Family – PARTICULAR.LY

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August 2017, Hayes Valley 📷 Portrait to the People

Hello 2018 (plus 4 months)

Lest anyone (anyone?) fear, we are here and dealing with the realist real challenges that only a new human can bring. Add the ever starting start ups,John and the growing, medium-sized humans, Roenne and Arden, and its just. WOW.

Can I just say, I’ve drafted this post in my mind a drillion times since October, and this is nothing like how I thought it would go.

Then again, at this very moment, 5 month old Oliver is napping more than 30 minutes for the first time in days, and this is what I would call “fast, desperate, maybe I should be eating or sleeping” writing.

One final note before I ineloquently end this: in a world where posting news and sharing photos online has become the norm, I find myself on the far, far other side of the spectrum. I hold my news close to the heart, disperse privately, and to select groups, and then if and when the stars align with mood, baby sleep, self sleep, etc I dash out something fun to update my internet buddies, because writing is fun and its nice to share. Not because I have to.

Its just my thing now. I don’t think I’m contrarian, or rebelling against status quo, but I do iterate, and this is my next iteration.

Alright, then. Hello, baby. Bye, bye internet.

p.s. Meet Oliver, born October 27, 2017

Keeping the Romance Alive

Oh, you know just geeking out at the Hunger Games exhibit while the babies are at summer camps. No big deal. Eeeek. Are the odds in my favor? What? NOOOOOOO! Not you!I volunteer!

…

I didn’t know it could be so fun to blow $100! $50 for two adult tickets and……… John insisted on buying the overpriced “you guys are suckers” goodies. And though my cheap Asian pride was loathe to admit it…..they were OH so worth it! Behold:

Yes, I know….I completely married up. What a gem.

Sister Art

Arden asked how to spell “Calvin,” so we sounded it out together.

About 30 seconds later, she texted this to me from the iPad

She had found Roenne’s doodle from this morning and added Calvin!

Treasuring these days…

Yay, 2016!

Started the year our right with Korean traditional New Year’s soup: 떡국 or dduk gook in the morning (ok, it was actually lunch -_-).

Plus some kimchi, which I made for the first time from scratch a month ago and made an additional side dish of pan fried tofu with sauce. Though I envy the bountiful spreads of the legit ajooma New Year’s breakfasts, this was just right for our little fam!

Made up a whole new Halloween genre

Theres a lot of creativity required when trying to pull off Halloween whilst moving into a new home. Behold: zombie doctor, Arden!

And her victims/patients (she gobbled us up, and then felt ethically bound to stitching the wounds):

All stitched up, but beginning to turn (Roenne and I also had stitches upon the flesh)

When theres no time or inclination to carve pumpkins....(draw, cut out, stick em on lamps) — When theres no time or inclination to carve pumpkins….(children draw, adults cut out the tricky parts, and stick em on lamps)

So grateful for a fun, first Halloween in San Francisco. Our friends, Florrie, Kevin, Annabelle and Leo (another Atlanta transplant family) were gracious enough to invite us to their famous street in Cole Valley (Belvedere), which had a live band and awesomely decorated houses. #scaryblessed

Also, special shout out to mom, Carol Saddington for buying the doctor and pirate dress ups for Arden’s birthday in January. Went a long way towards helping us hack together another zero spend Halloween!

Super fierce Annabelle as Cleo (bad photog mommy couldn't get child out of the shadow) — Super fierce Annabelle as Cleo (bad photog mommy couldn’t get child out of the shadow)

Here We Go!

Ever since Roenne has attended school (from about 3), the start of the new year has been the first day of school.

And it seems that way today, more than ever! I have been glued to my phone and computer all morning/afternoon making appointments, signing up for all kinds of nonsense, filling out a billion forms and making payments, arranging play dates, and accepting invitations to the “first” birthday parties of the year.

Add Arden’s paper work for starting preschool to the mix, and I’m already wondering when today will be over!

This is why I’m glad we always take a moment to enjoy the calm before the storm each year. We began a tradition a few years ago, where John and I separately take Roenne out on dates to have some special one-on-one time on the eve of the first day of school.

John wrote about his date here, and of course he has completely outdone me with his nostalgic daddy/daughter date videos and photos, but what is marriage without a little bit of healthy competition?

Well, you win this one, buddy, because my calloused and bloody fingers (y’know from all the forms) can only muster two. =)

Fresh Hairs: Little Girls Edition

I really wanted to squeeze in hair trims for Roenne and Arden before school started; unfortunately, the only available appointment fell right at Arden’s nap time. GAH. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.