Just the girls

We purchased a special SoCal residents deal of 3 days for $139 for Disneyland and today was our only free day to use it before it expires on the 15th. So, Sophie and I headed straight to the park after we picked Lydia up from school. We arrived around 3:30, upgraded our tickets to annual passholders and arrived just in time for a parade. The girls kept calling out the characters names and excitedly waved at everyone. Then we visited Fantasy Faire to see the princesses, but the line was pretty long, so we went to Toontown next door first. After seeing Mickey and exploring his house, Minnie's house, and Goofy's place, we went back to the princesses, only to find the line even longer! It was dinner time, so we decided to stay and eat our sandwiches as we waited. The princesses of the day were Ariel, Mulan, and Cinderella; I think we've seen all the princesses already, but the girls get excited every time. Two rides later (Teacups and Peter Pan), we were headed home; it's nice being passholders and not feeling like you have to stay ten hours to get your money's worth.

Here comes the parade!

Minnie and Mickey rocking it

The girls' favorite float...princesses, of course

Mickey Mouse!

Mulan was so cute!

Chatting it up with Cinderella

Sophie taming the teacup

Volunteering at Sophie's class

Today I volunteered at Sophie's Learning through Play class with Christie. It was nice seeing what all goes on after I drop Sophie off every Tuesday and Thursday. The kids had art projects, play time at the playground, snack/lunchtime, and play time in the classroom. Sophie did pretty well with me there and wasn't as clingy as Lydia was when I volunteered at her school back in February.

Sophie got to be the helper of the day

Buddies Sophie and Alaina

Storytime with Teacher Anna

A Day of Familiar Faces

My old Austin neighbor and good friend Sarah had a layover at LAX for a few hours on her way to Taiwan and China, so the girls and I met up with her to keep her company for an hour. It was nice catching up with her after over a year and to show her how much the kids have grown.

With Sarah at the airport

I met another old friend Ann for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica. A few weeks back, I noticed that one of her Facebook posts was LA related and I discovered that she lived in LA and worked in Santa Monica so, of course, we had to meet up. I hadn't realized that she moved to California over four years ago! We had tons to talk about and will hopefully meet up again soon. :)

Border Grill and More

I met Guro, Norah, and Julian at Border Grill for lunch today for Restaurant Week. Guro wasn't aware of the three course deal and was pleasantly surprised. She had an enormous chile rellenos burger and I had fish tacos. It's been a month since we've seen each other, but the girls were not at all uncomfortable.

Guro's lunch

Norah's churros

Julian got so big!

Happily stuffed Guro

Later this afternoon, the girls attended their sixth swim class session and the last one for the year. Lydia got Sophie's last teacher and Sophie got a buff new guy. :P The girls are at new levels this time (Lydia in Minnow A and Sophie in Guppy), so I am excited to see what they will each learn in this session.

First non-family visitors

Our old Austin friends Bert and Judy from San Jose are in town this weekend for a textile show in Downtown Los Angeles Monday through Wednesday. They drove down a couple days early to hang out with us in Santa Monica. Last night we had dinner at the new Tender Greens and then walked around Santa Monica Place. This morning we met on Ocean Ave to hit the beach trail. Judy biked, I roller-bladed pushing the girls in a jogger, while the boys ran. We were starving afterwards and Real Food Daily hit the spot. Then off to The Grove we went to shop and have dinner. I went to Wood Ranch solely to have their prime rib and of course, they ran out 30 minutes earlier and on the very last day that they were serving it....of course. We still enjoyed a scrumptious dinner and bid our farewells. It was a fun weekend!

Some kind of dance mob at Santa Monica Place

Our Apple Store remembering Steve Jobs

The Grove

On the free trolley

The ride was only a few minutes long, but the kids loved it!

Good ole barbecue with our Texas friends...I forgot for a moment tonight that I was in California too! :P

The Whist at the Viceroy

My friend Snow and I had planned to eat at The Whist Restaurant a couple weeks ago and made a reservation through Opentable.com. Last night, everything slowly started falling apart as one friend canceled, the menu on-line for lunch (which we had set our hearts on) changed, and we found out that the restaurant was not accepting reservations through Opentable.com for Restaurant Week. So, Snow and I talked this morning and still decided to go eat since I already had childcare provided and we were looking forward to it.

When we arrived at the restaurant and went to the hostess to be seated, we were informed that they weren't serving lunch during Restaurant Week even though there was a menu on the website. Snow and I were ready to turn around and go to another place when I decided that I wanted to chat with the manager. Before she arrived, the hostess had already filled her in and she was ready to honor the Restaurant Week menu. The food was awesome and we are so glad it worked out!

Snow and Tai

My delicious seabass

Swimming in the rain

Today was a wet one, with rain first thing in the morning until the early afternoon. I could have taken the opportunity to bust out Lydia's new rain gear, but preferred to take the car and keep somewhat more dry. I still managed do my Wednesday grocery shopping at Sprouts, and the sky even cleared up a bit for the girls to attend their last swim class of this session. It was a bit refreshing to get some rain for a change.

A busted fire hydrant in downtown Santa Monica

The girls agreed to wear their swim caps to stay a little bit warmer.

The last day of swim session the kids get to do whatever they want

Racing on noodles

Lydia had a hard time staying on

I love my palm tree-lined street, but the rain brought all the dead branches onto the street.

The Misfit

This week for our Tuesday ladies' night out, we went to The Misfit Restaurant for LA Restaurant Week. The restaurant was happening, maybe a bit too happening for us mommies, but we enjoyed ourselves. The food tasted great and the sangria even better. Oh yeah, and some guys hit on our table. :P

Our newest friend Christie, who literally lives around the corner from me, and our pitcher of white sangria

My usual "pretend to chug the drink" shot, but apparently I tipped the pitcher just a bit too far

Little Sis Sarah's Concert

Minji's little sister Sarah invited us to attend her performance a few weeks ago at Minji's concert, and we were happy to attend. She did a great job along with five other talented young musicians.

Sarah on the violin

With the Noh girls

Disney Hall

The waiter thought the dessert was for a birthday, so we just played along with it.

Bella's Birthday

The girls and I attended the first birthday party of the school year at Virginia Park. We met Bella and her family at the first kindergarten play date, about a week before school started. The girls painted jewelry boxes, played lots of games, and beat the life out of a pinata. It was a gorgeous day and most of the guests stayed a couple hours after the party was supposed to end!

Painting a jewelry box

Lydia starts of hitting the pinata using the wrong side of the bat

Yes, of course it was Lydia who blew out the candles. :/

Funny faces

Chuckee was pulling too heavy of a load