World of Derek is Moving...

Hi fans of Dek - Derek's adventures will be chronicled at our new family blog

www.favilaimpromptu.com

If we can we will try to post a monthly update on Dek here (no promises, or for how long it will last). But his world and resume has expanded to include a sister now, so his days as an only child are behind him. He had a good run though being the only one. He made it to 7 US cities, 3 foreign countries and all the way through potty training on his own.  Time for the next chapter!

[FYI, we will start to redirect the worldofderek.com address to the new website, but you can always check out his archive here at worldofderek.blogspot.com]

Mama and Derek on his last day as an only child.

Derek's World is Changing

We haven't talked about it much, but Derek's world has changed... he's a big brother!

We welcomed his little sister, Quinn Luu on March 31. Dek was excited for the baby (though he is acting out a big now...)

More to come soon.

Dek & Daddy (Ber-u-da style)

The pink sands (sorta) and cold water at Horseshoe Bay.

Exploring Crystal Caves

We had better weather on the second and third day in Bermuda. Though the water was thoroughly cold (70 degree weather, still means pretty frigid Atlantic waters), but that didn't stop Derek from exploring. We also checked out the very pretty, but mysterious Crystal Caves. We didn't do the steeper Fantasy cave, but maybe next time when we make it back there.

Stormy Days

Unfortunately, our escape to paradise wasn't all it was cracked up to be when it rained heavily on the second day and in the mornings. Derek went with the flow though and enjoyed being away from home.

The first day he was walking around and said, "I've never been to this place before!" in a really incredulous way. It was one of those moments you realize that his expressions and development of independent thoughts is coming out in these cute phrases. He called it "BER-U-Da" - which was also too cute for words.

Bermuda Boy

We escaped the winter weather for a bit to warmer Bermuda.

We enjoyed sand castles, a bit of storminess and good times away from the snowy capital.

Ringing in the New Year

Getting ready for a little new year parade inside the house...

Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy Lunar New Year!)

Happy Year of the Horse! Here is Dek with cousins, Mercy and Mai-Ly, at Ong Ba's ringing in the lunar new year in their ao dais.

Getting Ready for the Rock Show

Dek is working on some of his drum fundamentals with me. I started gearing up for the final Crash Take Off shows (decided not to drum past 8 months this time...). Here he is helping with some rolls. Don't forget the hearing protection! I always worry since we expose Dek to so much loud noise - he's gotten used to wearing his earphones.

Oh, I found more snow photos...

Its been a really snowy winter. Though we haven't ventured out beyond our backyard much (I know Dek would love sledding but being preggo, I've limited my physical/contact type activities). We've had good times making snowmen, snow castles, angels and more of the such.

"Work" Clothes

Before Elliot's party, Derek insisted on wearing his new "work clothes" - i.e. the suit we bought for Easter and a wedding this summer to the party. Here he is all dressed up with cousins Elliot and Phillip.

Cousin Elliot's Bday

Elliot turned 4 and Derek was there to witness all the cake and joy. He often likes to recount how old each person is,
"I'm three"
"Elliot is four"
"Who is one? Oh Mai-Ly is one."
"Who is one?"

Until recently we didn't know anyone close to Dek who was 5, so it was a challenge when we got to that question. WHY ISN'T ANYONE 5...
 

Mustache Boys

Dek and Cousin Elliot try on some mustaches to match Ong (Grandpa). These little guys really love being silly together. More to come from Elliot's 4th Birthday Bash...

More Snow!

I can't even keep track of all the snow we've been having (just another storm this past Monday). So here is Dek in his winter boots and one of the many storms of 2013-2014 winter.

Dek & the Snowboy

Dek & Frostyboy

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Digging

Its been a very snowy winter. Here is one of our earlier snows where we got outside to the Dek to build a snowboy (given his size, didn't seem that he was a full grown snowman). We improvised with some cranberries ad we didn't have any coal or a carrot for a nose.  Dek has taken a keen interest in some winter past times such as sledding and skating, though its mostly just him slipping around outside in his snowboots.

About Town

Dino Dek

At the San Francisco Cable Car Museum with Co Christine and Tito Kyle

Rock Steady Dek

Our whirlwind tour of San Fran continues...

The Fun Machine

Still trying to catch up with postings since we've been having some issues blogging through Picasa. Sorry about that. Here is Dek in San Fran with good buddy, and future entrepreneurial mentor, Tito Kyle. Dek is learning the ways of a keyboard organ machine that seemed like endless amounts of fun.

Good times with Great Lola

We visited with Dek's great-grandma - here are all 3 generations of Favilas having a happy smile together.

A delicious cone (before it was yaked up)

Yum!

Scarfing it down...

Post-Puke

Derek has been enjoying his life as a post-dairy allergic kiddo (though he now claims to be allergic to vegetables?!). Our first stop before visiting family in Stockton was to the Ghirardelli Factory store where he had some high quality ice cream (his first full cone!) and then proceeded to throw it all up since he hate it too fast. 

SFO

On the go!

 We made it out of LA and into crunch San Francisco  where they of course have a yoga room at the airport. Here is Dek practicing tree pose before we make our way to visit friends and family in the Bay Area.

Tree Pose

The last of Disneyland

 

 

Here is the final moments of Disney. It was just one, very eventful day. Here we are at the Small World ride and then driving taxis in Toon Town. All in all a great time for Derek and he stayed awake long enough for fireworks, but decided to go through and play the Buzz Lightyear Alien shooter game 3x in a row. So when everyone asked him what he liked about Disney the most, he responds, "I liked shooting aliens" which is not what you really expect to hear.

The Mouse Himself

 

 

Now this is the real deal. Derek was totally and completely *in awe* of Mickey. Once Dek realized we were in line to see the great mouse himself, he was beyond thrilled and totally star struck. There was this really cute conversation that happened, where Dek tried talking to Mickey. Something along the lines of "Hi Mickey... pause. How are you..ok, see you later." We had asked him earlier what he might say to Mickey and it was hilarious to see him try to engage the mouse himself. Also he gave a fist bump and high-five, of course.