Browse Category: family

Birthday Weekend

IMG_8624 I had a pretty good birthday.  Turning a year older is so much easier when you’re surrounded by the people who love you.IMG_8628The celebration started on Friday, my birthday eve, with a dinner at La Briciola with Jason and Jia.

IMG_5323On the morning of my birthday, we woke up early to catch a flight to LAX.  The flight was full but we got to LA in one piece.  My mom picked up my favorite treat and I was so happy.

After the baby shower, we went back to the Magical House to rest.  Then it was dinnertime!!!  IMG_8639IMG_8645

IMG_8648We went to Lawry’s for our favorite prime rib meal and it did not disappoint.  IMG_2336The last time Brother and I celebrated our birthdays there was in 2010 and it was good to be back.

Baby Shower

DSC_3618In less than a month, I’ll be an auntie!!  Baby Alice is due soon and we all celebrated at their Baby Shower on Saturday in Cerritos.  It was a gathering of all of Brother and Joy’s friends and family.

DSC_3575They had food from everywhere you can imagine.  There was Thai food, Hawaiian, Costco pizza, and some tasty desserts.  Brother and Joy made some coconut macarons but I didn’t get to taste any.  Oh boo.

DSC_3621Brother had his friend Shane set-up all of his Legos and even brought a homemade air canon that he used to blow up the stuff that everyone built.

DSC_3619I think the grown-ups had just as much fun as the kids.

DSC_3629 DSC_3634It was so good to see all the cousins and Kumquat had a fun time wandering around the park and playing with her 2nd cousins.DSC_3639

Can’t wait to meet our newest family member!!!

Happy 38th!

IMG_4933Yesterday was Jes’ birthday so Kumquat took him out for a nice steak dinner at Hillstone after work.

IMG_4937Cheers!!

IMG_8333Today, Jason picked us up and we went to Sonoma for the day.  (Thanks for driving, DiDi!)  Our first stop was Sebastiani and we shared a tasting while Kumquat wandered the tasting room with her snack.

IMG_4967For lunch, we went to the girl and the fig, which features rustic French food.

IMG_8336Apparently I made the right choice for lunch because he wanted to order almost everything on the menu.

IMG_8340Here are the profiteroles that we ordered for dessert.

IMG_8344After lunch, it was too hot to stop at Train Town for Kumquat so we went straight to a second winery called Cline Cellars.  It was 98 degrees out in the sun so we spent the afternoon on the porch in the shade sipping wine.  Kumquat’s looking extra sweaty in this photo.

Happy Birthday, Jes!  We love you!

Cooling off

IMG_4792 It’s been so hot in Southern California this week – especially in Cerritos.  To escape the heat, we went to Brother and Joy’s (in Gardena) for the day.  As soon as we dropped off some of our stuff, we drove over to Manhattan Beach for lunch and then a little visit to the surf and sand.  I had my ice cream in a cup so that Kumquat had something to use in the sand.  IMG_4797Afterward, we hung out with the apartment.  I got this funny photo of Kumquat comparing her tummy to her uncle’s.  I think Kumquat wins this contest.  Thanks for letting us crash at your house today!  It was AT LEAST 10 degrees cooler there.

Slowest. 5K. EVER.

IMG_8126But it was so fun!!!!  On Saturday morning, I got up at 3:45 am and Brother and Joy picked me up at 4:30 to get to the start line. We wore our race tees, which were 1) not very flattering and 2) not very breathable in the heat.  At 5:00 am, it was already 72 degrees and humid.

IMG_4735The beginning of the race took us backstage where we were running in darkness.

IMG_8134Then the race course entered from Carsland at Disney’s California Adventure.IMG_8139Here we are at the boardwalk and they even turned on the World of Color fountains for us!

IMG_8143Next was across the courtyard to Disneyland!  IMG_8147There were Cast Members ready to snap photos for us at each photo op location.  What fun!IMG_8151Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is so pretty at dawn.

IMG_8154The Dumbo ride was running as we passed through Fantasyland.  Kumquat would love this ride!

IMG_8157In Frontierland, we found the chipmunks!!!

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The last part of the park route was through Critter Country.

IMG_8169Here we are with our medals at the finish line.  IMG_8170It’s a rubber medal with the Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit on it.

IMG_4750As a special treat after the run, we picked up some coffee and freshly fried beignets.  Yum.

IMG_4753We also had some time to kill before the Diaper Dash so we hung out inside the Grand California Hotel to watch some cartoons.

IMG_4749The course was super fun and I’m kinda glad that Joy couldn’t run.  It gave us an excuse to just take it easy and enjoy the unique experience of wandering the parks at dawn.  IMG_8167I also bumped into Michelle, my good friend from high school and college.  I think she might be running the half on Sunday.

IMG_6616Kumquat also ran in her first fun run – a 100 meter dash!  For a recap of that part of the morning, click here.

Race Prep and Expo

IMG_4673On Friday morning, I went to the park with Koa and my dad.  I wanted to give running a week after my surgery.  I tried running a bit and was still sore at the surgical site.  So, I didn’t go very far and ended up walking around the park instead.

IMG_4680When I got home, Brother was there “working from home”.  Cool!

IMG_4682He got to hang out with Kumquat and Koa and we also convinced our mom to make some kanom krok for us.  Score!

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When it was time for him to take his lunch hour, we drove to the local Chick-fil-A and brought home a feast including a buffet of dipping sauces.  Yum. Gotta love suburbia!

IMG_4708In the afternoon, we went to Downtown Disney to pick up our race packets and to explore the expo for a bit.  IMG_4714They were very well-organized and if anyone can handle crowds, it’s Disneyland.

IMG_4716At the expo, Jes bought ANOTHER pair of headphones.  *sigh*  He’s not even running the race!

IMG_4724For dinner, we met up with my cousin Marie and the boys.  It was still at least 85 degrees outside but everyone managed to endure the heat while we sipped sangrias and ate pizza under the umbrellas.  IMG_8117It was also helpful to have such fun stores to go inside to cool off.  Thanks for coming out, Suminos!