Happy 5th Anniversary...

Well, we finally hit half a decade, that's five years of marriage for Nyoka and mysef. So many things have happen since we got married. Lets recap; Nyoka went to Physical Therapy School. I went to Preventive Medicine Tech school. The October 2003 San Diego fire, Aron and Chris staying in California, transfering to Camp Pendleton, moving to Fallbrook, moving 3 different times in San Diego, conception of our first baby, the birth of Dominic, and fianlly me deploying to Iraq and making it back safe and sound.

I was in Iraq when Nyoka had decided to make plans and arranged for our anniversary. I was going to plan it but she sounded so thrilled and wild about plannung our anniversary. Even though she was planning the event, I thought that I would just look and plan a back up plan. Temecula is a neighboring city just north of Falllbrook and there were lots of things to do, especially out in wine country. Our 3rd anniversary she had planned a weekend out that way and she wanted to explore the wine country but something came up and we did not do what she had planned for us to do. Anyways, I thought that I would make it up to her.

One day a got a message from her saying that the Bead and Breakfast that she planned for us to go was not in the business anymore. I immediately wrote her back and told her that I'll plan the anniversary. I got back on the internet and started to look for B&B's around Temecula. I was also looking for something exciting to do. I ran across and hot air balloon tour and thought, now that is a great idea. I also found a B&B that was recommeded by the hot air balloon company. Mind you that I was in Iraq looking and planning. The balloon company also launched their balloon at a vinyard, which was perfect because I had pallned on taking her for wine tasting.

When I got back to the states, I immediately started to make plans and book reservation for the B&B and the balloon ride. I told her that we were going to do base jumping for our anniversary. She did not mind it at all, so she says.

Well I'll stop typing and the pictures well tell all. Enjoy.

Dominic's First Birthday...

One year ago from today, we were eagerly anticipating the arrival of our most precious gift & as most will remember the best part was not knowing whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl. Well on 04 November 2005, God blessed us w/the most precious baby we’d ever laid eyes on. On this day, Dominic Loc Luciano Duong made his, long awaited, grand entrance into our HUGE family.

The day we were leaving the hospital to come home, there was a saying that we saw painted on the wall & oh how true. Here’s what it said:

A Son . . .
There is nothing like the blessing of a little baby boy to fill your home w/sunshine & fill your heart w/joy. With hugs & bugs & footballs, baseballs, toys & grins, you’ll cherish all the memories that you will share w/him. Take the time to walk & talk, to share his dreams & plans, all too soon your little boy will grow to be a man.

Looking back over the past year, granted the journey hasn’t been smooth sailing, my how time fly’s. Dominic, you have grown from a state of total dependence, to one of wonder and curiosity. Our little explorer, you truly have amazed us in this past year & we can’t wait to see what lies ahead, however, no rush. Thank you for filling this chapter of our lives w/great joy. We love you, mommy & daddy.




Ok, enough of the mushy stuff. We had a big to do @ the house w/loads of friends & family. The theme was baby Einstein & as for the food…It was a mixture of both cultures. We had Vietnamese fried rice, egg rolls & shrimp chow mien, w/pasta salad (the Italian side) & veggies. Dominic received tons of gifts, gift cards & cash (which ended up in his bank account). But more importantly we spent the day w/all of whom we love and care about. To all thanks for making Dominic's special day the best.

Well hope you enjoyed the “brief synopsis,” now enjoy the pictures.

Halloween 2006...

This time last year Dominic was still "baking in the oven," so to speak. This year we got to share the fun of dressing up w/him. The daycare center had a Harvest Festival where each class would go from room to room trick or treating. Each class was dressed differently. There was a class of commandos, a class dressed as lady bugs and such. Dominic's class was dressed up as pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. They made their hats, and little cuffs for their legs out of construction paper. The cutest part was their shirts. The pumpkin design was already their, but the little tykes got to finger paint their pumpkins. Let's just say that all still need practice coloring between the lines.

Later that evening we got dressed up as a family. Obviously Dominic was a monkey, Tam decided he wanted to be a punked out clown & I was trying to be Jane Jetson from the cartoon way back in the day. Let's just say when I dye my hair, red won't be the color I choose. We thought Dominic would be afraid of his daddy's costume, but he kept poking him in the eyes and laughing. Since Dominic is still to young to eat candy we decided to stay home and pass out candy. Dominic tried his best to be a big helper, but all he wanted to do was keep the candy for himself. All in all it was a great time had bay all.

Now please, if you will direct you attention to the slide show below. Love ya'll.

Pumpkin Patch Experience...

Nyoka and I took Dominic to a pumpkin patch this past Saturday. I think he really enjoyed it. It was a place called, "Bates Nut Farm", in Escondido. The place was packed full of kids and their parents. Parking was a nightmare and it was not a regular parking lot. The parking lot was a big grass area and it was laid down with a lot of hay. They had games, food, crafts, pony rides, petting zoo and a bunch of other activities for the kids. I think it was the only time that kids out numbered the adults. It was really fun for the three of us. If I knew this place exisited when Aron and Chris was here, I know that I would have taken them here to pick out there own pumpkins. Well I'll let the pictures tell the story of fun and exciting time at Bates Nut Farm.

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

My First Trip To Disneyland...

Daddy and Mommy finally took me to Disneyland this past weekend and I had loads of fun. We meet a lot of the characters and took pictures with them. The hard part was waiting in line to take pictures with them. But overall it was worth the wait.

The fun part of the nmorning was the breakfast. We had breakfast with Minnie Mouse and her friends. There was Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeore, Fairy God Mother, Chip and Dale, Captian Hook and many more. Breakfast was awesome too. I had an omlet, some pancakes, orange juice and potato. MMMMmmm, it was good.

We walked to Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Mickey's Toon Town. I meet Mickey inside his house. We toured his house and at the end of the tour he was waiting for us. Mommy and I took pictures with him. Well I was asleep but but I know that I would have enjoyed meeting Mickey.

Well here are some pictures of the trip to Disneyland...

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

1st Trip 2 Da Beach

This past weekend we hung out in Los Angeles, visiting with Tam's sisters. For the most part we just hung out with family, starting w/a birthday dinner party for one of the cousins on Friday. So Saturday we decided to go to the beach. This was Dominic's first experience at the beach and I must say he really enjoyed it.

Although the water was colder than expected. We only got our feet wet, yes, the water was just that cold. Dominic loved playing on the swings (which we haven't seen at any park), crawling around in the sand (of which he chased a bird), but his most memorable moment came when he decided he wanted to eat some of the sand. Walking was even a bit of a challenge, but he looked absolutely adorable in all his attempts.

Besides the beach, Dominic learned how to climb stairs, open doors & push buttons on a gate. Not to mention he liked taking off CD's & DVD's from his aunt's entertainment center. Let's just say he kept us busy, but we tuckered him out.

Anyhow, we hope you enjoy the following pictures.

Talking intently w/Aunt Linh.

Taking a stroll down to the water w/daddy.

"I don't think I'm ready for this!"

"Buddy, it'll be ok. Mommy will go w/you."

"Can you say, cheese?"

"Weeeeeeeee...."

"Well, I had a real fun day. Let's go wake dad up now."

"Look at me go...and go..."

"Hey I can climb stairs. Look out world."

Surprise

Well after 28 years, I've finally done it. I mustered up the courage to get, yeap you guessed it, a tattoo. Shocker, not quite sure. After all, I do have my navel pierced. As for the experience: it didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would & no I didn't cry; the most sensitive spot was over the spine itself; the artist did a remarkable job drawing up the design; he also did a great job explaining the process of how things would go; but most importantly was the sterile technique. After all that's been said and done, I would do it again, although I thought about backing out all weekend. Anyhow, I thought that I'd share the exciting news with you all as well as a picture or two. Hope you enjoy.

Love ya'll,

Nyoka

P.S. Chris, this is the surprise I was referring too.

(these pictures speak for themselves.)

...Updates...

Sorry it's been awhile since our last entry. However, since Tam's return we've been go go go, and not to mention spending quality time together with family & friends. Any how here's updates of the latest and greatest in our lives thus far:

#1: 5 days before Tam's return, my friend from school & his wife welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl. Congrats again you guys. What an awesome gift. Here's her stats:

Name: Ruth Jamison Fletcher

Birthdate: 26 August 2006 (hey another august baby)

Weight: 5 lbs & 13 ozs

Length: 19 inches

Baby Jamison was born 5 weeks early, but very healthy and happy. We can't wait to see you guys again. December's just around the corner, literally.

1st mother (Cherish) & daughter (Baby Jamison) picture.

Miss Ruth Jamison Fletcher, welcome. We can't wait to meet you.

#2: Tam arrived on 8/31/06, as you can tell from our last entry.

#3: 9/2/06, we had a BBQ with friends and family to welcome home Tam. Sorry we didn't take pictures, but we sure did have a lot of great food, not to mention a wonderful time visiting and catching up with family & friends. Thanks, Rhianon for helping make Tam's welcome home sign. We still have it hanging in the garage.

Thanks again, Rhianon, for sharing your talent with me. Plus I had a blast just hanging out with you.

#4: Again, just a lot of catching up with family and friends & not to mention hanging out around the house.

#5: 9/16/06, Tam & I went shopping for bikes (the peddling kind :-)). In the end we both came away with Gary Fisher bikes. Tam has a Big Sur & I have a Tassajara. Can't wait for our first riding trip, but we still need to get a trailer for Dominic. That way he can enjoy our adventures with us, so I guess we'll have to wait.

Later on that same evening, we went to dinner with our friends The Alabaladejo's (Joe, Regina & Isabelle-Izzy). Okay, so we all must love to hang out and eat and our favorite food must be Thai. Just got to love good food and even better company. My how Izzy has grown and what a cutie to boot. Look out Joe, she'll be dating before we can all say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (yes, I looked this one up).

Daddy (Joe) & his little girl (Isabelle).

Mommy (Regina) & her baby girl (Isabelle).

#6: 9/17/06, after church today, Tam, Dominic & I met up w/our long time friends the Boles' family (Mike, Teresa, Brenna, Jared & Alexandra). We met up for Mexican food @ On The Border. Okay so you're thinking we must just be eating fools and fat by now as it seems like we're always eating. But after lunch we walked around the mall (burning calories & all the food we just ate) & then headed to Cold Stone for some desert. It was rather refreshing as the temperature outside was 97 degrees.

Al "cheesing" for the camera, sitting on daddy's lap.

Dominic w/Uncle Mike & Al.

Well that sums up our many adventures thus far. So I will close w/a few extra pics, just for Linh. She's a diehard USC fan (duh, it's also her alumni) as well as an Angel's fan (so in love w/Kennedy). Anyhow, Linh, please enjoy. Take care everyone.

Love ya'll

Tam, Nyoka & Dominic

"Well hello there."

"Man I sure like this comb."

Always in the kitchen.

"Here daddy, let me help."

"Well come on already."

"Don't these people ever stop w/these pictures?"

P.S. As if you haven't guessed from one or two of the above pictures, our little one is walking. The day after the BBQ he took his second set of steps (the very first being in July). He did what is father had asked and waited until he came home. Good thing too, we were both excited and forgot to get some of them on tape. Man how amazing, to see the life you've helped create grow.

Finally...

A family reunited

...after countless date changes and games of time changing, our long awaited reunion is over. The buses engines roared and then came to a stop. The doors opened and out our loved ones came. Yesterday, 31 August 2006, @ 12:44pm, Tam arrived home to the awaiting arms of his family, particularly that of Nyoka & Dominic's.

We are going to have a BBQ this weekend, tomorrow actually, to celebrate his return. Gosh, words just can't express how happy I am to have him safely home. With that said I hope ya'll enjoy these pictures. I'm going to go spend time with the family. Love ya'll and thinks for being there for us.

Nyoka

Father & son together again...
Proud parents w/their son & grandson whose hiding behind his little flag.

Family Reunion (Left to Right) Jan, Linh, Mom, Tam w/Dominic, Nyoka & Dad

How sweet, his first day back & he's already asleep in front of the computer.

Day 176...

Well family and friends, the time is near for my home coming. I can not give dates and time but it is near. My time spent here has been helpful to the cause and the mission, I hope. I did the best job that I can with little to no equipment and with little to no support from the present company. Anyways, along the way I meet new friends. I got to know them as much as I can. A lot of them were Marines. Take care of them and they take care of you. You can always count on them to take a bullet for you, fight for you at a bar, stand up for you if others are picking on you. They are just will rounded friends. Just don't ask them to be emotional.

We have moved out of the barracks and into tent city. The barracks went to the new company that is replacing us. Living in the tent is not all that great, but it kind of reminds me of camping but a little bit up scale. The shower trailer and crapper trailer is way better here than it was at the barracks. However I can not wait to be homw taking a real shower and a real crap in a real bathroom. The shower stall is a square box that some people can hardly fit into. Some goes with the crapper. That space is so tight that it is hard to relax. You feel like your trap in a box or something. it is quite frightening. Tent city living. Wide open, just like boot camp.


Well there is not much going on at the moment, again there probably something going on, just can't say what it is. What I can say is that the weather is still hot. Windy at night during the morning hours. Acouple of days ago we had a mini sand storm come through. Oh yeah, there were a lot of clouds in the sky. I have got a few pictures that I'll post later when I get back.

You know I went swimming for the first time in a long time. The last time I went swimming was with Nyoka and Baby D. It has been a year since then. Time does fly by fast. Anyways, it was or is great. A group of us would go swimming at night when the weather is a bit cooler. It just feels real good.

Here a few pictures of new pad that we live in and a picture of the cloud covering. Enjoy and I'll see everyone real soon.


(Above) This is where I sleep. (Below) Here
I am with big smiles because I am going home
real soon.

This is one of many good pictures that I have of the sunsetting.

Swim Pics

Can you find us? Give you one hint. Look left.

Here are some pics of Dominic in his swimming lessons, at home in our pool & at our friend, Glenda's, house. Sorry for the late entry, however, please enjoy.

Dominic enjoys discovering new things in the pool (here we were looking for "fish," "whales," etc.)

"Hey my first pool buddy."

"Mrs. Glenda, hang on tight. Mommy wants to take a picture & I want the camera."

Dominic & mommy @ Glenda's pool. Thanks for the refreshing coolness, Glenda.

"Where did mommy go? Oh, there she is."

"Uh Oh, mommy has that camera again. There's just something about it that attracts me to it."

Isn't he just so cute?

"Rats. She caught me trying to sneak away."

***Not to worry, mommy wasn't far from Dominic. The camera has a what they call a zoom button. I was actually 1-2 inches away. Hope ya'll enjoyed.......