Throughout my life, I recall many "firsts" that make me do a double take. Almost everyone remembers the first time they got on a bike and rode off without training wheels. But it's not actually the act of riding the bike, but rather what you do with the new found skill. It's the act of responsibility that really makes each "first" special. Such as:
1) Not just riding my bike, but riding it to the supermarket to buy a pack of Big League Chew or Bubbalicious....with my own money.
2) Driving to school instead of getting dropped off.
3) The summer before my Junior year in high school, I embarked on a 2 week European exchange program in Belgium. While I was there, my parents and sister went to England for 3 weeks. I flew back to the states to an empty house, but had to take a 2nd flight to Washington DC for a "Young Leaders Conference" which also was 2 weeks. So all in all, I didn't see my parents for 1 whole month. That was so cool at age 17.
4) College: not actually the act of going to college, but waking up early to make it to the 1st of many 8am classes. Because it's not like I had anyone looking over my shoulder to go to class.
5) Honeymoon: The excitement being "responsible" together with Elaine was very exciting
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The above "first steps" leads me to today. Today I had the responsibility of taking Jordan to daycare. It was a little scary, (un)willingly leaving him with a stranger to care for him for 10 hours. Up until today, Elaine has cared for Jordan everyday. Much of Jordan positive development is due to her caretaking. We were fairly apprehensive about leaving him for a day. We had some solace knowing that Elaine would be feeding Jordan during her lunch break everyday, but still, as rookie parents this step seems taller than the Great Wall. I know they'll be bigger steps
in the future, like which sport to play in high school, which college to attend...which twin sister to date. :p
Anyways, all this writing and only a couple of photos. Congrats to Jordan on completing his first day of daycare. You make mommy and daddy feel all "grow'd" up.
Tonight we all celebrated my dad's (Jordan's grandpa) 60th birthday. Tiffany baked my dad's favorite shortbread cookies as party favors and I created a crossword puzzle about Dad's 60 years. And of course Jordan was a good boy as he gazed at all the "art" at Buca di Beppo. This was just the 1st event of a busy weekend with Chinese New Years and Valentine's Day ahead.
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in the future, like which sport to play in high school, which college to attend...which twin sister to date. :p
ugh it with not just yourself, or just your spouse, but with your friends as well. The trend often follows a them of dating --> marriage --> children. A true blessing to us in 2009 was not only Jordan's birth, but also the birth of our friends' babies the same year. This weekend we shared our home with some of our friends that had their first babies in 2009, a sort of unofficial playdate for the kids. Unofficial b/c it was really just an excuse for the new parents to 
hang out together for the 1st time. Congratulations and God bless to all the new parents in 2009.
Continuing on with our LA festivities, our family celebrated Christmas morning with just the 8 of us. I know it sounds fabricated to say that Jordan was extra happy this day, but it was true. He kept his smile all day and "talked" to us. He was definitely well rested from the previous night's Christmas Eve party. Jordan received lots of new clothes, as well as 4 new pairs of Jordan socks. His collection is growing quite nicely, just like Daddy's... although I did miss out on the Jordan Retro XI Space Jams release the night before. Merry Christmas to all from the Cheungs, the Koos, and the Lees.
So this was the big day for the Cheung family Christmas Eve party. For the past 30 years, Elaine's family has celebrated Christmas Eve with the Hsias, Tsengs, Wongs, Shens, Marrs, etc... and it's grown with marriage
s and families to include the Koos and the Lees.
celebrating the 30 years, Valerie enlisted the help from two of her friends (Tiffany and Meredith) to create the detailed gingerbread houses. The Christmas tree in the back have photos of everyone's face as ornaments.
