimmy.  I started forgetting things and becoming absent-minded.      Appointments were forgotten, important and expensive things were thrown away by accident… Pete couldn’t recognize me because I was not my usual on-the-ball self.  I called it “mommy brain” attributing it to the physical, emotional and mental changes that took place as I had given birth to our children (to be referred to as Huhlets). 

One of the beauties of parenthood is that it’s changed me in ways I didn’t expect.  I used to be a perfectionist – I wanted and expected myself to do things perfectly all the time.  I was a good kid growing up and never got in trouble.   If I made a mistake at work, I’d be disappointed in myself for days.  I tried my darnedest to never do anything wrong because I thought that was the only way that I’d deserve good things and to be loved.   It’s a ridiculous way of thinking and I needed to change.  Not only for my own sanity but I’d never want the Huhlets to feel like they have to be perfect and can’t make a mistake. 

Having kids has rearranged my priorities.  I’ve had to let go of trying to be perfect.  At first it was frustrating not being able to do it all but now I find it kind of liberating.  Now all of my efforts go toward doing things for them and everything else comes second.   I may forget to send out a birthday card or the dishes might sit for a day but the Huhlets are always clean, fed and loved.

Here are a couple of funny examples of my mommy brain.

One time right after Ashley was born, I was in a rush to take Jimmy to school.  When we were walking to his class, I realized I had my shorts on backwards.  (they were pull on maternity shorts so there were no buttons)  

Another time we were again, in a rush to leave the house to go to a 4^th of July party.  As we were driving to the party, I look down and realize I didn’t have shoes on but house slippers.

my slippers were not as cute as these

I know I’m not the only one.  We went to our pediatrician (who is also a friend) who has two kids of her own.  She had on two different color shoes that day…

I’d love to hear what kinds of wacky things you’ve done as a result of “mommy brain” so please add it as a comment here.  If you are not a mommy and have done wacky things like this, I’d love to hear that too!

The Huh Files - the Truth is Out There...

Here I am, starting a blog - something that I never thought I'd have time to do.  My dear friend Christine has inspired me to do so and in the past, several different people have encouraged me to write (including my dad) so I am going to give it a shot.

When I think about what I want this blog to be, so many things come to mind.  Mainly, it seems that time passes by so fast that I want to try and have a way of recording the funny and interesting things that happen to me and our family.  I also hope by writing this, that it will help me use my brain for more than figuring out how to get Jimmy to eat more vegetables or how to get Ashley to stop pulling her hair clips out. So much of my day is about the kids that it would nice to have some time to think for myself.  

So why call it The Huh Files?  Well, I was a HUGE X-Files fan back in the day.  Dana Scully was my hero - a medical doctor and FBI agent?  She was too cool.

Thanks for reading my first post - hope you will stay for more to come!