spring is here... out with old and in with the new!

boy, it's been unusually warm for this time of year. it's crazy. i mean i'm not complaining or anything! but it's rather strange being able to wear flip flops and shorts in march here! with the weather warming up, we've been doing some spring cleanup... organizing closets, cleaning up around the house and even getting ourselves cleaned up for all this warm weather... haircuts and shopping for new spring clothes and shoes. addison and ellie finally got the trim that they have been needing. addison's looks pretty much the same, but a little shorter. but for ellie, we decided to experiment a little and go a little shorter.


totally excited to be getting a haircut! can you tell? :)



the final result (after i had to fix it a little when we got home). this short hairdo makes ellie's face and head look even rounder (if that's even possible!). but it's a nice change and we can always grow it back. and if anyone remembers... this is the hairstyle that i rocked all through the 90's! haha! i made her a little mini me!


the local mall here brought in a few baby animals, i guess for the easter season. this baby black sheep and little goat were so unbelievably cute! they stood so still that they looked like statues! people would walk by and ask if they were real! haha!



seriously, how cute is this goat?!! i wanted to take it home with me!



ellie: "so this is briarwood mall, little goatie. nothing too great to see here. it's no somerset mall. but at least they have a gapkids so mommy can buy me some new spring clothes!" :)


and finally, since it's been so lovely and pleasant outside, the girls and i decided to dine alfresco the other day...

quesadillas in the open air, baby!

fresh beat band concert!

we went to the Fresh Beat Band show last weekend. Fresh Beat Band is one of the girls' favorite shows on Nick Jr. They had an absolute blast! and Jimmy and I did too! it was an entertaining show because they actually sing and dance. and they are not people in weird costumes. it was truly like a concert.

















"freeze dance"



sorry for abruptly stopping the video... Twist, one of the members was going down the aisles greeting the kids... i got a little excited!! i had to put the camera down so i could see him myself! haha!

some videos

here are a couple of older videos of the girls that i've forgotten to post...

so addison started swim lessons earlier this year. she had taken lesson before in the past, but they were not very good. the teachers were high school students and they taught super slow. she barely progressed. but we signed up at goldfish swim school, which is known around here for being really good. we signed up and she was excited to start. but she had some trouble at the beginning. she had a pretty big fear of putting her head under the water and cried during lessons. it was hard to watch. but after much practicing at home in the bathtub to conquer her fear of putting her head in the water, she has made huge strides in a matter of 3 weeks. i'm really proud of her for being so persistent and practicing so hard. she's a determined one, that addie.

this video was the first time that i really noticed her swimming!




and this is a little clip of ellie at gymnastics. i never signed addison up for gymnastics when she was younger. addison was a little more fearful when it came to things like that. she could barely go down a slide until she was about 4! but we noticed ellie really enjoying jumping, climbing, sliding, etc. so we thought gymanstics would be right up her alley.

ti-ti and sam get married!!!

big post!! my little sister got married a couple of weeks ago... what a wonderful, emotional time. we love her new husband, sam. jennifer, sam and his entire family have recently gone through a very sad and difficult time of his mother, Robin passing. i had the great opportunity to meet Robin last year. and she was nothing short of amazing and extremely kind. she was so missed during the wedding weekend, but i am sure that she was there in spirit, watching over all of this and smiling. it was a beautiful ceremony and reception. i didn't expect anything less... jennifer has great taste, style and class. and sam and jennifer have a great genuine connection.... the wedding was just evident of all of that. it was a joy seeing our family members reunite for this occasion. and it was just a joy to witness jennifer and sam get married. i left LA feeling so happy for them.

here are some pics of our trip...


some beauty preparations for the wedding weekend... can't go without a shiny new pedicure!


unfortunately, we had a bit of a snag in getting to california. our flight was delayted 13.5 hours! yes, i said hours! unbelievable, i know! the kids were champs! they did so well considering the circumstances.... no tantrums, no tears. the only person that shed some tears was ME! hehehe


ellie finally passed out in her carseat for her nap at like 5pm.... still at the airport!


the girls with ti-ti at rehearsal. ellie giving us her biggest smile!


the lovely couple at rehearsal dinner.


the cousin's kids had a blast playing with each other. they are all very close in age so it was like a big playdate weekend!






playing duck duck goose


addison's signature pose





ellie's version of giving a "thumbs up"


the ceremony


the alter. so pretty!


the guests have arrived!


sam and his dad sharing a moment together before the ceremony starts


jimmy walking my mom down the aisle. wake up guys! :)


addison and ellie, the flower girls walking down the aisle. they were fighting before they started walking. ellie didn't want to wear the head piece and didn't want to hold her sister's hand. and here is she looking like she's had a few too many at the bar! hehehee


father and bride! stunning!


jimmy: "ellie, you better be good through this ceremony...."


dad giving his daughter away. sniff sniff...


sam: "you're mine now, little lady!" ;)



this is before jimmy had to escort miss ellie out. i could hear her from the alter. she was disrupting the nice, quiet ceremony... demanding snacks or something of that nature. oh, that ellie... :(






"you may now kiss the bride!" smooooch!


introducing mr. and mrs. fischer!





loved the venue. it was a earthy, organic, a little rustic, natural...


flower girls just waiting to cut a rug!


introducing the new married couple. i clearly did not lose the weight i wanted to for this wedding. blech!! :( i look like a beached whale! diet is starting NOW.


first dance. addison and ellie are fascinated with the bride and groom. they must be thinking they are witnessing something straight out of Disney movie!


dad's speech... well done, dad! it was concise and sincere.


awww, the father/daughter dance. i wonder what he's saying here.





jimmy's very smiley here! and a little shiny too! hahaha!!


ellie was a dancing machine ALL night. the girl did not stop. i'm a afraid of what is to become of her in the future... dancing party girl?! :(


addison and her cousin, julia. so cute!





(this shot is from their photographer)
we love you, sam and jen!

side note: most of these photos are courtesy of my uncle chang, the official family photographer. he is always there ready to capture every moment. thank you, uncle chang!