The birthday boy got a train set with a table as a present from us. He LOVES it and plays with it all the time now.

I decorated our backyard with balloons, birthday banners, lights and flowers.

Kids had their activities planned for them outside when they came home from school.

A birthday card from the grandparents.

Even though the party was just for the immediate families, my mom went above and beyond once again for her grandson.

My only dish at the table.

We had a chicken dish, a noodle dish with beef, veggies and mushrooms, shrimp and scallop dish, 2 sauteed vegetable side dishes, seaweed soup, shrimp tempura and fish.

His face lit up when he saw all the food. This look right here…so content… was priceless… makes everything worth it.

praying…

My boy Shane, you are a joy. You are dreams come true, challenges overcome, a wonder.

You are silly, yet you are stubborn. You are gentle, yet you are tough. You have the most charismatic smiles and the most endearing laughs… you are a challenge in your two year old ways. You are boundless energy, you are a blessing, you are everything your mommy and daddy ever hoped to have in a son. And we are so grateful, my handsome boy, to have the privilege of kissing you every chance we get, holding your hands and kissing your booboos when you get hurt. And most of all, my son, we are thankful to God that He’s chosen us to raise you, to be a man of God, who is patient, honorable, gentle spirit, wise and most of all, love Him and serve Him only and be His glory.

Happy 2nd birthday, my son.

I love you, I love you, I love you… forever and ever and ever and ever.

At 2 years, he:

1. Can sing ‘Jesus loves me’ song both in English and Korean

2. Has bitten his sister a half dozen times

3. Knows and says all the days of a week, in order

4. Can count up to 10

5. Can sing one hymn in Korean among many other kids songs

6. Loves his crocs (calls it my shoe croc), Fresh Beat Band show, soccer ball, vitamins, cars, trains, garbage trucks and buses.

7. When he realizes that he did something wrong, he says “soyou (sorry) mommy, soyou… okay mommy? okay mommy?” and repeats until I say okay.

8. Tells me (more like demands) which songs to sing to sleep him

9. Says “here you go” “there you go” everytime he hands me something

10. Loves his grandfather and can imitate his gestures

a perfect apple

I had the honor of attending a black tie event called Dream Ball with my coworkers last night, sponsored by P&G to benefit The Look Good… Feel Better®, program of the Personal care Products Council foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Shane Potter

We returned home on Thursday afternoon. It's good to be back and now we're back to our weekend adventures. We went here.

A froggy!

A puppet show

by me!

Today, we are heading back to New York. I feel relieved that we are almost at the end of the trip but at the same time, I might miss this place. As hard as it was, handling two kids w/o Andrew and averaging about 5 hours of sleep everyday, I have to say I am happy that we did this trip. I feel the victory. I did it. (well, with my parents' help, of course). 

My mom and I had our first down time to ourselves for about 30 min this evening while my dad watched my kids. 

Shane napped for 4 hours and Chloe napped for 3 hours this afternoon. Haha, I guess they are tired too! 

French onion soup

Hickory smoked Alaskan salmon, garnished with purple onion rings, fresh dill and baby capers

Braised ribs with mash potatoes and grilled vegetables

Penne Mariscos. Italian pasta, tossed with shrimp, calamari, and scallops in tomato cream sauce. 

He woke up at 5 a.m. this morning. 

We checked out kids' game room.

my handsome dude.