New Year's Preparations

Today the kids and I went to Stockton to help with our yearly New Year's Day preparations. Daddy stayed home to work on the counters - uninterrupted and unsupervised (he tells me he gets more done without my supervision!) Grandma, Uncle Frank, Mommy and even Bailey spent the day cutting, cooking and prepping for tomorrow's festivities. I think we finished in record time this year! We had our traditional bowl of soba for dinner, gave the kiddies a bath and came home.

Bailey stirring the dressing for the namasu

Granma and Uncle Frank working away

Bailey peeling carrots

More peeling and cutting

Visiting Family and Friends in LA

On Monday we drove down to LA to visit family and friends. We left around 4am to make it in time to visit the LA Zoo on the way to Mom and Dad's home. We had a short trip at the zoo and decided to have some lunch in Japan Town (a different J-Town now) and look around a bit. After lunch we hung out in Monterey Park for a bit before driving to Norwalk to check into our hotel. We all met a Sambi's restaurant for a nice family dinner and went to Auntie Lynn's for dessert and a night of Wii.

Tuesday we had lunch with Carolee and Scotty's family in Montebello and chatted away until it was time to watch Lauren play basketball! We've been looking forward to seeing Lauren play for some time and this trip we were lucky to catch her playing in a tournament. After watching the game, Daddy drove me and the kids back to the hotel and he was on his way to the Lakers game with Uncle Denis, Byron and Ted!

Wednesday Daddy let Mommy visit with Hyeyon almost all day! We chatted the day away and just couldn't believe how quickly the time passed by. When I lived in LA, I used to see Hyeyon almost every day - now we may see each other once a year...So sad to have to say goodbye... Dinner was at Mom and Dad's house and the kids entertained until it was time for us to drive home. I think we left around 9:30pm and got back to our home sweet home around 3am. Our trip was too short - we had a great time, but as with all vacations - it sure is nice to be home again!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Well, we've had a wonderful Christmas holiday and now all of our Christmas decorations are put away and we are trying to get our house in order (well, kind of...) We had a quiet Christmas Eve here at home. Our day started off at the park with Camryn. We came home and decorated cookies for Santa and Daddy barbecued our Christmas Eve dinner since our kitchen is in shambles - it was delicious! We opened presents, played and went to bed so Santa could come visit us.

Christmas day Mommy woke everyone up bright and early to see if Santa came! Our kids must have still been on the nice list because he made it. We opened Santa presents and headed out to Stockton so Grandma and Grandpa could watch the kids while Clark and I went to Folsom to pick up our tile for the kitchen. We had a nice dinner in Stockton - this year we had 25 people for a yummy prime rib dinner! So tasty. The kids opened more presents, had a great time playing together and fell asleep almost as soon as we hit the freeway!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Remodel - The Counter

This break Daddy is working on a section of our counters. (UGH) Yes, I'm looking forward to new counters, but I'm just not good with chaos. Clark won't agree with me, but I'm trying my best to be flexible. It is just really hard to be without a kitchen. Especially during the holidays! Anyways, Monday he started taking off the tiles and for the last few days we've had no counter at all. He's currently in the garage cutting the plywood boards to start reconstruction. We are hoping to get the plywood and cement board in today. Tomorrow we go pick up our tiles and he'll install them this weekend.

Before shot of our counter

This is how we've been living for the last three days. Notice all the wood rot! YIKES

Injury #1 - piece of wood flew up and cut his face. Gregory got him a Diego band aid to patch him up.

Fun Day with Friends!

Today Megumi, Derek and Blake came over for a visit! Megumi and I grew up together and I haven't seen her since our girls' reunion over the summer! She has two sons - Derek and Blake - and today was the first day I met Blake! (and he's 22 months old!) We had such a fun day. I found these cute bento boxes at Daiso this weekend so we went on a picnic at the park. (Okay, it was a little chilly to go on a picnic, but the sun was out and I just had to use these cute boxes!) Anyways, we had lunch, played at the park, came home to decorate a gingerbread cookie, played and just had a really nice day. I wish we lived closer together so we could have play dates more often!

I forgot to take my camera to the park, but here are a few photos while we decorated cookies!

Derek working on his cookie

Bailey made a winking gingerbread today

Gregory made his green with one big eye

Here's Megumi and Derek! Blake is playing

Here's Bailey's winking cookie

Aren't these cute!? Imagine them filled with rice balls, shoyu weenies and grapes.