i went onto the family wordpress site for chistmas 2007, it was so entertaining reading people's comments and christmas wishlists, hehehe... i wish i looked at that site earlier so i could have enjoyed it starting a few weeks earlier.

i hope everyone goes on there to help us shop for you!!!  i found it helpful for my brother-in-laws, i've been a bit clueless about those.... but i am also clueless about my secret santa person too so i hope you all go on there and put up a list or comment!

Doesn't it seem like time is flying?

People ask me on Mondays, "what did you do this weekend?" and i think to myself, lots of things, but i usually cannot recall with great detail all the things i did, except that it was really wonderful and i did do a lot of things.

I still have lots of Christmas shopping to do, but I'm not stressed yet.  I still would like to unpack my Christmas tree at my new home (yes, I moved December 1st to a town two over called Agoura Hills and am living in a ranchy area with lots of horses and trails and am still getting to know this new place... like i still am not sure what all the light switches are for or where the best place to go for gas around here is), and get a new nightstand. 

I am working a lot, that I know for sure.  I think lately I'm thinking too much about work which is a bit of a cardinal rule for me NOT to do.  I used to never take work home but now there isn't enough time in the workday.  I am definitely trying to soak up this favorite time of year and am doing all the little things (trying) daily to make each day count.

I miss everyone a lot and can't wait for the family gatherings, those in NJ and TX, and places in between.  I am in the back of my mind thinking about the next scrapbook for Ba Noi due early February.  And am trying to think where I will be for New Years.  I'll be in NJ for about 8 days, then back west for New Years. 

It's a great time of year, I love all the festivities going on, I'm a dork and I do try to participate, in small ways, to get in the holiday season.  This Friday I'm going to a Christmas concert at my church (the choir is absolutely stunning!  they have their own cds and every Sunday churchday is like going to a concert!) and organized a little get-together and gift exchange with coworkers.

Happy Holidays!

Freddie Highmore

When I first saw him in Finding Neverland I thought he was amazing for a child actor, and I thought he will become famous one day.  Well there is another movie out with him as one of the lead characters and I'm really excited to see it, August Rush, because he is in it.  His acting moved me the same way Reese Witherspoon's did when I was 13 and saw her for the first time in Man on the Moon.

Thanksgiving Break

Was great!!!  It was everything traditional and wonderful but also new too.  We had new people there, Chris and Joel and new babies, and we had plenty of food to feed the 35-40 people at my parents' house.  I wish I took pictures but Cau Nhat did so I am hoping he will post them on the family website like he said he would.

I loved Guitar Hero, I loved seeing the kids play, I loved the wine challace we used to pull names for Secret Santa in the old-fashioned way.  I loved the deep-fried turkey, the home-cooked everything, the broccoli and cheese casserole, the food, the ceviche, the appetizers... I could go on and on.

Friday we lounged around my parents' house, played guitar hero, and munched on leftovers.  We had family come back in the evening for a vietnamese dinner, we had some new family friends visit, we watched Ocean's 11 (saw Ocean's 13 that morning), we played more Guitar Hero and spent more time with family.

Saturday I got a haircut and visited Tamy's very cozy and perfect little house.  I'm amazed it's pretty furnished, painted, and clean after living there for just a month.  Siyen came with me and I had Angelo come visit.  The evening I went to Chu Hai's house and had pho and played with Hanh's kids.

Sunday was a beautiful autumn day in NY with law school friends (whom I havent really seen in a year).  I hung out in the East Village, went to this place Essex House I heard about for brunch, went to a museum (NY is great about that!  one I haven't been to, the Whitney Museum), had Pinkberry's for the 1st time, took the subway to Williamsburg for dinner and then eventually made my way to Northern NJ for tea with a college roommate.

NY is really charming in the colder months, and I dont think anything on the west coast can compare to a winter in NY or in the northeast.  It was great to visit again, but I was not used to the cold, driving in the city, or finding my way with subways, but I'm glad I made it out safe and alive (it's been awhile!).

Monday I saw high school friends and that was great too.

Being out here, on the west coast, is really wonderful, but it's sometimes hard when you dont ahve the support system like I do back east, so it was nice to have friends, see family, and have people to do little things, like cook or help you out with directions and stuff.  Things I might have taken for granted growing up and living with a large support network.

Now I'm back west but I'm sure the next few weeks will blow by as they always do in December and I'm looking forward to Christmas. These are my favorite months...

I'm trying to institute some traditions out here to make it home-ier.  One is we're doing stockings at work which I'm really excited about.  We'll give and receive a little something each day.

Wow!  It's been awhile, so much to update on but overall everything has been great.  I'm enjoying the socal winter weather and have been still at the beach, outdoors, and loving it.

today is the best day of the year at work.  it's the halloween parade for the kids at camp amgen, the day care!  at 10 am kids walk or babies are strolled down and back the paseo and it is so cute.  this year a favorite was optimus prime, spiderman, bumble bee, dorothy, ucla cheerleader, and tigger.  my favorites were the dinosaur and the chicken with their red feet.

little updates about nothing in particular...

yesterday was beautiful.  a warm, sunny Sunday.  i went to malibu lagoon, walked along a sand bank, crossed a stream where it met the ocean, and collected colorful rocks and shells.  this is what i looove about southern california.

i've been consumed with fantasy football.  i'm in a league with 9 other girls.  i was in 1st place for the 1st three weeks, and one week i forgot to move my players on bye, and i had 3, including my QB.  now i'm waiting for this night's game to end because green bay is my defense.

thanksgiving i will be coming home, for about 4-5 days.  i can't wait to see the family!