Brunch at Cafe Montana

I've been talking to several moms for quite some time now about meeting for brunch on a weekday and I finally set the date for today.  I had ten other moms show up and we had a great time getting to know each other and talking about life in general.  The brunch location on Montana was great because I could go straight to Roosevelt to volunteer in Lydia's class right afterwards.  I'm thinking that I will make it a monthly thing and next time have each person sit next to someone that they don't know.  :P

 Eugene Levy, the dad on American Pie, was having brunch too!

 

My new friends, people I met less than a week ago, and old friends; I've known Guro since my Playa Vista days.

My first audition

Lydia has gone to a few auditions and the family as a whole has gone to a couple as well, but today's audition was my first one by myself.  The commercial/print ad was looking for a Chinese ping pong player and seeing that I'm Chinese, and do know how to work the paddle a little, I figured that I would submit my information to the agent.  Well, I got an audition, went to Hollywood to the casting agency for a 10:30 audition time, and waited along with dozens of other Chinese young people wearing everyday athletic attire.  After about a thirty minute wait, I was called into the room with a dread locked Chinese guy.  We gave our info and took profile pictures, and then volleyed for a little while pictures were being taken.  Though I knew that I wouldn't get the booking, especially on my first audition, it was an interesting experience.  Who knows, maybe I'll go to another one if it doesn't interfere with the kids' schedules.  Oh, I might add that if I did get the job, I would have to go to either Montana or Big Bear for a couple of days.  Can't say I would complain about getting away from everyday life for a day or two.  :)

A different Disney

 Since we had nothing scheduled today, we decided to go to Disney.  I had my alarm scheduled for 6, but could not get up for the life of me, but we still managed to get to the park by 8:15.  We hit Carsland first, then Midway Mania, and slowly made our way around the park.  This was our first visit where Sophie was tall enough to ride Goofy's Flying School, and boy did she love it!  We rode on it two more times as a family and would have gone once more if I hadn't reminded her that there were other rides in Disney.  Lydia also made the cut for the one and only ride she has been dying to go on...Screaming over California.  She and Trung went twice while Sophie and I waited in line at Midway Mania and she loved it!  After resting a bit at the Animation Academy, we saw a new Disney Jr show and rode on the famous Radiator Springs Racers before we headed to dinner at Brodard.

 Trung kept the girls busy as I ran around getting Fastpasses

 

 Trung and Lydia got to ride their own bumper cars, while I was stuck with Sophie who wasn't strong enough to handle the steering wheel.

 My last clip before I got asked to put away my camera because Sophie kept on stalling.

 Sophie was excited about this family picture as you can tell.  Oh, and check out the photo bomber in the back.

 Trung and I didn't notice that we had on similar style shirts until we saw this picture.

 The girls aren't really into taking picture with Disney characters, but they had no problem waiting in line for a picture with Sophia the First.

 Three little princesses

 The Animation Academy is such a great place to relax and cool down

 Lydia is like Belle, who would have thought?

 A new show with Sophia the First

and Doc McStuffins

Bella's "bowling" party & GLOW

Even though Lydia is not in the same class as Bella this year, our families have remained friends and we were still invited to Bella's birthday party this year.  The venue was the local bowling alley, where we only go once every six months or so.  The girls have improved tremendously since the last time they bowled though, both using the correct techniques instead of kicking or rolling the ball with both hands.

Bella and Sophie found a way to entertain themselves while waiting for their turns to bowl.

 Who says you have to bowl at a bowling alley?

Bella's homemade birthday cake, complete with bowling pin cookies.

After resting at home for a few hours, we met Guro & family and her friend Saki with her son at Hummus Factory for dinner.  Afterwards, we went to GLOW, an all-night cultural experience, which we found to be just okay, but at least the kids had fun playing in the sand.

 Norah and Sophie watching a human statue

 Waiting for a performance, which we couldn't see or hear

 The kids wrote their names and created designs using the flashlight of an IPhone

 Glow in the dark fun

 Such the little artist

The whole group, standing in the middle of Ocean Ave

Our daily schedule

Now that school is in full swing, all the girls' extracurricular activities have slowly kicked in.  I have been enjoying my solid five hours every morning (except on late start Wednesday) exercising, running errands, etc.  Once I pick up the kids from school, though, the day continues non-stop until bedtime.  

Sophie gets out an hour and ten minutes earlier than Lydia every day, and lately I have just been scooting back home with her since it only takes about seven minutes.  Then Sophie and I go back to school to get Lydia.  I bring the car and pack a snack because right after school, we head over to the Santa Monica Swim Center for Lydia's swim team and Sophie's swim class.  This happens every Wednesday and Friday as well, though Sophie is off on Fridays and we sometimes free swim depending on the weather and what other errands I need to run.  Tuesdays are our only non-activity day of the week, so the girls have a play date.  Thursdays, Sophie has ballet class four blocks away, so we scooter there right after school.  Sometimes Lydia and I walk over to the library during this time.  Then as soon as we get home every day, I make dinner while the girls do their homework.  We eat dinner, the girls shower, and then it's off to bed!

 Play date at Sydney and Ava's house on Tuesday

 Lydia got her team swim cap on Wednesday

Sophie wanted to take a picture with President Roosevelt after school on Friday

Soccer girls

Since Trung was in Texas this weekend fixing up the house for our new tenants, I took the girls to soccer practice this morning.  Usually only dads attend and I noticed today that all the participants were girls, but today there was another mom to.  As usual, the girls didn't kick much, but at least they weren't complaining.  Afterwards, Diane and Ione met us at the playground, which was nice because the girls had a lot of catching up to do.

The usual suspects

60's Mystery Murder

My oldest LA friend Guro had a 60's themed mystery murder birthday party tonight.  Everyone was assigned a role a few days ago, so we all came dressed in character.  While the adults mingled and tried to learn as much about each other's character as possible, the kids watched movies downstairs.  Though I wasn't aware of certain plots, the game was interesting and somehow I stabbed someone?  It's okay, he was already dead.  :P

 All the kids watching Austin Powers, very briefly

 The Murder Party

 They call me "Wiggy", fashion icon and model

 The hosts

 Marina (Nutmeg), Guro (Khaki O.), Katya (Blissity), and me

 The 60's were very laid back

 Wig swap

Dancing at the Love Shack

Sophie loves to dance, so I have been looking at ballet schools again, but this time only at places that have an end of the season performance.  Sophie tried Westside Ballet a couple of months ago and it was pretty good, and then today we tried Miss Marie's Academy of Dance, where our friend Isabelle goes.  I plan on putting Sophie in the Thursday class in Santa Monica, but this week was pretty crazy, so I took her to the Saturday class in Venice instead.  The location was very interesting...an art gallery with bean bags everywhere.  Sophie seemed to have a good time though and the teacher made it fun.  I think we will go with this school because of the location and see how Sophie feels after one session.

 Stretching

 Walking around the gallery

 So serious

 Plie

 Lydia doesn't like ballet as much; swimming is her thing, so she just watched Sophie with me.

Chillin'

Sharks

Monday, Lydia "tried-out" for the Sharks swim team at the Santa Monica Swim Center, which was basically weeding out the kids that couldn't swim consistent laps.  I was really proud of her and didn't realize how hard it was until I saw kids crying and giving up after one lap, but Lydia kept on going.  Today was her first day on the team and she said it went well.  The first 25-30 minutes is spent doing dry exercises...stretches, sit-ups, etc. and the next hour is spent swimming laps.  It's been quite an adjustment going to the pool twice week for thirty minute lessons to going three times a week for 1.5 hours, but I know that Lydia can do it.

I got the girls swim caps to help protect their hair, but so many kids said that her cat was "so cute" that Lydia didn't want to wear hers anymore.

Waiting for the swim team instructor to tell her to go.

Back to School Picnic

  We didn't go to the back to school picnic the last two years, but since both girls are at Roosevelt, I decided to take them this year.  I didn't purchase the In and Out burger boxed dinner since the girls are not into hamburgers and packed ham sandwiches instead.  We found an empty patch of grass and sat down to have dinner, but the girls got distracted with all their friends that I barely was able to get them to finish eating before they were off.  At least I got to meet some new parents and catch up with some old friends.

 

Try not to let the funny faces distract you

Lydia spends her recesses playing handball now and is surprisingly pretty good

 Lydia wanted to take a break from losing, so she wanted Sophie, who doesn't know how to play handball at all, to play

 

Sophie stayed with Lydia the entire time, just watching her play