A-Ma Ding & Little Maven

By KEVIN DING

Some priceless photos of my mom and my little Maven ...

Happy 40th Birthday, Kevin!

By MAGGIE WANG

Expecting the Lakers to be on the road or still in playoff business for Kevin's 40th birthday, I had grand plans of taking the girls by myself to stay the Marriott in Dana Point with its new splash zone.

But luckily for me, the Lakers' season ended on Mother's Day, so I got my dear husband back early. I thought Kevin could still enjoy birthday decompression time to himself in his house without all the girls complaining and running around, but he decided he would rather spend it with us than alone (so sweet!).

We all had a grand time, including Maven despite that scrape on her nose suffered when she tried to jump over a cone on her own during her tennis lesson. And we also surprised Kevin by having Mag, Sarah and Austin and Tru and Annie waiting there at the restaurant already for a birthday dinner!

"Supermaggie"!

By KEVIN DING

I have a T-shirt that was handed out when I was in Orlando as part of a promotion for Magic star Dwight Howard, who goes by the "Superman" nickname. It has a big "Superman" logo in the front, and when Maggie was wearing it around the house the other day, I couldn't help but think that it fit her in another sense.

Maggie is our "Supermaggie," which I tried to convey in a sense in quick-hitting form in that Mother's Day video slideshow. But beyond being a great mom, it's amazing just how much she does for our family in every way -- being a bread-winner, manager and inspiration to all three of us.

I don't think we talk about often in this blog how great she is at her job, and just as importantly, how she is always striving to be better at it via new approaches, advice she has gotten from her huge network of people who believe in her or just what she has learned on her own. That drive to improve and succeed is one of cornerstones of our relationship and something I deeply respect about her.

With the Lakers' season ending earlier than normal, it's sort of helpful for me to take a step back and process her workload a little better instead of taking it for granted, too. I know it's a burden on her to pick up slack while I am working through the long playoffs, especially, so in that sense I'm glad the Lakers lost and I can help her more.

Sedona and Maven have their own unique energies, but Maggie does, too. She is a wonder.

I ended my wedding vows in 2003 by saying to her: "I adore you and I always will."

Well, I'll also note now in less romanticized but just as sincere way: "I respect you and I always will."

Farewell to Phil Jackson

By KEVIN DING

Maybe too similar to fit perfectly together, Phil Jackson and I sort of understood each other, though. It's definitely the end of an era for me personally after roughly 12 years together with the retirement of perhaps the greatest coach in sports history. I'm glad to have these photos of us quietly saying good-bye.

Healthy Heart

By MAGGIE WANG

When Maven was sick last year, the substitute doctor at PV Medical Group heard a heart murmur when giving Maven a checkup. He didn't think it was anything to worry about, as it is common in children, but to take the necessary precaution, he ordered a referral to a specialist.

Kevin took Maven to Dr. Tan at the Miller's Children's Hospital in Torrance for a checkup, and they said it was 99.9% confirmed she is fine -- but he still ordered an EKG. Kevin didn't think it was necessary to do it -- I agreed, but there is always that slight percentage of what if we just ignored it and something was wrong? I would beat myself up for not spending the $40 co-pay. So here we were today getting ready for the EKG ... and got all confirmed that our baby has a beautiful and healthy heart!

20 Reasons We Love Our Mommy

By KEVIN DING

There are many more, but here are 20 reasons Sedona and Maven love their mommy!!

Happy Mother's Day!

The Big Star

By MAGGIE WANG

As we go through life with the same partner for as many years as Kevin and I have -- now approaching our 13th year together -- it's easy to take things for granted and not reflect on how proud you can be of each other's accomplishments. I feel ashamed I don't acknowledge this often enough, but recently my friend said, "Your hubby is a big star these days ... giving awards and 'The Dan Patrick Show.' Must be proud."

Then I was watching "Oprah" (as many of you can guess), and there was this guy who dreamed of being a sports journalist. He got the opportunity to interview a basketball player and get a media pass, and he was raving about how he was going to cherish that pass forever. I see those passes all the time and it means nothing to me. But it shouldn't, so that said ... Way to go, Kevin! You are doing something most men only dream of doing -- and you are doing it with such integrity. You make us proud.

Pictures of Kevin presenting the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award to Ron Artest right before a Lakers playoff game -- to which Artest said, "I couldn't think of a better person to give it to me, Kevin."

Kevin on "The Dan Patrick Show," where he has been on many times now. I've played it for the girls, and they get super-excited to hear their daddy on the TV. Adorable.

Happy Mother's Day

By MAGGIE WANG

The girls were so sweet (okay, maybe they were forced to by her school but I tihnk it did come from the heart). Yesterday, Sedona had her Mother's Day at school where I got this great calendar that she drew a pciture for each month. She was so adorable about going through each picture and telling me what she drew. She is quite the little artist (I give credit to the Ding family for this talent).

I went to Maven's class today and she made this cute pot holder for with her hand stamp that says "I love my mom" on the other side. I'm not sure Maven quite gets it but we had fun eating breakfast at school anyhow.

I feel so fortunate to have these two amazing little girls.

On actual mother's day, Kevin was in Dallas for a game but luckily we had a great time starting with brunch with the Williams family and then cake pop making with Auntie Anita. Yum!

Sedona Philosophies

By MAGGIE WANG

As Sedona is older and I am now confident she can sleep on the top of a bunk bed, we decided to re-bunk the beds -- prompting great excitement from the girls! Sedona this whole week has been claiming both beds are hers because she used to sleep on the bottom bunk and now sleeps on the top. I tried to explain to her that it is actually one bed and they share it. She didn't seem to like that concept. She prefers to tell Maven that she has no bed and that both beds are hers. Then suddenly the light bulb went off and she acknowledged, "Oh, because they are stuck together." Kinda funny to see kids put together abstract concepts.

OK, here is a better story: When I was in her bed with her, Sedona and I bonked heads. It was her eye to my nose, and for some reason where we hit, it really  hurt - to which Sedona replied, "My eye is more important than your nose, Mommy."

I guess she doesn't think breathing is that important (though, she could always breathe from her mouth!).

Lakers Life at Staples Center

By KEVIN DING

Here are a couple photos from this season that include me at Staples Center during Lakers games.

I used to sit in a truly courtside seat (right behind the Laker Girls), but the Lakers realized a few years back that they could make literally millions of dollars from my press seat, so they started selling it and moved my seat back a bit. Now David Beckham can enjoy courtside what I used to, while I lurk behind him.