Here is the description from the advertisement:

“With a seducing backdrop of rich desert vistas, sandy white beaches and brilliant azure waters, it’s no surprise so many vacationers flock to Los Cabos’ sunlit shores every year.”

Tuesday, everyone waked up at 4:00AM in the morning; we need to catch the 6:30 fly.  In Colin’s journal, Colin described as “I found it was hard to wake up, we didn’t even eat breakfast. I was very sleepy; I tried very hard not to go to sleep”. But they were sure excited to meet all of their friends at the airport. The kids seemed wake up instantly and start to play with each other.

After a transition and six hours fly, we were at Los Cabos. The airport looks old and disorganized. Everyone started to feel so familiar of the chaos; it reminded us China ten years ago. The city looks old and confusion, but the entrance of the Hotel looks glamour and luxury. The hotel waiter greeted us with a glass of Champagne. Mom instantly felt relax, the vocation started now.

There are five swimming pools close to the beach. Mom’s favorite is the Infineon Pool; you could see the wave of the sea from the swimming pool, felt like swimming in the sea.

Colin and Kyle’s favorite is the hot tub, it is under the coconut tree, right beside the bar. The coolest thing is Colin, Kyle and their friends could order many cocktails without alcohol from waiter. Even Kyle could list a bunch of cocktails like Pina Colada, sherry temple, strawberry something, mongo something.

Mom’s favorite is to drink all kinds of cocktail with friends. In the disco bar, the music is very loud, the light is flashing, taste cocktail one after one. It brought mom to the youth time when there was not responsibility, but just studying and playing.

Dad’s favorite must be playing poker with other daddies until way passing mid night. It was even better to have the waiters to serve them cocktail and food until 2:00 AM in the morning. No wonder dad was seriously needed sleep afterwards.

There are other interesting things in Mexico. Colin and Kyle dug a four feet whole in the sand beach. It was so deep that mom could only see their head. They were so proud when people passed by and complemented them.

The sunrise was fantastic on the beach of Cabos. Even mom could scarify the sleep to watch the sunset early in the morning. Watching the sky changed the color every second mysteriously, looking at the sun like a fire ball suddenly rising from sea. That moment, there was only sky, bright red sun, waves with reflection in mom’s mind. Mom felt like lighter and lighter, almost could fly away.

The snorkeling is also a high light. The wave was big. It took a lot of encouragement for mom to against the wave and snorkel to the sea. It was worth it. Mom could see lots of yellow, blue fish around. There was on time, mom was trying to touch them, but they were so 灵活 and swam away.

There were also two birthdays to celebrate in Mexico. Colin’s birthday was held at Christmas buffet. All of the children sang the song for him. It is Colin’s last signal digit birthday. Colin is growing up; he will be 10 next year.

Mom’s birthday came with a surprise. After the dinner, mom suddenly couldn’t find many others. Mom was a bit disappointed. Mom still remembered the other sisters were talking about having some drink at Skybar. But where were them? Just when mom was confusing, Aunt Hong called mom, covered mom’s eye with a scarf. Held mom’s hand and lead mom to a hall with all of the friends were gathering. Mom could hear children’s happy sound. Mom instantly knew they throw mom a surprise party. Mom felt so happy. The feeling reminded of mom 11 years ago, when mom visited 外婆。Mom knew dad was very busy; it is a lot of effort for him to do things like this. Mom knew later dad and the sisters were planning and planning.  This was their 3^rd plan. Thanks for all to give me such a special and memorable birthday.

Now is the photo time

Play with friend at the airport

Eat buffet

Dads without wife and kids

Famous Arch

Playing sand on the other side of the Arch

Beautiful sunrise

Miami something

Our hotel

The hole they are pround of

Cheers!

Mom at snorkeling

Santa Marria Beach

Happy Birthday!

A perfect sun rise

Sleep on the way back

第一天墨西哥游记

在12-20-11我去墨西哥。我住在波特兰，俄罗岗。波特兰离我们要去的地方在墨西哥很远。我和很多好朋友去墨西哥。我们先要都起来在4:30。我们没有吃早餐。然后我们去丫丫的家。然后我们去飞机场。

我们到墨西哥的时候我们先吃中饭。我吃了很多牛扒和鱼。吃完中饭我去游泳。游完泳我去热水池。在热水池我要了一个Pina Colada 没有酒的。Pina Colada没有酒的很好喝，热水池很暖和，我很舒服。

第二天墨西哥游记

我们到了码头我们要了一个船。在船上我们看见一个有名的石洞。我也看见很多鱼。然后我们去一个海滩游泳但是水太冷了所以我和我的好朋友玩沙。我们做了一个沙子山。玩沙子很好玩儿。

我玩完D.S.我去看一个表演。那个表演很好。最好的是有一个人拿着一条绳打他的脚。很酷！

第四天墨西哥游记

吃完早餐我先跟William挖一个洞。然后Kyler,Kyle和Peanuts来了。我们都一起挖洞。我们挖到洞是四尺深。很多人夸奖我们了。在晚上的时候我希望我们挖的洞不会被水淹了。我们做了很多沙子墙。

第五天墨西哥游记

吃完中饭我的妈妈说有很多小乌龟。我去看小乌龟。是有很多小乌龟。我把很多小乌龟放在水里。我说了再见。小乌龟很可爱。

穿好衣服我去我的生日派对。我喜欢我的生日派对因为有蛋糕和我可以跟我的好朋友一起玩儿。

第六天墨西哥游记

我在吃中饭的时候我的妈妈说圣诞老人来了。我跑去圣诞老人了。我的妈妈先给我照一个相。然后我吃完中饭我又跟圣诞老人照一个相。照完相圣诞老人给我糖。在第六天我们也回家了。我很喜欢我的游记在墨西哥。

“大车, 还想弹琴吗?我们开始上课吧”

“不要, 我不想!” 大车很坚决的回答到.

妈妈连续问了三个星期, 同样的回答,同样的态度.

妈妈很好奇,有一天,找了个机会问他

“你为什么不要弹钢琴了?”

“因为 too much practice”

“但是,你在足球训练时也花很多时间呀!” 妈妈觉得不能够被说服.

“足球训练可以moving around, but piano practice needs to stay in one place”, 大车想要说服妈妈.

“你不也花很多时间下象棋吗? 象棋也是stay in one place。” 妈妈可没有这样容易被说服,

“象棋是competitive sports, but not piano.”大车想了想.

“那画画呢,你不是也可以花上1-2小时坐在那儿一动不动. 画画可不是competitive sports” 妈妈还是不甘心.

“画画可以比赛呀.” 大车已经要没话可说了.

“妈妈也可以送你去钢琴比赛啊？”妈妈想最后一试.

“我不喜欢钢琴比赛，我不喜欢钢琴。” 大车最后吐出真言.

妈妈觉得有些 感叹, 看来停钢琴是对的, 大车不喜欢.这是当时妈妈认为的最重要的理由. 既然是爱好,就是要 “爱”和”喜欢”. 妈妈不想逼大车去做一个不喜欢的东西. 就象每天下班, 有人逼妈妈去做妈妈没有兴趣的事, 妈妈会佷难过的!

现在,妈妈看着大车快乐的去踢球, 很有兴志的去下棋. 更重要的是大车有时间去做自己想做的事,和弟弟玩Lego, 读想要读的书. 可以有时间对着窗外”发呆”, 遐想. 大车又有了童年. 没有了妈妈因为让大车不好弹钢琴, 讲他的声音. 家里平和多了. 但是, 妈妈有时侯也会怀念大车的琴声. 大车不喜欢弹钢琴,并不是不喜欢音乐, 妈妈常常看见他跟着音乐手舞足蹈的又唱又跳. 看来, 妈妈美国朋友说得很对:

“你把钢琴看得太重. 在你眼中, 它的意义已经超过一个乐器. 你知道喜欢音乐可以有不同的方法.包括听音乐, 唱歌.”

又有多少中国妈妈会钢琴看得太重呢?不知到你会不会把它看的很重呢?

那时候，妈妈还不到三十，刚到美国两年，回新西兰看外婆。那是新西兰的春天。外婆住的那个小城是有名的花园之城。每家都有一个修得很精致的草坪，花园里总是开满了鲜花。就在那空气中弥漫着白花芬芳的季节，妈妈见到了思念已久的外婆家了。妈妈离开家不过两年，外婆把家里保持的和妈妈离开时一样，妈妈的书桌上还放着妈妈以前读的书。后花园看出去依然是广阔草原，远处是依稀的山脉。外婆养的鸡鸭还在不停的唧唧喳喳。那天，妈妈和一家人漫步在清澈的雅芳河边，无比幸福。那时美国的高科技如日中天，前途一片光明。爸爸也跳槽到一家小公司。小公司给了爸爸很多股票。好像觉得一夜暴富就在咫尺。有着爱妈妈胜过自己的外婆在身边，妈妈又可以任性，放肆。有把一切都安排好的爸爸，有到处驾车带妈妈玩的外公。妈妈的生命中不知道什么叫苦涩，因为妈妈知道的除了甜蜜还是甜蜜。那是妈妈人生的顶峰。但是，妈妈永远都没有意识到，其实深渊正向妈妈一步一步逼近.

两个星期后，妈妈在美国收到外公的电话，外婆在医院已经人事不省。一个月后，外婆永远的离开了妈妈。半年后，爸爸的公司倒闭。美国经济陷入泥潭。这时妈妈才明白，人生的幸福和痛苦可以离得那么近，所以当你拥有幸福时，一定要珍惜，因为幸福不会永远存在。

“Why are you crying, Kyle?” Mom asked.

“The tooth fairy didn’t take my tooth. I told you I accidently dropped my tooth from bunk bed, I couldn’t find it. You told me it wasn’t matter; the tooth fairy could find it anywhere. You see she couldn’t find it.” Kyle started sobbing again.

 Mom suddenly understood. It must be baba forgot to do something last night. Mom was thinking what she could do now.

“Kyle, get dressed up and go down to have your breakfast. The tooth fairy maybe a bit late” Mom demanded Kyle.

After Kyle went down, Mom was hurried going back and forth…

Kyle finished breakfast, went upstairs to brush the teeth. He looked again under his bed. He went out with a smile on his face. Mom knew he must find the money from “tooth fairy”.

This week it was Colin’s term about tooth fairy. Colin was not happy one evening. Mom asked him why:

“I lost my tooth ten days ago. I didn’t get anything from tooth fairy the next day. Then I wrote her a note. Two days late, I wrote another note. I still got nothing. The day before yesterday, I wrote her another note, also demand interests, still got nothing. So I threw it in the garbage bin. I am going to write her another note, request my tooth back since she doesn’t give me anything.”

Mom knew what to do. The next morning, Colin wake up with two dollars and a note said:

“ I am sorry for late. I am busy since many children lost teeth.  

Yours, tooth fairy”

Colin was very happy that morning. But on that evening, Colin looked at the note again carefully, he had a strange smile on his face:

“Mom, did you write the note? It looks like your handwriting!”

Mom was all shocked and didn’t say any, ran into her bedroom.

It is all because of that stupid note!

都听说小朋友爱吃美国菜，不爱吃中国菜。妈妈决定做一个测试。凯宁和凯利爱比萨饼，还有麦当劳的鸡块。妈妈妈刚炸好一盘酥肉，问他们：

“是酥肉好吃，还是比萨饼好吃”

凯宁和凯利貌似很难决定，

“它们一样好吃”

“还有什么其它东西能和他们一样好吃呢？”

凯宁和凯利想了一下，

“馄饨，西红柿炒蛋，红烧肉，炖的胖肉，罗宋汤，菜饭，油条。。。。”

妈妈中间给了他们一点提示，

“那妈妈的蛋糕呢？”妈妈忍不住问起蛋糕。

“阿，还有妈妈做的巧克力蛋糕，饼干，我爱吃。”凯利有点恍然大悟。

“那你们爱吃汉堡包吗？”妈妈想看一下他们是否爱吃典型的美国餐。

“不要，不要，不好吃”他们想都不想。              

妈妈也算满意了，辛勤劳动得到了肯定。将来，在多年以后，凯宁和凯利想起妈妈时，就会想起一桌美味佳肴，就如妈妈想起外婆一样。妈妈真的心满意足。

先上一些妈妈今年在聚会上做的菜吧，看看是否有进步。

花儿朵朵 凉拌拉皮

别小看它,可费了我好多时间, 里面有木耳丝, 黄花菜, 肉丝, 火腿丝, 黄瓜丝, 蛋皮, 最后加拉皮. 酱料里有芝麻酱, 花生酱, 红油, 用爸爸的话, 这样多好东西在一起, 还会难吃吗?

酥肉：外酥里嫩

波罗红薯

五香童子鸡

上海菜饭

七峰冰激凌Corn蛋糕

上海春卷

有肉丝，加大白菜，要提前一天把馅做好，冻在冰箱里，形成肉冻。这样炸好后，外脆里嫩，咬一口，满嘴的肉汁。可是爸爸在餐馆打工学的手艺。据说他一天要包几百个。

豆沙春卷

干扁四季豆

八宝饭

每粒米都要半透明

Margarita

以前做的

完整的波罗

打开后是这样

哈喇蒸蛋，蛋可是又滑又嫩

凉面，每次可是吃得光光。

拉面，可是妈妈平身弟一次做的。

红莓Muss蛋糕

鸡尾酒 Pina Celadar 妈妈居然在不知不觉中喝醉

水煮鱼

“凯宁最近太累了，肯定是累病的”

妈妈说：

“不致于吧，我们也很累呀！”

周一妈妈给简阿姨讲起此事，简阿姨说：

“你累啥，送凯宁下棋，你又不下。送凯宁踢球，你又不踢。凯宁比你累”

仔细想想，凯宁还真累。上次，去”All Star” Chess 比赛，他就一天下了快七小时的棋。下一周，又要一天连续踢三场球。

看来，妈妈要减少凯宁的活动了，还记得征阿姨提到，“宁可平庸点，也不要向Steve英年早逝。

“Colin, what are you good at?”

“Me, I am good at math, reading…. … Only my writing is medium.”

Colin is full of confident as mom expected.

Then mom asked Kyle,

“How are about you?”

Kyle took some time to think through, it seems a hard question for him.

“I am good at math and Yard work.”

Mom was shocked, Yard work? Mom and Kyle did pull off some grass during summer, didn’t realize Kyle took it seriously. Mom was most surprised Kyle didn’t even mention about chess and soccer. Kyle made top 6 in this year’s Oregon Chess championship for K-2. Mom thinks he is good at chess. But how come he doesn’t think so? Mom had to ask

“Why is not chess or soccer? I think you are good at chess and soccer.”

“No.” Kyle is very sure.

“I often lost to 5^th grader at chess. I am not that good compare to Colin’s soccer team.”

Now mom understands; Kyle constantly compares himself with older kids. Of course, you can’t beat 5^th grader and 3^rd grader.

“Kyle, you have too high of standard.” Mom confused to Kyle.

“No, I am just medium in chess and soccer.” Kyle was very sure.

“Well, mom needs to talk to dad to figure out why.” Mom hopes Kyle could see the truth, don’t put too high of stand on himself.

The other day, mom told Lele’s mom about it. She laughed and said:

“看你们从小就在剥削Kyle,让他做Yard work, haha”

But mom really need to figure out why Kyle thinks that way, it is because of comparing him to Colin too much!

Colin is in 3^rd grade and Kyle is in 1^st grade this year. Colin is sure looked like big kid, he is more independent, he doesn’t like mom’s hug and kiss that much. Kyle is still mother’s “小棉袄”. He will need mom’s hug and kiss every night. He will still give mom hugs when he goes home. Mom wishes Kyle never grow out of小棉袄, but at the meantime, mom knows mom can’t be too selfish. Mom needs let Kyle grow up, to be independent and be able to survive in the real world, real world is full of competition and Kyle needs survival skills.  Mom needs to train Kyle to be able to cope with real life.

Mom tried hard to wake up early on the first day of school. It is tiring after the Labor Day out of town trip. Everyone needs some adjustment for new school year. Especially dad, he needs to go to work early again. Luckily, mom has prepared the school supplies a week ago, there are still three items needed to be bought, mom figured we could get at the weekend. Those items are not urgent anyway.

Colin and Kyle were excited about new school year. Especially Kyle, he can play with his best friend Victor again although they are in different class this year.  It didn’t take mom much effort to wake both Colin and Kyle up. They did everything fast in the morning, mom kept warning them,

“If we are going to school late, there will be no parking space.”

Even we did go to school early, around 8:15, there was still no parking space. Mom had to park the car in middle school, walked across to the elementary school. Colin and Kyle were so exciting. Kyle kept talking all the way to the classroom.  Mom met Ms Param, she gave mom a big hug. She was Colin’s first grade teacher; she has so much passion for the kid. Mom is quite happy to have her as Kyle’s teacher.

Mom spent a lot of time to wait on the line for Kyle’s class. It is kind of late by the time mom went to Colin’s class. Colin had the school supplies all spread around his desk. He didn’t know what to do with them since nobody told him. Mom saw all of the other parents in Colin’s class, it let mom feel bad not to send him to the classroom in person. Mom did justify a while whose classroom to go first. Since Kyle is younger and has new teacher, so mom chose Kyle’s class first, didn’t aware it took that long.  It is hard for mom to be fair for things like that. Mom said good bye to Colin in a rush. On the way out, mom realized mom forgot to bring a camera to record this moment. Well, there will be next year; hope mom won’t forget it then.

 We went to Port Orford at the end of July. Port Orford is a small town right beside sea along high way 101. We stayed in a bright yellow house, 2 minutes walking from the battle ground beach. Every morning, boys and girls wake up early, went to the tide pool to explore the seashore. Mom even saw the Osprey bird, sixteen legs star fish, and some small crabs. We went to Bandon the next day, saw the famous face rock, and even watched a perfect sunset at the beach. The biggest achievement is we all hiked Humbug Mountain, it is a 6.5 miles hike with 1700 feet elevation. We are sure growing strong. Mom saw the most breath taking coast in Shore Acres. The endless waves hit strange shape rocks along the shore, the animal gardens with rocks looked like all kinds of small creatures. Imagine on a sunny afternoon, with small sea breeze, mom and a good friend sit right on a cliff, a small pine tree’s top was extended out like an umbrella, looking at the thousands of waves, and seagulls flying, what a perfect afternoon

Battle ground beach in the sunset, the sea looks so peaceful

A perfect sunset at Bondon beach, admire those birds, I wish I could fly like them.

Animal garden in Shore Arces, are the stones look like turtle?

A breath taking view looked at with friends for hours

A funny face

Brothers at low tie  early morning

In mid August, we went to camp on Beverly beach. Although the yurt we stayed was kind of noisy right beside Oregon Coast high way, the beach is unbeatable. It is like back yard to the children. Just 3 minutes walk across a small bridge. We all stayed in one loop, so everyone knew each other on the same street, just like the small village I remembered in China. No privacy, but the children are very happy. They kept moving from this tent to that yurt, having dinner everywhere. This time we did 7.4 miles hike. The longest trail we never hiked.

Another kind of sunset at Beverly beach

Brothers were building a dam

A dreamy moon, 今昔是何年?

Mom at sunset

Takes two hours hike to see this bridge

Lincoln city again, hard to not coming back for this view

A bright fruit saw during the 7.4 miles hike

Friends were jumpping the wave

On Labour weekend, we went to hood Canal again. The water is so warm. We digged lots of clams and pickeds lots of Oyster. So yummy!