Popsicles

As soon as they see Harabujee, Micah runs up and says one p word... not please, but "popsicle." Don't they look super happy???

Adventureplex

Today we went to Adventureplex with Kaitlyn. The kids were running, jumping, swinging, crawling, sliding, climbing and zipping through the five-level play structure packed with colorful mazes, tunnels, slides, zip lines and ball pits! The kids had a great time and we definitely will return... the question is when???

Slumber party

Noah and Micah had their first slumber party at our place with their favorite cousin Kaitlyn! It was so much fun having Kaitlyn over to play with the boys. From the moment they woke up to the time they fell asleep, they were playing (and sometimes arguing) with one another. It was interesting to watch Noah and Micah navigate their space with another person in the mix. Now I know what my Mom must of felt like having three kids (although she was only here for two days). Today we went to Under the Sea, where the kids had a great time on the jumpers and climbing structures. When will she come back over???

Hammer Museum

I love that LA has so many galleries and museums that have free admission days! Today we took advantage of the free day at the Hammer. We saw Paul Thek's exhibition, which was very interesting... the boys emotions went from curious to fearful to calm. It was a nice outing and I hope to go back again hopefully with Jawsh... when will that be???

C&F Museum

After the Petersen we made a quick stop to the Craft and Folk Art Museum. It was a free admission day and a few blocks from where we were. Micah fell asleep and Noah and I were able to go through the museum at our leisure. Noah's favorite exhibit was Jennifer Angus: All Creatures Great and Small. What appeared to be gorgeous wallpaper was approximately 3,500 brightly colored insects pinned directly to the wall in kaleidoscopic patterns. She also had a stop motion video which was very cool. We also saw Ann Weber's sculptures which composed of simple shapes like spheres and cylinders and common refuse materials like cardboard and other recycled paper. In her gallery, there was an area where visitors could contribute their own work which Noah loved. Here he is, my little artist... will he grow up to be an artist like his Daddy???

Batmobile!

Today we went to the Petersen Automotive Museum. The last time we were there, they did not have the Batman exhibit so the boys were very excited to take a picture with the Caped Crusader. The boys like to pretend that they are Superheroes and Noah will say, "I am Batman and Micah is Bat-Mite" then he will assign his loving parents roles of the villains. Daddy is often "Joker" and Mommy is "Cat Woman." I try to lobby for the position of BatGirl, but Noah often gives that role to Dolly. Will I ever make it to the good side???

ABC, 123

This summer Noah has been working in his Kumon workbooks. Although Noah knows his alphabet and sounds, he is still practicing how to write upper and lower case letters. He is starting to blend (read cvc words) a little bit more and I am still debating about how much I should teach him at this stage. He is excelling in math as he is able to count past 100 and he is independently writing his numbers to 30. Micah naps while he works so he is free from distraction. Noah has a great ability to sit and focus on the task at hand... will Micah be able to do the same???

Summer days at the library

We live within walking distance to our city library so we visit a few times a week. The library has a small children's section and the first thing the kids like to do is play with the blocks. After they play with the blocks, Micah heads over to the shelves and takes out all the Curious George books (he knows that they all have yellow bindings) until he finds his favorite book, Curious George Makes Pancakes. Then he proceeds to sit down and "read" the book. Noah likes choosing books at random and asking me to read to him. I can't wait until they will be able to read independently... when will that happen???

Art in the Streets

Today we went to MOCA to see Art in the Streets, the first major U.S. museum exhibition of the history of graffiti and street art. It was really interesting to see the development of graffiti and street art from the 1970s to the global movement it has become today. Noah brought his little sketch book and drew some art inspired by ROA and Snake I and also took pictures with a digital camera of things that he liked (just like his Dad). It was such a huge exhibit that my senses were overloaded by the time we left. Will Noah get into art like his Daddy???

6

This morning we went back to the exact spot where we were married (7-24-05). Yes, it's been 6 years! As we explained our wedding day and told the boys how our loved ones were there to celebrate Noah said, "I wasn't there. Was I in your stomach?" It was too cute. In the evening, Jawsh and I celebrated at Osteria Mozza. We had a wonderful dining experience... we ate so many delicious things... our dinner started with the figs wrapped in pancetta, grilled octopus with celery and lime, then we had the linguine with clams with pancetta and spicy Fresno chiles and Garganelli pasta with ragú Bolognese. I was so full after the primo but Jawsh continued to enjoy and ate a whole Orata wrapped in fig leaf with extra virgin olive oil. We ended the meal with roasted peach and hazelnut cake (which I had room for). Yum! Thanks to Uncle Zach and Dolly for taking the boys to see Winnie the Pooh and Pitfire Pizza... where will we go next year???

Do you feel lucky???

There is an Obon Festival held every year near our home at the local Buddist Temple. The festival has dancers, food stands, games, and jumpers. One of the games called Taiko Drums, has a bag full of maybe 20 keys. Each participant has three tries to get a key that will unlock the drum. Well, Noah was one of the few who was able to pull a correct key (it was the second one he pulled) and he won a blue light stick (that he calls Anakin's light saber). Should I take him to choose lottery numbers???

Underwood Farms

Today we went to Underwood Farms with a few friends from preschool. The kids had a fun time feeding animals, going on rides and picking fruits. Noah did most of the picking when it came to the cucumbers, raspberries, and peppers whereas Micah did a lot of the eating off the vine (he loved the raspberries). It was a nice day at the farm... when will we head back???

Micah's baby

This is one of Micah's babies. It's a dog that Noah named Bolt. Sometimes he likes to put Bolt in a backpack with wheels and push him around room to room. Other times he likes to put him in the bed to take a nap. And then there are the few times, he likes to read books to Bolt. The books Micah gravitates towards cover one of two areas: Star Wars or food. This particular day he was reading about food to Bolt, his baby. Too cute, right???

A not so quiet activity

Micah usually wakes up about 15-20 minutes before Noah on any given summer morning. He usually pops out of bed and goes straight for his bins where he will make a lot of noise with his kitchen play set. After continually asking him to do something else, something quieter, he went for the Toy Story puzzles. There are 24 pieces and at first I thought he was randomly shoving pieces together, but he actually could solve the puzzle! I was surprised to say the least, but very happy that he found one puzzle that he enjoys quietly. This particular puzzle, Toy Story with Buzz, is his favorite and we are now missing Buzz's face so in the morning, he puts 23 pieces together and then wakes up his brother to find the last piece. A not so quiet activity, huh???

Summer soccer camp

Noah and a bunch of his friends from preschool signed up for AYSO soccer camp. All the coaches were from the United Kingdom (Noah's coach was from London). Noah had such a great time. He woke up excited every morning, he put on his own gear (including those shin guards which is not so easy to do) and he loved going to camp. I'm feeling the pressure of signing him up for AYSO during the regular school year, but I don't know if we're ready for that commitment just yet. Will Noah be the next David Beckham???

Camping

Today we went camping at Malibu Creek State Park with the Hassan Family. This was our first camping experience as a family and it was so much fun. The boys were so excited to sleep in a tent! The first day we went hiking, swimming in a creek, went to a night education seminar on space, and had a great Korean barbeque dinner. The next day we had Nagat's famous crepes to start off the day and then we went hiking and swimming again. It was really fun and the next time I hope we can do two nights... when will we go back???

Huntington Library

We were back in Pasadena today at the Huntington Library. We went with some friends from Noah's preschool. The kids had a great time in the Children's Garden although it was very hot. When will we head back???

Kidspace

Today my mom and I took the boys and Kaitlyn to Kidspace Chidren's Museum in Pasadena for Family Free night. Kidspace provides creative environments that inspire learning through self-directed, interactive experiences and play in the arts, sciences and humanities. There was a lot to do and I wish we could of stayed longer. The kids really enjoyed going on the bikes probably because there were tracks painted on the ground. Noah wanted to ride his own, while Kaitlyn was kind enough to take Micah with her since he was having trouble riding independently. When will we head back???

Happy Fourth!

We spent the day in Ontario with family. The kids played in the mini pool and later we enjoyed Korean barbeque. We watched the fireworks pop in the sky and we lit some small ones in the backyard. Noah and Kaitlyn liked the sparklers but Micah was very hesitant and stayed in my mom's lap. Will Micah like the fireworks next year???

Beach bums

Today we went to the beach with Kaitlyn and Co. It was overcast but really a nice day for the kids to go and play. They loved catching sand crabs, going in the water, building ditches, playing frisbee, and flying a kite! Whew... what a day! On top of that, Noah received his first surf lesson from Daddy. He practiced balancing on the boogie board, how to get up from lying down flat, and how to stand in the right position... so fun to watch. When will we go back to the beach???

First pets

Tonight Noah and Micah received their first pets... two betta fish also known as Siamese fighting fish. These fish were the party favors from their friend's birthday party. This was the first "live" party favor they ever received and hopefully the last. I was not really enthused about keep these fish but Noah fell in love at first sight and named his "Dory." I think Micah forgot that he received the fish and chose the name "Nemo" under the pressure of Noah. So now we have one in each bathroom and we feed them one pellet everyday. Dad cleans their little fish bowl and hopefully they don't die. If they did, Noah would probably pull a Rudy Huxtable and want a proper fish burial... will they survive???

Like father, like son

Noah reminds me of Jawsh in so many ways... from the way he likes to stretch in the mornings to the way he has to start his day with a banana... from the way he loves to draw to the way he loves Star Wars... could it be the way they part their hair the same way or the way they both enjoy popcorn with a good movie... from their blood type to their quiet genius... Noah is truly like his father, wouldn't you say???

Later that night...

We had dinner with Dad at Cha Cha Chicken and then headed to the pier for some more fun. Noah's wish came true and he got to ride the West Coaster, a steel roller coaster with an oceanfront view traveling at 35 mph. The cool thing about this ride is that it goes twice, so once you think it's over, it goes back again. Jawsh also took both boys on the Pacific Wheel, the world's only solar powered ferris wheel that gives a panoramic view of the coastline 130 feet in the air (while I waited at the bottom of the ride). It was so nice to hang out at the pier on a week night, when will we do it again???

Pacific Park

Today we went to Santa Monica Pier to enjoy all the amusement park rides with Y.H. and his family. Last year, Noah went with Kaitlyn Kourage but this year, Micah was tall enough to get on the rides with Noah and his friend! Micah was so excited to get on the rides with big brother. They loved the Frog Hopper and crashing into each other on Sig Alert EV. They are electric vehciles that spin 360 degrees covered in bumper tubes! Since we have all day passes, I hope we can come back tonight with Daddy. Will he want to go???

100 pieces

Sometimes I don't know if I push too hard... there is a part of me that thinks I should let things happen organically and other times when I think I need to push... encourage... In teaching we refer to it as scaffolding but as a parent I don't want to push so hard that my kids don't enjoy what they are doing. But then again, there is that part of me that thinks, they won't really enjoy it until they are good at it (which reminds me of a quote that I read in a book entitled, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother). So let's get to the point. I bought Noah a 100 piece Spongebob Puzzle. I knew it was going to be challenging (not only for Noah to solve it but to keep all the pieces together). On the box it says, 5+, which Noah also noticed. But I decided to give it to him anyway. He stumbled a bit here and there, he whined, he wanted to give up, but I made him (encouraged him) to finish. I even had to help, just a little, and once he got into the groove, he was fine. He didn't want my help any further and he ended up finishing this bad boy of a puzzle. You can see the satisfaction on his face in the photo... but did I do the right thing to continue to push even when he wanted to stop, who knows???

3 amigos

Cam was in town visiting from NYC and we got to have brunch with her. Before we left, we snagged this great photo of her and the boys rockin' out their hats... hers probably from some vintage clothing store and the boys' plastic hats from the local library for participating in the summer book club. Noah likes to refer to himself as the "man in the yellow hat" whereas Micah calls himself, "Woody." Isn't that too cute???

LBC

Today we ventured to the Long Beach Aquarium with S.C. The last time we were there was last June and this time around there were more exhibits and touch tanks. Noah loved touching all the animals like the jellyfish, sharks, manta rays, sea stars, and anemones whereas Micah would get his fingertip to break the surface of the water and then say, "no thank you." Micah could not stand getting his finger wet, yet he enjoyed the splash area (go figure). Noah had such a great time that he was asking (borderline begging) to go back the next day. When will we head back???

Playdate with Paloma

Today we went to the California Science Center with a few friends from Noah's preschool. Paloma has been a special friend of Noah's since last year. Noah would always make an effort to play with Paloma and in return she declared him as her "boyfriend." This year it was pretty funny hearing her tell him, "Boyfriend. Come here." Sadly, Paloma's family is moving to Houston, so Noah will have to say goodbye to his friend, but at least we got to spend the day with her today. Will Noah be able to maintain a long distance relationship???

Puzzlemania

Noah completed another a 48 piece Clone Wars puzzle. I am so thrilled that he enjoys them because it improves hand-eye coordination since he has to fit the jigsaw pieces properly. It also develops shape/size recognition which is an essential pre-reading skill. In addition, it develops logical thinking via matching activities, enhances spatial relation skills, and helps to develop perseverance since he has to concentrate to be able to complete the puzzle. Knowing this, who would not enjoy watching their kids put a puzzle together???

Disneyland

Today was our last trip to Disneyland for the summer. We did the usual... Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster Ride, Jedi Training Academy Show, Mad Hatter's Teacups, Goofy's Playground, and Casey Jr. Circus Train. Although we have done these rides again and again, the boys absolutely love it. On the train ride, we actually sat in the caboose and went backwards so that was different and exciting for the boys. We have enjoyed the benefits of our Disneyland membership and once September rolls around they will expire and we will not renew. I hope the boys have fond memories of this place and will not ask to go anymore in the fall! What are the chances of that happening???

Happy Father's Day

This year we celebrated Father's Day a little early. The boys made him recycled robot cards to go with his new espresso machine and coffee grinder. Jawsh is the BEST father to Noah and Micah... they love spending time with him, greeting him at the door when he comes home, and look forward to Movie Nights with him. He is a great model for them and I am so blessed that his love for his children (and his wife) emanates from within. What will we do for him next year???

Vegas, Day 3

Today was our last day in Las Vegas. The weather was about 90 degrees this morning, so we let the kids swim before we left. The boys have such a good time with their cousins that we truly feel blessed that they have one another to play with. When will we go on another family vacation together???

Vegas, Day 2

This morning started at the Bellagio Hotel where we ate breakfast at Jean Philippe Patisserie. We indulged in nutella brioche, apple brioche, croque de madam, quiches, and some good coffee. Afterwards we went to Ethel M Chocolates expecting to see chocolate being made, however, there was no one really working which was a bit disappointing. The upside was the beautiful cactus garden and the kids enjoying their free samples and gummy worms dipped in chocolate. Afterwards we went back to our hotel for more swimming. In the evening, we met up with my family again and had a nice dinner. This truly was a family oriented trip... I did not gamble one single penny... isn't that crazy???

Vegas, Day 1

Today we went to Las Vegas for a quick family getaway. We stayed in a suite at the MGM Signature where Kaitlyn and Co were two floors down, so the kids had a great time at the hotel together. We went to the kid friendly pools with small waterfalls and the lazy river. The most surprising thing was that Noah was actually swimming (a few yards)! It was so fun to watch and he had no fear putting his head under the water. Later in the evening we met with my Uncles and Aunts and the kids liked playing in their backyard with their dogs. What will we do tomorrow???

Frisbee time

Today we were in Huntington Beach with Bubbe, GA, and GT. We went to a nearby park where Noah played frisbee with his new toy GA bought for him. It's called a "ball wheel" but we renamed it "Saturn." Noah is really good at throwing and catching the frisbee, so it's fun playing with him. As you can see, GA threw Saturn at Noah and he caught it! Wonder if he'll be any good at baseball? Do I see a left handed pitcher in his future???

GA aka Handy Manny

GA and GT came over to visit with the kids. The boys showed them their train set and also got Great Grandpa Art to fix their broken toys! Noah was overjoyed when his red race car started to drive again. What will we do tomorrow with them in Huntington Beach???

Unc Z is cool

Uncle Zach and Dolly came over to watch the boys so Jawsh and I could watch the movie, Bridesmaids. It's been a while since Jawsh and I went to the movies, but we had to go tonight to use these fandango coupons before they expired. We met in Santa Monica because Jawsh was coming from work... we snuck in some meatball sandwiches from Bay Cities Deli and had a great time. At the end of the movie, we waited for the credits to roll so we could see Unc Z's name (see picture above)! That's right, this is one of the movies he worked on this past year. Afterwards we went to Pinkberry where I enjoyed a caramel flavored yogurt! Unc Z is cool because he watched the kids, worked on the movie, and is willing to watch the boys again... when will that be???

Disney

Today we took a quick trip to Disneyland... my annual passes will be blocked out soon so I have to squeeze in some trips. We were only there for a few hours but the boys had a great time. Here they are on King Arthur's Carousel. I remember the days when Noah was too scared to go on and now he is asking for me to leave! Time goes by so fast, doesn't it???

Mother's Day finally...

Today we celebrated Mother's Day (just a few weeks late). Although I received two handmade cards from the boys and a new Le Creseut pot, Jawsh really wanted to make me breakfast for Mother's Day. He made his Barefoot Contessa inspired french toast and some french pressed coffee. It was a delicious breakfast... when will he make his Tyler inspired lasagna???

Day out with Bubbe

Today we finally celebrated Mother's Day with Bubbe. Unfortunately, we were really sick the actual weekend so we had to reschedule for today. We had a great time at the park. Noah played frisbee and Micah loved being pushed on the swing by Bubbe. Afterwards we had a delicious barbeque dinner at Bubbe's house and capped off the evening with strawberry shortcake! When will we see her again???

Happy Grad Jay!

Jay graduated from CSUN with a degree in Music! We are so proud of him, but I think his parents were much more. Everyone was so happy to be there to see him graduate. I even made him a special liquor lei (which he's wearing) full of the best spirits like Patron, Grey Goose, Knob Creek, Cointreau, to name a few. What will he do next???

Micah's first haircut

We finally took the plunge! Micah got a real haircut! We went to Kids Kut in Brentwood where all the seats are mini cars. Micah chose the jeep because of the gun rack attached to the hood. He sat quietly and listened to the hair stylist when she said, "chin up, chin down, stay still, etc..." It helped that there was a large screen television of Scooby Doo playing in front of him to keep him still and a lollipop waiting in the wings. I can't believe his hair is short! It's a little too short in my opinion, but I know it will grown back soon (hopefully). How will everyone react to his new do???

Noah's haircut

Jawsh took Noah to get his haircut today at a new salon called, Kids Kut. We usually go to the Yellow Balloon, but the stylist we like is no longer there and this salon is actually much closer. Jawsh really liked this salon because it was super kid friendly. All the seats are cars, there is a toy area, video games, and a large television. Noah chose the red sports car and enjoyed watching an episode of Spiderman. He looks older to me now that his long locks are gone... will we keep it this short???

Ode to Micah (part 4)

This is typical Micah... climbing all over the play structures. He is agile, fast, and does not like help going up ladders or walking across balance beams. He can do it all by himself (or so he thinks) and he always seems to be bumping his head (I hope there is no permanent damage). He is speaking in complete sentences and asking questions all the time. He loves super heroes especially Superman and he likes to sing the theme song everywhere... in the car, at the park, in the library (where an old lady hushed him and he stopped made eye contact with her and continued singing in whisper like tones). His favorite people on earth are Noah, S.C., Y.H., and Kaitlyn (in that order). Micah can count from 1-10 and then from 20-40. His appetite is out of control but when he eats he is happiest. Micah is still our tough baby boy, giving me premature white hair (I found one), but those hugs and irresistible dimples melt our hearts. What will he do next???

Toilet learning

Micah really is the second child! He actually stared using the potty back in March, but of course, I did not blog about it (sorry Micah)! We decided to bring it out when he was staying dry most of the night. Micah was fine going pee but he was scared about pooping. But now he has the hang of it and likes collecting stickers when he is successful. When will the pull ups come off???

Grandparents

When I was growing up, I felt like I had pretty strict parents and now I wonder where they have gone. Noah and Micah get away with so much that it's sort of remarkable to think that these are my parents. These are the same people who did not let me run in their business, whereas, the boys run AND knock over things without them getting too upset (remember Micah cracked two 5 pound watermelons). These are the same people who never bought me toys at the store (unless it was my birthday) and if Halmoni goes to Target with us, they are guaranteed to leave with something new. These are the same people who showed love through sacrifice, food, and discipline (never verbally) but are quick to say "I love you" out loud over the phone when they talk to the boys! Must be nice to have such grandparents and I have to say, that my grandparents were also very loving as well. Wonder how Jawsh and I will be in forty years when we have grandkids???

Happy Graduation Lise!

My dear friend, Lise, graduated with a Masters in Counseling! This is her second graduate degree! I was so proud watching her cross the stage on the jumbo screen while I chased Noah and Micah around the grass. Lise is such a good listener with a genuine desire to help others... she is going to be a wonderful counselor! Which institution will she work for next year???

Firefighters

The local fire station came to Noah's preschool today for their annual visit. The kids had a great time climbing through the fire engine. The fire fighters spoke about their jobs, uniforms, and vehicles. Afterwards, we took pictures with the crew and Micah wanted to give one fire fighter a hug. Isn't this too cute???

Cupcakes for Paige

Today we had a small baby shower for Paige after preschool. Although you can't tell, she's almost 36 weeks! I made homemade red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. The cupcakes didn't turn out that red because I used hibiscus and beet extract for the coloring instead of an artificial red dye. Anyway, she enjoyed them which was the most important thing. I'm getting a small reputation at the preschool for making cupcakes... I guess it could be worse, right???

Tumbling class- session 3

Noah completed his third session of Tumbling class. He is learning so many things: tuck jumps, hand stands, and bridges! I really like the instructors and although Noah is not mastering all the moves yet, he is still enjoying himself and learning a lot. He is definitely much better balanced. I signed him up for his fourth session... what else will he learn???