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.