Tiff getting married

As part of the bridal party (I did a scripture reading), I partook in most of the pre-wedding events. Since I already got my nails back home for Mike's wedding reception, I just made a Starbucks run for the girls. Then after a quick lunch with Wendy, I went to Green Pastures for the rehearsal and Salt Licks for dinner and got my fill of Texas barbeque.

Back together again after a year

Rehearsal

Barbeque buffet

The bridal party

I got a makeover at Sephora in the morning, met Jen for lunch at Threadgill's, and got a haircut all before the wedding. The wedding was beautiful and I am so happy for Tiffany and Albert. Though I was a bit tired, I still joined them downtown afterwards and hit the nightlife...it's been a long time.

The newlyweds


The new family

My new friend Lily and I, yes, that is a turkey on my head

Congrats Tiff and Albert!


Heading downtown in style

Driving solo

Today I left Sophie behind with my parents and drove up to Austin to spend some time with old friends and participate in all of Tiffany's wedding festivities. I arrived around 4 and paid my old next door neighbor Bonnie a little visit. Then I hung out with Sarah and her adorable kids until we had to meet our Happy hour group. We purposely went to Steeping Room first for my favorite Creme Brulee steamer, but just my luck, the espresso machine was broken. Oh well, all the more reason to return to Austin. :)

Justin and Amy, growing up so fast

Happy hour at Jasper's with the ladies

Houston highlights

Trung and Lydia flew out early Sunday morning for home, while Sophie and I stayed behind for my good friend Tiff's wedding in Austin on Saturday. For the next few days, all we did was shop and eat; there really isn't much else to do in Houston.

Monday's lunch at Ruggles Green

My mom gave Sophie a much needed haircut

During dinner Tuesday night at Chuy's, Sophie wrote her first words "HI HOP", which I later realized was an attempt to write her name

Wednesday, Sophie and I took over Chinatown, eating all my favorite foods

We dropped by Jimmy's place bearing gifts for Marshmallow the hamster and Guinea Guy

Close encounters

Sophie can write her name!

Family feasts

Cora and I (joined by niece Jocelyn this year) hit the Houston Galleria for our annual Black Friday shopping spree. We actually didn't buy much and left earlier than usual, but still enjoyed the time away from the guys. After a quick lunch, my sister-in-laws and I spent some quality time together at the hair salon, beautifying ourselves for Mike and Minji's Houston wedding reception. We got our hair done and had fake eyelashes put in; we did our own make-up. Then off to Ocean Palace for dinner where my own Houston reception was held over six years ago!

me, Minji, and Cora

Cousins and cousin's son

Our ever growing family

Tonight we ate at the Taste of Texas, like we do every year, to celebrate Trung's birthday. Our wait was 1.5 hours, but as always, it was well worth it.
Sleighing cousins

Waiting...

Happily stuffed

Thanksgiving 2011

We left LAX around 7 PM Wednesday night and arrive in Houston during the wee hours of the morning. After getting the kids showered, we all passed out until Thanksgiving afternoon, just in time for lunch. Mike and Minji flew in and my cousin Grace and her family drove in soon after, and we had a huge Thanksgiving dinner with my Dad's congregation.

Everyone back together again

My oldest friend Jasper and his wife Bonnie became the girls newest friends.

One is silver and the other gold

Not that I needed the memory space, but I deleted all the pictures I had for Trung's birthday potluck, thinking that I had already downloaded them. Grrr....guess we'll have to relive the moment; homemade triple layered German chocolate cake and everything! Snow, Jess, Christie and their families came over for a Thanksgiving potluck Saturday night and we ate to our hearts content. Great times and great friends!

Wendy also happened to be in town this weekend and we ate and shopped way too much. Trung and I had our first Shabu Shabu, and I got my first "foot" massage...good stuff! Though I've been making some wonderful friends in California, it's nothing like having an old friend around.

Lydia is becoming a pro at taking pictures now!

Stone Soup

Sophie and I left MOPS early today to attend Lydia's school's stone soup lunch. We had homemade pumpkin bread and applesauce also...quite a little feast!

My panda girls

Lydia enjoying her second helping of soup in her turkey hat...gobble gobble

25 kids and parents

Lydia's family picture

Another Day at Disney

Lydia didn't have school again today, so we went to Disneyland for the day. We arrived around 11 AM and were able to go on several rides before the girls got hungry. The nice thing about Disneyland is that they let you bring food in, so I always pack sandwiches and snacks for the kids and we never have to purchase the overpriced food there. We hit our usual spots (Princesses) and saw a few new things. Since the lines weren't quite as long, we finally met Rapunzel and Flynn, and we saw Muppets 3D and the Disney Junior Live show. We left around 5:30 to have dinner at Garden Grove and to buy some Asian groceries, and then home we went.

Christmas time at Disney

Our little trio

Lydia behind the wheel while Sophie plays it cool


Rapunzel and Flynn


Wheeeeeee


My girls


Sophie resting while Crush talks


Chip (or Dale)


An awfully big Christmas tree

The show at Disney Junior Live

Grand opening of ICE

We attended the grand opening of our local outdoor skating rink ICE tonight. We watched a mini-performance and then enjoyed the festivities...face painting, cookie decorating, and ice skating. What a fun night!

Waiting for the performance to begin with Snow and family

Synchronized skating

Olympic gold medalist, Tara Lipinski, was the special guest.

Tara and the MC do a little move

My camera was already zoomed in and Snow didn't want to lose the opportunity for the shot, so here's a close-up of Tara and I.

Cookie decorating...you can never have too many sprinkles

Ice skating Sophie

Sophie didn't care for the big rink; Lydia didn't care for the ice skating

First Christening

We attended our first Christening and Norwegian service for our friends Trond and Guro's son, Julian today. Trung helped take pictures during this special occasion, while I sat with the girls as they flipped through their sticker books. After the service, we went to Lydia's classmate Renata's birthday party on the beach. The weather was beautiful and the kids all had fun in the sand.

Thank goodness for sticker books

With the Petterson's

Fun in the water

Classmates having cake

Swinging at sunset