Carribbean vacation!!

We all headed down to the Dominican Republic last week for cousin Jocelyn and David's wedding. Everyone had a great time, we got to reunite with family and meet new family as well.

Here's Brendan helping out YeYe with his carry-on. Yes, he insisted on pulling it all the way to the gate...



Arrived at the all-inclusive Paradisus, time to chow down...


The Lau girls reunited! (Jadyn just off camera catchin' some Zs)...


Fun in the kids pool, always nice and warm.....from the sun....




Chinese Pavilion for dinner, don't ask about the lobster...


Fun (and bumpy) shuttle rides to and from the beach and around the resort. We got to participate in many of the activities provided at the resort: climbing wall, catamaran sailing, kidszone play area, a great MJ show, dancing at the nightclub, an unluckily brief stint in the casino, in addition to the pools and the beach.




Four mermaids discovered on the shore in Punta Cana...


All rehearsed and ready for the big day...


Uncle Jr was designated the fish-man by Brendan...


Welcome BBQ on the beach...

Excursion swimming with sharks and stingrays, got to swim alongside 8 ft nurse sharks and touch them (when we were quick enough). Never was quick enough to catch a stingray, but the tour guide was somehow able to corral one...







The big day! Everyone looking good, many-a-tears were shed...



Flower girls focused, working hard...




Their job complete, the girls can kick back and relax...





The newlyweds surprised us with our own anniversary cake! Also one for their parents and our parents who also share the same date. Thanks J&D!



Minutes (literally) before leaving, the girls got some dominican braids as souvenirs...

Spring is in the air...

All the snow has melted, our lawn is once again visible...

Here are the kids bundled up in the park..



Weekend trip to NJ to see the family...


Brendan gets his toys and jiajia's too...


Samantha's homemade jewelry...

Dressed up for a Star Wars costume party....


Visiting the cherry blossoms in DC...














Swing by the Jefferson Memorial...



Playing at home...


Somebody's ticklish...

At Butler's orchard for some Easter fun...





Brunch at New Fortune for Ah Ta's 83rd birthday...



Sassy girl...

Snow Tiger...

Long overdue posting....
Much snow has fallen this month as we ushered in the year of the Tiger...

Kids watch as the ground quickly disappears and rises...



Luckily we had someone to plow our looong driveway so we were not stranded, but all that snow has to go somewhere and that was right at the back of our driveway.

Here's Samantha conquering the resulting snowdrift, and B crouching to help the visual effect...

Daddy went trekking around the house to knock down some giant icicles for Samantha to play with...


"You betta watch yourself!"


Kids playing while parents are shoveling...


Xin Nian Kuai Le, New Year's morning...


At the Rockville Theatre for new year festival with friend...


All the way down in Chinatown for the celebration. Lions, Firecrackers, and Dragons, Oh My!






B got creative with some boxes lying around the kitchen...





Here's a favorite recent pasttime...pulling each other around with the truck and the wagon..






Breakfast time video...

more fun in the fluff...

The snow really came down this weekend, this time it was the fluffy kind, not great for snowman-making but perfect for falling into and throwing in the air.

Here's Brendan donning the puffy snowsuit once again...


It was tough for Samantha to walk around in it, but was a little easier when Daddy blazed a path first...


We made a deep snow cave for her princess and dwarf friends to hang out in...




We rode the hill out back during the last storm, so we decided to up the excitement level a notch by making the run even faster. Building an extension at the top was easy with all the snow around to take from.



Daddy strapped in and rode down several times and Samantha also took many turns sitting on the board and riding down...

Morning snow play....

First snow of the year, it was coming down hard this morning and continues to accumulate, the grass is almost completely covered....

Brendan stayed warm in his hand-me-down snowsuit from his Uncle Thierry...




Breakfast anyone?


Big Sis and Little Bro...




The snow was nice and wet, perfect for rolling a snowman....

And the beat goes on....

Here is Brendan getting down to the dance music channel...



Here is Samantha singing a chinese song...