Solemn Swim Lesson

Today showed signs of fall, which is great, but not for outside swim classes. We still went to the pool and since most other parents decided not to take their kids, the girls got more attention and learned new skills. Lydia is still working on her breathing, but she can swim all by herself now. Sophie is improving on her skills as well, though she always prefers the help of a teacher.

Lydia can swim now!


Practicing the breathing motion


Clowning around during downtime



Learning to bounce off the pool floor

Chillin or swiming?

Dunking for rings


Sophie started getting cold and wanted to come out five minutes before class was to end, but decided to stay after hearing that it was time to find the rings.

Bowling Babes

A bunch of families bought a Groupon for 2 hours of bowling and shoes a few weeks back and we finally found a day we were all able to go. The girls did okay for their first time, though Sophie, who was the youngest of the bowling bunch, got restless after a few turns. The adults had fun teaming up against each other; I hadn't bowled since the kids were born so it was pretty cool bowling with my own kids.

The bowling gang

The kids looked so cute in their little bowling shoes.

Lydia's first bowl

Sophie's first bowl

Sophie getting a lift (and an undressing) from Kim

Snoozing Sophie

Trung's way of cooling down

Dance Day

The girls attended their first dance class today. Most of the kids were in dance wear and so cute. The teacher is older, but seemed to handle all the kids quite well and preferred to have the adults outside of the class, so I only got to watch about ten minutes of the class. We get to watch the final class, so I am really looking forward to it and seeing how graceful my little girls can become.

Waiting for instructions

Already having fun

I was still preparing dinner when Trung came home from work tonight, so he read old baby books with the girls. I had stored these fabric books away for awhile and the girls found them during our move and just love reading them.

Legs in the air

I didn't think Sophie's voice could get any cuter, but her having a minor cold has proven me wrong

Back floats

The girls started their fifth swim session this week and their instructors seem to be pretty good so far. Sophie decided, however, that she didn't like her class this time so she has not been wanting to get into the water, but eventually does after a short discussion. Hopefully next week she will cooperate better.

Lydia's back float

Sophie's version

Aunt Minji performs

We had the pleasure of attending Minji's concert today in Irvine and witness just how talented she is. We sat in the balcony of the church just in case the kids got rowdy, so we didn't get a great view of the flying fingers, but the music was fantastic just the same. Great job, sis!

Sophie watching Aunt Minji play from the balcony

My very talented new sister-in-law

Mike and Minji, still in their honeymoon phase

Minji's dress wasn't from there, but we both love White House Black Market as the dresses may indicate

St. Anne's Carnival

After dropping Trung off at work this morning (he was still feeling a bit ill from the day before), I drove by St. Anne's Catholic Church and saw a sign for a carnival this weekend. I'm telling you, there is always something to do here! So, I called up a few friends and we made plans to hang out for a little while and then walk over to the church. The people were just setting up all the games as we got there, but soon everything was in full swing. Trung met us after work and we enjoyed some authentic Mexican food...yum!

Can you see the blue dart Lydia just threw?

Sophie basically just placed the rings over the bottles, but no one complained

Find the right key to the door and you get $10! Three kids won in a row, so they reduced it to $1.

Crack an egg and your wish just might come true!

Lydia's "California Adventure" birthday

The girls woke up bright and early in anticipation for our visit to Disney's California Adventure to celebrate Lydia's 5th birthday. The amusement park opens later than Disneyland, so we started the morning nice and easy with Lydia opening her birthday gift from Uncle Mike. Then off we went on an adventure, but not before changing the girls into their princess dresses. The weather was perfect, a tad bit cloudy, so not too much sun. The park itself was pretty fun, though the girls kept asking to go to Disneyland next time. The World of Color water show at the end of the day, on the other hand, was fantastic; it blew the one at Las Vegas' Bellagio out of the water. :P Happy birthday, my precious Lydia!

Happy Lydia with Angry Birds

Our first ride, Ariel's Underwater Adventure

Lydia as Princess Tiana on the carousel

Why are these girls so happy?

Need I say more. The things we do to pass the time during LONG waits.

Ready for 4D

Trung taught Sophie a new trick

Let me out! Actually, don't let them out. :P

Just before showtime and I got some final instructions from a little princess.

The Aladdin show was great! The genie was hilarious and the girls loved the action! Worth the hour wait!

The final song with the entire cast

My "boo" aka Cinderella

Two dancing princesses

Beast's library

Lydia's temperament is like Nala from The Lion King

Sophie is like Tinkerbell, our little spitfire

Interaction with Crush

Trung from Tron

Silly Daddy

A clip of the fantastic water show...a must see!

We'll be back! Especially if we upgrade to an annual pass.

A Day of Gluttony

Jessica, Snow and I (along with our families) took a day trip to Little Saigon and ate our hearts out. We left late morning and headed straight to Westminster for some pho. Then after a few hours of shopping, snacking, and playing at the park, we had dinner at Star BBQ. Needless to say, we were all very stuffed and satisfied.

Mike and Minji met us (and Tai) at Asian Garden Mall

Tia offers Sophie lots of hugs

Trung loosening Lydia's spine

Playing ball


Yogurt time at Star BBQ

Sasha, is that you?

We came across a cat that looked just like our old cat Sasha on our way home from Downtown Santa Monica. If not for the little black spots at the pads of Sasha's feet that made her unique, this other cat could have easily been Sasha's twin. She even made her way over to us to get petted. Aw, we miss our kitty.

The kitty on the block

Our Sasha

This week at swim class

The girls had visitors at swim class this week; first my parents on Wednesday and then Trung on Thursday. They were all entertained by the cuteness of it all and were quite impressed at the girls' swimming abilities.

Lydia driving the water train

Sophie goes under


Sophie and Lydia with my parents before their swim class


Poor Sophie was cold and scared of the deep end