Doan Chung-Hernandez

For my birthday this year we played it low key. For lunch we had sushi at Maru in Austin.

So far it’s the best sushi I’ve had in Austin.

After lunch we lallygagged around, shopped at the mall and when dinner time came around we went to the Melting Pot.

Heard a lot of hype throughout the years about this place and after today I can say with 100% certainty that it’s overrated and over priced at that.

But at least now I know. If I ever come back here I’m definitely coming having dessert first.

Well happy fucking birthday to me. I promise next year I’ll have a more exciting story for you.

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Good morning Christmas. I don’t know if it’s because we’re in California or because it’s Jesus’s birthday but it is a gorgeous morning. I woke up early and finished my book. I’ve been obsessed with reading lately.

We started our Christmas morning off with a family hike.

How pretty is it here!

It was a perfect 3 mile hike around the lake.

My dad was explaining to me that he loves mountains and lakes.

And then my mom chimes in and says she loves cars and money. She’s such a comedian.

We had to stop at least once for a group photo.

And of course I had to get one with my baby.

After our hike we were all so ready for some dim sum.

And tea.

After dim sum we made our way to Ranch 99. Oh how I wish Austin had a Ranch 99.

And then back home we go. I love this photo of my dad that I took.

I also love this photo of my mom checking out my dad be a photo-whore.

Selena and my dad goofing off after dinner.

Lana and Kevin are such a cute couple and this photo describes their relationship perfectly.

So the next morning Ray and I felt guilty for not working out the whole time while we’ve been here so we went out for a morning ride. It was ca-ca-ca-cold.

And when we got back we all went to Star Bucks.

I love my dad.

Afterwords we went out in search of some Uggs for my mom because tonight we are throwing my mom a surprise birthday party. Her American birthday is December 29 and since they are driving back tomorrow we decided to celebrate it tonight. We also got her a couple of Star Bucks gift cards and made the boys make a secret stop by The Cheesecake Factory to get her a cake.

All that shopping built us up an appetite. Pizza is the next stop and Lana knows the perfect place.

Hi dad.

So since we are celebrating my mom’s birthday tonight we decided to do up a special dinner for her, hot pot style. I miss hot pot meals. We use to do them all the time but I don’t ever remember having this grill in the middle of the hot pot. How cool is this.

A total Asian meal. I love love love it.

A special dinner for my beautiful mother.

Ray is tweeting about his first hot pot experience.

Hot pot dinners are fun, interactive, and healthy.

My favorite part of this photo is Kevin’s chopsticks skills in the background.

After dinner we sang happy birthday to my mom.

I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.

Make a wish.

Look at that, she got Star Bucks gift cards.

And Uggs. Even though she knew we got her Uggs I still wrapped them up because there’s just something magical about unwrapping a gift.

Her hard working hands are filled with blood, sweat and too many tears. I wish I could give my mom more happy days like today.

My mom and dad are leaving today. Boo.

I’m not going to lie, I got my photo-whore gene from my dad.

One more meal before they leave.

My dad stuffed a bunch of quail eggs in his mouth and got scolded my Lana. She’s like, “dad, you better not put those back in the bowl. Now you have to eat them all.”

After lunch my parents and Selena packed up the car and headed south back home and since it was our last night we headed for the city. Ray was determined to get a burger from In and Out but never got a chance since we were so busy all week. Lana heard he wanted a burger so she drove us to Mels Diner for a “real” burger. Ray being too nice didn’t want to say anything and I just thought it was funny.

After Mels we got some drinks.

And after drinks we got some donuts.

And the next day Ray and I packed our bags and headed to the airport. Wow, what a fun and busy week. I miss my family already.

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Boy do we have our hands full this week in Dallas. Infocus Dentistry booked us for the Uptown Dallas Festival, the Dallas Fair is in full effect, Ben’s kids are having their birthday party and he wants me to be in charge of the games, and as an added bonus Bea and even Mable are in town. Wow! First we celebrate the twin’s birthday by going out to eat with the family.

The next day we hit the Texas fair. Now I’ve never been to the Dallas fair before but I’ve been under the impression that it could well possibly be the grandest fair of them all. I mean, have you heard of all the fried crap they come up with. Now I’m not the biggest fan of fried shit, but when you have things like fried snickers, twinkies, and even fried coke, you definitely have my attention.

Gotta take a photo with the iconic Big Tex. Now is it me or does he look like he’d just had a breast enhancement procedure? He’s all square and boxy up there like they were freshly done yesterday. Hey, to each his own Big Tex, to each his own.

Me and my fried snickers.

This year the big hype was fried peaches and cream. That sounds pretty safe and boring compared to some of their past concoctions.  And the verdict . . . well fried, nice crispness yet a bit greasy, cream was too runny and bland, serving size was too small and like everything else, way overpriced. Hello people, we’re in a recession here!

Unfortunately we didn’t ride any rides this year. I’ve never been a huge fan of fair rides, just not my thing ya know.

And we ended it with a BMX show.

I don’t want to say I was disappointed but I’m not gonna be rushing to next years fair.

Oh yeah, and everyone had a photobooth this year, but they were all ghetto rigged.

Oh and I also forgot to mention, Bea brought Brixton. He’s so effing cute and I can’t stop plotting new ways to kidnap him.

The next day was the Dallas Uptown festival. Infocus Dentistry had hired us to lure innocent pedestrians to their booth and you know what, it worked like a charm. Seriously, who comes to a festival to see a dentist? But you throw in a photobooth and everyone is instantly interested. Ingenious!

Now while that was going on I headed off to Cloe and Lyric’s birthday party because I was told last minute that I was to be in charge of the games. Alright Ben next time some notice would be nice, you know so I could do some planning, get some props, but hey I’m amazing and I’ll make due and make it happen because I love you brother.

We had a sack race where the girls totally opened a can of whoop ass on the boys.

We also did a few games of tug-a-war.

Where the girls reign total domination.

Oh and then Cloe decided to rub some salt on Lyrics wound by kicking his ass in front of his friends. Bad Cloe!

There wasn’t enough props to play all the games I had in mind but it was quite all right because all the adults had had enough. We handed out prizes, kids got their face painted and now it’s time for cake.

Cake, sometimes it’s better than love.

And of course I got my face painted too, old school like Jem and the Holograms.

After the birthday I headed back to the festival and guess what, Dallas Morning News came by and took a photo of me which later that week ended up online.

Awesome! Here’s a link if you want to check it out. It’s on page 10.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/pt/slideshows/2009/09/nq_1001_uptownfest/

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It’s day 3 of Virgo Bash and boy did we take a shit ton of photos today. Seriously we are a bunch of photo taking whores. Everywhere we go we’re snap, snap, snapping away.

Today I woke up and I actually utilized the gym they had downstairs. Yes, even on vacation I work out, extra brownie points for me. For breakfast we stayed in and ordered room service. I can’t think of anything better than room service when your on vacation. It’s a day of relaxation, no plans, just a lot of beach time with a little bit of attitude.

We had to stop on the way for a quick photo shoot.

Doesn’t Jack look pretty?

Alright my turn, give that me that damn flower.

As soon as we make it to the beach we head straight to the bar . . . only to take more photos.

Uh, a little more attitude please.

Photo-whores I tell ya. We’re all just  a bunch of photo-whores.

And then I had to stop to take a photo of these guys. This lady is wearing her freaking bra and panties on the beach. Damn Europeans wear the craziest shit on the beach. Makes me wonder if I’m part European.

Michelle thinks she just came up with the best idea. “Lets all learn Spanish,” she says as she busts out her Spanish/English dictionary. Jackie learned how to say a few choice words like “Toca ella aqui,” which means, “touch her here.” She would say it to anyone who looked local and point to my boobies and every time they would laugh, which only encouraged her to say it throughout our vacation.

Michelle’s game got boring fast so we resorted to taking more photos. Charlies Angels style.

Jackie and Michelle partook in a volley ball game when we got back.

Kick ass!

If you haven’t noticed by now, I took on the roll of the photographer, as I always do, which explains why I’m not in a lot of the group photos.

Sexy legs.

Jackie wants in on the action.

This is our friend that we met at the resort. I forgot his name but he was a Virgo too and he absolutely loved us.

I got him to get a little dirty on camera and just like the girls on Girls Gone Wild, he kindly obliged.

Jackie got this crazy idea where we had to find a worker and have them pose with us. I found this lady named Margarita and had her do the Charlies Angels pose with me. She didn’t get the whole gun thing and ended up praying instead.

Michelle found this little dude.

It’s getting late and we’re all getting hungry. Jackie had bought everyone Virgo Bash tanks and what better night to wear them than tonight.

We’re so damn cute.

So before dinner we stopped at the travel center in the lobby to book another excursion for tomorrow. It took awhile for all five of our cards to process so Jack and Elicia made use of their time by having caractures of themselves drawn up. What a waste of money. No one could tell who was who.

Tonight we’re having Mexican.

We took a break to strike a pose with one of our waiters.

Went back to eating and then during half time took more photos.

Had dessert and then took more photos.

Oh gosh, Jack is drunk already.

Then this dude came by. He was on vacation with his family and tonight he wished he was on vacation with us. He obviously wanted to hang out. We bought him a free shot and sent him on his way.

Sorry dude, but tonight is girls night out and we’re loving every minute of it.

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It’s Scot’s birthday and his lovely wife, Shawna, is throwing him a super hero party. How fun is that? I finally get a chance to wear my ninja mask. Yesss! And it just so happens that Ray has a Mexican wrestler mask lying around. How cool are we?

Cosmo as came as Super Hyperwear and Suzi dressed as Butterfly fairy princess.

Tim as Disco Dude and his wife, Tonya, as Disco Dudette.

Jessy came as Donatello from Ninja Turtles.

The Incredible Hulk.

My hubby and Indiana Jones.

Awe shucks.

Sup.

Taking a break from fighting crime.

I challenge you Superman . . .

Ninja vs Ninja

Vengeance is mine.

Apparently Tim blames his reckless chair dancing on me and like 8  jello shots.

Scott and Shawna are just too cute.

But I guess we’re pretty darn cute too.

What a night. With all the jello shots I took I’m surprised I didn’t get wasted. I can’t wait till the next costume party. Maybe well have to have it at our place next?

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The great thing about having so many friends is that eventually one of their birthdays will come along which gives us yet another reason to have a party. The time has come for Tim to get older and lucky him, because this year his beautiful wife threw him a wonderful party.

As always Bill rocked the house.

Wouldn’t be a party without the sexy ladies.

Chilling with my honey.

So glad that Tiffany and Brian made it.

Smile guys.

It was a great party. Happy birthday Tim!

Happy Birthday Tim from Doan Chung on Vimeo.

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It’s Adrian’s birthday and he is a big 5 years old this year.

Happy Birthday Adrian! from Doan Chung on Vimeo.

Birthday Wishes from Doan Chung on Vimeo.

I think we’re almost ready for some babies of our own.

Adrian Eating His Birthday Cake from Doan Chung on Vimeo.

There was a lightning storm going on. Pretty crazy and scary at the same time so after cake and presents we all gather around outside for a better view.

Happy Birthday Adrian.

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Ray and I were invited to join Jacey’s birthday festivities. She had a small get together at a small wine bar in down town Austin.

John Mendoza showed up too.

Hey, hey, no holding hands at the table. Oh what the hell, it’s your birthday, carry on.

After barrels of wine we headed next door for Mexican.

And Ray’s food.

I can’t get over how adorable Jacey is. Happy Birthday Jacey. Thanks for inviting us to celebrate with you.

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