Video: Let Me See

Video: Ballerina Got Mail

Video: 海鮮 Seafood

Out of no where, Alex asked, "魚蝦蟹呢?" (where is the fish prawn crab?)

p.s.: the Fish Pran Crab is a Chinese gambling game which you bat on the results of the dice. On the dice, instead of dots, it has fish, prawn, crab, chicken, pear shaped bottle (wulu), and coin.

Ashlyn's Tutu

If you remember, I mentioned that Ashlyn has been asking for a pink puffy dress so that she can dress up as a ballerina and/or princess. So, I prepared this pink tutu for her for the photo shoot. It was her first time seeing the tutu and she refused to wear it for the photo shoot. Needless to say, I was bumped.

On Saturday, we had nothing to do, just chill at home. After her afternoon nap, I asked her why didn't she wear the tutu for the photo shoot yesterday. I bribed her and tried every trick I could think of, she still didn't want to wear it. Finally, I suggested to try it on in my uncle's bathroom in the master bedroom, where there's huge mirrors. Ashlyn agreed, and as soon as she saw herself in the mirror, she didn't want to take it off, and went straight to show it off to everyone in the house.

Sunday was a nice day, clear sky, warm with a little breeze. So on Sunday afternoon, Ashlyn asked for the tutu again. I wouldn't miss the chance to take pictures for her, so I suggested to go to the front yard/driveway to take some pictures. She was running around on the side walk, the front lawn, and posing, gallopping, she was just totally enjoying herself in the tutu.

AAAHHHhhhhh~~~~ ! Every girl loves a pink tutu !!

How Could I ??

How could I forget about Baby Loves Disco?? The South Bay Baby Loves Disco was held last Saturday, and just totally slipped my mind.

Elaine introduced us to this event last year, and it has become a phenomenon nationwide. It was on the news, and magazines. We took Ashlyn & Alex to the one in San Francisco in January. I liked it very much, and I enjoyed it very much, even though Alex was very clingy. Both Ashlyn and Alex were a little shocked when we got there, dark and noisy. Neither of them willing to go to the dance floor. They played the 70's and 80's disco music like Girls just wanna have fun, YMCA, and I will survive, those popular disco songs. They provided snacks, drinks, and some toys for the kids who needed a break from dancing. The SF location, Ruby Skye, has 2 stories. It was a great place, cux for moms and younger kids/infants who wanted some "not so loud" time, they can go upstairs and chill.

I should really make plans for the next Baby Love Disco in the South Bay. Boogie Down, babies!!

Bling Bling

On Sunday night, Alex asked to call my sister in law, Penny, in Hong Kong. As he was talking on the cellphone (with the speaker on), I asked Penny if she had checked out some jewelries that we planned to purchase as gift for my cousin, Joey, who will be getting married next month. Mom had this conversation with Alex in the middle of the phone call.

Grandma: Alex 買閃Ling Ling 好唔好? (Alex, buy bling bling, OK?)
Alex : 無錢錢 wor (Don't have any money!)

I was laughing so hard that I almost wet my pants!

$10 PLANE TICKETS?

Most people knew I have an upcoming trip to New York in August, and I have been looking for cheap airfare. I found the ultra-ultra-cheap airfare, but they don't fly to New York now, maybe later? I don't know.
Saw this new title on MSN : New low-cost airline enters market . Without hesitation, I started to read the article. Very interesting. Next thing you know, I'm surfing their website already.

The purpose of this blog is not to introduce you to this new airlines -- SKYBUS. What I want to point out is their slogan on their website. Look to the right hand side of the website, you will see this:

Don't you love it? It's cute, isn't it??

Picture People Fiasco

Took the rascals to Picture People for portraits on Friday, they were excited. Both of them kept on asking when we would go take pictures. On the way to the mall, my aunt kept reminding Ashlyn to smile at the camera.

The worse happened. When it was our turn, both of them were reluctant to be in the spot lights. AIYA~, my worse nightmare. Ashlyn was OK, she would stay "on stage" but no smile, just being COOL! Alex was a little difficult. He refused to go "on stage", had to cling on to me. The stewpid photographer kept saying "your son looks dis-stressed". Hack yeah, I know he looked dis-stressed, no need to emphasize. He was just holding his camera and waited. I was like, you totally wasting our time. It's digital camera, just shot and warm them up, dorn it!! He took so long without any action even the studio manager had to try to make my rascals smile and react to the camera. I couldn't help it anymore, so I asked if he had any toys, or props. He brought out some blocks, and sure enough that got their attention. They still didn't look at the camera much, I think both of them just being cool. They have the tendency to avoid the camera when they're asked to, they do that at home too. Aiya, they are growing up and have a mind of their own, and I can't pose them any more!!

After the session, as we were viewing the proofs, the photographer kept saying "my style is very modern, this is very much my interpretation of your kids, this is not picture people at all. Your kids are very free spirited." Thank you, that's a pilot way of saying "your kids don't follow instructions!" When he said that, the people at the computer next to us looked over, and I was like "free spirit my butt!!" This is my interpretation of "free spirit" -- Just look at the pictures, how many of them had the rascals looking right into the camera? They always looked away from it, that's free spirit? He wasn't able to catch 1, I just need ONE, ONE image of them close to each other and looking the same way, at least some what looking out if not totally starring at the camera, so that I can update my wallet show and tell piece. NONE, he couldn't catch NONE, ZERO, ZILCH. AAAARRRRGGGHHHH~~~!!!!

Despite my disappointment with that "ONE" image I was hoping for, the pictures actually surprising satisfied, some what. He was able to catch Alex's obsession with the blocks, but I couldn't find a good picture of Ashlyn alone. I particularly like the one with Ashlyn and Alex looking at the blocks together. Look here ----> This one!

OK, I guess I like his "modern style", how he adjusted the colors so that pictures look more "sur-real", that I like very much, but I don't like his personality. Maybe he's still young (age wise), it seems to me that he is not that good with kids. What really up sad me was that when I asked him if there's any props for Alex to ride on, he just told me they didn't have those any more. They used to have the train, classic car, rocking horses, and don't know if you remember or not, well, here is the picture to remind you, they used to have the airplane which we used in our last photo session. I felt like he was frustrated and refused to supply any props. Why? cux when I was reviewing the proofs, out of no where, my aunt found the airplane and Alex was happily riding it all over the studio. I could lived with it if he told me some other photographers were using it, but he just told me they didn't have it anymore without even looking for it or asking around? He was totally lying to my face.

The selection process wasn't difficult at all. He tried to explained to me the package deal, what to look for in a picture. He said, don't pick an image based on whether they are looking at the camera or not. I was thinking, of course, you didn't take any of those, how am I supposed to pick ANY of those. Then he went on and on and on and on and....on. Within 5 mins, I picked out all the images I wanted to purchase. He said "WOW, you are quick, there're so many customers they couldn't decide, took them forever" I just gave him a lame excuse, I said "Oh, yeah, I have done this many time, I know exactly what I want and I set a budget, so it's easy." From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to tell him "you didn't take many great images for me to choose, that's a no brainer!"

Anyways, that's our most recently experience with Pic Ppl. Overall, I do like this guy's "style" so to speak. You can view more images from this photo shoot HERE. Enjoy!