Spa babies

We attended a Chinese play group this morning where we were expected to try and speak only Mandarin...boy, was that tough. The organizer REALLY pushed the Chinese, so I'm not sure if I'll be joining since the kids don't know a lick of Chinese. After lunch and a nap, we arrived late to a meet-up at a community pool; everyone had already left though. Fortunately the "host" was still able to let us in and the girls got to go into the bubbling spa for the first time.

Lydia is cradling a "baby"

New doc

I took the girls to their new pediatrician today for Lydia's four year old check-up. She is now 39.75" tall and 36 lbs, 9 oz, which puts her at 80% for the body mass index. The norm is under 85%, so she's up there; looks like I'm going to have to keep a close eye on her snacking habits. Both kids ended up get shots since flu season is around the corner and Sophie hadn't gotten her TB skin test done before. Many tears were shed at this appointment, but we made it out in one piece. Too bad I didn't have cash or checks for the parking garage and had to mail in a check to the hospital parking management...this pretty much sealed the deal.

Before the shots, but not after some tears were already shed (on Lydia's cheeks)

First Day of School

Lydia started pre-kindergarten today. After having both kids at home for the last month and a half, I never thought this day would come. Hallelujah! She had a great time with her new friends and I had a nice break as well. The bad thing is I found out school is only Mon-Thurs, but the good thing is that I can now schedule play dates on Fridays since the day won't be broken up from dropping Lydia off and picking her back up. Also, Sandy, Lydia's teacher, said that I can bring her in 30 minutes early so that she can have lunch there. Lydia complains a lot about her meals, so I am totally jumping at the invitation.

Lydia and Sandy

Lydia holding her long bangs back and wearing her Tinkerbell backpack that she got for her birthday.

Abracadabra

We met our new friends Christine and Elysse at the library for story time this morning. The kids had a good time listening to and singing along with the reader. After the short twenty minutes, we headed to the Fountain at Waterside for another chance of winning a prize and to watch the magician. It was drizzling during the show, but a nice audience still gathered to watch. No prize was won this time, but Lydia did get to help with a magic trick. Afterwards, we joined my new mommy group at Fresh Brothers for lunch; the salad was awesome because you could choose up to 25 ingredients!

Christine & Elysse

Lydia was a bit distracted during her few minutes in the spotlight


Sophie getting yet another sample of pizza as Lydia and I waited inside the restaurant for our "real" food. The girls had so many samples that they didn't care to eat the actual purchased pizza.

Beaches

Labor Day was dedicated to beaches. First stop, Crystal Cove for breakfast at The Beachcomber. Sophie inhaled the beignets while Lydia enjoyed her birthday French Toast (well, more the whipped cream). Then off to Laguna Beach, where the kids played on a playground next to the ocean and I saw the biggest dog ever, a Newfoundland, that weighed 185 pounds. Wowsers! Our final stop was Aliso Beach, were we picnicked on the sand and watched the kids play. I could get used to this. :)

Lydia still celebrating her birthday

My goofy family waiting for the shuttle bus to arrive

A playground on Laguna Beach

Sophie and me

Aliso Beach

Sunscreen application

Who could love a face like that? I could! With double scratched knees and everything!

Building sand castles

The girls shoveling around while Trung tans his pale parts

So much fun!

Shoo, birdies

Lydia "International" Birthday

Saturday we drove down to Orange County to spend the holiday weekend with Mike. We arrived around lunchtime and had our usual Vietnamese sandwiches and crunchy spring rolls. After the kids took a nap, we went to Mike's community pool, which was the first time we went swimming since we moved to Cali. The weather was nice and warm, and the water was perfectly cool; I was totally back in my element. Afterwards, we had burgers at my cousin Ben's house and took a mosquito-free stroll around the neighborhood. Life is good. :)

Sunday we went to the International Fair and had some international cuisine. From fish & chips to teriyaki on a stick to hand rolls, there was everything to be had. We listened to some good music as we ate, and even passed by a young teenage band. The day was hot, so we quickly went home after Lydia did one quick ride. For dinner, we went to Wood Ranch and had lots of meat and it was oh so good. Lydia LOVED her Tinkerbell cake and everyone else enjoyed the separate layered chocolate cake. I can't believe my little girl is four years old now; time sure does fly!

Lydia sliding down the great white shark

A fair worker dropped a prize while walking by with a bagful, so I gave it to Sophie; I'm sure he wouldn't miss it.

Lydia got to open her birthday presents from Uncle Mike before dinner

Dinner with family at Wood Ranch

Lydia enjoyed licking and poking at her Tinkerbell petite cake

Sophie was up for many hours after scarfing down her chocolate cake

Broadway Gym

So remember that prize I won on Tuesday? Well, I already used it...whatever I can do to keep the kids busy. :P Well, also because Lydia starts school on Wednesday and I don't know when she'll get a free day to attend the camp. Lydia attended the kids' camp from 9-12:30 and had a ball! The coaches said that she kept saying "this is so much fun" and that she was very sweet; why don't I get that Lydia at home? Sophie attended a free tumblers class from 9:30-10:15 and also enjoyed herself even though she was a bit small for some of the equipment. I would love for the girls to attend the classes on a regular basis, but we'll see if we have time since I also signed up for a Mommy & me class and a Mommy's Day Out at the YMCA today.

Lydia's class from across the room. I couldn't get many pictures/videos of her session since parent involvement was required for Sophie's class and I had errands to run after the class.

Always stretch first...

especially when you're doing this maneuver.

Little girl on the big rings...Sophie wasn't brave enough to do a full flip. Well, you can't really blame her, it was her first day.

Sophie was right at home with this jumping exercise.

Arts and Crafts at 3 Cheeky Monkeys

Lydia was having a very rough day this morning, throwing fits at Target and Sprouts, so the last thing I wanted to do was deal with another outburst. (Only four days until her 4th birthday and she is the worse that she's ever been and I thought the terrible 2's and 3's would be over at 4!) So after Sophie woke up from her nap, we went straight to the mall to check out the arts and crafts time at 3 Cheeky Monkeys, which is like a Learning Express. We were the only ones to attend today, so the employee had to set everything up while we waited. The girls enjoyed playing with the play-doh and all the loose toys throughout the store. They had fun at the Disney Store next door too, but they couldn't run around and play with everything like they could in 3 Cheeky Monkeys.

Lydia and her play-doh piggy

Sophie, the Material girl

Taking over the store

Sophie watching three little girls slide down the "&" at Punctuation Station

Lydia has a "?"

"At" the sign

Chilling at the commas

Sophie throwing a few lines of real English amongst her gibberish, that she uses for fun

Marina del Rey's Kids Club

Our local shopping center has a weekly event where the kids gather at the Fountain for a special performance of some sort. We were finally able to attend this week and got to watch a puppeteer; in the past, magic and reptile shows have also come. I've also still got my luckiness as we held the winning ticket drawing for a free gymnastics day...a $81 value. :)

Pinocchio and Geppetto?

Lydia and Mommy

The weekly shows get a good turn-out

Broadway Gymnastics brought some of their equipment

Sophie riding it like a horsey

Lydia learning to balance as Sophie takes note

Passing the time in Pasadena

Trung drives to Pasadena every weekday for work, but we wanted to see what the city really was all about. After getting some suggestions from Trung's co-workers and my friends, and doing some research on-line, we hit a few popular places. But first, Trung drops by work...

eHarmonizing

Lunch at Panda Inn Restaurant, the original Panda Express before it turned fast food. The buffet looked awfully good with sashimi and a full Ramen noodle bar, but we stuck with the Panda Beef, Shrimp and Walnut, and a Tofu & Eggplant dish.

After lunch, I dragged Trung to Gravity Hill, where you have the illusion of going uphill on a downhill on neutral. Trung didn't believe it and didn't want me to post the video, but you can see for yourself.

At the Rose Bowl; maybe one day we can watch a real game there

The turtle pond at Caltech

The turtles were sunbathing before we scared them all away like so...

On a bridge over a little stream

A cool fountain

The girls had fun climbing and posing with this cannon

We then went to Old Pasadena, the business district of Pasadena, and did some window-shopping. We sipped on a $1 tropical tea and then headed off to meet Cora's cousin, Jean, and her family at the Griffith Observatory.

The Observatory

The girls stopped often during our hike to draw in the dirt

Alas, the Hollywood sign (on the left)


Andrew, Isabella, Theodore, and Jean