Spring Break in So Cal

Owen and I spent last week exploring So Cal with mommy and daddy along with Ah Mah and Ah Gong. We had so much fun. Here are some highlights.


Uncle Nick and Aunty Michaela came to visit too!


I had another birthday cake - ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. Thanks, Ah Mah and Ah Gong!


We went to California Adventure Park the next day. Owen met a real, live Dragon named Mushu.


We ran into Mommy's friends from college. Here's Uncle Jimmy and his family.


We saw Uncle Jack in Little Tokyo.


We had fun with origami at the Japanese American National Museum.


We went to Disneyland.


One of our favorite rides - Story Book boat ride in Fantasyland.


We loved this interactive sculpture at LACMA.


It was fun painting the Boone Children Gallery.


It wouldn't have been a proper visit without dim sum!


Until next time!

Happy 4th Birthday, Aki!

Here's looking at Aki through the years.

Aki as newborn

Aki turns 1

Aki turns 2

Aki the cookie monster

Happy birthday to my sweet yet sassy girl.

Love,

Mama

Playing catch-up, Part 3 - Christmas 2011

For our winter break, Uncle Nick and Aunty Michaela came to visit all the way from Aspen... where we were told is covered with snow.


We took them ice skating... or rather... Uncle Nick and Aunty Michaela helped us learned the ropes since it was our first time on the ice.


I took a few spins around the little rink... but it was too COLD!


We hiked up Diamond Head...


... and saw a rainbow at the top!


We went to Ko Olina and saw this perfect sunset.


The next day, we took the Pineapple Express...


.... had garlic shrimp at Macky's followed by shave ice at Aoki's.


We spent the afternoon at the Polynesian Cultural Center.


Came back home just in time to leave snacks for Santa and write him a note.


We opened lots of presents.


And have to say good bye to Uncle Nick and Aunty Michaela.

We had so much fun with you both. See you again soon!

Playing catch-up, Part 2 - December 2011

Although lots happened in December and over our winter break, the highlight was having 2 sets of visitors at our house.

First, Uncle Matt, Aunty Thida, Maia, and Lily came to stay with us. Aunty Thida brought us lots of goodies from Trader Joe's - a place that mama desperately misses from the mainland. 

One of the things she brought was a Gingerbread Man kit for each of us. 

We had so much fun decorating them.

Aunty Thida also got us "super" outfits.


We look so cool in our matching green cape and masks.


Maia enjoying her pineapple slush from Hank's Haute Dogs.


Uncle Jeff and Aunty Lynne couldn't stay away from the fun...


We miss you already. See you this summer!

Playing catch-up, Part 1 - Thanksgiving 2011

Now that mama has a little time off work, it's time to back log our activities from the end of 2011. You may have also noticed the new layout. Mama thought our blog needed a new look for the new year. You can choose the "view" you like best... ranging from classic to snapshot to sidebar. Hope you like it!

Thanksgiving means Daddy's Good Eats Turkey. This year, he made some minor changes to the recipe but it was still tasty! We forgot to take a picture of the turkey before it was carved. Too hungry, I think.


Our Thanksgiving table... lots of onolicious food.


Owen showed off his Wampanoag costume for his "Pilgrims and Indians" banquet at school.


Here's the back.


Thanksgiving means family and filled-bellies.

Happy Birthday Owen!

It's hard to imagine that only 6 short years ago, I was born. This is what I looked like for the first few months.



Then I turned 1:



And 2:



3:



4:



5:



and now 6!

Well, 5 years and 364 days in this picture anyway.

Happy birthday to me!

Happy Birthday Mama!

We went out to dinner tonight and then came back to our house.


Grandma picked up mama's chocolate birthday cake and Aki led us in singing her happy birthday.


Aki helped Mama blow out her candle before she was ready.


Mama had a second chance and I helped her


She didn't just get a big card...

Happy Birthday to you, mama! We love you!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Here are the jack-o-lanterns mommy and daddy carved over the weekend.

Daddy carved bats for me

Mama carved a dragon for Owen

This year, Owen dressed up as a Dragonaut and I was Lulu from Ladybug Girl. Owen started the day with a Halloween Parade with the senior class at his school.

Owen's ghost on the class bulletin board. Can you tell he loves dragons?

Kindergarteners all lined up

After school, we all rushed home to have a quick dinner with our neighbors and buddies, Luke and Chloe. As soon as it was dark enough out, daddy took us around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat.

Here I am getting ready, making sure I have everything I need for the journey

After we were all ready, we took off!

About an hour and 3 streets later, we returned with our pumpkins filled with treats. Owen says he loves all different kinds of candy. My favorites are the M&Ms.