Dear Princess Boston,

You're just about 1 and we started the celebration a little early. Before we left for vacation we had a preview with my family and then it continued on in California with daddy's family. And we'll do a little more this weekend too. What can I say you're the princess and we just can't seem to help ourselves. I really don't think that you mind all the attention.

"Ni-Ni" is chinese for Grandma. She and "Ya-Ya" really love to show you off! Can't really blame them...they've wanted a girl in the family for so long and never thought it would happen.

You just adore your uncles. Rick was entertaining Chi and so we didn't get a shot with him and his little girl.

Sometimes I wish I knew what you were thinking. I really hope that your not bored with me already.

You were so done by the time you got to daddy! Poor girl, you had a long day, until...

...there was cake and you perked right back up. You had way more fun than Chi did with his.

These are some of daddy's cousins that came to celebrate with you.

Happy Birthday baby girl! We have had one of the best years with you and look forward to many more. Love mommy!

Chang(e) of plans

Yesterday the plan was to take the kids to SeaWorld, but due to some people sleeping in and taking their sweet time getting up and getting ready we had to bag that plan. Unfortunately SeaWorld is only open until 5 in the winter, which just didn't seem worth it. We still wanted to do something memorable and fun together as a family and so we headed to the LA Zoo. We honestly thought it might be kind of ghetto, but it turned out to be a really nice zoo with really beautiful agriculture. I'm usually not the biggest supporter of caged animals, but these animals seemed to be real lively, especially the gorilla that charged at Boston and the orangutan that acutally ate her own poop right in front of us.

We were able to get really close to all the animals. This poor sleeping hippo didn't move the whole time.

Boston went apes for the apes!

It was pretty cool to be this close to the giraffes.

It never fails at the end of a long day that his little girl crashes right in his arms.

Traffic is always a good reminder of why we WILL NOT be returning to CA any time soon! It took us 3 hours to go 30 miles...of course it didn't help that JC took the wrong freeway.

Although, our kids dealt with the car ride the best way they know how. She was on the phone almost the whole time.

And he played his video game.

Heroes

Johnson and I have been staying up pretty late watching season one of Heroes, which is why I didn't post last night/ this morning. Yesterday was pretty chill since JC was sick with some sort of stomach bug. He slept most of the day and I took my little "Heroes" to the park.

Chi finally decided he's bigger than bugs and they're not as scary as he thought.

Hopefully my little girl will always want to hold my hand and take walks with me.

I don't know when it happened or how, but she's so grown up now. She's already getting herself tangled up at the playground.

Best friends going on an adventure...of course Chi is the pilot and probably always will be.

It's amazing how fast time catapults past us... I can't believe how grown my baby boy is...

Isn't she such an angel....I love this girl...her smile is so intoxicating!

more fun pics!

family vacation

Our much needed vacation began yesterday down in warm CA. We traveled by air friday night on Virgin America...I love this airline for several reasons: entertainment is neverending for adults and children beginning with a humorous and layed back pilot to the cartoon security film to music videos, movies, tv and a mile by mile map that keeps me posted on how much longer I have to endure the bumps in the air and anxious children.

Our first day was spent being reunited with Johnson's family at a local park. Apparently, it was a warm day for only us because everyone around us was wearing sweatshirts and jackets. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed this blessing of being with our family. Enjoy the pics.

Lions, Tigers, & Bears....oh my!

Last week we had a regular heat wave and topped out at like 55 degrees one day. With the extent of our long winter we were overjoyed and felt the need to get out of the house on Tuesday. Our destination- the Seattle zoo.







Malachi really wanted to ride one of the elephants, thank goodness they had a statue to satisfy his needs!

Even with Boston roaring like a tiger this gorgeous monkey just sat and watched my 2 monkeys through the fence for a good 10 minutes.

I was impressed at how close we were able to get to almost all of the animals habitats. All of the animals were up and movin around at one point or the other.

His only wish all day was to ride one of the animals and it came true at the end of our day.

Boston taking her snack break and being one with nature.

This dragon didn't move the entire time we were staring at him.

King of the Jungle!

Auntie Sharlene pointing out the beautiful giraffes & zebras.

Auntie Sharlene and her new man..."not bad girlfriend!"

Boston getting her first glimpse of a real peacock.

Mommy & her babies monkeying around.

2008 Chang Highlights

Well it's 11 o'clock at night and I have a quiet moment to share some highlights from the past year:
* Boston Camille Chang joined our family March 5th healthy and happy. She’s now living up to her nickname “Bos” and runs not only our home, but any house or room she enters. She is an absolute delight and joy to be around. She has the most amazing and captivating smile that distracts everyone around her. She’s an awesome addition to the family and we’re all in love with our ‘baby’ girl.
* Malachi continues to do things at his own pace. He’s recently decided to rid himself of diapers and use the potty. He’s all boy and we love every moment we’re given to discover his stunning personality. His new favs are Iron man (as you can tell), Wall-E, Batman and trains. He has a constant energy that keeps us all on our toes.
* Johnson works, works and works. He’s teaching two classes at Argosy University this semester and maintains a full case load at Western State Hospital. He can’t wait for the spring weather to break out his new toy (a beautiful 2003 Ducati Monster 800Sie). He's recently been called into the Elders Quorum as 1st counselor and looks forward to learning more about the gospel in this new capacity.
* And I run, run and run. Keeping up with the family is a real treat for me. I am currently training for a ½ marathon, which will help me to fulfill my goal of "gettin it done" before I turn 30 this year. I joined a volleyball team and continue to chase our busy kids around the house with the addition of 1 other 3 days a week (Scarlett is our adopted child from 2 doors down). I'm still in primary and love every moment with the kids of our ward. It's amazing the children our Heavenly Father has saved for these latter days...they truly are the elite!



We're all looking forward to the new year and wish everyone a happy and blessed 2009!

a movie preview

IRONBOY

starring MPC

coming soon to a theater near you!

hanging with family

boston's baby step!

I wanted to record that I witnessed Boston take a baby-step yesterday in our kitchen at approximately 6:32PM (1.7.09). I'm not sure if this was her first step but it was my first observation of it. Unfortunately, she hasn't taken another step on her own yet.

Its been a busy year- Alisha got the flu, passed it along to Bos, then to Chi, and finally to me. Alisha and Bos are doing well now but Chi and myself are still affected and pretty much miserable.

Snow has finally died down but we are being bombarded with heavy rain- can't beat Washington weather...