The Zhao Family

On Nov 26, 2017 at exactly 4:57pm we were still able to convince the security guard at the museum door to let us in to see Clayton's art piece before it's taken down and gone forever at 5:00pm.

But before we continue to what happened next, we will back track all the way to Nov 18,2017. We we received an invitation in the mail to go to Clayton's Art displayed at the museum, which was only three days before the event. Well that's a problem because Clayton also had a violin recital on the same day as the event. So Abbey contacted the teacher about it's significance and what scale of recognition this reception was. The teacher then in turn contacted the director of the program which then contacted another person in charge of running this program. The next day Abbey received an answer that it was just a recognition program and no awards will given out that day. So Abbey decided that it was not worth the 45 minute drive, find parking, and miss out on Clayton solo recital. So we skipped it. 

Abbey knew Clayton's Artwork is only one of six students' artwork selected from each county and will only be displayed until Nov 26, 2017. So she would like to see his work displayed at the Walter Art's Museum at Baltimore MD on the way home from our NY. So that's why we planned to leave NY at noon on that day. We were still at church at the Chinese 8th Ave Branch in Brooklyn. We leave around noon to give us ample time for the drive from New York to Baltimore. According to our gps and maps, it'll take only three hours to get there but we know that it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving traffic which we anticipate will be bad. The drive was actually smooth and fast and we thought we would have plenty of time to make it there, until we reach the Maryland state line. Traffic went from from six lanes and merged into four. For the next 60 miles it was stop and go traffic at no more than 30mph, instead of 70mph but there were no accidents. It was really bad. It took us nearly two hours to travel that 60 miles. 

At this point the hope of making it into the museum was diminishing but Abbey still had hope. By the time Da exited the highway it was 4:35. He had less than 25 minute to travel about 18 miles in the local streets full of traffic lights before the museum closes. Let's just put it this way, the kids were wide awake, clenching onto their seat belts afraid for their lives as Brennan said with fear "Dad, I've never seen you drive this fast before!" 

With ,let's just say, "not-so-smooth driving" through the streets of downtown Baltimore in 22 minutes, Da slammed the brakes right in front of the museum three minutes before it closes. Clayton and Abbey flew out of our van in hopes to get in the museum. Cayleigh hop out of the van and followed pursuit. They cautiously pulled the entrance doors at the museum to see if it's locked; it was not! There they met the security guard looking at them strangely entering the building three minutes before it closes. Abbey explained that they are looking for Clayton's art piece that was displayed. The guard continued to stare at them and hesitantly stated, "You've got one minute." 

Off they went and and within five seconds, right at the top of the stairs was a display staring at them with the words "Montgomery County" and the first piece under those words was Clayton's piece! They were ecstatic to find it so quick and so prominently displayed!

We were blessed!

2017-11-26 Three minutes of hope

***   2012-12-01 - Read the bottom for an update   ***

********   Update as of  2017-12-01   ********

Today Clayton comes home to tell us that during school many of this classmates went up to him to congratulate him from the morning announcements. Apparently he was mentioned twice for the two art awards he received: one from Maryland Art Education Associates (MAEA) which is shown at Walter's Art Museum at Baltimore (the one we went to see this past Saturday) and another one is Martin Luther King's interpretation of "Fulfilling the Dream"! 

Cayleigh brought home Clayton's MAEA certificate of excellence from Clayton's 5th Grade Art Teacher Ms. Romeo. Great job kiddo! We're proud of you!

So apparently it's been three years since we've visited friends in Brooklyn. We used to go up every year the next day after Thanksgiving but I guess we were busy or had others things. It's been such a long time since we've gone there that there was a lot of catching up to do.

First stop as usual is stop by our old landlord, Leung Popo. It's where Abbey and Da used to live when we were in NYC. She was an awesome landlord who bought Da many breakfasts while he help her fix the house. So each time we go back to visit, we would bring a pot of Poinsettia flowers (Home Depot Black Friday $.99 sale) and give it to her. She get to see our kids as they grow and grow and we get to tell our kids stories of how we lived when we were there. 

Well apparently she rather have us bring fruits than flowers. :)

Next stop is Diane ma's house. She's really happy to see the kids.

CC is such a sweet young man helping to walk with popo to go to yumcha.

Gossip girls....hehehe

Dim sum is always good with friends and popo

When we took popo home, we sat down and talk about so many things from when we moved there and how we lived and how she misses us and see our old room. Popo haven't changed much although she is almost 90 years old. She brought a photo of when we took it with her back in 2003 in her apartment. She told us that she puts the photo on her desk next to her bed so when she wakes up she sees us every morning! She doesn't even have photos of her family there!

We were so young and we had such a good time! 

Abbey teaching her how to use WeChat on smartphone..it's pretty interesting. Below she shows us her stash of 'mahjong money' Basically she would put a certain amount in there and in the end of the year she'll count how much she wins/looses, and with the winning money she would go out to buy little things for other older people. She is so sweet.

Kaiyeh is a pretty cool dude too! Apparently he doesn't smile a lot nor take a lot of photos, not even with his sons. Somehow Da is able to make him smile and take a photo with him smiling!

After much planning and changing plans, the next day we decided to go to the heart of NYC, 42nd Street, Broadway where it represents pretty much all of NYC and the US.

We got some NYC pizza and then we compared them to Chicago pizza that we had during our Summer trip. The kids liked NYC pizza more. Afterward we went to the library!

And Union Station!!

First time kids been on Dave and Busters! The older kids really really enjoyed it but younger ones didn't like it much because they don't understand how to play most of the games.

Made a pit stop at McDonalds for a quick snack before heading to Macy's famous store front windows of Christmas themes. Each window is a different display of how Christmas can be displayed. They are pretty amazing!

Then Abbey finally get to meet up with one of her best friends from college, Mavis, to eat at the Korean Restaurant. We're glad she made reservations, when we arrived, not only were the lines outside like 15 people back but it lines all the way inside packed all the way up to the top of the stairs. The food was OK but the people there kept rushing us out by asking "Finish" every two minutes until we left.

While staying two nights at the Yaus, they were awesome cooking an incredible breakfast for us before church!

Abbey's friend, Angela and her daughter below (middle)