I wish 2007 to be an even better year for you and those you love!  How are you celebrating the new year?  Um, I'll probably fall asleep before the ball drops so I guess it'll just be blockbuster night.   Actually, Edwin's parents are in town so I guess we can't go too crazy..

    

(Pics l to r): Us at Forbidden City, the gal on the left was one of our tour mates;  Me (and our tour guide) at one of my favorite sites in China, the Reed Flute Cave;  Edwin imitating a terracotta warrior;  Me at The Great Wall - at first I wasn't going to do the hard route but then I saw this 90+ year old man come down the wall and Edwin said to me,"If HE can do it, you can!"-so by golly we did!

I'm sitting next to edwin watching him sleep and waiting for him to get up.  We're actually here in L.A. and I'm sitting in his parents house and there's no tv here in the back house so basically I have a few hours to kill with the laptop.  How are you peeps?

Yesterday was Amanda's first birthday! My goodness her party was like being in a nursery!!  Edwin and I were the only childless couple there.  Most of the couples had about 3 girls each.  I loved seeing Nicholas, Emily and Amanda again.  Nicholas called me last week to tell me he went strawberry picking and had saved me one and put it in the freezer.  He constantly surprises me with his words.  Granted he also does say "chinese people", "crazy driver" and practically copies everything you say...but he's quite the kid. Our neighborhood has mostly young boys so Edwin hopes that a good sign for the future when we decide to have children. 

In respect to my job...yup, I'm on my 10th week for working as a "Staffing Manager"/recruiter for Robert Half Int'l.  If you ever searched on employment boards, you may have come across our company.  If you ever know of anyone searching for a job as a recruiter, accounting/finance, technical, administrative, human resources, marketing my company can probably help you out so just email me!  This job is probably the most stress I've ever had to deal with professionally however luckily the base is comparable to what I was making in L.A (sometimes with recruting jobs it's 0 or low base).  I've been wanting to try this career for awhile so I'm thinking I'll try it for a year at least.  It's a great job if you love helping people because I love finding people jobs but the hard part is actually finding "client"/companies to work with you.  Don't hang up on me if I end up calling your work!  It's funny..up north, all the controllers and CFOs of companies are asian women or asians..but down south not so much the case.  I knew I should have paid more attention in Chinese school..could have used that to butter these people up.  AND now since my last name is "Hauw" nobody has no clue as to who I am but if I introduced myself with my last name that would have been money!  jk

I also find since being up north many older men approach me.  I have no idea why but old men (45 or older) talk to me, whether it's in the airport, gym or the post office, etc..and then they give me their business cards?  One guy was following me at the gym and I had to practically run away.  Any ideas on how I can prevent strange men from chatting it up?  I feel bad cutting them off and I always try to add in a "my husband" line but that doesn't work.

Anyhoodle...enough about me.  How are you??

For those of you who don't know, I have two older sisters who are also married and have children.  Last month, a new edition was born into the Chan/Lew/Shih/Hauw clan.  Emily Lew was born to Peggy and Mike.  She weighed in at 7 lbs, 8oz.  So that means my parents already have 3 grandkids..geez, who would have guessed!  Here are some happy pics!:

         (l to r: Emily, Proud Papa Mike, Po-po is all smiles)

My niece, Amanda (Yvonne and Wesley's baby) is growing up!  Check out her super smile:

In other news:  my girl Steph finally started her new job at UCSF this week (sadly on her bday).  I also have been cooking for Edwin. Before we got married, for some reason whenever people would ask me if I would cook, they would laugh.  I don't know why people reacted like that.  Maybe because my mom has cooked for me for 26 years? Or  perhaps it's because I don't look like I can cook?  Well, honestly I didn't think I would cook, but I felt bad for the poor guy and what do you know, he likes my food! I have to cook for Steph and Viet soon so they'll be the judges if I should keep cooking or cook no more...

Well..the wedding happened nearly 3 months ago and we've settled in.  I just wanted to share some pics of our honeymoon to Bora Bora and Moorea with you.  Below, I've also answered some FAQs I have been asked since I have gotten married and consequently moved up north...just in case you are wondering the same things.

Dinner at the famous Bloody Mary's.  I'm not sure why I'm holding my sweater like a sack of potatoes.

This is truly one of my favorite pics of Edwin.  I took the picture through the glass window at the bottom of our overwater bungalow in Bora Bora.  He makes me laugh!

The island is breathtaking and has the most beautiful water.

FAQs

1.  How was your honeymoon?  The trip was amazing!  I would encourage everyone to go there once in their life if they have the chance.  Granted the trip would best be taken without the kids.  If you are trying to keep costs down, I would even suggest simply visiting to Bora Bora rather than any other island -it was truly worth it.  If we had to do it again, I would also have picked the same resort, Le Meridien because it had many free excursions many of the resorts did not offer and the staff was very kind.

2.  How's married life treating you?  I can honestly say I do love being married and it's quite fun.  It's different for me because I never lived outside my house until the day I got married so I never knew how it was to have to live with another person and have to adapt to those changes.  Luckily Edwin and I are quite similar so it hasn't been too bad.

3.  Are you pregnant?  When are you having kids?..etc..  No, I'm not pregnant and we will probably not have children for a few years.  We want to cherish a few years together alone and spending time together just the two of us.  Life changes so much after having a baby. 

4.  Do you miss L.A.?  I can honestly say I miss L.A.  I often have said jokingly I have nothing going for me up here with the exception of a great church (GRX) and a husband.  I miss the kiddies and I haven't met any new friends here so I for the most part hang out with my friends from L.A. who come to visit as well as Steph who recently moved back.  Friends are such a great part of my life and I'm used to having them around that this is a big change for me.  It has truly made me treasure my friends back home much more.  Luckily I have 3 other planned vacations to L.A. soon since the sisters and in laws are having babies.  I think I just need to get a job which will keep me preoccupied and probably introduce me to more people (which leads to the next question).

5.  Have you found a job yet?  I have recently started searching for a job.  It was nice to have a little break since I haven't stopped working since 1997.  I would love to work for a retail company so I'm trying to get my foot in the door in that industry.

I hope you are all doing well.  I miss you all and wonder how you are doing.  Please write if you have a chance.  Have a blessed Merry Christmas!

This is where Edwin and I will call home after we get married!