Legoland

Everything is awesome!  Today we surprised the boys to a day trip to Legoland.  It was an all around great day... the weather was really nice, there were not a lot of people, and the longest ride wait was 5-10 minutes.  It was a fun day.  When will we head back???

Happy Easter

The boys had wonderful Easter with friends.  We dyed eggs, went on an egg hunt, and of course made time to watch part of the movie, Frozen.  It's nice to have a bigger space to have friends over... when will we throw our next shin-dig???

Putt-putt

Noah and GGA had a nice time at mini-golf this afternoon.  GGA passed on some great tips and showed Noah his skill at this game.  We are so glad that they got to spend time together (and Micah got to spend time with Daddy on another course).  When will they go golfing again???

The wall #6

See her at Cinco Restaurant.  16 feet of amazing art, wouldn't you say???

The wall #5

Every master has an apprentice and Noah proved to be a great apprentice this afternoon.  Will Noah want to be a muralist when he grows up???

Gas Giant

Today we ventured to the MOCA Pacific Design Center to see Jacob Hasimoto's final edition of Gas Giant.  It was pretty amazing to see all the handmade kites, fiberglass, and the skillful use of light.  Combining traditional kite making technique and painting, we were very impressed with the thousands of thin paper sheets.  The boys loved seeing the kites and Micah had to take a selfie.  Isn't this the cutest???

Uncle Zack #2

(Soon to be) Uncle Zack was in California on business so of course we had to meet with him.  We headed to Universal City Walk where we enjoyed a nice dinner at Wolfgang Puck and then walked the promenade where Uncle Zack treated the boys to Ben and Jerry's ice-cream.  The boys love spending time with him and they are lucky that they will have two Uncle Zacks.  When will we see him again???

IMAX

Micah and I headed back to the Science Center with his class to the IMAX theater where they saw a movie about butterflies.  It was very interesting.  Micah was engaged through the whole movie (and even kept his glasses on).  When will we see an IMAX with Noah???

Cousins in space

It's always a treat when we can spend time with family.  This time my cousins from Denver came to play in LA.  We went to the Science Center where the kids loved playing in the Rose Garden almost as much as indoors in the exhibits.  We plan to reunite again in the summer in Las Vegas.  When will we visit Denver???

The wall #4

Almost done... this is a beautiful work of art.  Wouldn't you agree???

Chess Tourny

This was Noah's first chess tournament where kids throughout the city came to compete for a grand title (Noah tied for second place with his friend pictured above).  It was pretty amazing to see all these kids from different schools from kindergarten to fifth grade playing for the top prize.  Considering the tournament went on for a few hours, past 7 on a Friday night, I think Noah did great.  Micah was eligible but preferred to watch from the stands.  Will Micah play in the next tournament???

Twins

Not to be outdone...  here is Micah and his twin!  Wonder who Micah will choose next year???

Triplets

Twin Day at school... Noah and his two friends decided to gel their hair into mohawks.  Within 10 minutes, all their hair went back to place.  Noah was a twin with the friend on the right last year... will they be twins again next year???

The wall #3

Color on the wall!   This painting is going to be so beautiful when completed!  We missed Jawsh at the basketball game but know he was there cheering the boys on in spirit while painting her hat.  What will it look like next week???

Pot o' gold

Noah made a leprechaun trap to put in his classroom for the weekend.  It was a super cute design with the straws propping up the trap. I wonder what he will think when he gets to class on Monday???

Readathon

The School Readathon is pretty amazing because the school community are on teams to see how many minutes they can read.  This year's theme is Time Travel so the kids have to read books from different genres.  Noah is on the blue team and Micah is on the red.  Which team will win???

Everything is AWESOME!

Today we went to see The Lego Movie (again).  The boys had a great time watching this action Lego adventure.  Everyone took a different message home... The boys took this message away: everything is awesome.  Jawsh thought the message was about how everyday people can be heroes.  And I left thinking that it's okay to mix the Legos up!  That was hard for me to see that yes indeed Ninjago can coexist with Star Wars.  How long will I be able to stand it???

Race for Success

The boys ran a 1k at the Race for Success at LMU this morning.  This was a fundraiser for the school and they had a great time.  Noah saw a good friend and ran with him whereas Micah and I ended up running together.   I didn't think I was going to run but I couldn't let him run alone so there I was running with a backpack and knapsack on my arm.  Note to self:  Jawsh or another adult has to be with me when attending these events.  It was fun but very crowded and I seriously thought I would lose one of the boys.  What will it be like next year???

Micah

At the beginning of the year we were worried about him in kindergarten unsure if we made the right choice to enter him (his birthday was 4 days before the cut off).  He was waiting for me to pick him up, he would cry at times, and share that he had no friends.  We were definitely concerned.  But after the winter break, things changed.  Micah learned how to play handball and the clouds parted.  He learned how all the chess pieces move on the board.  He started to make new friends.  He's been invited to too many birthday parties.  And he's happy.  He's a happy kid who loves school and likes to play handball.  Once he learns how to do a  slicey (a handball move) he will be ecstatic.  When will that happen???

Brooklyn Nets

The boys had a great basketball season.  Noah did a great job being a team leader and Micah gained confidence as the season went on.  The boys scored baskets throughout the season and they loved playing this sport.  Next year we have to decide if Noah goes on to the next league or if he stays one more year to play with his brother.  What will we decide???

Walking with Emma

When we arrive at my parents' home, the boys jump out of the car and run full speed to see their cousins.  They have a quick embrace with my parents,  quickly pet Watts and Peanut, and then they run for the room and play Minecraft. or Pokemon.  I always ask who wants to walk the dogs and usually Emma is up for the task.  I love these quiet moments that we can share with our niece.  When will we walk the dogs with her again???

Love note

Having boys two years apart is a good and not so good thing.  They spend a lot of time with one another at home and at school, so there are times when they bicker.  There are times when Micah cries out: When will I beat my brother in chess???  But there are also times when I find them sitting too close to one another reading a book or sharing an inside joke.  Or when Noah is in Micah's bed laying down with him.   I found this on the floor the other day that Micah wrote to his big brother.  I thought it was sweetest and hope to find more in the future.  What will their relationship be like when they get older???

Translation:
Der Noah I lov you
kis kis
frum Micah

The wall #2

The wall is slowly taking shape into a beautiful Oaxacan woman in a dress.  I wonder what it will look like when Jawsh is done???

Date with Mom

Jawsh and Zach took their mother out for Valentines Day to The Forum to watch Paul Simon and Sting.  I thought this was so sweet that they surprised her with tickets and by their smiles it looks like they had a great time.  Will Noah and Micah treat me the same when they are older???

Cousins forever

Noah loves his little cousin, Liam.  It's fun to see the boys interact with one another.  Liam is now trying to get in the mix with the older kids and it's really nice that the kids can grow up with their cousins.  When will we see them again???

Valentines Day

Tonight we went over to a friends for Valentines Day dinner and Noah got to see his special friend.  Last year he wrote this in kindergarten: "This Valentine is for my friend Nora because she is nise.  She is my preescool frend.  She likes swinging on the monkey bars and she runs fast." It's one year later and although they don't see each other often, it's nice to share a cupcake with a friend.  Isn't this adorable???

Chess

Micah is learning how to play chess after school at Chess Tutors.  I originally wanted Micah to play fiddles but he chose to play chess with his brother.  Noah is in the advanced level and Micah is now a beginner so they do not have a lot of interaction after school.  However at home, I have seen Micah's understanding of the game and his confidence  grow. Research shows that chess players show greater confidence, develop problem solving skills, logic and reasoning, develop mental disciple and concentration while learning good sportsmanship and strengthening rudimentary skills.  When will Micah capture Noah's king???

The wall

This is the wall.  It's the side of Cinco Restaurant.  Jawsh was commissioned to paint a mural.  What will he do???

Jordan and Pippen

Micah is playing his first season of basketball. He is very excited because he is on the same team as Noah.  Noah has really gained confidence this season (it also doesn't hurt that he is the tallest on the team) and Micah is playing a supporting role (meaning he passes the ball to his brother at every chance).  It's fun to watch these little guy play.  How will they do this season???

Goodbye friend

Today we said goodbye to Marshall Shields.  He was a member of the Smith Family who we will miss dearly.  Jay said it best, "all cookie recipes are made with a dash of salt to balance out the sweet" to which I added, "and Marshall was a cookie full of nuts."  I wonder what Marshall would say to that.

Post by Jawsh

Rascally Raccoon

Sure... she's cute.  Hiding under the deck behind the ball.  But she's also a nuisance who breaks in to the crawl space under the house.  We hired a no kill raccoon removal service and sure enough they got her to vacate the crawl space.  Where will she go next???

Rainbow Award for Micah

Micah received his Rainbow Award this week.  I find this one especially special because they have been learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week.  Micah's award is for "making a difference in the class by being such a responsible student."  I think Micah will be such a great leader and for being one of the youngest kids in his class, I am so proud that he is developing responsibility!  What will he do next???

New scarf

Our neighbors, the K Family, invited us over for dinner.  They have two boys who are 14 and 12 years old.  Noah and Micah are so infatuated with the boys because they are always up to something.  We see them laser tagging out front or on their skateboards.  They have been so sweet to the boys leaving gifts and treats for every occasion.   When we went over little did I know that they have snakes and bearded dragons which made their coolness factor jump up 50 levels.  I think they will influence our boys in good ways because they are good kids... what will it be like next time we hang out???

Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts was Jawsh's highlight of our trip.  We even lodged near the Presidio because Jawsh wanted to be close to this area.  I have to say that the architecture was amazing and it was so peaceful and beautiful.  We walked the grounds, took a billion pictures, and then the boys got popsicles which cemented this landmark in their brains (when they get older we may have to reference this experience as the place where they ate a Spiderman and Spongebob ice cream). This was a great way to end our day in the city.  When will we come back to SF???

Hi Cousin Leo

While we were at the Exploratorium, we met up with cousin Jenny and her son, Leo.  This was the first time we met Leo and her first time meeting the boys.  The boys got a long very well but soon grew tired of the museum.  We walked to Fisherman's Wharf and had lunch and then we went to a small playground where the boys ran and had a great time.  When will we see them again???

"Her"

Today we went to the Exploratorium at Pier 15.  This museum has been written up as one of the most important science museums in this century but we stayed such a short time that we really did not get to experience all of it.  Here you see Noah and Micah's reflection on a computer screen.  Noah was conversing with the computer named Daisy.  It was pretty interesting to see Noah "talk" to the computer reminding me of the movie, Her, by Spike Jones.  Instead of falling in love with this computer he just said it was "weird."  What will we explore next???

Zzzz

Jawsh bought this book, This is San Francisco, before our trip so the boys would get a preview of what they would see and of course we brought it along so they could reference it.  This is what it looks like after Day 1 in SF.  Chinatown- check.  Golden Gate Bridge- check. Ghirardelli- check.  What does Day 2 have in store for us???

The world famous Ghirardelli sundae

If the Golden Gate Bridge was my highlight of the trip, I think Ghirardelli Square will be the boys highlight.  After the long walk on the bridge and a nice dinner at McCormick and Kuletto's, we walked over to the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop where the boys indulged in the World Famous Ghirardelli Sundae (it only took 45 minutes of waiting).  The boys loved the sundae and even got straws to slurp up the melted ice-cream goodness.  When will we come back???

Golden Gate Bridge

After Chinatown, we headed to the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was absolutely beautiful.  At first we thought we would walk to the first tower and head back but once we started walking we just continued to the end.  It is 1.7 miles one way across the bridge and the boys did okay (Noah needed some assistance from Dad on the way to the end and Micah got a lift on the way back).  Luckily, we were dressed appropriately and the boys were happy to find out that we would get them Ghirardelli sundaes afterwards! I will always remember this experience... what will we do next???

The original Chinatown

Happy New Year! We made our way into San Francisco with our first stop in Chinatown.  We had a nice lunch at Hunan Homes Restaurant and then we waited in line for 40 minutes for egg tarts at Golden Gate Bakery.  Too bad no one really liked the egg tarts!  The boys did love their lychee boba drinks and watching fortune cookies being made at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company.  What will we do next???

Morro Bay

Morro Bay is famous for the Morro Rock, which you can see from just about anywhere in this small town.  The Morro Rock is a 581 foot volcanic plug (yes there was a volcano here 26 million years ago).  This photo was taken from the Natural History Museum rooftop.  We drove to the rock and the boys loved running around.  Will they remember this when they get older???

Santa Barbara

Today begins our trip north to San Francisco.  We decided to take the scenic 101 and to stop overnight in Morro Bay.  On our way to Morro Bay, we stopped for lunch in Santa Barbara to have the best fish and chips this side of the Pacific at Brophy Brothers.  We were there one year today and I must say that they were just as good as we remembered them.  Too bad we didn't have time to go to McConnell's Ice cream... maybe on the way back???

Merry Christmas

This Christmas we had a delicious holiday meal consisting of my Mom's rib roast, green beans and bacon, mac and cheese and of course, kimchi.  We were serenaded all night by the kids singing, "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen.  We did miss my sister (who recently got engaged to Zack) but we were overjoyed to see my cousin who is 18 weeks pregnant.  We did a white elephant gift exchange where Jawsh ended up with the present that he brought (movie tickets) and I got a much needed hand lotion by my favorite brand, L'Occitane.  The boys also received many more toys than they needed from "Santa Billy." My favorite part of the evening was when my parents gifted the boys with money and Noah promptly turned around and handed it to Micah so he could use it to buy his own mini-ipad.  What will Christmas bring next year???

Palm Springs

This was a first... Jawsh and I left the kids overnight at my parents' house while we went to Palm Springs!  Zach generously gifted us with a night away at the Parker Meridian Hotel where we ate the most delicious meal at Mr. Parkers.  The dinner was amazing and the best part about it was it didn't have to end right there... we also went out to a very late showing of American Hustle!  It was a nice quick getaway... when will we go again???

Noah's winter program

Noah's class sang two songs for the winter program:  "Everything's Gonna Be  Alright" by Bob Marley and Simon and Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy."  The kids did sign language throughout Bob Marley's song which was really neat to see.  What will he perform next year???

Micah's winter program

Micah's kindergarten class performed three songs in the winter program:  Drediel Song, Song-ee Song-ee, and Mele Kaliki Maka (which were the same songs Noah sang last year).  It was very cute and Micah really enjoyed singing.  Kaitlyn was on holiday break so she was able to attend and watch the performance, which Micah loved.  What will he sing next year???

Standing O

Noah has had a goal to purchase a mini-ipad for over one year.  He saved all his holiday money and allowance (even trying to skimp on his brother's birthday present).  After his last birthday he made the goal but we were still unsure if we should actually allow him to get this device. But after careful consideration, we wanted Noah to experience what it felt like to set a goal and to achieve it (because believe me he had a lot of temptation to spend money every time we walked into Target).  When Noah paid for his mini iPad at the Apple Store in cash (very cute seeing him count it out to the store manager) little did we know how impressed the manager was... he was asking him questions about his chores and also congratulated him on this goal.  After we were done setting up the iPad with parental controls we started walking out of the store and all the Apple employees in their red shirts stopped and gave Noah a round of applause congratulating him on his new iPad.  It was weird and wonderful at the same time.  I wonder if Noah will remember this when he gets older???

3 gifts of giving

It's so wonderful when I see the boys show empathy and love towards others.  On this day, there were many acts of kindness that I was really proud of.  It started at 8 AM this morning in the FOX Studio warehouse, where we sorted thousands of toys that would be shipped to kids in need.  Micah and Noah opened bags and sorted them by gender and age and then helped count them to go to specific charities.  They did a great job remaining focused for over three hours and many adults complimented their hard work!  Then, Micah went to the animal shelter to donate a bag of dog treats and a gift card he received for his birthday to purchase dog food.  The worker tried to give him the gift card back when she saw that it had "Happy Birthday Micah" on it but he replied, "no it's for dog food" and I think she was going to cry.  The last act, I will admit, needed some encouragement from Mom but Noah made the final decision.  We went to the school BINGO night and Noah and Micah both won two prizes.  Noah won a Crazy Loom and a Bubble Maker and Micah won 2 Power Rangers.  Every child that attended this event received a prize with the exception of one boy and one girl.  Micah immediately went over to the boy and gave him one blue Power Ranger toy and Noah went over to the girl and offered his Bubble Maker.  The girl politely declined but was sad.  I encouraged Noah to think about giving his Crazy Loom to the girl because he already has one at home but he really wanted the rubber bands in the box.  After I explained to him that I could go to the store and buy him rubber bands and clips separately he ran over to the girl and offered her the Crazy Loom.  By this time, she was crying but once Noah made this gesture, she wiped her tears, smiled really big, and said, "I feel super."  She gave him a big hug and Noah felt like a hero.  I was so proud of my boys...  I hope that they will continue to give and show others love... how will they help other next???

An yong ha say yo

Micah finished 14 weeks of beginning Korean and although he is repeating this class... I am very proud of him.  He is able to recite the Korean alphabet, use phrases in Korean, and he can write his name.  He made some new friends and enjoys going to class (and he hates being tardy).  The next semester starts in February so we have some time to enjoy the break before the Monday- Wednesday classes start up again...  what will he learn next???

Piano lessons

The boys started piano lesson with their teacher, Yolanda.  They meet once a week for 30 minutes which is much more appropriate than the one hour lessons I had when I was  younger.  Research shows that music has many benefits for the mind, body, and soul and I hope that Noah and Micah will thrive and enjoy this process.  What will they learn how to play first???