Sunday Fun in the Sun

This past weekend we went to dim sum in Dublin where Sophie used chopsticks and Hannah tried it out as well.

Later we went to a park in Dublin where we had fun playing in the sand, trying to get wet in the water area (mommy didn't let us), run around the park, and climb up the hill.

On Saturday we went to a baby shower in the afternoon early evening for Auntie Michelle who's expecting our new friend Kai soon! We had a lot of there too running around the huge yard playing on their jungle gym and playing bocci ball.

Sophie eating chow mein like a pro with her hashi. Hannah tries to figure it out in the background.

Sophie loves the sandbox.

Sophie and Hannah watch the boys in the background dig a trench. Look how beautiful the day was.

Hannah wants mommy to make a train out of her sand mold.

Soph Soph and Hann Hann sit with mommy in the shade by the sandbox.

Too much fun!

Hannah loves running all over the park.

Daddy's favorite past time as a child is the girls favorite as well. Chasing all the birds!

Yay Hannah!

Today marks a proud moment for mommy and daddy as Hannah did a poopy in the potty. There were a couple weeks of Hannah telling mommy when she was peepee-ing or poo-poo-ing, but today daddy was quick enough to whisk her away as she was telling mommy.

YAY HANNAH!

A very fun Sunday!

Today we started the morning going to the Castro Valley MacDonald's playground. We had the whole place to ourselves and had lots of fun. Mommy had to run errands and while we were out we both passed out in the car.

We ate at Tacos De Grullense with Auntie Flo and Uncle Ray after we woke up from a short nap in the minivan. Later we went to Knudsen's in Castro Valley for some ice-cream and met up with Auntie Liz, Uncle Eric, and Lauren. We then headed back to the house where we all hung out for a while.

Hannah loves the slide.

We're not sure if it's a cheetah or jaquar, either way Hannah loves the big kitty.

Sophie climbing up, up, up!

Sophie after having some hot apple pie.

Hannah wiping her face with a napkin.

Hannah hugging the butterfly. (both Soph and Hann went around hugging each of the items on the floor.)

All the playground toys for the younger kids.

The older kid playground.

Uncle Ray playing building blocks with Sophie and Lauren.

Hannah tries to play with mommy.

Playing at the Micky D Playground in Castro Valley

Happy Be-lated Birthday Uncle Ray!

Sophie riding a tricycle!

Sophie can pedal on the tricycle and steer pretty good too!

Blue Yogurt Anyone?

Thanks to Auntie Liz for some blue berry yogurt! The girls had a lot of fun eating it, although I think they thought it was some version of blue play-doh.

Fun at Lauren's house

Sunday was mommy and daddy's wedding anniversary, so Auntie Liz and Uncle Eric were nice enough to watch us for a couple of hours while the parents went to dinner at Prime Spot (a prime rib bar & grill restaurant in Oakland owned by some local Hawaii peeps) to celebrate.

We had lots of fun with Lauren playing with her water table and her sandbox table. Thank you Auntie Liz and Uncle Eric for taking care of us (not to mention the nice pics as well)!

Sophie and Hannah immediately head over to the play tables and didn't even say good-bye to mommy and daddy!

The trio of fun!

The girls enjoying their fun in the shade.

Weekends go by too fast

This weekend the girls caught up on their sleep and ended up taking a long afternoon nap and sleeping early at 7:30 p.m. I'm not sure if this is a passing thing or if that will be a permanent bedtime. Mommy didn't do good and did not catch their special times on film, but that's what lazy weekends are for...to relax!

We found a couple new places to frequent one being a park mid way to the Hayward hills as mommy doesn't like crowded parks. This park is off the side in a residential area and what is great about this is that there is a sandbox under some shade (this weekend was pretty HOT). The girls also liked scaling the mountain like climbing walls and sliding down the spiral slide.

Another great place came to a recommendation from Auntie Adel which was a re-modeled McDonald's in Castro Valley which has a really nice indoor playground area. We checked it out on Saturday afternoon, but it was too crazy with older children running rampant (even though one took a liking to the girls). The next day we went early in the morning and found it very empty and very pleasing to mommy! The girls made another little friend to play with and had fun letting out massive energy.

Notice the nice shade as the girls ride a tandem airplane. Sandbox is in the background shot.

Sophie hams it up for the camera and Hannah is ready for some frozen yogurt (we got some later).

Another fun day

Today we went to dim sum, did some grocery shopping and had fun at Castro Valley park where we met three boys that were the same age as the girls. Twin boys that were 9 days younger than us and one boy that was 1 day older. Mommy also had fun talking to the other mothers sharing stories of having a 23 month old child or children.

At Safeway Hannah sang to the cashier "EIEI-O!", waved g'bye and threw her some kisses. How's that for saying thank you hahahaha!

This weekend Sophie was a handful, I'm not sure if the hot weather made her grumpy or what, but she was really fussy. On the bright side of things, Sophie is learning at an accelerated rate and amazes us and her daycare givers everyday. Soph has latched on to her stuffed animal which was a party favor at cousin Jayden's first birthday, a Winnie the Pooh bear dressed as a baby chick. She calls it, "bear" and when she needs comfort she chews on his wing. She hugs and kisses him too. Sophie also is learning to share, back off, and give hugs and kisses. She also likes to reprimand Hannah if she does something wrong by telling her, "bad" and pointing to the time out corner.

Hannah has been more out-going and friendly. I've been spending more time with her and she's really coming out of her shell. She too has been learning to share and now gives hugs and kisses too. She is more easy going than Sophie and kids that do not know her seems to gravitate to her. Hannah listens to mommy more than Sophie and is easier to handle. Her one flaw is that when she gets really frustrated, and unlike Sophie cannot express it in speech, so she ends up hitting or kicking when tired. It usually is aimed at Sophie and thus the spending time in the time out spot. Lastly she has way more energy than Sophie. Sophie may be stronger, but she cannot keep up with Hannah.

Both girls know when they did something wrong that they have to spend 2-5 mins in the naughty spot. They know it so well that they immediately walk to the spot after I say they've been bad. It is hard to send one to the spot and not have the other one follow in pity.

They are also at a stage where they like helping, so they help throw away trash, put away things, give items to and from daddy and mommy, trying to put on their own clothes and take them off, get their shoes, help put lotion on themselves, get towels for their baths, etc. 2 yrs old is around the corner and I can't believe how fast they've grown. Each development they make becomes more and more fun for us.

Sophie and Hannah reading a book before bedtime.

Of course Sophie has control over the book.

Hannah and daddy.

Sophie and her bear.

Gilroy Gardens

On Saturday we went to Gilroy Gardens which is a young kids amusement park down south about an hour away from where we live. We went with our friends Mark, Berry, and their son Eamon; Anna, Benson, and their son Ethan; Auntie Neren. We caught up with Uncle Eric, Auntie Liz, and Lauren later. The girls had a blast!!!

At first we thought Hannah might be scared of the rides, but turns out it was the opposite. Sophie ended up being scared of the rides and sat out for most of the day (first ride was the firetruck where Sophie was crying and Hannah was having fun) and Hannah was the daredevil who wanted to ride again and again. Hannah had so much fun that she didn't really nap until later in the day when she couldn't stay up much longer and crashed. Sophie was fussy all morning and afternoon, she ended up napping shortly after lunch.

For lunch the girls had char siu bau and Sophie munched on some carrots (yes, she likes them). They had fun running around with Eamon picking leaves off of vines and throwing them through the fence to " make believe birds, catepillars, etc". I asked Eamon about catepillars saying do you know what they turn into? He quickly replied, "Yes! Butterflies!" I asked, "but what about before that?". He said, "cocoon". I was blown away, but apparently Berry told me he had seen them at daycare, but still wow!

The funniest thing was Hannah had the most fun, not from the rides, but from Auntie Neren and Uncle Benson. She ran back and forth across a walkway along with Ethan into the arms of Auntie Neren and Uncle Benson who then threw them up in the air. It was a hot day mind you, so it was a lot of work for both Neren and Benson (Thank you guys!). We told Ethan and Hannah when they could cross the pathway to run to auntie and uncle and they found it so entertaining. Hannah would call out to Ethan, "come!" and wave her hand towards herself to motion "come here".

Later after Hannah crashed in the stroller, Sophie woke up (yes, they missed each other). Sophie didn't mind riding a ride with mommy and daddy in tow. Neren watched Hannah while we rode the hot air balloon ride. Sophie had the most fun splashing around in the water fountain. At first she was like, "oh no mommy" (when she got splashed on) I assured her it was ok to get wet and from then on out she was gung-ho into the fountain. She also liked the merry-go-round which I rode with her, but atlas we were all tired (except for Sophie) and I had to take a crying Soph Soph back into the minivan.

It was a long day (we left the house at 9 a.m. got to the park at 10 a.m. and left by 3:30, got home by 5:30). The girls took a bath and slept early shortly thereafter the parental units followed suit.

We summed it up that Hannah loves amusement rides and is more adventureous than Sophie which was surprising to all of us. Sophie is afraid of rides unless she's accompanied by one of us.

Sophie crying in the back of the firetruck while Hannah is chillin' in the front. Ethan was in the truck behind the girls.

Hannah loved the flying fish ride so much that she cried when I took her off.

Anna, Benson, Ethan in the left strawberry. Berry, Mark, and Eamon in the right strawberry.

Mommy and Hannah, Daddy and Sophie in the strawberry. Mommy didn't like that ride at all.

Ethan running to his daddy across the walkway while mommy, Hannah, and Auntie Neren cheer him on.

Hannah points out the tram going by.

Hannah cutie pie :)

Hannah and Mommy riding the apple and worm ride.

Berry, Eamon, and Mark waiting to ride the hot air balloon.

Anna, Ethan, and Benson also waiting to ride the hot air balloon.

Here's those hot air balloons.

Daddy trying to keep a grumpy Sophie occupied while waiting in line.

Sophie finally eases up on being grumpy.

One of the many cool trees the park is known for.

Sophie watches how to play in the water fountain.

Sophie trying to enjoy the race car ride.

Auntie Neren and Uncle Benson's workout starring Ethan and Hannah.