Don't be afraid, Mui Mui is here

Kirsten and I were at Douglas Park's parking lot. When I took Kirsen out of the car, she wanted to head straight to park. But she heard a car driving by so she stopped short and said in chinese, "Mommy! Be careful there's car coming. But don't be afraid, Mui Mui is here. (in Chinese).

You Can Be An Officer

(Talking about Halloween with Katelyn)

Katelyn: I know what you could be dad, an Officer! You have and office and you go to the office to work, so it's perfect!

Crow Season

(We see a lot of crows in our neighborhood when we came home)

Mommy: Woo... There are lots of crow on our lawn.

Katelyn: Yeah! There are even more on Gramma Jean's lawn and they are picking on her grass. I think it's Crow Season.

Smily Scare Crow

(Mommy explain to Katelyn what a scare crow is)

Mommy: Do you know what that is?

Katelyn: No!

Mommy: It's a scare crow.

Katelyn: What's a scare crow and it's not scary to me.

Mommy: It's to scare the crows away.

Katelyn: Then why is it smiling.

Well, she's alive

(Katelyn telling Daddy about her teacher's mom)

Katelyn: Do you know what Mr, Ratslaffs mom's name is?

Daddy: No, what is it?

Katelyn: Guess daddy! She's Mr. Ratslaff's mom.

Daddy: Oh! Is it Mrs. Ratslaff?!

Katelyn: Yup!

Daddy: How old is she?

Katelyn: Well, she's alive. (Saying it innocently)

Letters of Gratitude

Today, more than any other day, is a day of gratitude for me. It is a day when I reflect upon my life and give tribute to the many important people in it.

Dear Mom:

I thank-you for being my biggest fan and giving me the unconditional support since I was young. Because of you, I found my passion early on and was able to chase it and continue to chase it till this day. I realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love as many others struggle in a 9 to 5 job that they grudge.

I thank-you for giving up so much of your youth for us when you could’ve just as easily taken the easy route.

I thank-you for instilling your vision and your work ethics which make me the strong person I am today. You taught me to do big things and to be persistent and that there is always a solution to any problem.

I thank-you for giving me the early opportunities in my career and for always being proud of me. Without you, an uneducated talent like me would never have the opportunity to show the world what I can do.

But most of all, I thank-you for being the mother of this great life of mine.



To Janey:

I thank-you for being the girl who answered my "page"; for starting out on a great adventure with me almost 10 years ago; for being the most beautiful wife any man can dream of; for being the most caring mother any daughter can hope for; but most of all, for being different than me and being the other half that makes my life whole


To Amy:

I want to say thank-you starting with you. I am not who I am without you; without your motherly care during my early childhood, without your guidance at the start of my career, and without your many opportunities set before me while I build my company to where it is now.

You are an integral part of the successful whole that I am now


To Lisa:

I thank-you for being my little sister and being my buddy when we were young; for being my sounding board often times when we were growing up; for being the organizer of many events when I am often too busy; and for having the passion for food so that I can eat well, even since we were teens. I still remember your first attempts of making cheesecake in our Surrey house.


To Julie:

I thank-you for being the one who would always plan the fun; for being the one who would make sure there's enough food on our trips; for always looking out for the deals and passing them along; and for adding another dimension to our great family. Everyone of us in individual and that's why I think our family is so strong.


To Michael:

A big thank-you should go out to you to have been a big ingredient in this great life of mine. I thank-you for being the impartial friend that will always tell me if I'm wrong or have gone overboard; for being the one who was brave enough to venture out with me in our great career building adventure; for being the good cop so I can be the bad; and a thank-you in the future for always being by my side. (Cause you're one of those who I know just will).


To Yvonne:

I thank-you for putting up with me since we first bickered in junior high; for answering the "knock" when I was at your window; for being the friend that would alway share with me even though we are spending less time together as our life independently evolve; and always for being the egg for me to crack.


To Bruce:

I thank-you for being a great friend since we met more than 10 years ago; for teaching me how to ride and allowing me to catch the wind and free my mind; for being there with my on my crazy adventures; and for always being the counterpart that keeps me sane.

Is it Big or Small

(Talking to Katelyn while she's on the toilet)

Daddy: So is it big or small?

Katelyn:

(not knowing the idiom, looks into the toilet she's sitting on and turns around and hand gestures a size)

It was about this big, but now it's 2 pieces of this big

Daddy: I didn't need to know that!

Daddy: (laughs with a big girlish grin)

Second letter to Cadence

Tears rolled out of my eyes when I saw this picture. No child should ever be put in this situation!

Dear Baby,

It has now been 48 hours since you've been admitted into the hospital. Your condition is more stable and you're sleeping much better. Mummy has come to realize that the most difficult road is actually still ahead - the recovery stage. As you're floating in and out of your sleep, waking up crying because of the pain, it breaks my heart to see you suffer. I feel completely helpless and can't explain how painful it is for me to see you suffer and not be able to ease your pain. I know it's not good for you but mummy can't stop myself from breaking down when I see you yelping in pain and calling "mama", "mama"!

I'm so sorry I can't help you and you have to be in this predicament. I can't even begin to explain how horrible that utter helplessness feeling that a mother feels because she can't help her child. I so wish that no mothers ever need to suffer what I'm going through at this very moment.

Baby, mummy needs to be strong for you. God, please give me the strength to move on. Give me the courage to stay strong and show Cadence that she will be okay. I need to be a role model for her. I need you more than ever, please be with us, guide us and protect us. I will do whatever it takes to keep my baby safe. We have many dear friends and family that are praying for our little angel. God...

Please bless that Cadence will come out of this ordeal with as little pain and suffering as possible.

Please bless that we will all get through this as a family and our relationship will be stronger

Please bless that this experience will make us all better people

Please bless that this experience will help us cherish life, family and all the people that loves us dearly.

Baby, mummy knows that you will be just fine. Stay strong and don't give up - I want to see your beautifuI, glowing smile again. Mummy loves you more than you'll ever know.

Please pray for Baby Cadence

On November 24th, our baby niece Cadence, a 1 year old baby, was a victim of a terrible burn accident while she was vacationing with her parents in China. I was debating if I should share this with the public internet, but I think it'll be a good thing to read back on...

...when we all come out of this stronger.

This is the letter from my sister Lisa to her dear daughter:

Dear baby,

It's 4:30am and mommy is waiting beside you in the Burn unit of the ICU in Guangzhou. A horrible accident happened that left you with over 50% of your body heavily burnt. The doctor says that there is a chance that you won't survive this and you won't be safe until 72 hours from the accident. I told the doctor that you are a fighter and that I know you will make it. I know he's only trying to scare me so I won't blame him. I refuse to accept anything that coward says because I believe my baby is strong enough to survive. You've never even been sick even one day ever since you were born, I know you'll make it through. Mommy looked the doctor right in the eye and told him straight up that my baby will be okay. You're only 13 months and you've shown us that you always fight for what you want you and you never give up on anything - you definitely have my personality.

Baby, please prove mommy right. Please make it through, I love you so much I can't imagine life without you!

Daddy stay at work longer

(Katelyn talking to Daddy in the car)

Katelyn: Oh Daddy, can you stay at work longer so you can buy me a big box for my birthday with a pink ring, a glove, a purse, an Ariel dress, and a crown?

I want to born this egg

(Katelyn taking out an egg from the fridge)

Daddy: What are you doing with that egg?

Katelyn: Daddy, I have to born this egg.

Daddy: Only chickens can hatch the egg.

Katelyn: Well, I can act like a chicken. Buck, buck! Buck, buck! (as she flaps her arms like wings)

Truffles, not shuffles.

(Eric talking to Jody)

Jody: I made truffles at school the other day.

Eric: Cool, I love truffles!

Katelyn: Hey I did shuffles at ballet!

I'll have a boyfriend right?

(Daddy talking to Katelyn while making a bracelet)

Daddy: So who's this bracelet for?

Katelyn: Sidney.

Daddy: Is he your favorite friend? Your best friend?

Katelyn: Yup. Cause Daddy, when I grow bigger, I will have a boyfriend right?

Warm Chocolate

(Katelyn drinking hot chocolate)

Katelyn: Daddy, is it still hot?

Daddy: No.

Katelyn: It's only warm? Then it's called warm chocolate. And if it's cold, then it's cold hot chocolate, right? See, I know everything!

No more smell for Mommy!

(smelling Katelyn's body after her bath)

Daddy: Umm! You smell so good, you smell so good.

Katelyn: No Daddy, only one time!

Daddy: How about 4 times? Um, you smell so good, you smell so good!

Katelyn: Only one time, Daddy!

Daddy: Why baby?

Katelyn: Cause otherwise, there's no more smell for Mommy.

I know everything!

Katelyn: Are you reading the newspaper?

Daddy: Yes. How did you know?

Katelyn: Cause I know everything! and some things I don't.

So tall I break the ceiling

(Comparing hand size with Katelyn)

Daddy: My hand is bigger than yours

Katelyn: My hand will be bigger because I will be 6. I will be 5, and then 6, and then 7, and 8, and 9!

Daddy: Yeah, that's right, you will be big and your hand will be bigger than Daddy's

Katelyn: But I don't want to be big, otherwise I will break the ceiling.

The Price of a Child

Did you know that it costs on average of $200,000 to $250,000 to raise a child until they are 18? This is for one child, so an average family of 2 child could spend half a million dollars! These costs include school fees, extra-curricular activities and lessons, food/shelter costs, university tuition, etc...So the question is why do we choose to raise a child?

From an economist's point of view, children are a depreciating asset. Let's look at the potential return on this quarter million dollar investment. Let's say your child when they are ready and able and you are not, offers you $4000/month during your retirement years. Assuming you are able to enjoy 20 years of retirement, this would be $80,000. Let's round this up to $100,000. This would give you an ROI of -0.6.

Let's look at the intangible benefits then. Kids are a bundle of joy, especially in their infant years. O.k? Can we account this as an entertainment cost. Assuming we receive 16 years of entertainment, this cost would be $1302/month for each Fun Pack or $2604.00 if you want double the pleasure. Keep in mind that stress-relieve associated expenses incurred during the teen rebel years have not yet been accounted for.

So then, why do we have kids? That is a question I leave up to you. One thing is for sure; you can't go about it with logic. Until you experience that indescribable feeling that gathers up inside the very moment the doctor hands you YOUR baby. Until you hold your first new born in the delivery room. Until that little body is in your arms and you know that it's your own flesh and blood. Until you feel that instinctual unconditional love for your child; you will not know how great parenthood is.

I can't wait for my second child!

Girl Brother

(Talking to Katelyn about the baby inside mommy's tummy)

Daddy: Can you hear your brother inside?

Katelyn: No, it's a girl brother!

It's a Coke burp.

Katelyn: Burp!! Excuse me, that's a Coke burp, 'cause I had coke.