The Zhao Family

It's really nice today and we invited brennan's friend, our neighbor, to come over and play with us. As we were having fun, someone rang the door bell.

"Oh, can I talk to your parent?" to me (I know it's a compliment! but come on !....)

I was on the phone answering tax questions and I had to hang up and talk to these guys who are in their early 20s.

"Eh....are you the owner of the house?"
"yes......"
"Do you currently have internet service with verizon?"
"yes....."
"we would like to upgrade your service for free and give you a $10 dollar discount! it's a great deal"
"........"(ten dollars!! c'mon now that won't get you anything)
"well, how much are you paying currently?!"
"$15 for internet and $20 for phone......"
"what???"(-surprised them!)
"yes, I have per call service and 15 per month internet..."
"oh.....you know.......(blah blah for 5min.........telling me why I should have basic phone serives and the Fios internet service because everyone need to use it by the end of 2009........etc etc)"
"so how much will that be per month?"
"$69.99".....
"great......double my payment?"
"what TV service you have now?!"
"none........"
"well why don't you get the cable from us also...you got 18,000 titles to pick from........"
"but I don't turn on the TV at all, what's the point......."
"well, it's nice to have....(blah blah blah)"
"pay for something I don't even use/watch?? hm......."
"well I am just the "abnormal person" "weird one" in the neighborhood...why don't you just move on"

Selling me something I don't need and don't use, and telling me to change and have to pay for two years so I dont' need to change two years later......don't you think it's lame?

Just make me think again how people are selling and buying things they don't use and don't need. I am sorry I am the "weird" homeowner that don't "buy" your proposal. I don't have $$$$$$ for that.

One interesting point is that. They said because DSL is through phoneline so at least 4-5 people in my neighborhood share the bandwidth, so I should upgrade. I am just thinking, if more of other people upgrade the better, so no one is going to share the bandwidth with me and I still just pay minimum for premium service ;). hahaha

Thanks Verizon but No Thanks !

someone said to me last nite...."it's so nice that someone wrote about how much she/her kids loves her hubby/their daddy....."

so I would like to do something "nice" also....

Why I(We) love DA(daddy) soooooooooo much...
(1) He loves us so much and always shows his love openly.
(2) He always put Abbey and the boys first
(3) He never complains about wife's cooking
(4) He loves spending time with the boys
(5) He gives Abbey massage evern he is super tired.
(6) He always trys to make Abbey happy even sometime he has no clue.
(7) He helps out at home even it's not the most fun things to do.
(8) He makes us laugh in every situation.
(9) He doesn't bring work or worries home
(10) He is a kid himself which makes it alot more fun for the boys
(11) He is gentle and patient (comparative to Abbey). so when Abbey is all red and mad...he is always there to make sure nobody get hurt. hahaha
(12) He loves God and loves to serve others.
(13) He takes great care of others when he is needed. sometime Abbey feels like she has a 100+ extended family members.
(14) He is sincere and trustworthy.
(15) He is funny (Abbey takes it as a great attitbute even other people may think he is not mature/serious as a hubby and daddy)
(16) He loves nature and enjoy nature (the boys see and enjoy the nature as Da introduce them)
(17) He treasures relationships. (he still stay close with friends from his mission, his relatives, his school friends)
(18) He is good at computer stuff (you don't know how glad I am not the one posting all the pics and post on this blog now. and all my friends enjoy his post and description way more than mine.)
(19) He trusts us (he doesn't worry Abbey will spend all the money on non-sense things even he knows he can't do anything if she really does.)
(20) He understands and values the time Abbey stay home with the boys (He let abbey go to MNO (mom's nite out)/GNO (girls' nite out) to keep her sanity)
(21) He loves and takes great pics
(22) He is cheesy and sweet (not in the catagory of handsome guys, but surely greater than alot of them)
(23) He doens't get mad easy (if you can make him mad.....you should seriously consider what you have done!)
(24) He does laundry.........yeah!
(25) He loves reading to the boys
(26) He makes great pancakes on Sat with the boys while Abbey sleeps in
(27) He was the best Young Men President (I still think he is the best!)
(28) He knows all the roads...most of the time (esp compare to Abbey..."where are we again??!")
(29) He saves all the money for Abbey and the boys to spend...(you can tell from the wholes on his PJ)
(30) He loves sharing (even his lunch boxes with co-workers)
the list goes on and on.....

Just want to say We LOVE you, Da!! (keep up your good work!!! working extra hours at home after you come home from your regular job! hahaha) we know you love us and don't mind working extra hours at home =)

This post should make up for all the posts that we were too lazy to post. This is a HUGE post, so be patient for all the pictures to finish loading. If you still use dial-up, let us know we can use postal mail and send you some photos it might get there faster (hehehe)

So our day to DC was fun! It took us 45 mins to get there and 30 mins to find a parking space-nice. During the ride everyone had a nice nap, except the driver so no one was whining or complaining when we got inside. Eventhough its Winter it was 45 F and there we lots of people down in DC. I guess its a really nice day for Winter.


Clayton is becoming more cooperative with taking photos, he has come a long way.


Pigeons beware! my kids will get you!


The infamous "Zhao Cheese" smile. It's great! Da takes pride in ruining all the boys "Cheese" smiles- complains Abbey.


Brennan must be really into Dinosaurs or at least this one. Before we got in the building, he didn't want to, but seems like this archeology stuff is interestingly fun!


Clayton calls all the long necked Dinosaurs Giraffes....Its great to hear him pointing to the "Giraffe!"




Clayton is mesmorized with the stuff animals.


There's the Giraffe!


This is not because Brennan is scared, it is because he didn't listen and was running everywhere so he's punished in the stroller and pulling his ears.


See how cooperative my kids are! I love them!


Nice! they have dead animals hanging everywhere


I was messing with the Kelvin temperature on the camera. This picture just came out really nice! Does not have anything to do with the Year of the Rat.




We try to teach our kids not to fight and what are some of the displays? Survival of the fittest.


What is that?


Hm......I think the Hippo can swallow both of them in one bite. Too bad they are herbavores.


Getting all into the displays.


Don't worry Clayton you will have a younger sibling soon! hahaha


Cool thing is they have plenty of hands-on displays where the boys can touch the bones and displays and get everyone else's germs.


Lynx- its a cat.


I think this Brown Bear can chew up them both in three bites; just Clayton, no chewing needed.

It's not because he's scared-b/c he didn't want to take the photo...


The entrance states: NO FOOD, NO DRINKS ALLOWED. Abbey refused to push in the stroller. Da said its baby food. Security guards were too occupied with explosives and other threats: Result: my kids got food to eat half way through the visit- everyone is happy.


Learning what they came from other than from mama.


Hm..Yeah Clayton could of have gotten this gem for mama for Valentine's Day.


Hm the other kids might be thinking of the same for their moms.


Brennan is getting this for mom on Valentine's day. Got luck carrying it.


***Warning*** Thing about it for a couple seconds.

OK. After visiting a whole day at The Natural History Museum Clayton has gather the idea that this place is about 'natural history'. He figures he might as well make some 'natural' materials for the future visitors, from the evidence of this photo you can guess what it is--fossils!! it may take a couple millions years to solidify.


After everything we saw and done, we've made history and leave it for the future visitors to see the 'fossils'!


The sunset was really pretty while we were leaving, this picture turned out great!


I am free and much lighter now...yeah!! less baggage more happy




And there you have it folks, the Zhao family has once again done it! Leaving a mark on history as we know it and ending the day with our kid's work accomplished and preparing for the next adventure. But just remember that we won't just leave 'fossils' with everyone, you have to be a guest of honor.

My sons would like to wish you all a properous New Year! Gung Xi Gung Xi !


Cousins with the boys (Michelle, Nancy, Alvin, and Tony)






Mama preparing for the Chinese New Year party at our church..she is make the mouse ears at the last 1/2 hour before the program starts.


So here is the turn out..they look great! (though they can be mistake for bunny ears)



Here's Brennan's first performance. He's the youngest of the group and giving his best at the top of his lungs. Go Brennan! Click here for more photos from the event !





Here's the video. Watch Brennan closely: he's the youngest and he's going strong, regardless!

Mama did a good job; she is proud

Yeap I am a mouse and I am cute!!



Yeap I am know I am cute and so are you....Mmmmmwwwaa! (Mothers approved)