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.

For Nicholas

I'm at home sick again today, so I have a lot of time on my hands to play with video and pictures (grin). This one is for my little guy, Nicholas (Nini). Can't believe he's already nine-years-old. Jeez, time really flies by quickly. Here's MY way of grabbing onto the early years for just a little while longer.

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)

One of my favorite pictures of Nicholas

NicholasTV: Cat Face Origami by Nicholas (8)

On NicholasTV, 8-year-old Nicholas shows you how to create a "cat face" using Origami paper.

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...

@lou3500 (Nicholas) & @ryanyee (Me)

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!

Yee Boys at Lawrence Hall of Science

Yee Boys at Lawrence Hall of Science
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

This whale has been lying in front of Lawrence Hall of Science since I was a little boy. Brandon and Nicholas had fun crawling all over it, however.

Happy Birthday, Brandon!

Today is Brandon's birthday...I took the day-off from work and Maria, Nicholas, Brandon, and I went to Lawrence Hall of Science. I haven't been there myself since I was a kid ;-) It was great to have the place all to ourselves, too. We built structures that could withstand heavy shaking, folded paper airplanes, redirected waterflow, learned more about our planet on a video globe (SEE videoclip), and experienced how turning wings in one direction versus another affects flight. We then celebrated at Blue Fin Japanese Restaurant with the whole family. A very fun day!

Playing in the backyard - Summer is over!

Alexandra, Nicholas, and Brandon smile goofy in our backyard. They really are growing up way too fast!

YeeTube: Happy Fourth Of July

Our family had a terrific Fourth Of July BBQ with our neighbors in our cul de sac. Lots of food, laughs, and fun. Our holiday culminated with a trip down to the marina to watch the fantastic Fourth Of July fireworks. Enjoy!

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!

ANIMATION: Arcade Game Stickmen by Nicholas Yee (6)

Here is an animation created by my son, Nicholas, using Cartoon Network's Clickbook. Good job, Nini!

Nicholas at Chichibu Park

Me and the boys at Chichibu Park
Originally uploaded by Ryan Yee.

Hangin' out at the park on Saturday...Nicholas' expression is priceless! LOL