Rolling Head-On Into Thanksgiving...

Jeez, just four more days to Thanksgiving...2010 has gone by very FAST! It's a cold, wet Sunday morning — just finished a telephone briefing for the airport and wanted to write a quick blog post.

Maria is still homeschooling Brandon and Nicholas. Our family has now homeschooled their children the longest in this city's ENCORE Homeschooling Program (part of the Unified School District)—13 years to be exact! I think Maria wants to slowly but surely transition the boys into Public School like the other two, but they don't really have any interest to go. Why would you when you can wake up at 9 or 10 and do your reading and lessons anytime throughout the day and your Mom was home with you always? It really is great for the children.

As for the two teenagers, Alexandra is a Senior and driving her 1984 Ford Mustang Convertible ALLOVER the place. Talk about growing up fast, she starts college next year and still maintains a GREAT job teaching dance and gymnastics. She's a natural teacher and little kids LOVE her.

Cameron maintains a very high GPA, takes Advance Placement Chemistry as a Sophomore, and is No. 3 on the varsity tennis team (and rising fast). He just started a three-month intense fitness program for athletes. He is going to be in TIP-TOP shape soon and his coach is expecting to see some explosive lateral movement side-to-side on the court. He is very much like his Uncle Alex—a naturally-gifted athlete.

Maria is still working part-time, even though her hours often flex to near full-time!!! We're not complaining given THIS economy. We still have fun and that's important.

As for me, I'm still running all training at SFO International Airport (from pat downs to X-ray). We have the BEST screeners...try some of the other airports and tell me if you don't agree! After all this time, I STILL love the work and the people I get to work with...what's not to like about that!

And if you haven't checked out my website, NerdBoyTV, go visit it NOW ;-) I also have a channel on YouTube. I'm very proud that I've maintained the NerdBoyTV show for almost four years now. It's also a FREE podcast on iTunes.

Hope you all had a terrific 2010! Have fun and be safe this holiday season.

VIDEO: Catapusan-Yees Celebrate Fourth of July 2010

Yee Boys Night Out at Giants Game

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Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

We had an awesome time last night at AT&T Park to see the SF Giants kick the Baltimore Orioles' butt, 10–2. Then we went to a late night carnival at Lot A and sneaked over to Oakland Chinatown for won ton takeout (hehehe). Got home slightly before midnight...nice.

Click on the picture to see slideshow.

SLIDESHOW: Growing Up

Found these on an external hard drive...so many good memories. I have great kids ;-)

The Yee Guys on Christmas Day

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Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

The guys on Christmas Day at Maria's mom's house.

(left to right: Ryan, Nicholas, Brandon, Cameron, Alex)

Busy 4-day Weekend in May!

This has ( and will continue to be) a wild weekend. At the last minute, I decided to take Friday and Monday off for the boys' birthdays (Nicholas on 5/15 and Cameron on 5/18). Yesterday, we let Cameron play hooky from school to join me, Maria, Brandon, Nanay, and birthday boy Nicholas for a trip to Union Square in SF. We shopped at the Nordstrom's shopping center there on Market and I took Cameron and Brandon to the 4-floors of The Nike Store. Then, we drove over to Emeryville and Cameron created a customized pair of basketball shoes at THAT Nike Store (very cool idea).

Today, we went to our friend's daughter's graduation party. Stephanie graduated from UC Berkeley yesterday, quite an accomplishment. Lots of good food and fun!

Tomorrow, we go into Oakland Chinatown for a Gee Family Reunion. My three cousins (and their families) are driving down from Seattle, WA and we're ALL having dim sum. Can't wait...pictures coming soon ;-)

Then, Monday, it's Cameron's 14th Birthday...wow, I can't believe how old he's gotten...the little boy's in there somewhere, but it's hard to find now (grin).

What a weekend...

AUDIOBLOG: Talking about Disneyland

Recorded from the car, I talk about our family's recent trip to Disneyland and Legoland this past weekend.

Disneyland at last!

Well, as you can see, The Yee Family FINALLY made it to Disneyland ;-)

It's amazing how small The Matterhorn really looks 40 years after I first saw it...I remember it being gigantic as our family approached Anaheim in our station wagon on I-5. NOW, you can't even see the park that's now surrounded by parking structures and other buildings.

But, it sure hasn't lost it's magical appeal. The kids LOVED the park. We were there from 9AM when they opened to arround 8PM after getting too wet on Splash Mountain to stay in the cold. Tomorrow, we're braving California Adventure...and since we've got a Hopper Pass, I'll likely sneak back into Disneyland one last time. Brandon and I have already been on The Matterhorn several times.

We're having a blast!

Landing in Legoland

Isn't this amazing? Mount Rushmore is totally made up of Lego pieces...

The Yee Boys landed in Legoland today! Brandon and Nicholas, especially, have been looking forward to this part of the trip. We took off to Carlsbad after leaving Maria, Alexandra, and Reggie in San Diego. Alex had a dance competition with those tough Southern California girl dancers who can afford to be choreographed by famous L.A. dancers (hehehe). Well, it's all in good fun anyway, right?

Well, the competitive side of me says, "Go beat 'em, Alexandra!" LOL!!!

And the good news, Alex placed fourth in the competitive solo division...YAY, Alex!

Back at Legoland, the boys and I were enjoying the rides and the $4 hot dogs (groan). If you go to YeePhotos.com, you can see pictures of some of the facinating structures (The Eifel Tower, New York City, The Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) made out of Lego pieces...truly amazing.

And still to come, Disneyland tomorrow!

Brandon competes in Rock Band Contest

A couple weeks ago, Brandon (with a little help from his brother, Cameron) competed in the Playstation Rock Band Contest at Best Buy. The winners split $150 ;-) Even though they didn't win, the two Yee Brothers did GREAT! It was all for charity...the admission fee went to a local high school fundraiser. Notice Brandon all decked out in his "rockstar" duds . Yup, that's an actual bike chain that he's wearing around his neck!! Rock on, Brandon!

Cameron and Ryan at the Warriors/Grizzlies Game

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Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

Cameron and I saw the Warriors play against the Memphis Grizzlies last night at Oakland Oracle Arena; awesome mainly because we WON! This was taken during half-time...thanks to my friend, Violett, for the tickets. Muchas gracias!

Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies

NOTE from Ryan: Cameron and I are going to see this game tonight...got free tickets from my friend, Violett.

WARRIORS: preview_031508: "Saturday’s contest will be especially important for the Warriors. Two games ahead of the Denver Nuggets for the final playoff spot in the conference going into Friday’s action, Golden State will need to avoid losing streaks at all costs. The Warriors have done a solid job of doing such all season, as they have posted consecutive losses just once since starting the season 0-6.

After seeing their three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday with a 123-115 defeat in Phoenix, the Warriors will be anxious to come back home to ORACLE Arena. Golden State is 22-10 on its home floor this season, and has won each of its last four games there."

SLIDESHOW: Dinner With My Relatives (February 2008)

Thanks to my Auntie Mary bringing us all together, me and my relatives were able to gather in Oakland and share a belated Chinese New Year dinner ;-) Over the years, we get together less and less, but when we do, it's ALWAYS fun, laughs, and FOOD! Thanks, Auntie Mary!

Cameron maintains a 4.0 GPA

Yay, Cameron! He did it again...Cameron maintained a 4.0 GPA for this last quarter (one of 57 in the school). Maria and I attended the award ceremony yesterday and needless to say we are both very proud. I'd like to take the credit for all of this, but Cameron is very self-motivated and disciplined...we never have to tell him to do his homework or stay at school to work on extra credit...he just does! Yup, he's definitely a keeper!

Dinner at the Sheridons 01-06-2008

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Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

Here's a picture of our kids and the Sheridon kids as we got together for a post-holiday celebration at Tim and Lori's house in San Francisco. It was a blast to see all of our longtime friends from high school (and even futher back). Thanks Tim and Lori!

Merry Christmas from The Yee Kids

Courtesy of Office Depot, the Yee Kids (Brandon, Nicholas, Cameron, and Alexandra) want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! ;-)

Brandon, Cameron, Maria, & Nicholas at Slick's

Brandon, Cameron, Maria, & Nicholas at Slick's
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

Just after getting haircuts at Slick's Barbershop...they all look rather clean-cut, huh?

Gee Family Christmas Party 2007

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Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

Mike and Anne again opened their beautiful house to all the family for an early Christmas Party for all the local Gee Family members. My two cousins from Seattle, Kevin and Kirk, also drove down for the festivities. I finally met Kirk's wife, Yumi, and their little daughter, Reina. Santa Scott (another cousin) made a visit to drop off toys for all the kids (SEE pictures at www.YeePhotos.com), a Gee Family tradition going back probably 25 years (grin). We topped it all off with a spirited White Elephant Gift Exchange (there wasn't much stealing this year, though...smile). Thanks again to Mike and Anne...was LOTS of fun for all!

Cameron sings with school choir

This is a video taken of Cameron singing with the school choir for the season's Christmas Performance. If you know Cameron, standing in front of a couple hundred people to sing is a BIG accomplishment...I couldn't be prouder! GREAT JOB!

Happy 10th Birthday to Brandon!

Our family happily celebrated Brandon's 10th Birthday one day early since I was pretty sure I'd have to work a little later on his actual birthday.

This picture was taken in Jack London Square just after we had sushi at Yoshi's (SEE building in the background). We walked across the street afterwards and had ice cream and Ben & Jerry's.

Brandon got some pretty cool gifts, like a DNA lab kit, fingerprinting set, and a mailbox (don't ask...). Wow, can't believe he's ten now...time goes by FAST!