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Year in Review 2013

I’m a little late with this entry but January started and just kept running.  Here are a few highlights from 2013 – including the good and the bad.

Happiest Moment(s)
I have two very similar moments that are tied for Happiest Moment.  They both involve seeing old friends.

IMG_6823The first one was when I was in Portland and was reunited with HeatherIMG_0009 The second was my reunion with Dahlia when she and her husband were in town for the weekend from San Diego.  It was so much fun to see them again after 8 years.  I had missed them so much since we all graduated from OT school and this was such a special year for us.

Saddest Moment
Saying “goodbye” to Koa.  IMG_6321I still miss him so much.

Worst (and Hungriest) Moment
Waiting for my surgery.  IMG_0486I hadn’t eaten anything since the day before at 8pm and my surgery from pushed from 2 pm to 5 pm.  I had a raging headache and was slowly melting into my chair by 4pm when the nurse finally gave me some IV fluids.

Biggest Accomplishment
Breastfeeding Kumquat until she was 13 months old.

mothersday

It was tough to stick with it but also tough to let go at the same time.  I’m so glad that I did it for so long and happy that weaning was a piece of cake for Kumquat.

Biggest Failure
I didn’t lose all my pregnancy weight.
IMG_4180I was just 5 pounds away from getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight in May.  Then I stopped breastfeeding.  At that point, my metabolism came to a screeching halt and the pounds came back one-by-one.  Despite the running and cutting down on my intake, I am now 10 pounds away and stuck.  This is when being old really sucks.

Best Meal
Hm…I’d say it was probably any time that we’ve been to Hillstone.
IMG_6688 We went a lot this past year because they have good steak, free corkage, my favorite Key Lime Pie, consistent service, and Kumquat is always welcome.  We even went there for our 11th anniversary dinner AND brought Kumquat along.  Yep, that’s our life now.

Runner up was the meal we had at Morimoto.

uni carbonaraThe Uni Carbonara still makes my mouth water when I think about it.

Worst Meal
The meal that comes to mind is the night we went to Little Sheep Hot Pot. 

IMG_7033The food was decent but it was the experience that made it the worst meal of the year.  The meal involved a toddler seated in a tippy booster seat at a table with boiling water nearby.  She also just finished a 7-hour car ride and just wanted to run around in the booth touching all the breakable bowls and utensils (and of course the boiling pot of water).  Both of us didn’t eat much that night.

Best Vacation
Sibling Trip to Maui in March DSC_0531We rented a house in Maui with Brother, Joy, Jason, and Jia and had such a good time.  It was also when Brother and Joy secretly told me that they were expecting a baby.  What a great week.

Worst Vacation
We didn’t have one this year but my worst travel experience for the year was when we flew to Portland.  IMG_2551We took an evening flight and Kumquat wasn’t able to settle down in my lap.  She cried and fussed the entire 2-hour flight and finally fell asleep 10 minutes before landing.  *sigh* Luckily the flight back was better – aside from the 2-hour delay.

Overall, I’d say 2013 was a productive and eventful year.  We’re raising a great kid who turned 1 in 2013 and moved into toddlerhood without any major illnesses or problems.  I also became an aunt this year with the birth of Alice on Halloween.  This was our 6th year in SF and Jes was also promoted.  Living in The City hasn’t really gotten old yet and thankfully we haven’t outgrown our 1-bedroom condo just yet.  Life is good.  I have no complaints.

Happy 2014!

Sweet Race!

IMG_8918 The girls and I woke up early this morning and headed out to Golden Gate Park for the Hot Chocolate 5/15K. IMG_8920 It was early and cold but apparently chocolate can motivate thousands of people to get up and run.  We scored a free parking spot not too far and lined up with the rest of the crowd before the sun came up.

IMG_8880Here’s the swag bag that I picked up yesterday.  Isn’t it super cute!?IMG_8886We also got this high-tech hoodie complete with zipper pocket in the back and thumb holes in the goody bag and it kept me nice and warm this morning.

IMG_8921The course went around Stow Lake and had lots of rolling hills but it kept the run fun and interesting.

IMG_8925It was Stephanie’s first race since her pregnancy and she did great!

IMG_8924Ranee is now expecting Baby #2 and she ran a strong race too!  I’m so proud of both of them.

IMG_8948At the finish, we were given a super sweet finisher’s mug. IMG_8933It had a cup of hot chocolate in the middle, a side car of melted chocolate, and an assortment of goodies to dip. Now that’s my kind of breakfast!

IMG_8944I even ate the banana and it was the best banana I’ve ever had.  Who thought that dipping it in chocolate would change my mind about that stupid fruit?!

IMG_8926I love running with my friends…and chocolate is not too bad either.

Catching up

IMG_8033One of the best parts of Christmas Break is being able to catch up with old friends.  Our closest friends are the ones we grew up with in high school and they all manage to make their way back to Cerritos around the holidays.  IMG_8032On Monday night, we met up in Irvine for a shabu shabu dinner.

Afterward, we went to Balcony for drinks.  We were warned by our waiter that it was a place for “young people” and we just laughed and thought “as long as we can get in with slippers and t-shirts, we don’t care”.

IMG_8034 IMG_8035We were probably the oldest ones at the bar and only got carded because we looked like people who would bust them for under-age drinking.  The waitress literally said that to us.  That gave me a good chuckle.  We also watched a girl stumble out of the bar and carried down the stairs at 10pm after they had had a whole bottle of vodka.  Ah…youngins.

IMG_8241On Thursday, we had lunch at Sunrise Cafe with the crew again and I also went to Holly’s house in the evening.  It’s so nice to have Holly and Roy back in California.  I loved watching the interaction between Kumquat and Andrew.  IMG_8236It was like the best date ever complete with toys, snacks, and hugs at the end of the evening.

Merry Christmas!

IMG_8150We had a really laid back Christmas this year.  Kumquat was waking every hour Christmas morning until we finally moved her into our bed.  I think she was cold.  So, she slept in and so did Daddy.

DSC_4235Most of the morning was in our pjs until it was time to go to the store for groceries for dinner.

IMG_9122There were plenty of presents to open for everyone and we also enjoyed a warm 80-degree Christmas Day.

IMG_8188Jesse cooked a smaller standing rib roast than usual this year because we had a much smaller group.  Regardless, it was delicious!

IMG_8170Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Christmas Eve at Disneyland

IMG_9073We went to Disneyland on Christmas Eve to continue the tradition and it was a beautiful 75-80 degrees outside.  The crowds were manageable and we got some photos with the chipmunks without having to wait in line!

IMG_8090 We also rode a good number of rides without a lot of waiting thanks to FastPasses and teamwork.

IMG_8107Jes and I were pretty pumped to get the front row on Space Mountain.  IMG_8108It’s still a really fun (and fast) ride that made our eyes tear from all the wind!

IMG_8097There were plenty of hijinks and non-kid time thanks to the grandparents.

IMG_8105They often stayed with the kids while we went on the faster rides.

IMG_8059The babies also got to ride a few rides including The Jingle Cruise.

DSC_4140Kumquat rode Dumbo in the morning and seemed ok with it.

IMG_8057Waiting in line with Kumquat was not as bad as I thought it would be and she had a lot of fun climbing stairs and holding the rails.

IMG_8051It was Alice’s first trip to Disneyland and the cousins wore matching tops.  So cute!

DSC_4116Here’s a family photo with Santa.  Alice slept right through the photoshoot.

IMG_8085The two managed to nap rather well during the day and Kumquat ate better than I expected.

IMG_8082Instead of corn dogs and chicken nuggets, their kid’s meal had broccoli and whole wheat pasta!  Awesome.

IMG_2666IMG_8061Jesse bought me a tasty churro and Disneyland still makes the best churros in the world.

52146780001We spent equal time in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.  Luckily, Mommy knew someone who was able to hook us up with discounted Park Hopper tickets.

DSC_4188Our last ride was It’s a Small World and I simply love how they decorate it for Christmas.  IMG_8129They also feature Disney characters within their respective regions.  Here is my favorite one with Lilo and Stitch in Hawaii.

DSC_4211Disneyland at night is always so magical but it’s even more so during Christmas.  The castle is the best part.  IMG_8138So pretty…

DSC_4178We stayed up to watch the fireworks and snow at the end of the night and we all had such a fun day together as a family.IMG_2700

Here’s to family traditions!

Early Christmas

IMG_7913On Sunday morning, Brother and Joy came over and I got to snuggle Alice for a bit.  She’s grown so much since Thanksgiving and has gotten some cheeks on her now.

IMG_7981In the evening, Brother came back from his lunch party and Mommy cooked us ox-tail soup and Kao Mun Gai (chicken rice).

IMG_7982What a feast!!

IMG_7974Afterward, Brother couldn’t help bust out all the gifts so we exchanged presents a little early.  Here is the peanut shirt I bought for Alice.  Heh heh – peanut.

IMG_7980Jesse got a shirt based off the “Soft Kitty” song from the show Big Bang Theory.

IMG_7978Kumquat got a sweatshirt from my mom and she paraded around the room with it.  Funny girl.

IMG_7939My present from my mom came earlier in the day.  She ordered a 25-piece box of Sakoo Sai Moo and it was delicious!!