Washington West goes to Disney

Though my cousin Grace was still in Disneyland, two of Sophie's classmates and their families came for the day, so we decided to hang out with them since we had already spent all of yesterday with my cousin.  We were pretty efficient, getting as many fastpasses as possible and always having one in queue as we waited in lines or had our meals.  Until yesterday, we had never gone to Disney in a group before and I think it worked out well.  It really helped to have one adult keeping the kids distracted in shops while another adult (aka me) grabbed fastpasses or saved spots at the shows.

We ran into Kim and her kids at the tram waiting area at 9 AM

Me, Lydia, Sophia, Kim, Sophie, Jacob, Morgan, and Danielle

On the Jungle Cruise while waiting for our Indiana Jones fastpasses to go into effect.

Channeling Jessie

When asked who would do the driving, Sophie piped up, "I am"

Lydia was terrified of this Toad ride the first time she went on it with my brother Mike.  It took her almost three years to finally go on it again.

Young love...should I be worried?

It may be a good thing that these two will be going to different schools next year.

Standing in awe of "Fantasmic"

Last ride of the night and it had to be Space Mountain.  Sophie once again is hiding.

 

Sleep walking back to the car.

California Adventuring with the Cuz

The girls and I met my cousin Grace and her family at California Adventure this morning.  They were visiting from Texas for a couple of days and we rarely get to hang out; I think the 13 hours that we spent together at California Adventure was almost the same amount of time that we have spent together since we've known each other!  It was great catching up and letting the kids really get acquainted.  Hopefully Sophie will let Nathan hold her hand when we see them next!

 Our first picture together

Ready for our first ride

Delta Delta Delta

Acting goofy

Sneaking up on Edward

Colliding couple

Howdy, Jessie

To infinity and beyond!

Racers time!

Not a single eye opened and Sophie is in hiding

In Sync mouse ears

Last day of school

Where has the school year gone?  I don't know, but in a way, I'm glad the "driving Sophie back and forth to school" is now over and that both girls will be attending the same school next year.  I will miss seeing my new mommy friends from Sophie's school on a daily basis, but hopefully our weekly happy hours will continue.  We have a busy summer planned, but it will be fun!  Say "hello" to my second grader and kindergartener!

Miss Nitti and Lydia (who purposely pulled out her second tooth today)

Sophie and Teacher Flavia

Making a mess at Lisa's house; she invited all the preschoolers over for a potluck after school

Alexis turns one!

Today we attended my niece Alexis' first birthday party at the same restaurant where my brother had his rehearsal dinner just a little under two years ago.  Three tables enjoyed a nine course meal, games with prizes, and an afternoon of memories.  Happy first birthday, little one, we love watching you grow!

It's her birthday and she'll cry if she wants to...  Alexis was much happier after getting out of her Korean outfit and being fed.

 Like father, like daughter

 My latest Facebook cover photo

 Alexis giving Sophie some words of wisdom because much happens your first year of life.

 What a conversation with a one year old sounds like

 Hugs and no kisses

 One happy family

 Trung showing the girls how to play the "what will Alexis be when she grows up" game

Lockdown

 Though a bit muggy, today started off like any other day...I dropped Lydia off at school, went to the San Vicente stairs to exercise, and then I came home to start loads of laundry.  The idiotic repairman came back to replace a broken part in my dishwasher, but the package he brought didn't have it in there.  So, there goes another week without a dishwasher, but at least he came earlier this time and I was able to attend Lydia's end of the year pizza party.

Well, so I thought.   Everything was fine when I arrived to the school; the kids were handed out pizza and were starting to eat when someone informed us that the school was being locked down.  Seriously?  The timing was impeccable, during lunch time, and on the third to last day of school!  We rounded up all the kids and adults, and squeezed everyone into the classroom; locking doors and closing blinds in the process.  Moments later we find out that it was a real lockdown and that there was a shooting at Santa Monica College about 2.5 miles away.  It didn't really sink in until we heard a loud banging on our classroom door, which honestly could have been anymore.  We will never know who it was because we didn't dare open the door, though one of Lydia's classmates almost did.

For the next two hours, we managed to bring in the food from the back patio, which the birds were enjoying, so that we wouldn't starve.  The kids made bookmarks and watched "Puff the Magic Dragon".  Parents were throwing theories and information back and forth as they were getting them.  Fortunately, I was able to get confirmation that Sophie, whose school was only 1.5 miles away form the college, was okay and her class didn't end up going on their field trip to the fire station. We were finally released at 2:40 PM and I had both kids with me within the hour.

You watch these tragedies happen on the news, but you really never think that it's going to happen to you or in your city.  How does one move on or bounce back from something like this?  My children go to swim classes at the college!  Thankfully, we were not as affected as we could have been and I was with at least one of my children during this ordeal.  I also now have a new-found appreciation for the schools and their lockdown drills.  Praying for Santa Monica and the healing that is to follow.  

 Lydia having pizza with her buddies just minutes before the school went into lockdown

Finishing her pizza from under her desk, though she didn't stay there long.

A "Twisted" Day

 During lunch yesterday, I received a text from Kids Management to see if Sophie would be available for a still photo shoot for a new ABC show called "Twisted".  I responded that she was available and they said that they would inform me if she was chosen.  Three hours later, I find out Sophie was for sure going to be in the shoot and now they are wondering if Lydia was available because Sophie needed a sibling in the picture.  Even though Lydia was under the 7-8 year old age requirement, they wanted to submit her picture because she is an actual sibling.

I did not hear from anyone for awhile, so I called the company emergency line to find out if Lydia was chosen or not.  Apparently they still didn't know either and would supposedly find out soon and let me know if she was going to the shoot.  I didn't receive a text all night, so I safely assumed that only Sophie was working and I go about my usual morning of taking Lydia to school.  As we are walking out the door, I receive a text...they want Lydia in the shoot too.  So, we turn around and head home since by law, children can't be pulled out of school to work, even though it would have been only about an hour earlier.

Even though there was some confusion about Lydia needing to get schooling and she wasn't on set long enough for her three hours, we managed to get a couple of hours in.  The main character of our photo shoot, the dad, arrived late due to traffic, so we didn't get the pictures taken for awhile.  When we finally did the girls did well, though the photographer was asking me to try to get Sophie to not "fake smile".  Offering ice cream seemed to help.  :)

Oh, and the only star on the show that I recognized from the cast listing I googled last night was Denise Richards.  I was hoping to at least spot her on the set, and managed to on our way out.  She wasn't as friendly as I thought she would be; she barely even looked at over at us, so I didn't bother asking her for a picture.  She was also talking to a couple other fellow actors about "Charlie", so I didn't want to interrupt.  I kind of wish I had though because the worse that she can say is "no", but Lydia was already running way ahead and I had to catch up with her.  Good thing I watched a clip of the show last night too, because I ended up seeing all three main characters.
 

 This is what I get for letting the girls play hooky

 

 Sophie coloring next to a pile of scripts

 Approved by the wardrobe department for the dresses that they came in...Mommy knows how to shop!  :)

 I've been replaced...

Getting all pretty for the picture

Sophie's preschool performance

I can't believe my baby is going to kindergarten next year!  She's had an amazing preschool year at Washington West and we both made some wonderful friends that we hope to keep forever!

The same hula dance that Lydia did two years ago.

"I'm a sea star"

"Take me out to the ballgame"

 Hugging Teacher Linda after receiving her certificate

Buddies

The usual

I sent out my usual weekly e-mail about what I'm doing Tuesday night and this month's planned visit to Kidspace Museum got several responses.  I was excited to have such a good group of people joining us on our monthly adventure, 12 total coming from preschool, and everyone "claimed" that they had a good time.  We're not planning on going during the summer since the girls have swim class every day at 4, but we may skip a class every now and then.  :)

It's so funny how the kids put coffee filters on before their helmets...at least some protection is better than nothing.

 Adjusting the stop sign like any ordinary citizen

 

 Lydia, Frances w/a new friend, Ione, and Sophie

 

 BFFs (for now)

 Supposedly dusting for dinosaur bones

 

 

The best group picture I've seen in awhile where everyone is looking!

 

 

And to think, just three years ago, it was just me and the girls going to Kidspace and now we've got a whole group!

 The picture with the Kidspace sign that I always like to take before we go

Lydia made Catherine a pair of very flexible glasses

Kids - 7, Moms - 5

Our Sunday in pictures

 Brunch at Rose Cafe in Venice because we couldn't find parking at the other beachside restaurant that I bought a voucher for.

 Our latest investment at Costco and the kids researching how to make construction paper houses on-line

 Authentic pozole and Mexican cuisine at Ada's birthday party

The Washington West moms plus Teacher Flavia and Student Sophia

Summer Carnival

 Looking back at pictures of last year's carnival, I discovered that I gave Sophie double braids again.  Other than that, we did things completely different this time around.  Rather than spend money on tiny hamburgers and games that would earn the kids a colorful strand to clip in their hair, which they would toss by the time we got home; we ate lunch at home and worked Lydia's class booth to pass the time.  We did run into several friends and were persuaded to let the kids do a few rides, but Lydia really had fun "working".  Sophie might have taken the job too seriously though, because she exhausted herself soon after we started.

 Sleeping Sophie

With most of the afternoon free, I cleared out the fridge and whipped together a five course Chinese meal.  Mom would be proud.  :)