Johnna's Birthday Pool Party & Feast!

Sunday was Father's Day AND Johnna's Birthday! Johnna is a dear friend of ours. She's charming, creative, the perfect host, and a supermom! Her husband (Scott) and girls (Chanel and Izzy) are simply fabulous too. They became our neighbors several years ago when Scott and Johnna married, but we moved recently and miss seeing them everyday.

Scott put on a pool party and crab feast for Johnna's birthday that was fit for royalty. All the seafood you could eat and some of the best birthday cupcakes you can find anywhere made by another close friend of theirs.

We had a blast at Johnna's party. Grace, Go Go, Kayleigh, Che Kei (Cherry), and I enjoyed the afternoon with all of Johnna's close friends and family. We spent time with Scott's sister Kelly, aunt Karen, and close friend's Able & Tiffany, Tom & Vangie, all their kids and more.

Here are a few pics from Johnna's party:

[all photos by -GK3]

Much Love -GK3

Happy Birthday Go Go!

Our son, Go Go, celebrated his 3rd birthday in style. First, while he was visiting our family in Hong Kong in May, they threw a birthday party for he and "Po Po" (his Grandmother). He scored several Thomas and Friend's trains including: Spencer, Gordon and Edward. Spencer quickly became his favorite. He and Spencer explore the house together everyday with great fanfare.

Since Go Go's actual birthday arrived shortly after he returned from Hong Kong, we scheduled the big party for the weekend. All his favorite people joined us for his big day. Our zainy friends: Scott, Johnna, Izzy and Chanel arrived from Falls Church. Our whacky crew Gary, Olga, Skye and Nathan drove all the way from Southern Maryland and the our Chinese Hip Hop trio: Che Kei, Joanne, and Fai completed the formula for perfect mayhem.

Everyone had a blast, even Go Go. Though he managed to give himself one heck of a shiner when he ran into the corner of our dining room table. Thanks to all our family and friends who made Go Go's day a brilliant one.

[all photos by -GK3]

Much Love, -Dad

Hong Kong Girl

[photo by GK3]

We let the grandparents in Hong Kong give our kids their Chinese names.  While they gave our son a cool name, "Go Go" (short for Go Ming), they couldn't choose a name that matched my daughter's personality. Her English name, Kayleigh, is my favorite Irish name and is inspired by my Irish roots.  

Kayleigh is a happy baby with a charming personality and great determination.  According to Chinese lunar calendar, the time of her birth connects her with four (4) of the five (5) elements associated with all things Chinese (Gold, Wood, Fire, Water and Earth). She needs a stronger association with water, so her Chinese name must have a great connection to the water element.

Hong Kong has long been a great city on the water.  It is the source of great prosperity for all who live there and is the magic that makes Hong Kong so beautiful.  My wife suggested we give her a name that has a connection to Hong Kong.  Hong Kong girl, is the perfect name for Kayleigh and resonates with her wonderful personality.  

The translation for Hong Kong Girl is Gong Yee. It's a name that suits our daughter well and the name we call her by everyday.

Much Love, -Dad

View from the Washington Monument...

[photo by GK3]

A couple of months ago, Grace, Go Go, Gong Yee and I visited the Washington Monument at the heart of our Nation's Capital in Washington D.C.. We reserved the tickets on-line back in December and we hoped for a bright warm day. When we finally arrived at the Washington Monument, we were greeted by a cold, cloudy and windy day. Luckily, we bundled up the kids and brought some blankets.

It was an amazing journey to the top of the Washington Monument. It is the tallest free-standing stone structure in the world (means there is no "mortar" holding the stones together, wow).

It was my first time to the top of the Washington Monument in twenty (20) years or more. There has been an incredible amount of construction within the view from top of the monument. The kids had a great time and were fast asleep when we returned to the car.

Talk about a room with a "view", the observatory at the top of the Washington Monument is spectacular (more so than ever). From the observation deck, we could see the World War II Monument, the United States Capitol, the Smithsonian Museums (Castle Headquarters, Air & Space, Natural History, Science & Technology/American History), the National Gallery of Art, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Ellipse, and the White House. Washington D.C. is a beautiful city. Please enjoy the pictures we took with our Nikon S6 digital camera.

Much Love, -GK3

The White House (nice diggs Mr. O!)
[photo by GK3]

The Reagan Building ( middle)

[photo by GK3]

Museum of Natural history (foreground)

and the National Galleries of Art (next door)

[photo by GK3]

The World War II Memorial (foreground)

and The Lincoln Memorial (background)
[photo by GK3]

The World War II Memorial (foreground)

and The Lincoln Memorial (background)
[photo by GK3]

The Washington "Mall" and the Smithsonian "Castle" (foreground)

and the United States Capitol (background)

[photo by GK3]

The Jefferson Memorial ( most elegant of them all)
[photo by GK3]

The Ellipse (foreground) and the White House

[photo by GK3]

If you have pictures from the top of the Washington Monument, please write a comment and share the URL for your images. Cheers, -G