See you later!

My brother-in-law and family hosted a surprise farewell party for us, though Trung somehow managed to ruin the "surprise" part. Everyone came out to share one last meal with us and bid us farewell. I will always remember the image of our family at the front door getting ready to leave and everyone at the entryway watching us go. Thanks for being such wonderful friends!

The last picture of the Ly's in Texas

...or come visit us!

Bittersweet Good-byes

It's official, we are moving to California in the Santa Monica area at the end of the month. Trung is very excited about working for an internet company in Pasadena the beginning of August; the office will move to Santa Monica in November. Over the weekend, I met up with several friends to say our "good-byes", though I will be seeing some of them several more times before we leave.

Wendy, the wonderful hostess of my going away party at Mansion at Judge's Hill

Sarah, the best neighbor a person could ever wish for

Wendy, Sarah, me, Joy, and Xiaochun

Hanging out with Ravel and Marie downtown; the two attempted to squeeze into the backseat of Ravel's coupe with his bike

Oops, forgot the guy's name, but he was pretty cool

Sunday brunch at Z Tejas with Albert & Family, and Allen

Isabelle, Ying-ying, me and Cindy at Eddie V's Happy Hour

Legoland

While Trung went "house-hunting", Jimmy & his family and the girls and I (just Lydia on the first day) went to Legoland, about an hour south of LA. Lydia made the height requirement of 36", so she was able to go on almost all the rides. It was really nice spending some quality time with her without having to mess with Sophie; my parents and Mike helped watch her for the first day. We may get season passes since the kids had so much fun!

Everything made of Legos

Lego lion and a Lydia

Pedaling around the park

Lydia first try at driving...she did great with no accidents (at least none that were her fault)

Up, up and away

Trying to catch Jason's plan with no luck

Tourists

Oh what fun!

Trung and Sophie's replacements

Me and my bros

Jumbo shrimp

So brave by themselves

Busy playing with legos instead of the water all around at Legoland Waterpark

Lydia working the polar bear fountain

Chillin'

Family Wedding on Newport Beach

My cousin William (my dad's younger brother's son) got married at Newport Beach this evening, and was the main reason for our California vacation. We had never met him before, but my entire immediate family and several extended family members were attending the wedding. We flew into Orange County in the late morning and met Jimmy and his family at the airport. After lunch with Mike, Mom & Dad, and my cousin Ben and his family, Cora and I got our hair done at Mike's local salon. Then off to the wedding where my Dad married my cousin and we had delicious food.

The Ly family all dressed up

The "Lee" ladies

All the kids with Uncle Mike

Daddy's little girls

Sophie was tickled by her cucumber slice

Fisherman's Wharf

Though the weather was chilly, I was so looking forward to going to the wharf in San Francisco for the raw oysters and crab. We certainly got out fill (the kids loved the petite shrimp) and warmed up a bit with the clam chowder. We didn't stay long so that Sophie and I could catch up on some sleep, but we had a good time seeing the sea lions and walking around.

Seafood lunch

Visiting San Fran five years later as a family of four

Posing with the sea lions

Sweeties and sea lions

Old friends

Group picture at Fantasia with Huy & son, and Bert & Judy. It was so nice seeing everyone again!

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

We arrived in San Jose, CA Wednesday morning and immediately met up Bert at a Pho restaurant since we were starving. Then after grabbing some bubble milk tea, we went to see Judy at their home. We had been up since 5:30 AM (and barely caught the plane), so I took a quick nap while the kids watched Totoro. Then off to dinner at a Malaysian restaurant...a yummy welcome to California.

Today we went to the Santa Cruz boardwalk; we took the kids on rides while Bert and Judy hung out on the beach. The kids had a blast and were completely exhausted, so they had nice naps all the way back to Bert and Judy's house.

The carousel is a must nowadays

First ride without an adult

Chowing down

Santa Cruz beach

It was a bit chilly, but the kids didn't seem to mind

Pepsi delivery

So much fun!

Loving the candy shop, which was next door to the Japanese restaurant where we ate.

July 4th

Trung had a Magic Tournament with his guy friends, so the girls and I got to spend the better part of the 4th together. We started off with lunch at the County Line with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin's family. Then after an afternoon nap, we were off to the Domain to shop and have dinner at Maggiano's. Trung met us for dinner and then we went to Downtown Austin to see the fireworks. We stood on a median somewhere between Congress and 1st, while others parked their cars in the middle of intersections and sat on their cars to watch...that in and of itself was a sight to see. Sophie thoroughly enjoyed the display, but Lydia was quite frightened though she loved them two years ago.

My aunt (my mother's younger sister), me, and the kiddos

Nathan and Lydia tickling each other

Hanging out at the Domain

Soph & Mommy

Trung and Lydia (notice the frown)

Small World

We attended a potluck at a friend's house tonight and met a houseful of new people. One of those people was visiting from Las Vegas and happened to be the sister of an old college friend (and also a guy that I had a crush on)...what a small world! BTW, there was a surplus of little girls; fifteen on them to be exact, and not a single boy!

Jenny, Robert Lee's little sister, and I

Sophie serenading Jason

Princess and the Frog puzzles on Daddy's phone always entertains Lydia