Happy 2nd Thanksgiving Avery!

This year we had no family back at home for Thanksgiving, since Grandma/pa Shih were in Taiwan, and Grandma/pa Chang were on a cruise and in China. Uncle Henry was going to join us for dinner but then he came down with the flu so he was bed-ridden for the weekend. When Michelle A-yi called and invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner, we were so happy and Thankful! hehe Always nice to hang out with the Other Chang Family. hee hee

 Avery sat at the table with everyone and nibbled on some yummy food! There's always great food at Uncle CC and Auntie Michelle's house. We're talking roast turkey, lobster, like 3 kinds of fish, raw and baked, beef noodle soup, pork taro soup, clams, the works! 

After dinner, Avery warmed up to everyone. Here she is kissing Great-Uncle CC...

And Great-Aunt Michelle....

And Auntie Julia...

 And Big Sister Candice...hehe. Candice is Julia's 3 year old daughter and Uncle CC and Auntie Michelle's grand-niece. She's sooo cute. First thing was, she arrived wearing a fuzzy vest, fuzzy boots, velour bloomer shorts. So stylish! Must take notes. And she's super well-behaved, sat at the table and ate her food quietly. Plus, she even shared her new Mickey Mouse glove with Avery when asked. That is HUGE! And she played with Avery. Great kid!

The toddlers hangin out together!

Then on Saturday, we went and had a late lunch in Pasadena with my college buddies, Christian and his fiance Tiffany their 5-month-old daughter Lyna, and Kitty and her boyfriend Brett. Really glad i picked La Grande Orange Cafe in Pasadena. They have a beautiful quiet outdoor patio area with heated lamps that gave us privacy and a kid-friendly place to let toddlers do what they do best...make a mess...

Group shot!

Its a little surreal, really. 8 years ago we were slaving away in school, with nary a worry in the world except how exactly to place as a finalist in a business school competition when non of us were business majors. LOL Now 8 years later we've got kids, careers, families, properties, businesses. I'd say we definitely all have much to be thankful for.

First thing I thought of Tiffany when i met her was - wow she's really pretty. How'd Christian land this one? hehe I like a girl with a sense of humor and the fact that she likes Angry Little Girls bags doesn't hurt either!

When Lyna  she saw me was give me a BIG SMILE! And then she realy didn't stop smiling the entire time, smiled at Howard, Avery, Kitty, Brett. She was fine with anyone holding her. Sigh! I miss those baby days! When all you needed to prepare for her was milk, and when she was upset, milk or nap was the answer. But Lyna was totally cooperative throughout our long lunch, letting us catch up and get to know everyone again. Avery on the other hand... hehe. Howard and I had to switch off for most of the lunch to let her roam around.

Aww...the old days! Actually i feel like everyone looks exactly the same, maybe a little rounder on the face now.  To be fair, Christian and I had babies. And Kitty desperately needs some more round. Its been like a long time since sleepless nights hacking away on power point with midnight boba runs, working on the business competition plans. Always will be some of my most memorable experiences in college!

Sunday morning. Avery is seen here sporting her trademark morning mohawk, while hanging out in Lulu-Now-Mimi's bed.

Some people have Fros in the morning (daddy), avery has a wavy mohawk.

So as I mentioned earlier, Grandma Chang is off in la-la-land somewhere on a boat cruising Latin America. She left the two dogs for us to watch, so we have been graced with the presence of Lulu and Mimi. If it wasn't already a zoo in our house with a tornado toddler and all her toys around the house, adding the barking, peeing, pooing, walking, whining of two dogs on top of that should guarantee us that.  We're like zookeepers. Every morning, there's usually one or two pee marks either in our dining room, or in Avery's room, or our bathroom, and if we're lucky, a mystery poo somewhere as well. When its only Lulu we can discipline her, but there's two dogs and you ask WHO DID THIS!? Lulu literally shrugs and looks at Mimi like "dude, she did it" and Mimi has guilt written all over her face. We know Lulu's habits now - she doesn't really pee if we take her out. But Mimi's trained to pee on diaper pads by my in-laws so she was so confused.

Lady Lulu. NOT. She's been alright though, this past week. Only bit Avery once. -_- I didn't see it. I had my back turned, and when i turned to look, Avery was crying and lulu ran away with her tail between her legs. No puncture wounds, that's always good. Sigh, you can't ask for too much. No blood, Lulu, please. no blood.

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Miss Mimi. More like Piss Mimi. She's toned down her excitement to play with Avery which really just scared Avery. So how she just wags her tail and does a ballerina dance for Avery so she'll pet her. Avery calls her Moo Moo. And LUlu she calls Noo Noo. Stil can't tell them apart.

So after like 3-4 days of peeing in our dining room, we finally came up with the genius idea of putting the diaper pad where she's already peed. FINALLY! She still peed on our bathroom bathmat later on that day. For good measure.

Mimi sits in everyone's chair. She took over Lulu's bed, and now Avery's Dora chair.We are clearly not a fan of hygiene in this household.

Grandma and Grandpa Shih came back from a monthlong trip to Taiwan and China. Finally!

These grandparents on vacation at the same time is really cramping our style! Actually it hasn't been so bad. we just have Julie and Diana (our nannies who switch off) come more days a week. STILL! heh

Grandma/pa came back bearing presents. A stuffed Monkey King and a buddhist beads. Well the beads are Grandpas, just holding it for size.  Lucky kid. Always has her grandparents spoiling her!