Merry Christmas 2011

Year 2011
- Continued to take photography classes… photoshop, photojournalism, urban ruins..
- Continued hiking group every Thursday.
- Started piano class, karate class
- Kids started high school
- Went to Taiwan for a Mission Trip
- Monica started cheer
- L.A. trip
- Paul started working for Facebook-- > Yummy food
- Paul travels so much he reached 1K club
- Charlie plays with Rascal regularly
- Went to Muir Woods
- Went to Point Reyes lighthouse
- Went to Monterey bay to do kayak
- origami group
- brought a condo
- Tim took a cooking class
- Abbie is born
- Work prn at Pharmaca- Menlo Park, Monterey.
- Freelance job
---- many more

Bringing volunteers together

Christina Chen hosts Operation Christmas Child (OCC) at her house, here they are putting presents in a shoebox. Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

Wendy Huang, left, is incharge of OCC at our church, helps Jeannie Choi put together her shoebox during the shoebox party, held at Christina's house, Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

A stuffed dog is among gifts contributed by doners for OCC.

Christina holds a handful of stickers trying to pack for 10-14 year olds.

After the box is all packed, we label the box and hope to bring joy, hope, and love to children around the world.

Wendy, center, speaks to everyone prior to packing the shoeboxes, held at Christina's house.

Wendy, wheeling part of the 450 boxes donated from CTCC to OCC this year, November 20, 2011

Volunteers helps putting boxes into their car to transport to another church.

Paul Hsu helps transport to Spring Valley Christan Church in Milpitas.

Ed Chen also helps tranport the boxes as well.

After collecting shoeboxes from various church from bay area, eventually these boxes get shipped to Irvine, CA then they get shipped to Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, and Philippines this year.

Abbie's 100 day celebration

Right after L.A. trip, we celebrated Abbie's 100th day at Kirin. She is growing up so fast.

Los Angeles

I just love Los Angeles! We went down for Veteran's Day weekend to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday.
As soon as we arrived, she served us home grown guava. Yum!

We celebrated Thanksgiving 2 weeks early that night…

The next morning, Mom give us home grown goji berries. It's sweet and sour.. very interesting.

Mom and Dad in the kitchen.

Then Mom and Dad took the kids to the mall to shop for their christmas present while Paul and I attempt to go downtown Pasadena… but we discover a nail in one of the tire.. we had to turn around to American Tire Co. and fix a flat…They were very busy this day.

We waited a "long time"… at Starbucks…

Mom and Dad took the kids to Din Tai Fung-- one of the top ten restaurants in the world by NY times…
We told them to go ahead and eat first.. so Paul and I end up eating at Panda Express…

Then the tire is finally fixed.. we drove to Din Tai Fung…very busy again.. people often wait over 1 hour here for teamed dumpling. Naturally we ordered some to try eventhough we ate already.

Afterwards we drove to Gary's house in Manhatten Beach.. They were not home yet, so we visited to pier.

Then Gary called, we turn around and went back to his house.

They got a new dog!! name Skippy

Then we went to Zach's soccer game.

The cousins have so much fun together.

Then it's time to celebrate Mom's Birthday at Hirose in Torrance.. They have $42 Omakase menu that is out of this world!

Here is everyone.

This dishes:

Finally dessert and Happy Birthday Mom!!!

The next day we took a family picture at a studio..afterwards the cousins play once more and say "good bye" :(

We went to eat lunch at Tea Station.. love the food in L.A.  Then Dad took us to airport and say good bye… :( What a great trip!