Photos: Wedding 1

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Ma Wee and Lydia are dressed to attend the wedding ceremony for Keith Pereira and Lilian Mendoza that will take place at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Seattle.

Note: Lilian is one of Lydia's dad's coworkers.

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Lydia loves to wear dresses.

Note: SiowFong took both of these pictures in the upper landing area of our home.

Photos: Grandma's Birthday

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Ma Wee's birthday cake

Dining room of our home

Note: We praise God for giving Ma Wee her good health, and we are very grateful that she is spending a number of months with us this year.

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To celebrate Ma Wee's birthday, we brought her to a local restaurant that specializes in Filipino cuisine. Above is the group picture taken just before we began supper.

first row, left to right: Ma Wee, Lydia, and Grandpa Al Crane

second row, left to right: Tom, SiowFong

Family Time Restaurant

15200 Aurora Avenue North; Suite C; Shoreline, Washington

Note: According to its owners, "Filipino cuisine comes from many cultures, and is a true Asian Fusion dining experience!

The style of cooking has Malayo-Polynesian roots, but has been influenced by Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences. Our portions are large, and we make everything by hand every day! Comprised of two Seattle families and the menu is compromised of what we had for dinner growing up in a large Filipino family. With this in mind we are Family Friendly and welcome group dining. Family Time Restaurant was born for the desire to reach out to their community by creating jobs in this slumped economy. This new fine dining experience with special Filipino entrees like Lumpia Shanghai, Lugaw, Fried Bangus, Pancit, and Papaitan just to name a few. Our menu will make you miss back home in the Philippines. So come to Family Time Restaurant and ask about our catering service."

Note: Both of these pictures were taken on July 23, 2010.

Photos: Girls Night Out, Sushi

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Ma Wee smiles as she watches Lydia eat sushi.

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Lydia and Ma Wee

Note: Once a week is designated "Girls Night Out" as Ma Wee, SiowFong, and Lydia have dinner at a local restaurant. Whenever Ma Wee stays with us, she never leaves the house on weekdays during the day because she does not know how to communicate in English, so SiowFong makes sure that Ma Wee has a chance to go out at least during one weeknight with the weekly "Girls Night Out" event.

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Lydia is enjoying a California roll.

Note: "The California roll is a maki-zushi (roll), a kind of sushi roll, usually made inside-out, containing cucumber, imitation crab stick, and avocado." (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_roll)

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 13, 2010 at a sushi restaurant in Lynnwood, Washington.

Photos: Remlinger: Mommy and Lydia

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Lydia and SiowFong are posing for a picture inside a white tepee.

Do these look like two Indians to you?

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Daughter and mother are among the domestic animals at the farm.

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Lydia, the school bus driver, and her mom

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Lydia and her mom are ready for a children's ride.

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Lydia and SiowFong are inside a stagecoach.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 7, 2010 at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Photos: Remlinger: Lydia 2

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Lydia is enjoying a boat ride with two other children.

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Bear bear Lydia

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Lydia the lamb

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Rabbit Lydia

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Just before lunch, Lydia wanted to ride on this horse in the children's play area.

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Lydia is sitting on a large hard foam train located in the play area near the diner.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 7, 2010 at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Photos: Remlinger: Lydia 1

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Firefighter Lydia

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Lydia is standing on the fire truck.

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"Look at all these controls" might be something that Lydia is thinking in this picture.

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Close up image of "the Little Princess"

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Lydia is riding a horse on this ride.

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Because today was a Wednesday, Remlinger Farms had few visitors. Many rides were deserted, and with this ride, Lydia was the only child enjoying it.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 7, 2010 at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Photos: Remlinger: Family

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Lydia, dad, and Ma Wee stand beside a Remlinger Farms truck featuring a large strawberry.

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Remlinger Farms sign inside the store

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Ma Wee, Lydia, and SiowFong are enjoying the train ride through the farm.

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After walking a while, both grandma and granddaughter are resting on a bench.

Photo note: To ensure even illumination on both Ma Wee and Lydia, this picture was taken in open shade. (In addition, direct, fill flash set around -1.0 flash compensation from a flash attached to the camera's hot shoe provided the fill light to ensure that there was enough light on both people's faces.)

"Where do you find open shade? Almost anywhere not in direct sunlight- in the shadows of large buildings, under big trees, or all over on overcast days. Open shade lighting is softer than harsh, directional sunlight­ strong, unflattering shadows simply disappear.

And because your subjects won't have to squint uncomfortably into strong sunlight, they'll be relaxed- even eager to pose for more photos than usual. Young children and teens -who can sometimes be ornery when it comes to picture-taking sessions- respond especially well to open shade.

The quality of light will vary depending on the kind of shade you shoot in because it is still somewhat directional. For example, if your subjects are under a large tree, light may be hitting them from the sides. But if you're shooting in the shadow of a large building, it will usually come from the sky above, similar to Victorian studio lighting. On overcast days, the light will be very even and appear to wrap around subjects from all angles."

(source: http://www.dpcorner.com/howto/shade1.shtml)

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Family picture

(left to right): Ma Wee, Lydia, SiowFong, and Tom

Note: Right after lunch and just before we left Remlinger Farms to return home, we took a family picture in the grocery store.

Photo note: Having Lydia sit on the edge of the countertop drastically reduced the distance between her head and the adults' heads, and this makes the picture a lot better than if Lydia had just been standing on the floor between Ma Wee and SiowFong.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 7, 2010 at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Photos: Remlinger: Daddy and Lydia

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Tractor picture with Lydia and her dad

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Another tractor photo

Note: SiowFong wanted to make sure today that she took a number of pictures of Lydia and her dad because there are many more pictures of Lydia and her mom taken since the start of this year as Lydia's dad usually uses the camera.

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This wooden cutout of a locomotive made for an interesting father - daughter picture.

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Lydia and her dad are enjoying a teacup ride.

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Lydia is driving her dad around in this jalopy.

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Lydia is looking at the scenery while she drives.

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Farmer Lydia and her dad

Note: SiowFong took all of these pictures on July 7, 2010 at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Photos: Whizz Kids, July 2010

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Grandma Nancy, a volunteer at the center, read stories to the children.

The children (from left to right) are Jada, Lydia, and Gabrielle.

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Gabrielle and Lydia are playing with pegboards.

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Wearing goggles, the girls are learning some basic carpentry.

Note: The day care staff took these pictures in July 2010.

Photos: Playing with Tammy

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While Steven Chew observes, Tammy Yap and Lydia drop polished stones in the center hole of this pink plastic stool.

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Lydia and Tammy are playing tic tac toe.

Note: All of these pictures were taken on July 18, 2010 when Steven Chew and Tammy Yap came to our home for dinner.