The Phamily Blog

Yesterday we had our holiday portraits done (remember the ones we had to cancel.) And since we were in the Ville' we decided to have a peek at the newly renovated mall. I was kind of dreading it since it's shopping season and it was around 5pm but it actually wasn't bad at all. We were really impressed with the new changes. I even ran into one of my old coworkers at the Louis Vuitton store. It was a pleasant surprise and we already have plans to have lunch and catch up soon :)

So while we were window shopping we noticed Santa was already doing his thing right there in the center of the mall. And what was even better....NO LINES! It was amazing. He was a very good santa, my kids were already dressed up from our portraits and did I mention that there was NO line at.all. ???? I was stoked and so was cam.

Both of the kids did great. No tears by Gabby and Cameron informed old St. Nick that he wanted a "bunny." (don't worry...we've talked about it and he only wants a stuffed bunny. Easy enough!) Santa called me over and said "mom, I am having a hard time understanding what he is telling me he wants for Christmas...it sounds like he is saying he wants some money." to which I clarified for the jolly old guy that it was, in fact, a BUNNY that he was requesting. He replied with, "hahaha...I asked him if he was going to invest that money and he told me 'YES!'" Silly Santa.

So without further adieu....

Yep...that was the best we got. Cam was tired and Gabby was staring off at every glittery thing in sight. There was absolutely NO getting her attention. They had enough photos for one day I think. But you know what? I like these types of pictures better. They crack me up. May I remind you of Cameron's soccer pic? I actually am going to start aiming for the most ridiculous pics possible. I can't wait for the Easter Bunny!

I stole this from another blog I read...I am known to do this from time to time, haha. It's just too good not to share. Not quite sure why I love it so much, but I do. And please believe, that WHEN Nguyen and I travel the world, I am SO doing this. Nguyen can hold the camera.

PS: Be sure to turn my music player off before you play the video.

Really? The camera? Whatever.

Once he saw that chocolate was involved, he perked right up. Just like his mama.

And I am a totally mean mommy. I won't let him lick the spoon or bowl. I'm not down with foodborn illness. ; )

Gabby gave us lots of good baking advice.

MMMM. They were so yummy fresh out of the oven!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!

Double Chocolate Dream Cookies

*2 1/4 cups all purpouse flour

*1/2 cup baking cocoa

*1 tsp. baking soda

*1/2 tsp. salt

*1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margerine, softened

*1 cup packed brown sugar

*3/4 cup granulated sugar

*1 tsp. vanilla extract

*2 large eggs

*2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

PREHEAT oven to 375*F

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs for about two minutes or until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

BAKE for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are puffed. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

*Tonight I get to go see Twilight with my girls. I am so excited. Although, it's not getting the greatest reviews...I am sure I will still like it :)

*I really want to go to disneyland this year during Christmas but it's not happening. I should have planned it months ago. Bummer.

*Yesterday Cameron, Gabby, and I went on a mission to look for construction vehicles in action. This is one of cameron's many obsessions. We didn't find any tractors, but we did run into thousands of people parked on the side of the freeway waiting for the memorial parade for a fallen officer. So, I decided we should do the same, and pull over. It was amazing. When they finally made their way to us, it took about 30 minutes for all of the police vehicles to pass (and they were on the FREEWAY.) Cameron loved it and it was so touching to watch.

*Thanksgiving is less than a week away. How did that happen?

*The electrical system in my house sucks. I called an electrician two days ago and he never called me back. Jerk.

*I just realized that since next week is Thanksgiving, that means Cameron is off from school. I guess I better start planning some activities to keep him busy :)

*Gabby didn't fall asleep until almost nine o'clock last night. She is usually asleep by 7:15. I wonder what was up?

okay...that's enough boring rambling from me. Hopefully I will have some pics to post tomorrow from tonights charades!

Have a great weekend!

But this one is different and simple :)





RULES:





1. Go to your pictures


2. Upload the 4th picture of the 4th folder


3. Post it


4. Tag 4 friends

Today Cameron returned to school after missing all of last week. At first, he was reluctant to get ready this morning, but after I assured him of how much his teachers and friends missed him, he agreed that he should go, if not for me, for his peers ;)


Gabby and I decided to get out of the house so we went and did a little bit of window shopping. When we returned, Nguyen was huffing and puffing in the garage trying to put together some new piece of fitness equipment. I was barely out of my car before I was recruited to help. I despise putting things together, and judging by the millions of pieces of fitness equipment strung all over my garage floor, I would say Nguyen does too.



When I went to pick up Cam from school, he was sitting in one of the assistant teacher's lap during circle time. He immediately started bawling when he saw me...something he hasn't done in quite a while. Apparently he had a rough day. He told me "I tripped today and hit the table mom." The teachers informed me of this too. Not surprsing given his clumsiness. He is such an



oaf. But all was good...he said "my teacher gave me ice like your ice mom." Goofball.



After I picked up the little man, we all went out to lunch at dos coyotes. Yum-O. This was followed by a trip home for naps, and then the outlets...our new favorite hangout. We didn't stay long though since it gets dark so early now. I ended up coming home with a baster and a basting brush for turkey day. :)





I can't remember if I talked about this on my last post or not, but I recently made the mistake of building Cameron a "fort" in our living room using blankets and pillows. As I was first building it I was thinking to myself that it was probably a mistake. It was. It's apparently not possible to be in the living room UNLESS you are in a fort. What have I done?! Oh well...he loves it!

Hope everyone had a great day!

Pretty cute huh?! I love them. :)

And here are some cute pics of my babies today.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

So, we're still under the weather (cameron and I) and it seems as if the princess is following suit. This morning she felt a bit warm and just didn't look well. Her eyes are watery and she is definitely congested. I gave her some tylenol and we're just praying it doesn't turn into anything nasty. Currently she is lounging in her swing not making a peep, so I'll take that as a good sign.

So since we've been cooped up in the house, Cameron has TORN the place apart...literally. I cannot turn my back for even five seconds because this is what happens.

that there is a major glitch somewhere with blogger. If you are a fellow blog buddy of mine and you no longer see your name on the right hand side under "my blog list" or whatever it says, please know that I did not delete you. For whatever reason, blogs are dissappearing. Then I go and re-enter in the ones that I notice have disappeared and they show up momentarily, and then vanish once again.

I am upset because there was a few blogs I was following with every update and now I am not seeing them : (

Just know I didn't forget about you! (ie: cori, jennifer (with baby joaquin) aunt kim, etc.)

I need to figure out what the deal is. Blog love to you all :)

I am pretty much miserable and also quite terrified that whatever germs have invaded mine and Cameron's bodies will do the same to the princess. That will break my heart, because I just can't imagine Gabs feeling like I feel this very second. GROSS.


As it stands, she is crying in her swing and I need to figure out how to entertain her without having much contact with her. She can only jump in the jumperoo and swing for so many hours during the day, know what I mean? Poor baby. :(



And my poor sweet boy is exhausted but just can't get the rest he needs with this horrid wet cough. Nguyen has somehow avoided this one, but he shouldn't hold his breath...er, maybe he should actually! Inhaling around us sickies would not be a good plan.



I went and got a massage last night and it was so gross...not a good plan when you have a cold. You know how you're face down with your face in that cradle thing..um, yeah. My nose was dripping like a faucet. DISGUSTING. Sorry if that was TMI. ; )


So anyway, I have nothing better to do than complain about how miserable I am so I'll stop now. Here's some cute pics!

The first day they got there, everyone was expectedly exhausted but that did not prevent the kids from partying like rockstars. I think they slept fairly well that first night ; )

My baby sister getting ready for bed. Isn't she pretty?!!

Oh an by the way...i'm feeling a lot less "funk-ish" this evening. I kept off of the computer for the most part and avoided all of the "dangerous" sites, and I must say...it was a good day.

We have been busy over here at the pham house. My dad and family have been staying with us for the past few days so we have been having too much fun with them. I should have some pics up tomorrow!

Hope everyone had a lovely day!

is what I'm in.

I have always been a sensitive person.

It seems now that I have this voice through my little ole' blog, the sensitiveness is eating me alive. Because if I know anything now, I know that some people don't want to hear your voice. Unless your voice is similar to theirs, you better keep it to yourself. It's true...I can admit it myself...i'm guilty.

So yeah...this is my blog. This is where I vent. Where I can come and just type. Where I don't have to read about what everyone else is thinking,feeling,wishing,hoping,etc. It's all me over here. I get to be selfish, and it doesn't matter...er, wait...

I can be the peacemaker that I always try to be or I can let loose and tell you how I REALLY feel. The peacemaker thing isn't really working out for me anymore. I hate conflict, so I try to fix it. I don't like pessimists, so I try ot be an optimist. But then the pessimists attack the optimists and infect me with their poison, and then I get pissed off.

I am sick of it all. I can't go to myspace anymore because people are wanting to jump off of bridges because our country is in ruins. I can't go to facebook because, people are jumping over there too. Everyone seems to be in this funk, but it seems no one really wants to get out of it. And I can't try and correct the situation either because apparently, that would be hypocritical of me. I can't say "is it really THAT bad?" because then I get "you were saying the same thing for the past eight years." Was I? As far as I know, I have been pretty happy for a while now.

And really, I can't come here to my little haven either because I am reminded of all of the readers I've lost. And then of course because people will decide to comment on MY posts, telling me why it is that I suck so bad. I suppose I could make my blog private, but what's the fun in that? It's a lose/lose situation.

"WOE IS ME." For reals.

I just wanted to get all of that out. Thanks for listening. And just because I am an internet gangster and I am pretending that I don't care what you think...i'm not allowing comments.

I am a badass.

Tiff