2025

Pumpkin patch

This year we visited Spina Farm in south San Jose for you two to play with dinosaurs and pumpkins. Mama and I took Jack here almost every year. Except 2024, I was not in the mood of doing anything. I was exhausted and tired all the times. It made me happy to see you guys walked around holding hands and enjoy yourselves.

Your first day at school for 2025

Finding a nearby school environment that can take both of you wasn't easy. After much consideration, I settled for Merry Hill. We have a couple of friends sending their kids there (auntie Joy and uncle Minh). Their feedbacks are good with a few complains, but again, I can no longer chase perfection. I was in need of a place where it's safe, provide you with some education and where you grow.

This school year of 2025, Kiet is in pre-school (they call it intermediate 3-4 years of age) and Kiet is in toddler (between 1-2 years of age). Kien cried quite a bit on his first few days. It was a new place for him after getting used to the Chinese daycare. Kiet seemed to adapt to the new environment quite well. I was worry if Kiet would know how to use the toilet and washing his hand. At home he always asked for my help, so I wondered if he would get any help at school.

You two did not tell me how nervous you were on your first day, but let me tell you this, I was nervous. At the daycare they provided lunch so I did not have to do anything. Here at Merry Hill, I got up extra early that day to make sure I get everything ready (shoes, clothes, lunch, linens, snacks...etc) for you. It was a bigger classroom compared to the daycare so I was worried you might not receive the proper care. Sorry Kiet, the backpack I got for you was a bit too big for you. One side of the strap couldn't stay on your shoulder. For Kien, I used the old backpack Mama got for Kiet when he was two (just about the same age as you are now). I packed your water, lunch and linens in your bag so it was quite heavy. As you can see in the video, Kien almost tipped over. It was quite funny watching Kien walked with the backpack on the first day.

Over the next few days, I got the logistic down to the tee. From what to feed you for breakfast to packing your lunch. I always tried to get you in the car by 8am so I can go to work, but most of the time, that never happened. I did not make you carry your backpack. I was able to fit all your lunches and water in a shatchel so you can be free.

Until Kien is out of diaper, both of you will stay here at Merry Hill for while (at least until January 2027). For now, learn as much as you can. Be nice to your teachers and classmate. Most importantly, have fun while you are at it.

Good luck boys

2024

2023 - The Year James Kien Arrived

2022 - The Year Jack Kiet Arrived

And The Years Before Your Arrivals

August 2020

This trip was very spontaneous. We both had a Friday off from work and decided to drive east for camping. After driving for about 2 and half hours, we decided to pull in the first ranger station we saw and checked out which campground(s) is open and what were our options. We randomly picked Bear River Reservoir because we thought we was not a popular place and might have open spot. Off we went and boy, we were so lucky. We got a pretty good spot overlooking the lake and within a few minutes walking. We ended up spending 2 nights there. I remembered it was hot that year so we'd went dipping after a morning hike and before dinner.

While in the area, we also stumbled on what people called 'water holes'. Basically it is a creek with deep rock formation in some area where you can jump in. It was quite fun actually.

We were young and free. The only 2 things we responsible for were performed well at work and pay our bills.

June 2022

We were big in cycling. At some point, we had 4-5 bicycles in the garage, for all sort of purposes. With a longer day light in the summer, sometimes, we hopped on the bike after dinner and went for Vietnamese dessert (che). And just like that, we found happiness through little simple thing in life.

Feb 2020

Believe it or not, Mama was an avid snowboarder. She loved the speed. I, sometimes, had a hard time keeping up with her. Every winter we would go up to Tahoe to play in the snow. If we skied in the northern part of the lake, we'd stayed with uncle Scott and Johannes. Their cabin is at the bottom of a ski resort and there was shuttle bus comes by to pick us up. It was first class service. After a long day of skiing/snowboarding, we would come back to the cabin for snack and prep for dinner.

05 July 2019

Kiet & Kien, on this day 7/5/2019, I made a promise to Mama that I would love, care and be with her to the very end. I want you to remember that when you make a promise to someone, make sure you meant it, make sure you keep it, make sure you honor it. If you can not do those things, no one will ever trust you or taking you seriously. And if you don't think you can keep your promise, just simply do not make one.

December 2017

Your Mama loved museum. Everywhere we visited, she would find a museum to learn about the the place and its culture. Christmas 2017 was an unusual holiday, I was in Japan working for a month prior, and decided not to go back to the US. Mama and I would spend a month in Viet Nam instead - just roaming around.

This part of the trip, we were in Buon Ma Thuot. A small city in the highland. It was a city where your grandpa and grandma met and married. I still have an uncle and an aunt live there, so we thought we paid them a visit.

November 2017

I like photography. I don't think of it so much in the art form but rather to tell story through still images. And a good portrait can tell a lot about the subject. I was Just never good enough or have the courage to make a career out of it. I kept it as a hobby and that was it.

This was a studio portrait portfolio I put together for one of my classes with Mama strike some yoga poses for me.

October 2017

This place is called Thousand Islands Lake in the Eastern Sierra with trailhead started in Mammoth. We were fit and strong back then. We chose to be up there in October for the Autumn foliage and avoid the mosquitos. This was one of many backpacking trips and also our favorite. The route we took was long. Thirteen miles each way with elevation gained of over 2,000'. But it was well worth it. We had never seen anything this beautiful. Yes literally, thousand of little islands (rocks) scattered in the lake with a stunning backdrop of Mt. Ritter. We were carefree back then.

July 2017

I am never much of an animal person. Perhaps, I just do not think having possession of another living thing (animal in this case) is the right thing to do. But again, it's just me - a loner if you come to think of it.

Mama was really into horses. Riding them. Taking care of them. Reading about them. Learning about dressage (horse pallet). And she was good at it. I would say, her passion for horses was as much as my passion for riding bicycle. We could never be on the same trail at the same time (horse doesn't like bicyclist for some reason 😀)

During our time together before having kids, I'd tagged along to her endurance ride and made a camping trip out of it. I would take my mountain bike with me, rode a head of them and stopped to photograph.

Prologue

Dear Jack and James

There will be times in life, to move forward, you have to back and connect the dots. Your memories of Mama are nearly nonexistence. Only through images, writing and stories. I can only tell you so much through the years that Mama and I were together. But there was a whole life of Mama before that. Her youth, her works and her faith - they will give you more clues to complete your image of Mama. As I have travelled to the most northern part of Viet Nam to learn about my ancestry, I encourage you to do the same. Make it a life long goal.

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