SUPing

Snow and I purchased a deal for stand up paddling (SUP) awhile back and we finally decided to do it today.  It was pretty fun and really was a work-out.  This was my first time trying it, and I lost my balance on the way out into the ocean, but otherwise, I managed to paddle a mile out from the beach and even rode a wave back.  I don't think this will be a regular thing though since the wave movement made me nauseous, but it was definitely a cool experience.

Learning time

Lydia discovered that she loves boogie boarding

Our group

Like father, like daughter

Catching a wave

St. Anne's Carnival

 Today after school, we went to St. Anne's chuch for their annual carnival.  We went last year too and though the games were quite simple, the kids all had a good time.  The games this year were pretty much the same, but with the time it took to decide on a game and a prize, a good 1.5 hours was spent.  As an opening day special, hot dogs and tacos were only $1, so I spent only $10.50 for two hours of fun and food.  Nice!  

 

 Lydia managed to pop two balloons

 Sophie got the highest prize, maybe I should put on Wheel of Fortune

  No one ended up playing this "game", but it was interesting to watch people fish for ducks

The best corn on the cob ever!  Topped with mayo, cheese, and paprika (I think).  Messy, but yummy.

Lydia's 6th birthday

 We started off Lydia's birthday with a doctor's appointment.  I know, I know, on her birthday!?!  Apparently our regular pediatrician has only morning appointments ever since she got back from maternity leave, and the only day Lydia doesn't have school is on late start Wednesdays at 10.  Everything went well; Lydia was happy that she didn't need any shots and did just fine with the flu mist vaccination.  Since we were already there, I figured Sophie should just get her flu vaccination as well, which she did not expect at all, so she wasn't too happy about that.  One bad thing about KP is that they don't have a Santa Monica location, and the closest pediatric department is in LA.  So, of course, we were late taking Lydia to school, but she immediately had classmates wishing her a happy birthday as she walked into the classroom.  

At pick-up, I had a birthday balloon waiting for Lydia and then we walked over to pick op her favorite cake, Red Velvet with chocolate chips, from Nothing But Bundt.  For dinner, we went to Benihana.  It was the girls' first time and they were well entertained, which can always be gauged by how many times they ask for our phone or by the phrase "I want to do something".   Then Lydia received one final gift (after several from the days before) at home to top off her birthday.

 

 Teppanyaki time

 Mickey Mouse made out of chicken fried rice

 We actually got an Asian chef!

 Lydia gets all shy when she gets too much attention

Lydia's birthday week begins

We started off Lydia's birthday with a trip to Disneyland.  This visit was different than all the rest because Trung (well, mainly me) and I actually got to ride on the "big" rides, the ones that the kids are to short for.  The girls like to do non-ride stuff, like playing with all the toys at the gift shops, so we finally let them as we took turns riding the Indiana Jones ride.  Surprisingly, the girls were able to go on Star Tours and Thunder Mountain since Sophie just made the cut, and we discovered that Lydia truly is a thrill seeker.  We've known from the past that she likes roller coasters, and these bigger rides didn't scare her one bit.  Sophie likes the rides at first but gets scared halfway through.  I also went on Space Mountain and Matterhorn Bobsleds while Trung watched the kids; he had a minor head injury the day before at the beach and didn't want to move his neck too much so he didn't mind skipping those rides.

A practically empty Disneyland as we took advantage of our early admission, arriving around 7:20.

The Autotopia cars weren't even ready for us yet

Sophie can barely see over the dashboard, but apparently Trung's driving isn't much better because he bumped us, intentionally, of course.

Vidia, the fairy with the 'tude

Tinkerbell spent a good deal of time chatting with the girls

The girls got to meet the newest Disney princess, Merida, and her little brothers

Lydia tried her hand at archery

The closest resemblance of Jasmine that we've seen

Sleeping Beauty "from Lydia's shirt"

Still Sophie's favorite princess

The Evil Queen was totally in character

Watching mountain climbers on Matterhorn

The volcano dessert from Rainforest Cafe

Mike and Minji met us for dinner at Downtown Disney to celebrate Lydia's birthday

On the beach with John

 John deserved a little break from working so hard, so we all hit the beach

 Lydia and Sophie with their new buddy

 Getting sandy

I call this photo "girls on a beach"

Sophie's trail

Here comes the water

Santa Monica Family Portraits

 Our Austin friend and photographer John came into town late Friday night to spend a few days visiting friends and shooting family portraits.  We had our session at sunset today and saw a part of Santa Monica that we had never seen before.  What a memorable experience!

 At courtyard on the way to the pier

 Getting dipped

 

 I never knew it was so cool under the pier

 Pure joy

 Love them!

 He still adores me.  :)

 Doing the twist

 Staring off into the distance

Fun and loving Dad

Celebrity couple sighting

My friend Susan and I met for coffee this morning at Caffe Luxxe after drop off at school.  While in line for our orders, I saw actor Brian Benben (Shelton from Private Practice) up at the register.  I was excited about seeing a celebrity that I recognized as I always am, and attempted to get candid shots of him on my phone.  I managed to get a pretty good picture of him asking a neighboring table for a chair.  

About 30 minutes later, in walks Madeline Stowe, whom I've always loved.  She was in Last of the Mohicans and more recently in Revenge, which is the only TV show that Trung and I watch together.  The whole time she's at the cafe, I'm very aware of her presence, though I still carry on a decent conversation with Susan...what a good friend for not thinking me to star-struck.  As she walks out the door, I chase her down and actually have friendly conversation with her.  I tell her I love her work (possibly saying Dancing with Wolves instead of the Last of the Mohicans) and she asking where I'm from.  What a nice and gorgeous person! 

I wouldn't never have put them together, but apparently Brian and Madeline have been married for 30 years!  Pretty cool!

Last time in California Adventure

 As Disney annual passport members, we get little perks, like being allowed on designated days into the park an hour before it opens to go on all the popular rides.  We were planning on taking advantage of our early admission into California Adventure (specifically Carsland), but I set my alarm for Saturday instead of Sunday and we got a 45 minute late start.  By the time we reached the entrance, it was already 8 and there was a 30 minute wait just for the Fastpass for the Radiator Springs Racers.  At least we arrived super early and got to enjoy the park for 9 hours before heading over to The Boiling Crab for dinner. 

 Trung's first time on Luigi's Flying Tires

 Guess he liked it.  :P

 Look, it's Mater!

 Donald Duck with, as the Disney photographer called her, my sassy girl

 Lydia blends in well with Sully

 Three monsters...grrrr

 Poor Manny, no one wanted to take a picture with him.  No worries, my girls will.

 A stylish Goofy

Getting down with the five and dime band

Big Red Dog

 At today's Barnes and Noble story time, Clifford came to visit.  The girls haven't read a Clifford book or watched the cartoon in ages, but they still enjoyed listening about him and taking pictures with the over-sized pup.

 Listening to a Clifford book

 "He walks on two feet" Lydia observed

Two little girls with one big red dog

First Day of School

 After two months of summer, the girls and I were ready for school to start.  The waking up early part is always hard to get used to, but having the girls in school and staying busy instead of constantly complaining about how bored they are...priceless!  Granted, I only get thirty minutes to myself these first few days of school since Lydia has early dismissal, but starting next week, I get almost three hours!  Yahoo!  I never thought I'd say this again, but I love school!

 Lydia has three former classmates with her in Ms. Nitti's class

 Finally some time apart for these two

 Aye, aye, Sophie!  Cruising into Pre-K with Lydia's former teacher, Mrs. Flavia.

We made it through the day with no tears!  Looks like it's going to be a great year!