January 1, 2021 What a wonderful New Year’s Eve and New Year’s! Happy New Year! We start a new blog and album for what is hopefully a reset and a better year.
January 1, 2021 Crafting for their dolls
January 1, 2021 Sous vide with torch sear, end result
January 2, 2021 Making doll clothes out of an undershirt and learning to sew. Each girl made their own tube dress or skirt for their doll. Albert made the mermaid gown for little Elsa.
January 2, 2021 Seagulls and Sunsets: I took maybe 100 pictures and ended up with 19 that I really liked, but rather than subject you to all of those, here are three interesting ones. Gravelly Point, VA.January
January 2, 2021 Back to Gravelly Point by Curie request. Curie wanted to climb trees and go to the beach, and Elia wanted to chase seagulls, Albert and Elia got pretty muddy running through the field.
January 3, 2021 Getting back on schedule after winter break
January 4, 2021 This is how the girls went down to the basement to get Curie’s nightgown.
January 5, 2021 Apologies about the poor photo, almost forgot to take it! The girls were more than happy to pose before going to sleep.
January 6, 2021 I didn’t post this yesterday but we did take the picture.
January 7, 2021 I had a different picture, but the girls asked me to post this one, where they comforted each other and worked on coping skills after yesterday’s events. They did say they looked cuter in this one. 🙂 Taken with Night Sight with the lights off on the Pixel 4.
January 8, 2021 Sleepy girls
January 9, 2021 Dyke Marsh
January 9, 2021 Parents
January 9, 2021 Climbing trees
January 9, 2021 Interestingly, the girls were throwing rocks and the seagulls thought we were feeding them so came over. National Harbor and the Gaylord in the background. Dyke Marsh.
January 9, 2021 Seagulls against the Wilson Bridge, and National Harbor in the background.
January 9, 2021 Candied lemon peel inspired by Suephy and using her recipe. After the girls saw what Suephy was making, they also wanted it. Curie and Erin liked it, Elia not so much.
January 10, 2021 Hanging out on a Sunday
January 10, 2021 Our real picture for the day
January 11, 2021 What gets you through is your own, these are ours
January 12, 2021 Black and white.
January 13. 2021 Playing with Auntie Julie
January 14, 2021 Getting ready for bed
January 15, 2021 Watching TV before playing Bomberman and Let’s Sing!
January 16, 2021 Total Eclipse of the Heart, enough said
January 17, 2021 Back to Dyke Marsh, but to the Wildlife Preserve path, totally worth it. Park at Belle Haven parking, and go past the bike path by the marina. It leads to a boardwalk on the water. We took the wagon for the girls which was good so they didn’t get too tired. We played on the beaches on the way back and had a great time.
January 17, 2021 On the way back the girls decided to write “Hope” in the sand with pebbles in light of the upcoming inauguration.
January 17, 2021 Dyke Marsh Wildlife preserve at the end of the hike someone left a “hope” rock on the boardwalk. On our return the girls decided to write hope in the sand with pebbles after we talked about the inauguration so that someone else could find it. It was cloudy, but when the sun peeked through it was beautiful. the picture with the ducks is for Erin’s phone background.
January 18, 2021 Getting ready for bed, intentional face plant into the pillow before bed.
January 19, 2021 Curie made this with supervision. Curie skimmed the pork bones in the soup to clear it, blanched the Shanghai tips, poached the shrimp, and plated. Chinese pork and shrimp noodle soup. Oh, Curie plated one Albert plated there other. Whose is whose?
January 19, 2021 Sister selfie
January 20, 2021 Clowning around
January 21, 2021 Bedtime
Right at bedtime, somehow we forgot to sleep Rollicking peals of laughter stretching from our heads to our feet Big sister with chuckles and then a suddenly a grin And a guffaw from little sister, and then the giggles begin
We’re supposed to be asleep, tomorrow is a school day We’re supposed to be asleep, but a little something says play And I can’t let it stop, once again the tickling starts I never want it to stop, as laughter fills our hearts,
It’s past our bedtime, and we lie breathless in bed. Tonight is a school night, but there is happiness in our heads And soon the breathing slows and we yawn and close our eyes And tomorrow is another day, each moment a new surprise.
#threeminutepoem #spontaneouspoetry
January 21, 2021 Plating contest. It was time for bed and Curie wanted an apple. We were watching a cooking show and we spontaneously had a plating contest. Whose is whose? It was such a good time and the best part of our day, hence the poem in the other post. Erin was the judge.
January 22, 2021 Homemade kara age (Japanese fried chicken). Pieces of chicken thigh, ginger, garlic, mirin, rice wine, sesame oil marinated, then floured and fried for 90 seconds. Inspired by Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s appearance on My Greatest Dishes.
January 22, 2021 Who plated what?
January 22, 2021 The kids were posing for each other and Curie kept saying “more pizzazz!”
January 23, 2021 Shrimp Po’Boy four ways, who plated what?
January 23, 2021 Forgot one
January 23, 2021 Moments before the tickle-fight in real time
January 24, 2021 Recreation of S’mores, Sweet Tic-tac-toe, The Pearl, and Diamond in the Middle. Who plated what? It was below freezing outside so our family activity today was plating. We watched a few YouTubes and went to work. Again, who plated what?
January 24, 2021 We took a lot of pictures of food today, not so many of the kids. They took this one right before bed. Elia was saying how she couldn’t bend her thumb because the Bandaid is too big.
January 25, 2021 The kids celebrated with the Cabbage Patch and the Running Man, where did they learn that? #ninetiesdances
January 25, 2021 24-hour sous vide eye round roast is indeed tender, but a bit spongy like corned beef.
January 26, 2020 Good night, sleep dreams
January 27, 2021 Funny face
January 28, 2021 Swimsuits in January
January 29, 2021 Before school
January 30, 2021 Well, it looked sunny out… (in the 30s)…we had cabin fever so we ran out for a selfie. Erin didn’t want to play. Notice Elia’s missing front teeth, she lost the other one this morning.
January 30, 2921 Face painting kit.
January 31, 2021 And snow it begins #dadjokes
January 31, 2021 Sledding and snowballs
January 31, 2021 The obligatory bird pictures
January 31, 2021 So no titmice, woodpeckers, or nuthatches today but there were these in the afternoon.
February 1, 2021 When we first met, we traversed an unseen chasm between us to be together. Race, class, religion, age, even differences in upbringing, and perception of the world. We have shared in one another to meet obstacles that would have felled me if I had been alone. You lift me up which means you have unseen and incredible strength and I know being with me is no easy task. I have relearned what love is having met you and know know that in addition to storybook love, and puppy love, and romantic love…
Love is looking past our faults and forgiving each other for when we forget to. Love is remembering we are fallible and being stronger for it Love is being there when the other is down and standing strong against all others Love is protecting our family even at the expense of self Love is sacrificing yourself as a person to be a stronger whole as a family Love is caring, and kind, and considerate but love is also strong and protective and worth guarding and fighting for. Love is the mundane and the normal. Love is laughing until tears run down your face. Love is being a role model for not only your kids but for your peers as well.
Love is all of these things that make us human and I am grateful to find someone who embodies all of this love to have as a companion on this journey. I have had a crazy day, but at least I made mountains of your favorite kara age fried chicken and showed Elia and Curie the right way to put chicken away and made you laugh doing it. 🙂 Happy Birthday, Erin, may we share many more together.
February 1, 2021 Elia trying Erin’s hat method for keeping hair soft.
February 2, 2021 In college, we used to go running barefoot in the snow for martial arts training. Something about discipline. To this day I really like it as long as you don’t stay out too long. Erin thinks I am crazy. The kids thought it was hilarious.
February 2, 2021 Extended lunch to play in the snow
February 3, 2021 Toward the end of the day at school.
February 4, 2021 Late night
February 5, 2021 Goofing off before bedtime
February 6, 2021 Having our own adventure at Dyke Marsh
February 6, 2021 Dyke Marsh boardwalk
February 6, 2021Dyke Marsh, a white throated sparrow, a fossilized sheep dog, cat tails, seagulls on a log, and a log.
February 6, 2021 Bratwurst, Schnitzel, Erbsenblatter, and Fritten – okay the pea leaves are Chinese and the fries are Ore-Ida
February 7, 2021 Our un-Superbowl: Wonder Woman, Superman, Captain America, and the Hulk by Erin,;The Family by Albert; The Family, by Elia; Spiderman, Green Lantern, Black Canary, Elia, and Jack-Jack by Curie; Erin and Julie by Curie; and Elia, Garrett, and two of their seven babies by Elia.
February 7, 2021 Getting ready for sleep
February 8, 2021 Looking fierce – and Elia says she is freezing
January 8, 2021 Heading out for the night. Elia is tagging along, that is all right isn’t it?
January 8, 2021 Getting caught changing out of my Spiderman suit
February 9. 2021 Getting ready for school watching TV
January 10, 2021 Virtual school picture day
February 11, 2021 Funny faces.
February 12, 2021 Happy New Year, Year of the Ox
February 12, 2021 Hotpot yesterday, copycat Peking duck and dumplings today.. Happy New Year!
February 13, 2021 Ice storm obligatory bird pictures 1 of 4 (note we saw a blue jay and a mourning dove too that the pictures were too blurry). OKAY, for the first time we saw blue bird at our feeder, then the obligatory cardinal, the tufted titmouse, and the goldfinch.
February 13, 2021 Ice storm obligatory birds # 2 of 4, red bellied woodpecker, male downy woodpecker, a chickadee, and a male house finch
February 13, 2021 Ice storm obligatory birds #3 of 4 female house finch, female cardinal, starling, and house sparrow
February 13, 2021 Ice storm obligatory birds #4 of 4 junko, white breasted nuthatch, a cheat bird – the Carolina wren was from the last snow storm, but I needed one more for this picture, and a female downy woodpecker.
February 13, 2021 Laughing at Mama Mia 2; Here we go again, which with the exception of the Cher part, it was better than we thought it was going to be.
February 13, 2021 Bernard said the other tufted titmouse looked like it had “bedhead.” It was actually probably a juvenile. Here is another one.
February 13, 2021 There were so many birds today that I was able to get a picture of a tufted titmouse and a chickadee on the same branch. Something I have never really seen before.
February 13, 2021 Beef noodle soup in the year of the Ox, perfect for an ice storm.
February 14, 2021 When the girls don’t finish their Ramen, we can dress it up to be something new that way we don’t waste their lunch. Here is fried tofu tonkatsu with red ginger, garlic and a chili bomb. This week Elia learned that she liked Kagoshima (a region in Japan) Ramen more than Curie’s Tokyo Ramen. @Bernard, we checked it off on our Ramen poster.
February 14, 2021 Albert’s OCD showing through with homemade pizza, In hindsight, it would have been better in a checkerboard so that each mouthful pepperoni, mushroom and onion.
February 14, 2021 Freezing rain
February 14, 2021 Just a walk around the neighborhood. Love this picture.
February 14, 2021 After recording “Getting into the Disco Mood” written by everyone in the family and a rough cut opened by Elia, with Albert on Eurovision Rap, and Curie closing. Tomorrow Erin says she might share rap duties, and the girls will want to re-record. They sang their own melodies with their own tempos so the first cut will be very rough. So much fun though! #VonChenFamilySingers.
February 15, 2021 We drove to Jones Point Park just to see it and get out of the house.
February 15, 2021 Family picture at Jones Point Park
February 15, 2021 We didn’t think we were going to get out of the car so we were a little under dressed. The girls shared the blanket which made for some funny moments.
February 16, 2021 Squishy fight before bed
February 16, 2021 Before I went to write, this is what I caught. I used nightsight to get their expressions. Erin is asleep.
February 17, 2021 A little black and white
February 18, 2021 Fooling around before bed
February 19, 2021 Getting sleepy
February 20, 2021 It was so cold on the deck but the kids wanted to play anyway,. Icy and a little scary, The kids threw ice over the side (after Albert showed them how) and the three of them broke a slat on the bench below on accident. Curie did hit the wind chime which was the target. Elia twisted her ankle in the basement later. She seems okay this morning.
February 20, 2021 Roti canai hack. premade roti dough gets fried, and a curry packet gets boiled. Could use some garnish.
February 20, 2021 What is the difference between a cioppino, and a bouillabaisse? Dinner is served.
February 21, 2021We walked by the Rockledge retaining wall which was really treacherous and exciting..
February 21, 2021 Sitting on a rock on our walk.
February 22, 2021 Elia was reading to us so I took a selfie.
February 23, 2021 Getting ready for school
February 24, 2021 This morning I went out the front door to check for packages, I turned around I found Elia coming down the stairs with a big stick (actually a 22 inch hickory tomahawk handle) in her hands to brain any intruder that had the gall to open our door without permission. She was just emulating what she had seen me do a few days before while checking out a strange noise. I don’t know if I should be proud or afraid. 🙂 It is a reminder that your kids are always watching, listening, and learning from you: Oh and this picture is the kids enjoying the sun on a very spring-like day.
February 25, 2021 A little craziness before bed
February 26, 2021 It is going to rain this weekend so we went out to get some air
February 26, 2021 We took the trail all the way to the overpass and took a nice picture
February 26, 2021 Shishamo from scratch
February 26, 2021 Curie’s favorite chicken
February 27, 2021Sunset at Theodore Roosevelt Island
February 27, 2021 Deer and a northern flicker at Theodore Roosevelt Island. We totally forgot to bring a camera so these were with a phone. Sorry.
February 27, 2021It didn’t rain and we got to walk around Theodore Roosevelt Island
February 27, 2021 The kids played superheroes during the walk and shed their coats fairly early. Albert carried them and gave Elia his shirt and walked around in a t-shirt.
February 27, 2021 Steak. strawberry, and spinach salad
February 27, 2021 Albert and Curie plated ramen
February 28, 2021 Masking up for running errands. Did I do that right?
February 28, 2021 Elia’s story for this is Thanos’s glove fell off and he couldn’t transport so he had to buy a bus, so we destroyed it.
February 28, 2021 Last day of the month, spring is coming prime rib dinner. Okay we needed a change in flavor, so why not?
February 28, 2021 The Cur-lias singing “Mama Mia! There is a Black Cat in Back of Me!”
March 1, 2021 Sister selfies
March 2, 2021 Sister Sword Fighters balloon edition.
March 3, 2021 Thanks to Erin for taking the picture I was off doing something else. Cutie Patooties!
March 4, 2021 Curie Elia and Harry the Bunny
March 5, 2021 We watched WandaVision, Raya, and a Scooby Doo movie all in one night.
March 6, 2021 The girls used balloons to make clothes for their dolls.
March 6, 2021 We missed grilled Vietnamese food in rice wrappers, and we have the wrapper wetter, so why not? Curie liked it a lot.
March 6, 2021 Yes, those are escrima sticks.
March 6, 2021 This is Elia’s third and a half time watching Raya the Last Dragon in 24 hours.
March 7, 2021 Gravelly Point
March 7, 2021 Gravelly Point, climbing trees, and chasing seagulls.
March 8, 2021 Laughing before bed
March 9, 2021 Spring came early, what a nice day!
March 9, 2021 So nice we even laid on our deck to watch the star. Yep, too early in the evening only one star.
March 10, 2021 I love this one, they had fun making faces for their selfie
March 11, 2021 Okay so we had a long talk about this and did a lot of research. I hate dolls with rubber legs (Disney 2014-2020, Disney 2012-13 had articulated legs that weren’t successful so they went back to rubber legs) with only 5 points of articulation. Most Target Disney dolls only have five points of articulation also, head, shoulders and hips. The new Raya and Sisu dolls from Disney Store have 14 points of articulation while the corresponding Raya and Namari (coming on Saturday only because that is the only way to get Namari) only have the 5 points of articulation, and the sculpt of Sisu as a dragon was so much better at Disney. BUT never mind all that don’t the girls look so excited? We’ve seen the movie 5 times so far. There is a 20% off with free shipping on Disney and a 25% off on Target for toys at the moment.
March 12. 2021 A great start to the weekend.
We are debating the name of this picture, is it “Bow and Arrow?” Or is it “Archery?”
We spontaneously ran off to Huntley Meadows and just missed the sunset. We packed chicken and rice to eat in the car after. The kids loved it.
March 12, 2021 Spontaneous trip to Huntley Meadows with a car picnic and a walk.
March 12, 2021 Erin just saw this after Huntley Meadows and said she didn’t even realize I was in superhero gear the whole time. She figures that is how I dress normally.
