While many people were apathetic toward iPhone 4S because of unsubstantiated rumors of the iPhone 5 that propelled the unrealistic expectations, Karen and I waited enthusiastically at University Village (Seattle) to pay our respects to Apple. The reason was simple. Karen packed in her purse an iPhone 3GS and a trusty old Canon SD870 IS, which acted as our portable “camcorder”, and we yearned for saving money and weight by consolidating the two devices into one.

No such luck.

Either my hands exhibited a natural alcoholics shake, or I had too much booze last night, but despite the selling point of having image stabilization, the videos from the iPhone 4S taken by my excruciatingly careful hold resembled videos shot during a 7.0 earthquake.

Moreover, The 4S was portrayed as capable of being taken out and snapping a picture before I could say “foo bar”, but in practice, the camera app locked up for upwards of 20 seconds while my subjects stared in boredom. By the time the phone was ready, the smile had turned into a frown, which typically do not make great photography unless you’re in the morgue. In addition, my finger regularly, unintentionally acted as a lens cap as well as a wind-cover for the mic, resulting in artistic mime-like movies. To top it off, the new antenna design worked so well that while my 3GS was showing “3G” and browsing with ease, my 4S was showing “Searching…” for quite a while.

Could I have just hit the jackpot of a detective phone, or is it all user error? Either way, this one is going back.

When it comes to spelling, I’m actually quite competent with the words I know. Having come to the States when I was 9 and not being studious when I was young, my vocabulary is okay but not extensive. Last week at work there was an opportunity to participate in a Spelling Bee, so I decided to give it a try.

First word: LYNX.
Easy as I’ve seen it before, though I asked for a sentence just for the heck of it.

Second word: PERMEABILITY.
This was actually a pretty easy word for me. Permeable, drop the E and add the ABILITY. No-problemo.

Third word: PHILAMOT.
Say what??? Nope, didn’t get this one, as I was way off. Asking for the definition and the origin didn’t help me.

So there we go. 2011 Spelling, and I got eliminated the first round. Still, playing spelling bee in front of an audience for the first time was fun.

First night in Irvine we arrived very late at the gated community. I got the apartment keys from a lockbox and couldn’t access the garage. Apparently I had to get it the next day. Public parking was completely full so I had to park outside. It also rained for a little bit (?!!).

After parking my car, I came back to the gate and the code doesn’t work! To make things worse this is the end of the day, and my phone shut down! After trying for a little bit I ended up picking that lock to open it… In a few mins after I got in, some car came out and opened the door! Guess I didn’t have to resort to those drastic measures…

Oh well… At least the apartment was nice!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

From,
James, Karen, Lia, and Eli

Lia was playing in Eli’s room when Karen heard this loud “BOOM!”.  Here was the aftermath…

This is why it’s important to watch your kids at all times.  This morning I was too tired and let Lia roam around, and when I regained consciousness, I heard clicking noises coming from the bathroom, which is never a good sign when you have kids.  I ran over and found Lia trying to cover up some mischief…

Here’s a better view of her handiwork…

The strange thing is, mommy doesn’t use much makeup.  How did she innately know where things are supposed to go?

Karen had been attempting to potty train Lia in the past, but the attempts have been futile. Lia would sit on the potty for a short while, but as soon as she gets up she’d pee or poop, never in the potty.  Until recently.  A couple days ago, we employed the Chinese tactic, which was to let Lia walk around bare and without diapers, and surprisingly we’re reaping massive benefits.

First, Lia was in the bathroom and closed the doors on Karen saying “bye bye mommy!”, and the next thing Karen knew, Lia peed in the potty!  Then we let her walk around while the potty was on the hardwood floor where our kitchen and family room met.  When Lia had to go, she ran to the potty and sat down, every time!  Then to top it all, yesterday she hadn’t pooped all day, so we made her sit on the potty before going to bed, entertaining her with her favorite toy, the iPad. After a short while, we got:

Let’s hope this is not an isolated incident.

While hanging with her “real” aunties in San Diego, Lia demonstrates the proper way of answer a cell phone…

Click here for mp4 video

When Lia wants to play a toy, no one stands in her way!

Click here for mp4 video

When I read the story of Winnie the Pooh to Lia, I read the part about the honey from the bees, and Lia exclaimed “Daddy’s ‘honey’!” (reference to what Karen calls me). When we asked “then what’s mommy?” she answered, “pooh bear”!