Happy Birthday to my Little Baby- Jud

Happy Birthday to one of the sweetest spirits that has ever made it to this Earth. Every day has been an adventure with this little man! I wish Matt and I could have been there for his birthday, but regardless HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUD!!!!!

I love you!

Friday Flashback #16

Since it is Jud's birthday tomorrow I thought this Friday Flashback would be about him. Now I have had a great number of memories with my little brother in the past couple of years, but it is hard to just pick one. The one I really wanted to share Matt thought would be too inappropriate to share on my blog and I kinda agree--even if it was one of the funniest things that has ever happened with Jud. But, I do not want to get in trouble with my parents so I will share a slightly less inappropriate memory.

Now as I recall this memory you are going to have to say Jud's lines in his voice... and if you have met Jud you know what that means.

Maybe a year or more after we got Jud, I came home from work to hear my mom and him talking. And this is the conversation:

Mom: Jud, you cannot touch a women's boobies.

Jud: Why?

Mom: Because it is not appropriate you don't do it.

Jud: But I like it!

Mom: Don't do it!

Jud: Tomorrow?

Mom: No, not tomorrow.

You need to know Jud has no idea of spacial boundaries (we are working on this) and everyone is his friend. So because of this he would sometimes touch women in the boobs- hahahaha I love Jud!

If You Have A Ten Hour Layover In Portland- What Do You Do? .... Go to Voodoo Doughnuts

Matt and I had a ten hour lay over in Portland before heading back to Honolulu. At first we thought we would just tour around the city for a while and then go back to the airport... and then we realized our layover started at 10:00pm! So we thought we would get a hotel and sleep for the night... but not until we tried the famous Voodoo Doughnuts! If you have not heard of them click HERE! This place takes doughnuts to the next level. They put all sorts of strange stuff on their doughnuts and each one is awesome and fresh!

By the time we got to our hotel we were dead tired, but really wanted some doughnuts. It was well worth losing some sleep to be able to experience this awesome place. Everything about this place is awesome... the line out the door... the cool decor.... the people... everything great!!!!! And the best part- the doughnut names! Every one was unique and some were just down right dirty! Matt and I just went up to the counter and told the guy to fill a box with the most popular. It was the best way to go about if you have no expectations because it is a little overwhelming. Our guy was great and did not disappoint!

I recommend a visit to this establishment and soon! 

 (Marshal Matters) 

 (Triple Chocolate Penetration) 

 (Butterfingering) 

 (Maple Bacon Bar- Yup that's bacon on a doughnut) 

 (Captain My Captain) 

 (Neapolitan) 

(Miami Vice Berry) 

(Dirty Old Bastard) 

Portland seemed like a great city and I cannot wait to go back and explore it in the day time! 

The Rest of Utah

The trip to Utah was pretty fast... but we saw both the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temple.... ate WAY too much Chick-fil-A....tried Cafe Rio (I prefer Chipotle)....  ate at Taco Time (mainly to make my mom jealous)... wen to Hatch Family Chocolates (they filmed Little Chocolaters from TLC there) ...got to visit with Brittany and Ashael (friends from London) and got to hang out with Matt's cousins. Overall, it was a good grip!

Arches National Park

During our trip to Utah, Matt and I went to Arches National Park. It was a four hour drive from Salt Lake, but it was well worth the drive. We were not able to do everything we wanted, and are going to have to go back! I wanted to see a lot of the arches, but most of them were on hiking trails and we were not prepared to hike. So next time we will see more. If you have not done this- IT IS A MUST!!! 

 On the left: Tower of Babel - Right: The Organ 

 The Three Gossips 

 The Sheep 

 The Windows 

 The Elephant

 The Delicate Arch (Next time we are going to do the long hike and get close to it.) 

Friday Flashback #15

This is what happens on a rainy day in Hawaii. 

When Trish and I were rooming together we decided we should do each other's make up and pick out each other's clothes.... This is what it turned into. 

A Little Inspiration: The Starfish Story

The Starfish Story

Original Story by: Loren Eisley

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. 

Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"

The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out.  If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf.  Then, smiling at the man, he said, 
"I made a difference for that one."

I love this story. This reminds me of my little Chinese siblings and the difference my family has made to these little starfish! 

It also makes me think of my students and the impact I can have in their lives. 

If you like this story please pass it along! 

Happy Mother's Day

To all the wonderful women in my life happy Mother's Day!

(Just to name a few: my mom, Abuela, Aunt Nickie, Aunt Sara, Chantal, Nana, Grandmother Fahey, Janice....I love you all!)

Like Mother Like Son

As I was finding pictures for my Mother's Day post, I came across a picture of my mother. Well, duh Alex-it's a Mother's Day post..... but this picture illustrated something else..... how much my brother Joe and my mom favor each other.

Just see for yourself: 

I mean the smile... the eyes.... the nose.... and the HAIR!!! I hope this added a laugh to your day!

Friday Flashback #14

In honor of Mother's Day:

Happy Birthday Little Chicken

It is my little sister Olivia's 9th birthday today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ever since she came into my family's lives she has been nothing but a blessing. I still remember seeing her picture for the first time- it was on my 16th birthday- and I could not believe this little chunk was going to be my little sister! She was so cute (everyone knows Asians are the cutest babies).

Everyday I miss my little chicken and can not wait to move back to Georgia just to hang out with Olivia.

Happy Birthday Olivia Jade (Dian Hi Mae) Drake 

Happy Birthday Jake

Happy birthday to one of the greatest and funniest cousins!

Love you Jake Bates! 15? Holy Cow!

Now he is a lot older than these pictures, but I just love these! 

Friday Flashback #13

Keeping with the spirit of Joe's 19th birthday, I thought I would share another flashback about Joe.

When I was 8 and Joe was 3 my Abuela was watching us while my mom was at work or school or escaping us.... Anyway, during this time Abuela needed to go to one of her rental properties and clean up so new renters could move in.

As you could probably imagine, this activity was not the most amusing to the two of us. So being the older and wiser sibling I decided we should play hide and seek. (At this point, I am pretty sure Joe understood the gist of the game... you know at the age of 3...so game on!) While Abuela was in the house cleaning we were having a blast unsupervised outside..... unsupervised..... again unsupervised... I guess this was a time before children were taken and killed... oh wait no that happened... hmmmm :)

Well, hide and seek was going well and it was Joe's turn to hide and I would seek! I start counting 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, (wow counting backwards at 8- impressive) 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.... Come out come out wherever you are!

I turn and look at Midnight (Abuela's black Dodge Intrepid) and there is Joe... hiding in the trunk of the car! (Abuela had left it open because the cleaning supplies were there.)

THE TRUNK THE TRUNK.... the perfect place for a big sister prank!

So of course, I went over to the trunk and I shut it! Yep, I did it... I mean he climbed in what else did he think would happen (again Joe was very advanced for his 3 years- hahaha)

My process and intent was this: shut the trunk and then quickly open it. I was only going to shut it for like 5 seconds... 5 that's all... not even a half a minute!

So the trunk is closed and I run around to the driver's side and look for the latch/ button to open the trunk......IT'S NOT THERE!

IT'S NOT THERE! Oh my gosh, okay calm down.... run to the passenger's side.... IT'S NOT THERE!

LOOK ALL AROUND.....IT'S NOT THERE!

OH MY GOSH JOE IS GOING TO DIE... I AM A MURDERER! OH NO... I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TELL ABUELA!

Hmmmm.... dead brother, or the wrath of Abuela.... choices choices..... okay, I got it... I will get Abuela, but tell her Joe shut himself in...yes, yes that's it I will lie (I used to lie all the time as a child- I could do this!)

I run in tell Abuela my lie.... she doesn't buy it and quickly sprinted out to the car! I followed her. Abuela went to the passenger side.... and opened up the glove  box and pushed the yellow trunk button! (What? Who puts that button there???? That's just stupid!)

The trunk opened and there was Joe crying, but ALIVE! He was pointing at me and crying... it was horrible....  And then I got the biggest lecture from Abuela that I had ever experienced... I think at this point I was still sticking to my story... in fact I don't think I told the truth till about high school.

So there it is... Joe was okay.. I had not killed my brother! Although, I don't think we have ever played hide and seek again!


Hope you enjoyed this flashback!

Happy Birthday Joe Joe

Shout out to my little brother Joe.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!

Today he is 19...19!!!!! I cannot believe it!

I am so proud of my little brother. For as long as I can remember, Joe has wanted to play ball after high school. He wanted to play division 1 and eventually to the MLBs. And so far he is on the right track. He is out of high school and is still doing the thing he loves to do! I am so happy he is following his dreams even if he is currently living 2000 miles away from me!

Happy birthday Joe!

Here's to the memories and the ones we have yet to make!