Our 2022

Both kids are in school!

By Victoria & Michael Chou

December 12^th, 2022

OUR HOLIDAY FAMILY PHOTOS

We shot our family photos at nearby Washington Park this year. Overall Adrian was harder to manage but Avery was easier to manage this year. Progress!

SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR 2022

Tahoe Trip in February

We started the year taking the kids to Lake Tahoe to go skiing! We spent several days at Northstar and the kids had a blast. This was Adrian's first time skiing and it seemed like he had an ok time. He enjoyed sledding a lot more and generally just loved being around snow.

Avery was too small to go skiing/snowboarding but he really enjoyed spending time away from home with us, playing with the snow, sledding, and riding the inner tube ride at the Northstar village.

Spurs vs. Warriors @ Chase Center in March

For Michael's birthday, his brother Jack and Jack's wife Ivy were kind enough to gift us Warriors tickets and it was the first time Victoria and Michael went to an NBA game together. It was great to see Spurs play but I think more than anything it was just really nice for us to get away from the kids for a few hours and to enjoy the time for ourselves.

Michael @ Convex

Michael started a new job at Convex, a San Francisco-based startup company focused on software for commercial services. Michael was able to join the offsite at Napa in March to meet the team.

Michael has had a busy year at Convex but loves the work, enjoys working on the product, and is grateful to be working with such friendly and talented people.

This was a photo of the entire EPD (Engineering Product Design) organization at the offsite.

Adrian and Avery playing together

It was very gratifying to see Adrian and Avery playing together this year finally. They have their blowups, but overall Adrian has been a good big brother and Avery looks up to Adrian.

Watching the two of them play, it reminds Michael of the happiness he felt in his childhood playing with his brother Jack every day. They are about 3 years apart just like Michael and his brother.

Top Gun: Maverick

3 years after it was originally supposed to be released, we finally had a chance to go watch Top Gun together in June. For Michael this was one of his most significant moments in the past several years. Top Gun was a movie that was always playing in the house during his childhood and it was special to be able to share the experience of watching the new movie with his father, brother, and his boys. It also signaled a return to normalcy to go to a theater to watch this movie; what a significant step to return to theaters and to learn to live with Covid.

June in Truckee

We spent a week up in Truckee staying with Michael's brother's family. For some reason it was a really cold week but nevertheless it was amazing to have our kids spend time together. Adrian really loves playing with his cousins.

With everybody busy and with our own schedules, we don't often take vacation with extended family so this was a real treat to be able to do this.

Quarantine after travel

2 years after Covid-19 first spread around the world, we were still playing it safe as possible. After Michael came back from work trip to Chicago, he quarantined for a week to make sure he didn't bring Covid-19 back to our family.

This was probably a turning point for us, we loosened our response to Covid-19 in the 2nd half of the year.

Remodeling

In August, we started remodeling our master suite and our basement. It turned out to be a larger project than we were expecting and is expected to be done by February 2023.

It's started to get exhausting living in a home partially in construction but everybody has been making the best out of the situation.

San Diego

In August, we traveled to San Diego to spend time in perfect weather. Michael worked most of the week but Victoria and Michael's parents & cousin took the kids out to enjoy the beach and the zoo.

Toward the end of the week, we took the children to Legoland for a couple of days and they really enjoyed the experience. Legoland definitely felt more age appropriate for our children than Disneyland.

Disneyland

We finished our trip at Disneyland. Adrian had a blast and enjoyed it even more than he did the previous trip ~9 months ago. We also spent a lot more time in the Star Wars section of the park this time because Adrian discovered his love for Star Wars in early 2022.

Avery was still a bit too young to enjoy Disneyland but he definitely enjoyed carousels.

After this trip we definitely felt that visiting Disneyland 3x in less than 3 years was starting to feel like a lot. We may decide to go back one more time before Avery turns 3.

Chewie's Year

Chewie just turned 6 in October and he continues to be our best boy. Chewie continues to go "to work" with Michael every day in his office. On a special diet this year, Chewie has had much less stomach issues and has had his best year health-wise.

This year we've definitely felt that Chewie has become "an adult". He's much more assertive this year, he also picks up on our intentions much quicker than he used to (he can tell if Michael is leaving the house), and he's gotten very clear at communicating what he wants from us.

Avery's Year

Avery turned 2 this year and we've started to get a feel for his personality. There's no doubt in our mind that Avery is the most sweet, strong-willed, and jovial boy we've ever met.

From left-to-right, these photos captured Avery's year.

To start the year, it was amazing to have Victoria's parents here in the US. They were able to see both boys grow up quite fast over the past year.
With water bottle in hand, Avery is ready to be unleashed into the world this year!
Finally, Avery can sit in a front-facing car seat. He loves sitting next to his brother to look out the front of the car.
Avery turned 2 this May.
First day of Preschool. Doesn't know what he wants to be yet but he'll figure that out soon.
Avery is so happy that his mother and brother came to pick him up from his first day at school!
Avery loves Cars, so of course he decided to trick-o-treat as Lightning McQueen.
The sweetest boy.
Avery loves hiking with his friends at school.

Adrian's Year

Adrian turned 5 this year and he continues to be the innocent, cute, and overly-exuberant boy we could only hope for. He definitely has his rebellious moments but overall we could not be happier with his personal development.

From left-to-right, these photos captured Adrian's year.

To start the year, Adrian served as the ring bearer at his Auntie Christina's wedding.
Adrian receives a red-envelope from his Auntie Vanessa. Adrian is so fortunate to have so many aunts and uncles nearby who love him so much and have helped raise him.
Auntie Christina and Uncle Joe have both done a lot to teach Adrian this year.
Adrian graduated from his preschool this summer! Our family is very grateful that we've been embraced by, and our children raised by, the Jewish community and school we have chosen to send both of our sons to.
Star Wars was Adrian's favorite this year. Movies, cartoons, books, and clothing... you name it. Victoria created an amazing Star Wars themed birthday party for him.
Adrian started taking tennis lessons this year. Compared to other sports, he's really taken to tennis.
Adrian has also been going to Kuk Sool Won, a form of Korean Martial Arts.
He started Kindergarten this year!
Adrian went trick-o-treating with his friends from school this year dressed as a stormtrooper.