Hua-nderful

The Hua Family consists of four different people.

We have the Dad, Vinh.

They Mom, Rochelle.

The daughter, Jasmine.

& the son Tyler.

Now although they all have different names, different bodies, different voices, they are all very much one heart. If there were a family that could finish each others jokes, tickles, and quips it would be the Hua family. They are built on love, faith & unity. They make each other tick.... and just for fun they make each other tock.

Their foundation is unshakeable. They are each others rock.....paper aaaaaand scissors.

The Hua family is connected... .not just through the phyiscal touch in this photograph but linked together in heart, mind & soul. No one here in this photograph takes anyone for granted. They put their emphasis on family and believe in it morning, noon, and night & twice on the weekends.

I am so overjoyed I was able to share moments by capturing their love, unity, and value they have in each other.

Thank you Hua family for hitting it out of the park!

a fishy memory

I grew up around fish.

I mean I grew up around dead fish.

wait!no. I grew up eating lotsa fish.

My Dad & Grandpa were fishermen to their core.

My Godfather & his father owned a fishing boat and their own company.

As a girl I remember buying bait in the afternoon (sitting next to it and smelling it all the way home) for the fishing night that lay ahead. Depending on the night they could be headed for a "no tresspassing zone"which could be one of countless locations, Lake Matthews, or Kern River.

They would leave late night,when I was sleeping and come back early morning, when I was sleeping.

My room faced the back yard. I would wake up and look out my window, spot the big gray tub of water directly underneath my window and see 1/2 a dozen catfish floating.

I knew they were home.

I would run and go get the old mint green scale out of the closet and take it outside in the back yard.

My Grandpa would come outside already equipped with video camera, knives & sharpening stone.

We would drag the gray tub of fish over to the porch step.

My Dad and Grandpa would stand on the scale - ....weigh themselves then start picking up fish and subtracting the difference to see what each fish weighed.

It was a tradition.

Whom ever caught the biggest fish went into the "Allen Hall of Fame of Fish"

My Grandpa still has all the VHS tapes.

They both filleted fish, however I was much more interested in the way my Grandpa did it.

Looking back now I was watching National Geographic happen in my own backyard.

There is no real purpose to this story other than the fact that its just a childhood memory I have.

Before I snapped this photo today, I stood there for a few minutes and let the man sitting in his chair still and quiet take me back to when I was 10.

I teared up and thanked God for allowing me to feel like a 10 year old and for helping me remember this memory in such great detail.

so quiet & still.

Rockstar Status

I have known Rachel (the Mom, even though she doesn't look a day over 28) for about 7 or 8 years. She is an outgoing, loveable, honest, generous, faithful, truly in her heart wants to see everyone succeed person. All of these things is what makes her such a rockin' Mom to Miss Katie. Now if you can believe it.... Katie is only in 3rd grade! yep! 3rd!
No way, right?
I know, right?
I remember when Katie was a bay-bay! and although 3rd grade isn't that "grown-up" in this world she has got all the qualities of a super star! She is mature beyond her years, plays ELECTRIC guitar & sings! ROCKSTAR status just like her Mom.

When I asked Rachel what made them tick she said "we are a couple of spazzes, we love to laugh, sing, dance, eat, shop..." When we had the session together I realized they understand what is really important in life. You can see they are not only Mom & Daughter but they are BFF's.

In one of the photos Katie is holding her Mom's heart, I believe they hold each others heart.... cause that's what true Rockstars do for each other, right??

Ribbit

I dont know how, but I scored.

Indeed these four are a bit toady some times! HOWEVER I know they get it from their Mamma.

I couldn't have lucked out or been any more blessed.

There is no sleepless night(s), monster mess, amount of laundry, stack(s) of dirty dishes, or uncombed hair, makeupless pajama day that could ever make me forget how much I love my Toadies ....

here's to my charmings. Ribbit!

The sweet life of 2011

Seriously? ............ Seriously?
Did you even see that Thanksgiving turkey run accross your dining room table?

Did you even catch a glimpse of Santa taking a bite of that cookie and sippin' on dat milk?

and didyou happen to know you saw 2010 turn into 2011 right before your very eyes. (or eyelids) ....zzzzzzz.... =)

There's something about another year going by that can make me be choc full of resolutions, big goals, small goals, goals to just stay on top of laundry this year... but what it really means is that my babies are still growing.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand that is something that makes me happy for them and us, but breaks my heart at the same time.

The holiday season floored it ... much in the same way birthdays, get togethers, and milestones do.

The things I do remember over the last few weeks is
Rozzy's two front teeth are starting to grow in (one faster than the other.uh oh=/ )
I trimmed her bangs.
She played with Heaven & Veve for most of vacation, colored in her coloring books on the driveway and ate Easy Mac & animal crackers with her friends for lunch.
She jumped rope.
Rode her bike.
Played cards with the neighbor kids Grandma.
Watched I Love Lucy with me.
She unloaded the dryer (twice) =)
I hugged & kissed her a lot! (still doesn't feel like it was enough)

Seth got a hair cut.
Took him to the Coinstar.
Picked out some Vans on a budget.
He made a breakfast, which consisted of eggs, ham & toast w/ butter & jelly, for his brothers, sister & me.
He played football in the cul de sac.
Played his D.S.
Played the Michale Jackson Experience on Wii.
Played D.J. Rapstar on Wii.
(I played with him and had a blast!) ended up soar and tongue tied.. but totally worth it!
He playfully sat on my lap on the couch one night and all I could think about was how big my baby was and I felt my eyes well up with tears.

Shane kept his hair long. =) it fits him.
He picked oranges from the backyard.
asked "when I get older can I still come over to pick some oranges?"
Played his D.S.
Shot nerf bullets all over the house.
Worked hard on doing his "over vacation work packet".
Went to his friends house across the street to play video games.
Practiced his tricks on this skateboard.
Asked me a million times when his guitar lessons were gonna start.
He sat next to me, reached up, pulled my face down towards his and gave me a kiss & said "I love you Mom". ... something that never gets old to hear, but afraid will soon get less & less as time marches on.

Scotty turned 2.
Ran and played outside.
Rode his big wheel.
Watched the Polar Express on repeat more times than anyone could handle.
Started drinking out of a regular cup (without spilling more than 1/2 his drink) =)
Learned how to open doors.
Pulled his Christmas Mickey in his red wagon,
and woke up from his naps yelling "Mama" which would normally mean whatever I was doing was coming to an end.... however as I went upstairs to grab my Scottland I wondered when he would stop calling for me. I stood at the door for a second to hear him call me again, then opened the door and grabbed him and squeezed him hard enough to want down. =)

This sweet life ................................. just keeps getting sweeter. (cavity status) =)
I suppose 2011 will have the same theme/resolution as 2010.. and that is FAMILY.
a resolution I wont ever change =)