Jenie and Frank dot com slash blog

Wow, 7 married months already!  We are spending the evening relaxing at home, eating Chipotle burritos for dinner, and watching the season finale of The Bachelor and tonight’s episode of 24.  It takes some good planning to get all the t.v. in, but having DVR helps!

My sister added a new dog to her family–a Shiba Inu (just what I want for our next one) named Pasco.  She sent pictures tonight and Daisy and Pasco look so cute hanging out together.  I wish we could get a brother or sister for Kiya to play with, but I know it’s not the best idea right now.  And Frank says we have to wait for when we have more room.  I guess a furry addition will have to wait.  Bummer.

We can’t believe how quickly February flew by!  I know that as we get older, life gets busier, but wow!  We’re welcoming March–one of my favorite months–already!

Besides celebrating 6 months and Kiya’s 4th birthday, we also celebrated our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.  Nothing fancy, but we did enjoy a yummy dinner at a friend’s restuarant. Frank had crab cakes and lamb (of course), and he even ordered dessert! 

Toasting with strawberry champagne

Earlier in the month, we were invited to attend a Lexus event where they were introducing the all-new RX sport utility vehicle.  We love going to Lexus events because, besides the cars, they always serve yummy food and drinks.  As Frank says, you can’t turn down free food!  This time, they had a photo booth too, so we took our first photo booth pictures together.

The new RX is pretty darn cool by the way.  Much bigger of a vehicle than I’m used to, but definitely cool.

Friends of ours also welcomed their new babies into the world this month!  Congrats to TK and Theresa on the birth of their son, Jake, and to Mariza and Troy on the birth of their twins, Samantha and Seth!  Yea for babies!

It seems that we are becoming auntie and uncle more and more these days, and we love it!  Yes, everyone knows I love babies and we seem to be the only married couple in our groups of friends without kiddos, but we are enjoying being newlyweds!   So for our friends who keep asking, we are sticking to auntie and uncle, not becoming mommy and daddy (except to Kiya) any time soon (that’s the plan anyway). 

Unfortunately, February also brought sad news for one of our friends, who lost a dear family member after a long battle with an illness.  It is at times like these that we’re reminded to cherish those we love and live every day to the fullest, and to not sweat the small stuff.  To our dear friend, our thoughts are with you and your family.  We love you very much and we are here for you anytime you need anything.

We are now looking forward to March, where business looks to be very positive at the store.  We hope to find a weekend to hit the slopes, or at least take Kiya on her first trip to the snow.  Odd that we haven’t done that in the three years we’ve had her…

We celebrated Kiya’s 4th birthday today!  She had a fun-filled day and we spoiled her with birthday gifts of food and toys!

It was also 3 years ago today that we found her at the Oakland SPCA and welcomed her into our lives.  We fell asleep last night talking about all the fun, frustrating, crazy, lovable moments we’ve had with her.  We can’t believe that it’s been 3 years already.

Kiya enjoying her ‘birthday cake’ cookie

Kiya with Daddy and her new squeaky squirrel

Kiya with Mommy, squirrel, and Blue (a gift from grandma and grandpa Leung)

Kiya playing with her new squirrel

Craving her doggie ice cream

Enjoying her ice cream

Ice cream’s all done!

Happy Birthday to our Bubba!  We love you so much and we feel so lucky to have found you!

We celebrated 6 months of marriage today with a dinner time visit to The Counter, Frank’s favorite burger joint.  Yummy.

While wondering around Santana Row afterward, we came across Pinkberry!  We didn’t know that Santana Row had one.  We’ve been addicted to frozen yogurt lately (Froggie in Fremont has been our usual yogurt place) so we of course headed right over to see what the hype is all about.

Our conclusions:  I got the original flavor (tart) and Frank got pomegranate ($2.50 and $3.50 respectively for the small size).  Yummy yogurt, but over-priced for what you get.  The cups seemed to have so much empty space in them after they were filled with the yogurt.  We felt gyped eating the one and half swirls you get, but it was good.  We’ll stick with Froggie. 

As you may know, Frank and I adopted Kiya from a local SPCA about 3 years ago.  Obviously, the plight of shelter dogs has become close to our hearts.  Shelters are often overcrowded and depend on donations of money, food, blankets, and even toys to be able to care for homeless/unwanted animals.

You may have seen Pedigree’s “Maybe You Should Get a Dog” Super Bowl commercial.  Well, here’s something easy you can do to help!  Pedigree has a couple of videos on their website, and for every video watched, they will donate a bowl of food to dogs in shelters.  Last I checked, the videos had been viewed 220,936 times.  That’s a lot of meals donated to shelter pups!  Please help!

www.pedigree.com/03Adoption/superbowl/?CID=SB3648&zjxj=01400004W2503022W903W0

I spent the early afternoon celebrating at a baby shower for Mariza and her twins.  Fun times!  It’s crazy how quickly time flies by!  It was only two years ago that we were at her son Sean’s shower, and now he’ll be ‘big brother’ to two new babies!  Congrats to the Nelson family!  You’ll be an amazing family of 5!

Later in the day, Frank and I enjoyed a couple’s massage.  Ahhh…Relaxing times!  For Christmas this past year, Frank received a massage gift card from Santa (aka me) for all of his hard work and for being a good fiance/hubby all year.  :)  We decided to take advantage of the Santa’s gift after a long, very busy January.

I think we both fell asleep a number of times during our massages.  We’ve just been so tired lately.  After an hour and a half, we left very relaxed and somewhat refreshed.  What a great way to spend a Saturday evening!  We wish we could have more massage Saturdays!

We got the chance to go to two Warriors games over the last few weeks.  We watched our Warriors play against the Lakers on January 7.  We played valiantly, and were even ahead by a few points here and there throughout the game, but we succumbed to what was a better team in the end.  It was a fun game to watch though!

In our Warriors gear.  My cousin joined us and she proudly wore her Lakers gear.

Down by 6…the point at which we left the game.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we watched the Warriors play the Washington Wizards from the 4th row!  The players look HUGE from that vantage point.  This time, our team won by a very large margin.  Fun times!

Our seats in the 4th row

During the games, there are these guys that come out onto the floor to throw free stuff out into the crowd during time outs.  Every time, Frank stands up, jumps up and down, and waves his arms around to get their attention.  This time, from the 4th row, he thought he had a pretty good chance.  But again, it wasn’t to be.  No free stuff for us!

Warriors win!

We’re now trying to decide what new jerseys we want to buy.  Frank is currently wearing #5, Baron Davis.  I have #2, Mickael Pietrus.  We got these jerseys two seasons ago, but these two players are no longer with the team.  I’m debating between Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins.  Not sure about Frank…

I told Frank a few days ago that I wanted to take him out to dinner for his birthday and that he should start thinking about where he wanted to go.  This afternoon, he told me he had decided.  Guess where we went for dinner…Little Sheep Mongolia Hot Pot!  Surprise surprise!

We had a yummy, spicy dinner–lots of lamb for him and veggies for me–and then came home to open presents and eat a surprise fruit tart.  All in all, not a bad birthday! 

What has to be one of Frank’s favorite things–hot pot!

Me and my veggies

Frank, Kiya, and presents

A new Wii game for Frank

Birthday dessert

Happy Birthday baby!

It’s Frank’s 33rd birthday today!  Hooray!  Though he’s not too happy about turning another year older, he has much to be proud of in his 33 years! Kiya and I wish you a very Happy Birthday and a fabulous year ahead!  We love you!

We’ve been married for 5 months now and the last few weeks have been very exciting and busy for us and the Leung family.  Let’s review:

*Christmas:  We spent pretty much all of Christmas vacation in Turlock so we could help my sister prepare for her New Year’s Eve wedding.  The Leung family house was bustling this year with a new son-in-law (Frank), a soon-to-be son-in-law (Alex), and an aunt and uncle visiting from Hong Kong.  Though we all decided to go low-key on gifts this year, we still had plenty to open.

Kiya was completely spoiled not only by her mommy and daddy, but by her aunties, uncles, and our friends as well!    She has plenty of new toys to learn by name and treats to snack on.  Kiya says “thanks!” 

Aside from my stomach issues, we had a great Christmas.  After throwing up 6 (yes 6!) times on Christmas Eve due to either a questionable pearlie drink from a pho restaurant or a 24-hour flu bug, I spent Christmas day afraid to eat.  That was hard because there was a lot of yummy holiday food around the house.

About to open our presents

Frank, Kiya, and cousin Max with my Dad’s new reindeer

Kiya opening one of her presents

The aftermath–the box didn’t survive!

Kiya and her Papas playing with a toy he picked out

*California vs. Miami in the Emerald Bowl 12-27-08:  My dad, sister Anita, Frank, and I went to watch Cal play Miami in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco.  We went to a pre-game party and ate some yummy appetizers before heading into the park, and then had plenty to eat during the game as well.  We were lucky enough to watch the game from the luxury boxes, though the people around us probably thought we were pretty nutty with all of our screaming.  Go Bears!

At the pre-game party at ACME Chophouse 

Inside AT&T Park

The bride-to-be, me, Frank, and dad

Right before kick-off

*Anita and Alex’s Wedding 12-31-08:  My sister Anita married her long-time boyfriend of 10 years on New Year’s Eve.  The bride was beautiful and her love of pink was reflected throughout.  It was perfectly Anita!  Congrats you two!  We are so happy for you!  (Pictures from the wedding to be posted when I get permission from the bride and groom.)

The sisters at the rehearsal dinner

Frank and me (in my bridesmaid glory) before the ceremony.  It was SO cold!

Daddy, Mommy, and me

Just two more days of vacation left…bummer!