The Calm Before the Storm

Since this was the girls' last weekend before school starting on Tuesday, we took a trip to San Diego and hung out at Legoland for a couple of days.  They girls hadn't been in awhile and had never been to the new Chima waterpark, so they had a really good time.  The first day we spent most of the day at the waterparks and then rode a couple of the girls' favorite rides from last time.  The second day we stayed dry and rode rides, and left around 5 to grab some dinner in Garden Grove on the way back home.

Sophie's first time in the "big kids" cars

Lydia (in the red car) expertly avoiding traffic

Trung on a platter

No amusement part is complete without a wound...Sophie's big toe got skinned.

We discovered this ride, Tournament's Arm, the last time we came, and we couldn't wait to go back

Breakfast at Starbucks (again), complete with pastries from 85 degrees Bakery

All locked-up

The Skycruiser wait is the worst, but the kids love it

The kids did all the work

Playing is hard work

Lion ate a sad little girl

At least Trung made it past the rung; the girls weren't so lucky

The girls burned their hands last time they did this ride and wouldn't go for the longest time until now

They went three times and still wanted more.

Action shot

Dizzying Bionicle Blasters

Waiting for our 4D movie

So long, Legoland, it's been fun!

Customer Appreciation

I received an e-mail from La Sandia Mexican Restaurant for their customer appreciation night when they would be serving free tacos and margaritas.  I usually go out with my girlfriends for happy hour, but figured I should hang out with my husband every now and then.  The restaurant got crowded fast, so Trung and I had to share a seat at a table, so we quickly ate and headed over to another restaurant for dessert before picking the girls up at my friend's house.  We rarely have date nights, so it was nice getting some time away from the kids.

  

Snow and Ken were there...no surprise.  :P

Walking home, we noticed the amazing palm trees down 2nd St.

Building a bear

The girls have been asking to buy new outfits for their Build-a-Bear bears (which they received at a birthday party) for quite some time, and since they received monetary gifts from their aunt recently, I finally took them.  They each choose one outfit and paid the difference to get shoes.  This will probably be the one and only time I go because I think the stuff is overpriced and the girls don't play with the bears half the time anyways, but at least they will stop complaining about going now.

Sophie really wanted a boy outfit for her bear to coordinate with Lydia's "girl" bear

I asked Sophie many times if she was sure that she wanted to get the tuxedo for her bear, and of course, the bear was out of the outfit when we got home and we was asking for another one.  *sigh*

Boogie boarding in San Clemente

My sister-in-law's cousin, Jean, and I have been friends since we moved to California four years ago.  Though we had talked about hanging out at the beach with them so many times, we hadn't until finally this weekend.  We brought along our boogie board that we had purchased a couple years back at our citywide yard sale, but had never used it until this trip.  Who knew boogie boarding could be so much fun!  Though the waves were rough at times, Lydia was strong enough to stay in the water, while Sophie often watched the rest of us from the beach.  We even had a "Baywatch" moment when Jean got stuck in a rip current and a lifeguard had to come rushing out to save her.

Trung had boogie board duty

Checking out the water

Trung caught a wave

The girls "get along" towel

The second day, we brought out the surfboards

The flags were moved over, so we settled in the same spot that we did the day before

Our great set-up

Getting chased by the waves

After dinner, we stopped by Balboa Island because Trung wanted to see the other parts of Newport Beach

Catching the sunset

Short, but sweet

Trung's sister and her family arrived late Tuesday night and spent the next two nights with us.  We didn't get to hang out with them much as they had already planned activities beforehand, but the kids enjoyed the time that they did have together.

With the Tran cousins

Walking down the beach path towards the pier

Mai and De

The Apple Store drew the kids in on the Promenade

Cute mochas at Amandine Patisserie

Celebrity spotting...Marc Blucas from "Buffy"

Have a safe trip to Nor Cal!

National Night Out

Every year, the Santa Monica Police host a "National Night Out" event with free activities and food.  We haven't been able to make it the last two years, but this year we attended and had a fun time.

We got there right at 6 and the girls were able to go down the inflatable side several times

Action shot

The carnival-type games where the girls won tiny stuffed animals.

Scammed!

Today we went to Din Tai Fung for lunch (Mike joined us) and didn't even have to wait for a table...gosh I love weekdays!  Then after grabbing a dessert at Phoenix, we headed home to relax the afternoon away.

Cute cups with a dumpling character

I may be smiling in this picture, but I was actually quite upset as I had just been scammed out of $2,000 (via the giftcards that we are holding) and had reported to Santa Monica Police.

Flying fingers

Jimmy and Cora have never seen Minji perform and she happened to be playing in a concert to introduce "music week" at the school where she teaches.  We spent the afternoon watching the performances and then ate at a nice seafood seafood with family...four families all related by marriage or by blood.

The kids all made it through the concert without huge commotions.

My talented sister in-law

One big happy family

Sibling reunion

Jimmy's family flew in Friday night to spend a few days in California to meet Caleb and hang out before going to Mexico for another few days.  They have come to California many times and have done all the tourist things, so they spent quality time with family this trip.

Cora and Caleb

All the adults trying to get the kids' attention

The six "Lee" grandchildren

We are family

Caleb's hair sticks out in every direction

Moving back from me...

Maybe because he's allergic?

Cousins

Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt

After spending the last two days doing laundry and getting back into the swing of things, I decided to take the girls on a scavenger hunt hosted by Downtown Santa Monica.  It wasn't that much fun for them since I was basically taking selfies with iconic Santa Monica things, but they got some exercise and got to meet Daddy up for lunch.  Oh, and I did happen to win four movie tickets, popcorn, and drinks too!  And I even made it into the Santa Monica blog!

Monkeying around

Getting a drink

Getting photobombed

Sipping my way to a win.