Photos from Emily Mitnick's childhood

Hi Emily,
I hope you enjoy these photos.
I am always here for you.
Love you, Papa

Snapshots and Stories

Sharing fun from breakfast to dinner

Learning to ride

When Emily was in childcare, we bought her a purple bike with colorful ribbons on the handlebars. It had training wheels, and we took small trips around the neighborhood. I also added a trailer to my own bike, where Emily sat behind me with her own little handlebars.We went on longer rides to the nearby park, and over time, she began to sense how to balance on two wheels. One day after a ride, I offered for her to try biking without training wheels. I steadied the saddle gently as she pedaled—and after a minute, I felt her find her own balance. I let go.She kept going, free and steady. The ribbons flew behind her as she picked up speed, full of joy.On her second ride, my hands were free—and I was lucky enough to capture a short video of that moment.

A Creative Spirit.

Emily always found joy in creating—from sketching portraits to building projects and plating food like a pro.At home, in school, or at her favorite studio, she explored art with focus and freedom.

In London’s museum of art, she paused to draw, lost in the moment.

At summer camp, she built this yellow cart from scratch and tested it with fearless energy—steering sharply at the bottom of our driveway to keep it safely away from the road. Soon, the neighbor kids lined up for rides too. Emily was the builder, the driver, and the joy-bringer.

In the kitchen, she brought that same spirit—careful, playful, and precise. She had an eye for beauty, mastering not just the taste, but the art of making every dish look like something worth celebrating.

She created moments of joy for others.

Art of having fun

Sometimes Emily played make up artist-and I got an honor of being her model .

Our silly faces brought shared smiles.

Surfing

From her first months Emily liked to go to the beach and play with the water. One day, she decided to try surfing—renting a board and diving into the challenge with her usual sense of adventure.

On a quieter water Emily mastered SUP. She managed to paddle very fast.

Even restaurant play turned into a surfing adventure.

Climbing

We used to go to the climbing gym and after exercise we tried authentic Chinese and Korean food at nearby diverse Santa Clara “Seoul” or at “Cupertino Village”. One day Emily decided to share the joy of climbing gym with her friends at her birthday party.

At another birthday she invited her friends to climb through redwood canopy zip lines. It was a thrill to conquer fear and enjoy the view.

Love for pets

From a young age, Emily loved riding ponies. As she grew, we shared joyful moments on horseback. She also had a soft spot for animals in need—helping care for rescued dogs while they waited for their forever homes.

One lucky dog even joined us for a bike ride.

Emily once helped care for a few lost dogs while we looked for their families.

Emily loves her grandparents

Paternal grandparents lived far away. Whenever they came to visit, she greeted them with joy and boundless energy—lighting up their days with laughter and love.

Emily the Athlete

We used to go with Emily to nearby park for rollerblading. She liked the wind and the thrill of skating. We invited Emily's friends and taught them to rollerblade. She had a favorite downhill path that ran under the bridge. It was breathtaking-you had to keep going! Emily loved the adrenalin and took pride in riding it safely.

Later, she discovered a new passion: basketball. Through years of dedication and team spirit, it became a sport she truly loved.

Skiing

Emily lit up on ski trips. She enjoyed sharing the slopes with friends, always focused on mastering her turns and embracing the speed. Between the lifts and the last runs of the day, we paused just long enough to capture the joy.

Rafting

One summer, Emily and I travelled to Mount Shasta area and took on a Klamath river rafting trip.She loved the nature, the boats, and the company. The thrill of the rapids brought her joy, and she proudly paddled her own small raft through swirling water.On our adventure, we spotted a bear near the road and circled Shasta Lake on SUP boards. At day’s end, we watched sunsets, stars, and the snowcapped peak of Mount Shasta above the timberline. We biked, hiked, and shared great meals.

Another year, we tackled the bigger rapids of the Trinity River with family. A sudden jolt sent our rafting guide overboard—and then Emily fell into the river too. It was a wild ride, but she emerged smiling.

School Projects

Emily’s school nurtured her curiosity and love of learning. At one point, she became especially excited about math, and we spent time solving complex problems together.The annual science fair was a highlight. One of her more ambitious projects explored how to better dispose of plastic by experimenting with pavement made from plastic bottles and asphalt. I helped her manage the experiment setup and took on some of the more hazardous tasks involving heat.As Emily’s projects became more advanced, my role shifted - from hands-on helper to a quiet consultant, just trying to keep up with her pace.The project shown here explores how different liquids affect teeth. She used eggshells to model enamel. Emily approached the work with care and precision, always aiming to do things right.

School Council President

Emily combined dedication, focus, and a natural gift for communication. She knew how to present her best self with clarity and conviction.These stills are from her student council president campaign video—her energy, inspiration, and voice still feel so alive.

Hello, I am Emily Mitnick.I am running for your student council president.

As we go on this journey, I will tell you my three key promises.

Bonding

When Emily was just one month old, I had time off work to bond with her as a newborn. At the time, I was used to solving analytics problems, but suddenly I found myself in a completely different world. I didn’t know how to apply my skills to this new environment.I discovered that I could cook a chicken soup that her mom would eat. It took two hours to make, which gave some structure to my day. But I still needed to find a way to soothe and care for Emily. I wanted to learn how to calm a crying baby.One day we were strolling through downtown when I came across a book called Infant Massage in a bookstore. The subtitle promised it was “a handbook for loving parents.” That caught my attention. I was used to studying technical material, so I was glad to find something practical and nurturing I could learn for Emily’s sake.Within a day or two, I had read the book and started to apply what I learned. I was deeply moved to see how much it helped—infant massage brought comfort to Emily-the-baby, and helped me grow into Emily’s dad, one moment at a time.

About

Emily is a beautiful daughter!
Love You, Papa

A quiet celebration of Emily’s early years—held with love, joy, and gratitude.