The Fantastic 4
Seriously, you didn't really think I was gonna talk about those 4, when I have THESE 4!!
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Jade 馥寧
As a baby, Jade never cried. When I say that, I really mean never. My sister flew over to Taiwan to see her first niece and suggested Jade might be a mute. Now 11 years later, I can tell you she is definitely not a mute. She has sure made up for the silence of the first 2 years of her life.
Jade is an overachiever, a perfectionist. She possesses the gift of understanding. She has a fairly grounded self-concept. She is quiet, but strong. She has an eye for beauty. She internalizes everything. She enjoys writing and has already developed a distinct voice in her writing style.
Aspen 馥娓
I fell in love with the aspen groves in Utah when I moved there. The name also goes well with Jade. Stone and tree. Thus, Aspen was named.She was my only baby that ever got chubby. As a baby, Aspen would only sleep if you put her on top of your stomach.
Aspen has beautiful almond eyes. Artistic, creative, a natural comedian. She aims to please. She is tender-hearted. A free spirit. Aspen has strong emotions. She puts on the best shows and her siblings are enchanted by her storytelling. She is sure to be clever in the kitchen. My Aspen has many unassuming but virtuous gifts.
Kirin 麒麟/復宇
My first and only son. I had wanted to have a son so I could name him Kirin. Kirin is a mythical Chinese animal, said to have "the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, a body covered with the scales of a fish, and a single horn. The Kirin appears only before the birth or death of a great and wise person. The Kirin personifies all that is good, pure and peaceful." My parents had an ancestral "altar" with two carvings of Kirin on it. I always thought they looked pretty rad. We also thought an animal goes well with the stone and the tree.Kirin is just an impressive kid. If you give him a list of things to do vocally, he can finish the task without forgetting. He is always building something, when he was 3, he built a structure made out of blocks and built a little something to set up a rolling pin in there and told me if he was to pour water in the "canal", the pin should roll and cause this device on the lower bottom structure to do something else - cause and effect. I was blown away by his logic and quickly got on the internet to show him what an actual water wheel looks like and what people use them for. He thought that was pretty cool for about 2 minutes.
Kirin knows practically everything about space, and if you think you know something, you'll probably find he'll correct you on a number of points. He also is already a great writer. Kirin is intense. Most of the time I don't remember he is only 6. But sometimes he is cuddly and sweet and that's when I remember. I think growing up with only sisters will help him develop the sensitivity he needs to be a good husband. He speaks Chinese with the thickest American accent of all my kids. It's fun to listen to. I heart this nerdy boy.
Sage 馥潔
I thought for sure she would be a boy, I thought that God and I had an agreement.
She was the only baby I was able to have from pregnancy to delivery and beyond with complete peace, serenity and support. And the only baby I got to hold for as long as my heart's content.
We had wanted to give Sage a water name to complete our Feng-Shui. But between Mississippi, Amazon, Yellow River, Yangzi River and the Nile, we settled on Sage. That was how we ended up with a stone, a tree, an animal and a little bush.
That Sage, I wouldn't trade her for any money in the world. She said to me just today: "Mom, can you peel this clementine for me? I am too lazy." Sage says it like it is. Granted, she is only 3 but I sure hope she doesn't change it. Sage is a singer and knows how to play your heart. She is obsessed with hair. Before going to bed, she has to grab a bunch of my hair and put the tip of it in her ear for soothing purposes... Go figure.
A few weeks ago when we were having our cuddling time, I kissed her all over and said: "Sage, I don't want to share you." To this she said: "Is it because I am not a toy?"
As I am writing this, I come to realize how much of me are in my kids. I've always thought they are so much like Andrew. I hope they are not too much like me though, I hope they are able to perfect my weaknesses and make them into strengths for their benefit.
--
Andrew
Tomorrow is my Andrew's birthday. We've been married for 13 years. Sometimes I watch him study or being with the kids and I think to myself: "How did I get so lucky?"
I can't talk about my husband without saying something about his mother,too. Andrew's mom is the most Christ-like woman I've ever met. Her countenance radiates love and she spends her days in the service of others. Everything I love about Andrew is a reflection of this great woman. Happy Birthday to you too, mom, we love you!!
God knew what he was doing when he sent Andrew's best friend to the Vancouver, Canada Mission some 15 years ago. It was no coincidence that after a few failed attempts by other missionaries, Andrew's friend was the only one able to convince me to listen to the missionary discussions, subsequently, humbled me enough so I FINALLY really listened...
Andrew is the piece that completes my puzzle. He is my logic. When my frantic thoughts get too much for me, Andrew speaks something like an iceberg, if an iceberg could speak, and that calms me. My parents are baffled by me, their non-conventional, only Chinese by birth daughter. With me marrying Andrew, they had gained a Chinese son in the form of a white boy. Andrew learned to speak Chinese to impress my father. He decided to learn how to write in Chinese soon after, his characters (Chinese writings) are like something that came out of Chinese newsprint. Andrew is adored in Taiwan. He sits down with the locals and eats the street foods like he has been eating them all his life. Here is a little something about my husband.
He is:
Brilliant
Musical
Steady
Noble
Loyal
Peaceful
Faithful
Respectful
God-fearing
Assuring
Patient
Tolerant
Undaunted
Loving
Accepting
Gentle
Soft-spoken
Supportive
Unassuming
Happy
Loves Unconditionally
Here are a few of my favorite things about my husband:
He is not a complainer.
I can't talk about my husband without saying something about his mother,too. Andrew's mom is the most Christ-like woman I've ever met. Her countenance radiates love and she spends her days in the service of others. Everything I love about Andrew is a reflection of this great woman. Happy Birthday to you too, mom, we love you!!
God knew what he was doing when he sent Andrew's best friend to the Vancouver, Canada Mission some 15 years ago. It was no coincidence that after a few failed attempts by other missionaries, Andrew's friend was the only one able to convince me to listen to the missionary discussions, subsequently, humbled me enough so I FINALLY really listened...
Andrew is the piece that completes my puzzle. He is my logic. When my frantic thoughts get too much for me, Andrew speaks something like an iceberg, if an iceberg could speak, and that calms me. My parents are baffled by me, their non-conventional, only Chinese by birth daughter. With me marrying Andrew, they had gained a Chinese son in the form of a white boy. Andrew learned to speak Chinese to impress my father. He decided to learn how to write in Chinese soon after, his characters (Chinese writings) are like something that came out of Chinese newsprint. Andrew is adored in Taiwan. He sits down with the locals and eats the street foods like he has been eating them all his life. Here is a little something about my husband.
He is:
Brilliant
Musical
Steady
Noble
Loyal
Peaceful
Faithful
Respectful
God-fearing
Assuring
Patient
Tolerant
Undaunted
Loving
Accepting
Gentle
Soft-spoken
Supportive
Unassuming
Happy
Loves Unconditionally
Here are a few of my favorite things about my husband:
He is not a complainer.
He sees the good in all people.
He takes walks with us on Sundays even when he would rather stay home and read LDS.org
He has a few times opted to not tell me about his upcoming exams or papers so he can spend time with family without me feeling guilty.
I married an absolute STELLAR MAN, honorable and true. My North Star.
--
He takes walks with us on Sundays even when he would rather stay home and read LDS.org
He has a few times opted to not tell me about his upcoming exams or papers so he can spend time with family without me feeling guilty.
I married an absolute STELLAR MAN, honorable and true. My North Star.
--
In-Home Spa
My husband has a degree in Massage Therapy. A long time ago before we decided to take out loans for this education, he promised to massage me at least once a week. That lasted for a good year...but what a great year it was!
A few days ago, while I was out, my husband was enlightened. When I got home, he announced that he will diligently use his talents to serve us. The goal: To make us happy (or at least makes his wife happier). His offering: A full body massage for each and every member of the family every Saturday night!
Knowing his schedule and everything else about my beloved, "Wow, that'd be nice" was all I said.
Tonight, he set up the massage table (memory foam), a spread of lotions and scented oils and invited all of us for a massage.
Ok, people, YOU HAVE NO IDEA how GOOD Andrew is with massages. I promised him if he follows through with this even just one time, I will write a post about it. Not that he cares or ever reads my blog. But since I am waiting for my turn anyway, I am using this time to write this post.
Isn't he a keeper?
Jill, is that sexy enough for you?
I think it's about high time I brag a little on my blog. You totally have my permission to be jealous.
(OK. Don't be jealous yet. Now 2 and a half hours later, he is still working on the last child... I am still waiting...)
_________
I did finally get my massage, but was too relaxed and sleepy to post this last night. So here it is.
Hopelessly Addicted
Behold this:
They came by way of FedEx this afternoon, just sitting there by my front door. Waiting.
Imagine me squeal in delight!
All FIVE boxes, 24 bars in a box. Total One Hundred and Twenty bars - All mine!
My Precious
Completely. Magnificently. Undeniably. So deservingly. So selfishly. MINE.
Not even gonna share one, not even a bite.
This is the best thing out of Utah. This is better than Lindor, yeah, imagine that!
This amazing truffle is best consumed at slightly above room temperature, so you can really appreciate its exquisite texture. The first bite is kinda dense, until you get to the center bottom where the soft velvety truffle meets your senses...it's truly a dream...
There are No preservatives, No hydrogenated oil, No trans fat. Right now, the only unnatural ingredient in this little truffle bar is the vanillin(an artificial flavor) but starting next year, they will be using real vanilla. By next year, this will be an all natural truffle bar, how amazing is that!
You Utahans, all is not lost, just drive to the nearest Macey's and your lust will be granted.
Foods Are...
I miss the little nooks and narrow alley ways back home, where you can always find some street vendor who is cooking up a delightful aroma. In Taiwan
When we were living in Monterey , California
After Monterey, we moved to San Diego and the craving for Goosen’s nectarines got the best of me, one weekend, we packed up and drove 6 hours ONE WAY just for a taste of Goosens’. It was worth the cost of gas, hotel and all the traveling expenses combined. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Upon hearing that we drove 6 hours just to be there, Steve, the owner, threw in some green grapes as a friendly gesture. I wasn’t too impressed with how the grapes looked; some of them were covered with a few dark specks. But that is not the important part. The part that really mattered was how divine they tasted.
I remember browsing around the farmers market after picking up the nectarines and grapes. Naturally, walking around in place that has abundance of fresh food makes you want to eat something. So with the grapes sitting so conveniently in bag, I reached in, put one in my mouth, upon one gentle light touch of my teeth, the grape bursted open in my mouth, it was... oh, still, I am at a loss for words.
It was absolute perfection - something like a perfectly choreographed dance, a Beethoven’s 5th symphony inside my mouth. The fresh crisp skin combined with the slightly tart yet sweet, tender, plump flesh, never had I known grapes can have such complexity in texture and flavor…
It was absolute perfection - something like a perfectly choreographed dance, a Beethoven’s 5th symphony inside my mouth. The fresh crisp skin combined with the slightly tart yet sweet, tender, plump flesh, never had I known grapes can have such complexity in texture and flavor…
I literally had a stand still moment; I think the world stopped spinning.
From that one little grape, I could taste the California sun, the earth the seedling sprouted from, I could taste the air, the rain…it was love, it was “This is how grapes are supposed to taste like!” “What have I been missing all my life!!”
I had a painful realization right then that I had not lived until that moment. I had experienced perfection from such a small and ordinary fruit and I knew I shall never be content again buying fruits from grocery stores. And I haven’t.
When I moved back to Utah Monterey
As the weather is turning colder, I think of hot steaming tea, slow cooked ox tails with meat falling off the bones, red cooked fish, deep fried pork chops (unbeatable Chinese style), sweet and pungent duck, sticky rice cooked in bamboo, cumin lamb with mounds of cilantro, roasted lamb legs rubbed in exotic spices, braised lamb shank, basically anything lamb will do. And other dishes that I shall not name to keep your delicate American digestive system intact.
Notice the thin film wrapped around the rice? It's the coating from inside the bamboo and that is how the rice gets its distinct fragrance, it's the most simple and tastiest thing EVER!!
My heart hums with joy at the thought of holding a simple bowl of hot soup noodle on cold winter mornings, my favorite kind of breakfast.
Foods are that men may have joy!
A Fabulous Morning
I have this pile of laundry in my bedroom on my bedroom floor IN MY BEDROOM for a over a month...yep, did I mention it was IN MY BEDROOM? They WERE clean once upon a time. It got moved from the dryer to my bed then to the floor. Then the pile got sorted and it got smaller and the new clean piles got added on....Of course, none of the stuff on the floor is mine. They belong to my husband who is always so agreeable to help me, and my daughters' "leftover" clothing that they don't seem to want anymore.
I have been waiting patiently for my family to come back and proclaim what is rightfully theirs, like they do with cookies and brownies... I know for sure if they can remember the cookie they had asked me to "save" for them for over a month ago, they can remember the laundry in my bedroom that I've been saving for them to fold. I am a firm believer in "teaching them the correct principle and let them govern themselves".
Well, none of them came back and I've decided to attack the pile of beast this morning and put them back to the drawers where they belong with dust and all. Most importantly, my bedroom floor is CLEAN!!...until I wash some more, which is right after I post this. But right now, right this minute, I just feel so accomplished - my life again has meaning.
Also this morning, I "battled" with Sage and I WON!!! (Big Grin)
Let me say it again, I WON!!!! (Look, my blogging this early in the morning is the sure evidence that the wild Sage has been tamed!!)
This has been a great morning and it's not even 9 o'clock yet!
I had wanted to post a picture of the pile of laundry for you to admire but decided that I don't want you to know what disgusting pigs we were, but now you know anyway.
I will take any advice if you have one as to how to deal with my laundry problem.
More Sage ~S'il vous plaît
Daily dialogue of a 3 year old and her mom:
9:00 am: MUMMMM, Can I have some candy please? Some candy please?
9:01am: I want some candy. I want some candy please.
9:03am: Can I have some bubble gum?
9:04am: No, Sage. You’re gonna die eating only candy.
9:04am: I won’t die, I will just eat one.
9:04am: Can I have some bubble gum? Pink! No, No, purple!
9:04am: I want some purple bubble gum….
9:05am: No, Sage. Let’s read some books…
9:05am: (Her eyes lit up) Then I can have some bubble gum?
10:00am: MUMMMM, I want some candy please.
10:01am: MUMMMM, I want some candy please.
10:01am: (Rolling on the floor in agony calling out) candy, candy.
10:01am: (Still on the floor, but arms reaching upward - must be seeing some candy hallucination - and crying out) candy, candy.
10:02am: (Fake sobs) candy, candy.
10:02am: (Being rocked by mom)...
10:03am: (With tears glisten on lashes and saying it very softly) Mommy, can I please have some candy? (And softer) Candy? (Even softer) Candy?
Below is a picture of Happy Sage who got her way
11:00am: Can I please have some peaches?
11:00am: Ok, you can have some peaches. (Much relieved at the change of conversation, mom takes out some fresh peaches from the fridge)
11:01am: No, no, not that peach. I want yellow peaches.(Referring to canned peaches)
11:02am: No, you can’t have those. You can have these.
11:02am: (Enter wailing and foot stomping) I want yellow peaches. I want yellow peaches.
11:03am: Sage, you can only have this kind. You can’t have yellow peaches. Do you still want it?
11:03am: (Sniffling, looking at mom with contempt)...
11:04am: Ok, I guess you don’t want any. (Putting down the peaches)
11:04am: (Silence)
11:05am: (Silence continues with furrowed brows and pouting lips)
11:06am: I want candy. No, No, I want bubble gum! Purple bubble gum!
11:06am: MUMMMM, I want purple bubble gum.
11:06am: MUMMMM, I want purple bubble gum.
11:07am: (Mom puts herself in timeout.)
Such dialogue goes on All Day Long.
Every Minute!
EVERY!
SINGLE!
Day!
I was busy for a minute one day and forgot to keep my eye on Sage. When I turned around, this is what I found:
Winter Hibernation
Vote YES to Winter Hibernation!!
First off, it means no more laundry. None! Zip! Gone!
No more cooking!! Clean dishes for months!
No more picking up after! Sparkling house!
No more little whining voices. Sleeping children = quiet and angelic.
No more living in the car, chauffeuring around town. It means lower gas consumption, cleaner air, less green house gas!
No more need to buy expensive, bulky winter clothes. Save money!
No more thick quilts or blankets. More storage!
No more Halloweens! Yeah for me!
I am sure there are more benefits, just can’t think of any right now. But look how much more simplified our lives would be by hibernating for a season.
Maybe instead of discussing the world economy, international security, social progress and human rights at the UN, they could think more creatively and shift their focus to this issue. It might help everybody to be less cranky; perhaps it would finally achieve the world peace that they desperately try to bring about!
Wait! I think we should wake up in time for Christmas!
So hibernating from the 1st of October to the last day of November should suffice. Or we could always start after the New Year till the end of February…but I like to avoid Halloween if at all possible! Either way, we still have world peace 2 months out of the year!
Actually, maybe we can get more than 2 months out of this: Think, countries just don’t go to war after they wake up from a long sleep. They probably would have to shop and restock on food. Connect with their families and friends. Catch up on... well, no latest news. But even military has to have time to regroup, they can’t just go out and attack someone without first training the soldiers, doing drills, coming out with war strategies, thawing out their warheads (made in China)…etc. That would take up at least another 4 months. Combined with 2 months of hibernation, THAT, people, is world peace 6 months out of the year!!!
Surely you’d vote YES for that!
The "Sag" Reality
Butt Busting Workouts just for you
Sexy Buttocks everyone will envy
Get Perky Butts in under 10 minutes
3 Steps to a Beautiful Butt
Perfect Butt in no time
Honestly, I didn’t even know I had a “butt” problem until I see pictures of women on the internet with firm, toned, and perfectly sculpted glutes.
I was seriously thinking about quitting Tae Kwon Do come November. Should I rethink?
My master has 5 golden stripes on her black belt, which means she is good. She is very good in fact, often for a week after a class, I'd limp up and down the stairs in great pain!!! It takes a great amount of courage to even sit down to the bathroom without screaming in agony. There are a few moms like me in the class, we always have a great time when our Master is in a torturous mood. And we like to congratulate each other after class on our victorious effort for not falling flat on our faces. (except sometimes we did fall flat on our backs)
These women on the internet, are they for real? Do they really exist? Do they have a life? Or are they a product of some computer geek behind a desk (who orders Chinese take out, eats alone, and never gets a date) who painstakingly airbrushes them to make them look like Barbie Dolls?
Seriously, now that I have climbed the hill to “woman over 35”, this is how I feel,
I am afraid it would take much more for me than some bum toning workouts. After 35, everything sags.
Ok, maybe not for some of you, those to whom this doesn’t apply, keep your ego to yourselves.
I am thinking duct tape works wonders, whatever looks floppy, there is duct tape. Whatever looks hanging, here comes the duct tape. It seems to be a much easier solution!
It's fixed!
Here is for those who called about my recent posts and said: "Chaoyi, your blog won't let me leave a comment!"
I think the problem is fixed.
For you who frequently tune in to read, Thank You.
For those who are interested in leaving a comment, Thank You.
Jill and Belinda in Utah and Sheryl in Maryland, thank you, too.
Dear toothfairy
Dear toothfairy,
Do you work on Sundays? Do toothfairies have wands? And do toothfairies have names, if yes, what's your name? Please leave me a photo.
Aspen
Dear toothfairy,
Are you a boy or a girl? What is your name? Where do you live? What do you eat? And what do you do with our teeth? Do you have any friends that are human? How do you know if someone looses their tooth? Do toothfairies have magic powers? And is there such thing as toothfairyland? I get very curious. Do you give children a dollar sometimes for their tooth? Please answer all these questions so I'll reconize you when you change into a human during summer vacation.
ps: I can't find my tooth, can you still give me a quarter?
Kirin
Hands
I was thinking how I used to love watching people's hands. They tell you a lot about a person. I found the best place to observe hands are in the grocery store, in particularly the produce section - hands that are picking fruits and vegetables. I remember often just standing there and watching, being mesmerized, especially by pairs of hands that show the passage of time.
In the culture I am from, I learned to have a great respect for the elderly. I see wisdom and history on their hands that also reflect on their no longer youthful faces. Often overlooked.
Now that I am a mother, I think I now wash more hands than I watch hands. I rush to and fro and just trying to keep up with the feet of my children. Sometimes I forgot why I do what I do, until today...
As I was contemplating, I saw a pair of hands, young and smooth, seemingly ordinary. Then the hands turned, revealing the palms, that's when I saw the nail marks. I think back to all the hands that I've observed in the past, all the stories I came up with in my head with each hand that fascinates me... they all seem to fall to the background, the noises inside my head fade, muted.
Of all the hands I have watched, the pair with the nail marks has affected my life in a most personal and profound way possible. The stories I can recall from those pair of hands: a lifetime of service, unconditional love, the way to be.
I think again about washing the hands of my children, how it becomes more significant than I think. The hands of a mother and the hands of Christ translate love. Our hands as a mother that wash, heal, feed, comfort and patch up scars- all these mundane little things, but "It's by small means that great things come to pass." I feel privileged to be that pair of hands.
When in doubt, always consult the "Expert"!
Recently, I subscribed to Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day. They send me a word a day to supposedly make me smarter.
I remember getting the very first word, it was 'defile'. Oh, I know that word, thought I. I feel smart today!
Then the next day, this word 'jacquerie' came. It means a peasant's revolt. Do any of you know this word? I hope your reaction is the same as mine, which is "Huh?"
Then the next day, they send me 'daedal'. I gave it the same affirming reaction: "Huh?"
Then came 'irenic", but instead of saying "huh?" It was "Are you kidding me!!"
The next day after that, the word was 'bibelot'. It means: a small household ornament or decorative object, trinket.
Hello!!! Merriam and Webster, we simply just called that ornament or a waste of money or Christmas!!!
By now, I was a little upset. They send their words out way early in the mornings, and words such as "dumb", "ignorant", "unlearned" are not what you wanted to be feeling about yourself first thing in the morning!!
The next day, I got the word 'comminute', meaning: to reduce to minute particles; pulverize.
Maybe I can actually put that word to good use when I am making smoothie for the kids. I even thought it up already. Here is what I will say: Hey kids, let's make some smoothies with apples, oranges, grapes and yogurt and see this contraption (point to the blender), we are going to dump all the fruit in it and 'comminute' them, ok!!.
Note:
You would never guess, as I was doing the spell check, guess what words got highlighted? I will tell you, all of Merriam and Websters! That means the 20th century computer spell check doesn't recognize words such as jacquerie, daedal, bibelot and you guessed it, comminute!! Who would've thought!!!! Oh, that's why Merriam -Webster are the experts of English words.
Isn't the definition of the word "expert" meaning someone with special knowledge or skill that no one else can relate to or understand?
I am eager to see what I shall get from Merriam and Webster tomorrow morn - I am getting giddy just thinking about it!!
Sage still rules!
Here is something happy to report
Sage was playing with my lipstick...she broke the lipstick into small pieces and stacking them back up again in the tubie thing and this is what she said:
Sage: Why did you break mama's lipstick...
Sage: It's ok, mama doesn't know.
Here is more Sage with her friend Bailey
Sage and Bailey were dressing up as princesses.
Me: Time to go home, Sage.
Sage:No, I don't want to go.
Bailey:Sage doesn't want to go home.
Me: We've got to go, it's late.
Sage: No.
And some more nos.
Me: Let's go, Sage...
Sage: I am wearing the dress home.
Me: Baily, can Sage wear the dress home?
Bailey: I need to talk to spider. (picks up a little old, wore out stuffed spider and wispers to it)
Bailey: Spider said it's ok.
Sage: Thank you Bailey, you save my life.
Me: No, Bailey, you saved MY life.
School starts
Is there a blogging etiquette? What I can say or not say on the blog?I watched my 11 year old daughter get on the bus to middle school today. She looked scared and small. Who would've thought little girls or boys would grow up, in only 7 years, she will be off to college. I feel as if I am losing her already.
I want to drive over and spy on her today, just to make sure she has someone to talk to during lunch. Is she finding the bathroom? Do the kids in older grades push her around? Is she getting lost in a big school? Does she miss home....
She had a hard time opening her lockers during school open house, I wonder if she is able to open hers today...
Life feels different today. My husband just barely started his second year in med school... I checked, there are 17 weeks in this semester. Only 17 weeks, I can do 17 weeks. I've done it this many years and I can push it through again... today I can...
Andrew studies while the kids are growing up. I feel old.
ps: I have only one son, i need another for him to play with, he needs to come fully assembled, 6-8 year old, know where to get one?
MI.SER.ABLE. Fun!!
My friend Shandra invited our family to go crabbing with them this last week. I jumped at the opportunity. After making sure I really was serious, She then painstakingly describe in detail how it will be the most miserable experience of my life!! In fact, it's so miserable, she said, no other families who have been invited previously ever want to go back again. And she kept rambling on with such talk every time we see each other... I kept asking her, why do you keep saying that..."Because" she said, "It is SO miserable!"
A couple of days before our departure, we got all the food needed to feed 4 adults and 8 kids. NO problem, we are fast and we make good decisions together.
We didn't plan on leaving until Friday late afternoon. Just before I left the house, I found out there was a hurricane warning, not exactly going towards where we were headed, but my feeling is that we might be somewhat affected by it. Whatever, let's go!Then we headed to their house to go together. Jason, her husband had to first stop at a sporting store to renew his fishing licence. The wives were waiting inside the cars with whining kids saying, aren't we going crabbing, why are we stopping right here. Meanwhile, Shandra remembered she forgot to bring any spatula to cook with...we wonder what we have laying around the car that we could use..."how about using the CDs?" I half-seriously suggested. And Shan, being a good sport, found two Cds that she doesn't want and began practicing how to cook the eggs with them. Just as we were solving our little domestic issues, my husband who went inside the store with Jason, came running out and told me he needed to go to Target to buy some strings for crabbing, because it was too expensive at the sporting store. And Jason also wanted a bigger pot to cook the crabs in. "What?" roared Shandra, "Does he knows how expensive a stock pot is? We might as well buy crabs at a restaurant, it would have been cheaper!!"
We decided it's best for us girls to go to the store since we are good at speed shopping. And the guys will just drive the cars to pick us up. Luckily, Target is only next door, well, sort of.
We spend a little longer time then anticipated in the store,they had rearranged things around since the last time either of us has been there. By the time we spend a fortune, the sky was considerably darker. I grabbed a pack of bubble gum for the kids at the check out, feeling sorry that they had to wait so long in the car. I know you wondered why bubble gum was important to mention, well it is, because it became the cause of a traffic jam. Just read on.
Unwrapping the bubble gums, I tossed the gums Shandra needed for her crew inside the brand new stock pot she was carrying and both jumped into our vans. We drove on with great speed. Just before getting on the freeway, right on the ramp, Shandra stepped out of the car and went to open her truck, fishing something down on the truck floor, I saw her picked up what looks to me like a piece of bubble gum and handed to her daughter.
Of course, I understand why Shandra did what she did, bubble gums are big deal, especially to a kid who had to sit in the car forever waiting for everyone to finish shopping.
After giving her daughter the bubble gum, Shandra then proceed to step into the van, when someone somewhere behind me honked the horn. Shandra, instead of having a sorry look on her face, yelled towards the honker, "I am leaving!"
Then honked
Shandra: " I am leaving!"
Then honked
Shandra: "I am Leaving!"
I think the other driver got it. Because I didn't' hear any more honking.
Ok, so we made pretty good speed on the road, stop to eat at Taco Bell and got to camp at about what? 10pm? Don't quite remember.
We set up tent, the kids were excited, we got the bug sprays out, we had the cars running so we could use the headlight to see...or maybe the Fishers thought they had the car on? The headlights on the Fishers car looks dimer and dimer by the minute.
Fianlly our light died, Jason had to jump our car, while we were still trying to set up tent. And what's camping without s'mores at 12 o'clock at night! We had s'mores really late, didn't brush any of our children's teeth and we went to bed.
Inside the Fishers' tent, the kids were being quiet. Inside the Harris' tent, kids were giggly, talking and being excited...and still being excited...
Oh, almost forgot to mention, Shandra and I took the girls on a peeing hike while the boys were putting up our tent, Shandra spotted a place that looks secluded and private, and started to demonstrated to the girls how to properly pee on the ground without wetting the pants. After giving the lesson and getting much admiration from the girls, one by one, they all decide to give it a try. While they were still squatting down, sticking you know what out in the open, doing their thing and luckily, I was hesitant about not wanting to do it so publicly...we heard voices coming...we saw a group of people walking up towards us...and then we realized that what looks like a private backyard is actually the major and ONLY road to the bay!
What kind of crazy psychos would take a walk to the bay at pitch dark! You can't see a darn thing on the water!
We got busted by stangers and what else could we do but cracked up laughing, I laughed so hard, and being the only one left with a full bladder, I think I almost peed my pants! Oh, who cares, so much has happened already on the trip and we only just barely got here!
The next morning, the mosquitoes ate the kids before the kids had their breakfast. We had bagals without jam, because Shandra forgot the spatula and the jam and the grapes and the soap. And she said: "I come every year and I forget to bring things every year!!"
I have a feeling she is going to keep the tradition alive! Go Shan!!
(Chaoyi brought soap and grapes and everything else Chaoyi was supposed to bring!!)
After breakfast, it was crabbing time, so that's what we did. Setting up the chicken necks on the stings and we sat and waited for the crabs to "tuck" on them.
All I can say is WHAT FUN!! What a blast! We had such a harvest such as can only happen to the righteous as described in the scriptures!! We caught about 35 crabs and had them for lunch.
We were so thrilled and decided to crab some more for dinner as well.
While crabbing for our dinner, the weather started to turn, the sea looked murky, the sky was heavy, and the rain came. At first it was ok, but it didn't let up. Then the wind started to pick up and the younger kids were shivering. Shandra had enough too, so she took the kids back to camp. So all that were left were me, my husband, my two oldest girls, and Shandra's oldest daughter, and Shandra's husband came join back with us after making sure everyone was settled at camp.
The next hour or 40 mins was just completely amazingly fun and cold and windy and cold and shivering and rain pouring on our bodies and faces and I couldn't see a thing and when I talked, it felt like my mouth was pouring out water and shivering some more and more netting up crabs and as foretold, a complete MI.SER.ABLE. Fun!!! We even netted a greedy turtle!
What chaotic fun!! We finally decided it's best to call it good 20 minutes into crabbing in the thunderstorm.
Got back to camp, found out the tent was leaking, some of our bedding got wet. At first, the men couldn't start a fire because it was still pouring!! I sat shivering outside of Shandra's tent where there is a canopy and a screen to protect me from getting more rained on. But I couldn't go inside her tent because I had no dry clothes on.
The boys worked hard to keep the fire alive and at last, we were able to have dinner! They even came up with the clever plan of eating underneath a gazebo thing on the playground, yes, we had a playground right next to our tents!! We feasted on crabs while the mosquitoes feasted on us! Awesome!!
That night, I went to bed with a wet T shirt on, and my pants were completely wet. And got up the next morning with a stiff neck but otherwise feeling happy!! It was Sunday morning, while packing up and taking down the tent, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was singing inside my car and the beautiful music filled the woods. It was happiness!
Thanks, Harris Family, for such great fun! Good food and good company!
I think I am going to have crabbing withdrawals by December, too, just like your kids. Both of my girls proclaimed to me today, "Crabbing is way funner than Disney World!"
Can you believe that!!
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