Celebrations!

Today we had much to celebrate.  Lydia completed her first session at swim team today, well, the last day of actual swimming was on Wednesday, but today was officially the last day.  She had trouble a couple weeks into the session when she got too tired by Friday's class (class was every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and did not have the energy to swim the entire time.  Fortunately, water polo games were held the next three weeks in a row on Wednesdays and took up the swim team's swimming lanes, so Lydia got a little break.  So, when the regular schedule resumed, she was good to go!  Also, since Sophie's swim classes ended a couple of weeks before Lydia's, I began dropping Lydia off and having her get ready by herself after class.  She would get to free swim for about thirty minutes after class and head to the showers where I would meet her.  My little girl is growing up so fast!

More importantly, today we celebrated Trung's birthday!  After picking Lydia up from her swim team potluck, we went to Ushuaia Steakhouse and enjoyed an Argentinian happy hour.  We were completely stuffed and then some.  Happy birthday to my dear husband!

Posed or photojournalistic?

We recently had a photo shoot session at JCPenney's for our family portraits.  I am not a fan of posed pictures, but the groupon deal was for only $25 and we received all the prints and high resolution pictures that we needed to get the job done, which was to have a decent family picture for our Christmas card.  I was fine with the results, but the very next day, my friend offered a complimentary outdoor session at a park in Manhattan Beach.  I couldn't refuse!  So, now we have to choose between the studio pictures and the outdoors one.  Guess you'll see which one we choose when you receive our Christmas card!  :)

 We got a 10 x 13 print of this one

 I wish Trung was smiling a little more

 We got prints of this shot for the grandparents.

 A more casual look

 Probably should have switched Sophie and Lydia to alternate colors a little

 Close-up

 From a different angle

 Fall fun!

Our engagement picture was of me on Trung's back.  Now we each have our own passengers.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ly family!

Blogging, it's a learning process

 So, I'm wondering if I have to go to all the events that I post on my blog.  I know it's not physically possible if events are held at the same time, but I think I should make a conscious effort.  After all, I would only post the events if I would go to them, right?  Oh, and I find out the hard way that it does no good to post an event and go on the wrong day.  :P

 Trailer for the new Sofia the First movie; the kids received a free sticker pad and paper necklace.

Free Dylan's candy at LeSportsac

Do You Know Grace?

My friend Diane has been telling me for months that I should create a blog, posting all the deals and events that I come across.  Apparently, I have a reputation with my friends of finding great, and usually free stuff.  I really didn't intend on creating a blog, but this past weekend so many stores were having their Friends and Family sale and I had a feeling that so many people didn't know about them, so I just had to get the word out.  Unfortunately, I was informed by Trung that a website doesn't just appear overnight, so I wasn't able to post about the sales.  Within the week, however, we were able to decide on a domain name and get my blog up and running.  Introducing...Do You Know Grace?  I hope that you find it useful, even if you don't live locally.

Going curly

 Since no one wanted to watch Thor last night on my usual mom's night out, I went out tonight to a Red Tricycle and Microsoft sponsored event at a Drybar just blocks away from home.  The idea was to get moms to check out the new Microsoft Surface computer while getting a complimentary blow out, or for me, a curling session.  A couple of my friends went too and we all enjoyed champagne, organic vegetables with dips, and tasty hors d'oeuvres.

 Fish lip selfies

Champagne makes us smile

The Nut Job

My friend told me about a free screening of the movie The Nut Job for today and tomorrow.  We chose to go today since the showing was later, but I still had to wait about an hour in line while Trung took the girls to Barnes and Noble and Chipotle to grab some lunch.  Even though they are free, we don't go to screenings that often because they are usually on weekdays, we have to drive, and they are on a first come first serve basis, so you have to go super early.  Fortunately, this one was at the Promenade and I didn't mind so much waiting since Trung took the girls.  :)  The movie was 3-D and we got pretty good seats near the front, so it was a fun afternoon.

We were at the front of the outside line; there were about 30 people already inside.

ICE Grand Opening

Every year, we always like to attend the grand opening of Santa Monica's outdoor ice skating rink ICE because it's loads of fun and best of all, it's free!  Trung and Lydia went first to the event because Sophie and I were on set all the way in Burbank, but when we finally arrived, we enjoyed samples from local restaurants, Sophie decorated a cookie, and of course, we ice skated.  The girls didn't want to leave, but seeing that it was a school night, we finally dragged them home.

Quite the sprinkle shaker

Major swinging action with daddy

Father/daughter pairs skating

The girls braved the ice much better than last year; they are getting so big!

We couldn't pass up the photo op.  :)

Fro Yo Social

I got a livingsocial deal for a new frozen yogurt place called Treats, which is just a couple blocks away from the swim center.  The girls had early dismissal today, so we headed over for a cold treat on this unusually warm day before dropping Lydia off at swim team.  I had sent the deal to my mommy friends and five other families joined us; it was a fun social!

The girls were all smiles and I couldn't get a single decent picture of the goofy boys.  Taking pictures of girls versus boys is definitely like night and day!

Boy huddle

Girl gathering

Kidspace Vamped Up

We haven't been to Kidspace since June, so the kids were super excited to be back.  We discovered there had been several changes during our absence, like new displays and play areas.  Fortunately, our old favorites were still there, but all outdoor activities were cut short due to daylight savings.  When it got dark, we moved indoors and didn't stay much longer, so that we could have an early dinner at La Grande Orange Cafe since the kids don't have late start this Wednesday.

 The cute new "kidspace" display

Easy does it

A new foamy building area

Even though Sophie is big enough to ride her own bike, she still prefers to ride with Lydia.

It's hard to believe that the very first time we came to Kidspace three years ago, Sophie wasn't big enough to ride a bike, now look at her!

Star Eco Station

Today, we celebrated Juliet's 7th birthday at Star Eco Station, an environmental science and exotic wildlife rescue center.  Lydia came here two years ago for a birthday party, but I just dropped her off, so this was my first time here and it was more interesting than I thought it would be.  I imagined it to be like a zoo and more outdoorsy, but it turned out to be all indoors and with mainly birds and reptiles, oh, and a mink who was hidden away fast asleep.

 This tortoise kept waving at me

 Learning about a fish in the piranha family

 But as you can see, it is much more friendly (looking) than a piranha

 The graceful seahorse

 The cast of "Finding Nemo"

 Meet "Dawg"

 I must smell good or something

 This lizard is literally hanging on one side by a toenail

 This snake felt cool and soft, which took me by surprise.

 My kids have no problem touching reptiles.

Weiru and Juliet