Memorial Day Weekend

The highlights of this weekend was spent going cherry picking at Seko Ranch out in Brentwood. We did this last year when the girls were about 18 months (with the Yabuts) and now going back at almost 3 yrs old they still got the hang of it and had a grand ole time. This time we went with the Yabuts, the Ko's, and Adel's friend Lilly and her son. We found a hummingbird's nest and even got to see the mommy bird (who needs the nature channel). Later we had a mini picnic in the back of our minivan which consisted of some teriyaki spam musubi (Der made), mini wheat honey peanut butter and guava jelly sandwiches for the keiki's (mommy made), char siu baus and custard tarts (the Ko's), sandwiches (the Yabut's), and homemade chocolate center cookies (Lilly) and some other snacks as well. The weather was the hottest this year (89 degrees)! The kids had alot of fun and took a short nap in the car as we made our way back to get a pie for the next stop.

We were invited to our friend Nick's house in San Ramon for a BBQ. We also met up with some other friends (the Yangs, the Clarksons, and our host the Chen's), and a bunch of other friends of Nick's. The girls had fun meeting new friends and playing with their old friends as well. Emi came along as well and made a new friend named Toby.

Hannah gets right to it and starts picking some cherries.

Sophie finds some yummy cherries to pick!

All the kids in one pic this was as good as it was going to get. Sophie, Hannah, Aiden, and Lauren (left to right).

The girls already using the Asian squat.

Hannah looks on as Sophie and Lauren throw fallen cherries into a hole in the ground.

Hummingbird's nest within arm's length on the cherry tree.

Mommy bird comes back to check on the two eggs.

Sophie plays with Emi on Nick's deck outside.

Sophie playing in the backyard at Nick's house.


Thank you Adel for the invite! Thank you Nick for inviting us!

Castles and Dragons

May 23rd - I try to find fun, new and interesting things to do for Sophie and Hannah, but sometimes I run out of ideas and stick to parks which is never a bad idea. The weekend of the 23rd of May I decided I had enough of congestion and wanted ramen. Do you know you cannot find ramen in the Hayward vicinity? Much less east bay...unless you go to Oakland maybe. I decided we should cross the bridge and go to San Mateo where I used to work and knew that there were a bunch of ramen places (there is like a mini Japan town there).

Instead of my favorite Santa Ramen, we decided to Yelp it and try Ramen Dojo (which took the location of the old Santa Ramen shop). The girls loved my spicy ramen surprisingly and decided they rather eat mommy and daddy's ramen instead of the gyoza and rice which was ordered for them. We later hit up the posh toy store called Talbot's down the street. We walked about 3 blocks and it was just a beautiful day to walk around. After the little shopping spree where I bought the girls some Kumon learning books, level 1 reading books, and let's not forget some great Tinkerbell coloring books (these come in handy while waiting for meals in restaurants).

Ahh, but it didn't stop there, we took the girls to a park called Coyote Point Park. It was a great park (although not free $5 entrance fees for all the Coyote parks, even the one in Fremont) filled with lots of fun playgrounds for all age groups. It was packed! It is also near the water, so it had a cool breeze, although the sun was out in full effect the wind made it quite chilly. The theme was castles, mid evil dragons, etc. How cool was that? The girls felt the same way I did and had a blast!

Hannah and Sophie ride the purple dragon. I don't think it was Puff the magic dragon LOL!

Uh oh the girls being swallowed up.

Hannah and Sophie in the mouth of the dragon.

Hannah and daddy enjoying the beautiful day at the park. Look at the castle in the back!

Hannah trying out the balance beam.

Sophie rides the horse.

So many structures and things to do. What did the girls like the most? Walking up and down this hill! They thought it was the coolest thing to do because the grippy floor kept them from flying down the hill.

Bedtime giggles

Here the girls are refusing to go to bed and they decide to have a giggling fit.

May 20th - the girls are going through a phase where bedtime takes a little longer than usual. Naps seem to get shorter and they seem to want to stay up longer. We are still keeping to the schedule although I read that we might need to modify it soon as the older the toddlers get the less sleep they require....sigh... Parents need their naps too! Hahaha!

Hannah is still a finicky eater and at times tries most of daddy and mommy's patience. Most of the time the girls want to eat whatever I am eating, so I am trying to eat healthier in the presence of the girls, however I cannot give up my coffee and diet coke. Both Hannah and Sophie's favorite statement is "I like ice-cream!". You know it's become a problem when Sophie wakes up in the morning and asks for ice-cream for breakfast or when I go to Starbucks and Hannah asks for ice-cream pointing to a picture of a frappacino LOL! I do not give them ice-cream on a regular basis and I've recently replaced fruit gummies with raisins and dried cranberries. Other snacks are dried veggie chips and the usual fruits (apples, bananas, and grapes). I'm not a mean mommy I do let them eat some sweets from time to time, but with all the finicky eating I have to limit the amount of junk food intake.

Hayward Pho

Hannah waiting for her combination fried rice at our fave pho joint in Hayward called Pho Kim.

This pic was taken a while back (May 16th to be exact). We went to dinner with Auntie Dana and the Ko's. I caught a very bad cold from the girls and I'm still recovering. The girls got over it fairly quickly especially Sophie (Hannah has allergies just like mommy). I think my allergies on top of having the cold from the girls is drawing out my recovery time.

California Adventure

We had breakfast the next day at a place called Jagerhaus with Auntie Vincy. Then hit the road to go to California Adventure. We had the girls play at A Bug's Life playground where there some kid rides. Their favorite ride there was these twirling lady bugs. After the ride we went to watch the Bug's Life theater which they said was "scary", but fun LOL! We tried to hit up some other places, but some of them were closed. We did get Monster's Inc ride in and prior to that we did Disney's Playhouse which Sophie enjoyed so much she got up and danced.

All in all the girls really love music which shouldn't be surprising since mommy and daddy love it. They got to experience many different genres and surprisingly they loved it all. They liked the old style rockabilly band and some female Mariachi singers. I guess I should enroll them in some classes as there is a real deep found affection for music! With Hannah singing along to all the songs and Sophie dancing to all the songs, it was just too cute! The drive back home was exhausting (I say this like I was the one driving, but Der drove all the way home) and we all had so much fun it was sad to say good-bye.

Vincy hugging Soph, Hann, and Lauren.

Hannah loved the Peter Pan hat although she has never seen the movie.

Mommy made Soph Soph pose with this awesome hat.

Uncle Eric strikes again...Sophie enjoying her cotton candy.

The girls eating cotton candy.

Playhouse countdown.

More Disney

The day was long and hot, but after buying a Mickey mouse sun hat for myself and stopping to drink loads of liquids we all fared well in the heat (which wasn't that hot anyway). Uncle Eric bought the girls churros, cotton candy, and lollipops to "experience" their first trip or so he says. Either way they were happy to consume most of it.

We rode the Pooh ride and Buzz Lightyear which they really enjoyed. Later on the way back to the hotel for the afternoon nap we bought some Tinkerbell toys like a tea set, stamp and book, and some Tinkerbell lighted fan propeller. The nap lasted a very long time, so by the time the girls awoke it was time to go to dinner.

The Ko's took us to a character dinner at the Disney hotel which was amazing. Everything from a waiting room that played Disney cartoons to meeting and taking pics before dinner with Pluto! The dinner was a buffet and it was very yummy. In between the eating there were dancing with the characters and periodically the characters would show up to the table to meet the kids. All three girls got to meet Mulan, Dale, Goofy, Minnie, Snow White, and Pluto.

After dinner we went back to the park to see the fireworks. Tinkerbell was flying over the castle and the girls were so excited!!! You can imagine by then the girls were done and so were the parental units.

Minnie Mouse, Hannah, Sophie, and mommy...girl power!

The girls love Mickey!

Mickey Mouse!

Uncle Eric gives the girls churros, one of the many sugar treats he gave to them.

Hannah looking into a water fountain. So cute!

The Ko's, Pluto, and the Sakai's.

Pluto with the Sakai's.

Goofy visits. Hannah and Lauren greet him and Sophie finishes her dinner.

Sophie dancing with Goofy!

1st Disneyland visit

My birthday and mommy's day present all wrapped into one was to go to Disneyland :) I loved watching the girls have the time of their lives and although there were some meltdowns, sun beating down (I'm allergic to heat and not once did I get sick...yay!), and lots of walking it was really, really fun! Thanks daddy!

We left for the road along with our neighbors the Ko's on Friday night and arrived at our hotel a little past midnight. The hotel Ramada Maingate is located very close to the entrance, so we didn't need to move the minivan once we got there. A whole lot of walking going on, but after several days of good pain it was all good.

The girls were really upset early on because A - they didn't know what was going on, B - The Finding Nemo ride was scary because they didn't know what to expect on their first ride, C - NOT ENOUGH SLEEP! After a while they got used to seeing the characters they were used to in movies and on tv and the excitement and smiles were really worth it. They weren't too keen on their favorite Tinkerbell nor Minnie Mouse, but when it came to Mickey...holy cow! They love him and well who doesn't? Of course I wanted to share my all time favorite ride as a child and took them to Small World. It's changed a bit, but still the same ole great song which Hannah hummed and sang all through the ride.

Sophie and Hannah got their "First visit to Disneyland" buttons as they entered the Happiest Place on Earth!

Lauren, Sophie and Hannah, standing in line to see Pixie Hallow's Tinkerbell!

The Sakai's in Pixie Hallow. Pixie dust anyone?

Oooh...Ahhhh...The Fall scepter.

Hannah is bit scared of Tink even though she loves watching her movies.

Sophie decides to brave it, but she was pretty hesitant as well.

The girls in the boat awaiting the best ride in the park...Small World.

Hannah, mommy, and Sophie riding a Goofy car in Toon Town.

Sophie playing on a Goofy slide.

Hannah inside a huge pumpkin.

The girls make themselves at home in Goofy's house.

Soph Soph enjoying Goofy's chair.

Minnie meets us at our dinner table.