Jog-a-thon

The boys really enjoyed participating in the Jog-A-Thon this year.  Micah ran earlier in the day and Noah's class was the last to run.  When I look at this picture, I can't believe how long and lean Noah looks...  still can't believe that he's going into the 3rd grade!  What will next year be like???

Date night

Tonight Jawsh and I had an unexpected date night... my sister took the boys off our hands and we decided to go out to a nice dinner.  Although I wanted to go back to my favorite places, Mozza, Connie and Ted's, Korean food, etc... Jawsh encouraged me to try Suzanne Goin's restaurant, Lucques, and I was so glad that we did.  From the cocktails to dessert, we were amazed by this restaurant... it's no wonder that Jonathan Gold has it on his top restaurant list year after year.  When will we go back???

GT

This weekend Jawsh went to Reno to visit Grandma Tina.  We received some news from family that she is not doing so well and so Memorial Day weekend plans were shifted so Jawsh could spend some time with his Grandmother.  Jawsh visited a few times throughout the weekend and the last words he heard Grandma Tina say to him were, "sit down" which he did.  I'm glad that he had the opportunity to see her this weekend, and I know he was glad too... family is the most important... wouldn't you agree???

Brady's Tol

Happy Birthday to Baby Brady!  My cousin JooYoung (not pictured) and her husband, David, threw such a fabulous party for their son's first birthday.  From photo booths, face painters, and balloon artists the boys had a great time.  I also enjoyed seeing my Uncle and Aunt who travelled from Seoul to celebrate their grandson's birthday.  When will we all gather again???

Gala

Tonight we went to Open School's Gala at the Marriot in Marina del Rey  We enjoyed the stunning views and company!  It was a fun night of drinking, dinner, dancing, and bidding!  Although we came away empty handed, we had a great night with our friends.  Where will the Gala be next year???

We all scream for "ice cream"

Tonight we met Uncle Zach in Ktown for dinner and afterwards he did not want boba, slushies, or any other traditional Korean dessert... rather he wanted Baskin Robbins!  I think we can see from the boys faces that they were okay with that decision, right???

Free Comic Book Day

Jawsh and the boys had a fun, Day out with Daddy, in Culver City to celebrate Free Comic Book Day.  They went to a mini comic con where they saw plenty of characters and met comic books artists.  Noah and Micah definitely share Jawhs's love for comic books...  I guess the apples don't fall far from the tree, eh???

Safe travels, Harabujee

When I was young, I remember my Dad traveling to Korea all the time.  In fact, he travelled so much that he is part of the Korea Airlines, "Million Mile Club!"  It's been some time since my Dad has travelled to Seoul and tonight we were able to send him off with packs of Tylenol and some mints!  I am sure that he will see plenty of family and friends while he is there.  When will the boys have the chance to travel to Korea???

Open House

Tonight we went to Open House at the boys school.  I can't believe we are already at the end of the school year!  It was great to see how much the kids were doing in class.  Noah wrote us a nice letter explaining everything we would see and I could see how confident he is in his classroom.  Here is Noah reading his invention report to us.  What will Open House be like next year???

Open House

Micah showed us all his work relating to a lizard (his field guide project) and I really enjoyed reading his writing about his life (so far).  As I walked through the room, I felt like I was missing so much of Micah's life in the classroom.  He has grown so much and he performing above grade level in all subject areas.  I am very proud of Micah.  I wonder, what he will do next???

Race for Success

Today the boys ran the 1K at the Race for Success at LMU.  This time around Micah ran with Jawsh and Noah ran with his friends.  Afterwards, the boys enjoyed the small carnival set up with dink tanks, cotton candy, and jumpers.  What will it be like next year???

Festival of Books

It's been 5 years since we went to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.  Back then, the boys could not read and the event was held at UCLA.  5 years ago, I wrote," I can't wait until the boys start reading so they can meet their favorite authors. I think Micah will be in line for David Shannon... who will Noah like???" Now I can answer that question because we went to the Festival to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid author, Jeff Kinney.  I ONLY had to wait for 3.5 hours for Noah to meet him.  While we waited, we also met Dav Pilkey, who wrote the Captain Underpants Series.  This was a surprise treat as he was walking by and I called out his name. He walked over, spoke to the boys for a few minutes, and then took a picture.  Once we reached Jeff Kinney, Noah was nervous so he didn't have much to say but afterwards he was really happy that he met his favorite author!  When will we go back to the Festival of Books???

Riding

Micah has improved a lot on his bike.  He is able to start and stop on his own but at times he makes sharp turns and looks like he's going to fall!  We feel very fortunate that we live so close to a school parking lot where they can practice to ride freely without any foot or dog traffic!  When will Micah be able to ride at Venice Beach Boardwalk???

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Today we had dinner with Grandpa and Grandma at one of our local eateries, Westside Tavern, to celebrate his birthday.  The boys love the hamburgers and salmon and Jawsh always finds something he likes.  We enjoyed toffee cake and even though we were all full we were able to finish this cake!  Happy Birthday Grandpa Barry!  What did he wish for???

Let's go, Micah, let's go!

Micah had a great game today!  He hit 2 out of the 3 pitches-- both pop-flys that the other team could not catch!  He is really enjoying the game mainly because he gets to play with his friends and he says he wants to play again next season.  Do we have an all around athlete on our hands???

Happy Easter

Here's to the annual Easter egg hunt at my parent's house.  The kids really enjoyed looking for eggs and were even happier when they cracked them open to find candy and quarters.  My Dad started hiding eggs that had $1, $5, $10, $20, and $50 hidden which changed the friendly hunt to an all out competition.  Micah ended up finding the most valuable egg, but in true Micah fashion he asked to split the $50 five ways and he shared with everyone.  What will happen next year???

Happy Passover

 Happy Passover!  Today we had a quiet celebration with Grandpa and Grandma.  Jawsh led the Seder beautifully and the kids enjoyed their bag of plagues and reading from the Haggadah.  Micah chose the matzo cover and Noah chose the cup of Elijah along with Grandma Bella's Seder plate, making this table very special.  Who will join our table next year???

Best friends

Jawsh painted this while he lived with Jay on Wellesley Ave.  It's been unframed for quite a few years and finally Jawsh found the right occasion to gift it to Jay-- his housewarming/birthday present.  These two have been friends for many, many years and I hope that my boys will keep their childhood friendships just as these two have.  Who will Noah and Micah be sharing an apartment with in 15 years????

A great season

This was a special basketball team... There were some really talented kids on the team who treated everyone equally and passed the ball even to the least experienced players.  They were generous on and off the court and no one ever felt bad after a game.  This had a lot to do with the coaching, the parents, and the kids and I'm just really glad Noah was part of this team.  I think he must've felt something too because he wants to play another season!!!  Here they are after their last game celebrating with frozen yogurt!  When will the next season start???

Astros!

Micah loves playing baseball.  He is on the team with his buds from school so he's having a great time going to practice, games, and hanging out on the weekends.  Will he want to play baseball next year???

Walking Watts

Micah is always ready to take Watts on a walk.  Now that Watts is getting older he doesn't walk as much but he still likes to go out.  Micah has a special place in his heart for dogs (he still liked to donate money and presents to the dog shelter).  He's a real loving kid.. will we ever get a dog of our own???

Loving on Watts

While Micah walk Watts, Noah likes to sit with him and pet him.  Doesn't Watts look like a puppy???

Catch a leprechaun

Micah is on the hunt to catch a leprechaun!  There have been leprechauns on the loose in his classroom who have been making messes, playing in their class, and touching the students belongings so the teachers tasked the children to make a trap.  Micah loves his trap (made from a recycled protein powder can) and he thinks he will catch one!  Will it work???

The Broad Stage

Today I was a chaperone on Micah's field trip to the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.  The students learned the music and lyrics to all the songs that were presented and they had such a great time.  When we arrived back at school, the whole room was trashed by leprechauns!  The kids were going nuts and looking for clues and had an assignment to create a leprechaun trap.  I could see how much fun and enjoyment Micah is having at school and I feel so lucky that he gets to experience this all.  What cluster will he be in next year???

MJ!

Micah got a Michael Jordan card in his snack bag after his basketball game and I convinced him to sell it to me for $2!  I wonder when he will ask for it back???

Back in the day...

We drove by Wellesley Avenue this morning and I couldn't help but go back in time to when Jawsh lived here with Jay.  We haven't been here in ten years but it still looks the same... I wonder who lives there now???

Breaking Bad

Micah went to a friend's Taekwondo birthday and broke his first board!  He had a great time and it makes me wonder if I should sign him up for martial arts... where would we fit that in his already busy schedule???

Rock

Noah enjoyed his Daddy date to Rockreation where they climbed to their hearts content.  Noah has been here before (one year ago) and was patiently waiting to head back with his Dad.  Where will they go on their next Daddy date???

Friday night pizza

After baseball practice, we walk over to the local pizzeria and the kids enjoy a slice of cheese.  They love hanging out with one another.  Afterwards, we walk next door and get a cup of yogurt.  It doesn't get much better than that, does it???

Happy Valentines, Brother

I love moments like these... when I come across a letter or gesture from one son to another...

Dear happy valentines day even you know it was on Saturday but still just in case because I forgot to tell you on accident but don't worry I'm writing happy valentines card. sincerely your only brother Micah

Rancho Co-op

Since we had the day off of school, we went back to the boys preschool and met up with old friends and their preschool teacher, Cynthia.  Noah and his friend, J, did not really play, rather, they walked the playground and talked the whole time.  It made me realize how much Noah has grown. Micah, on the other hand, was sliding down the slides and chasing friends.  I loved seeing that.  When will we see everyone again???

Happy Valentines from Noah

May the force be with you on Valentine's Day. From Noah. Attached is a glow bracelet.  Isn't this card appropriate for him???

Happy Valentines Day from Micah

The card says:  Top Secret... Use the magnifying glass to read the secret message. At the bottom in small font, it says: Happy Valentines Day from Micah.  Isn't this too cute???

Caught in the act

Micah shared a piece of his dessert with Noah which prompted Noah to give him a kiss.  I know they will grow out of this sweet stage soon, so I'm trying to enjoy it as long as it will last.  Isn't this too cute???

Happy Birthday Jawsh

For Dad's 38th birthday we celebrated with dinner at Sugarfish.  It was a delicious meal and everyone really enjoyed it.  Afterwards, Jawsh took Noah to basketball practice.  A normal, special day for us all. Happy Birthday to my dearest husband... wonder what he wished for???

Puppy love

A few days ago, Micah wrote a Valentines card for his friend, Ella.  He wrote, "I hope you have a Happy Valentines Day.  You are my BFF."  Today we were shopping at Whole Foods and we passed by a Valentines Day stand and Micah asked if he could buy a chocolate for Ella.  At the checkout stand, Micah was still looking for chocolate and we found organic and fair trade chocolate (that I knew Ella's mom would approve of).  Once we got in the car, Micah called Ella and said, "I got you milk chocolate that is organic and fairy traded for Valentines Day."  Then he started to pepper her with questions:  "Did you get my card?  Did you like my card?  Did you like what it said?"  Isn't that too cute???

Open School Day

Today I took the day off of work to attend the annual Open School Day at the boys' school.  This is a day where parents teach about their culture in the classrooms.  I was in Noah's class in the morning and in Micah's class in the afternoon  teaching students how to make ddaki-ji using origami paper .  All the parents brought in different cultural foods to have a lunch buffet from around the world.  We brought in rice cakes which the kids enjoyed sharing.  This is one of the many reasons I love the boys school because they learn so much about different cultures and there is so much parent involvement! What will I teach them next year???

2nd tooth

Micah's second tooth came out today at school during morning snack when he was eating a strawberry.  He went back to the office, where Anne pulled the left lateral incisor.  Micah was really excited and the tooth fairy visited and left $2 for his second tooth.  I wonder which tooth will be next??? (Picture to come)

AYS

Today we went to UCLA's Royce Hall to watch the American Youth Symphony.  We went to a free concert that introduces young children to the classical music.  It was a great way to introduce the kids to classical music because the conductor made many efforts to explain and involve the audience (and the musicians didn't mind the young crowd making noise).  The boys were intrigued but I think Jawsh and I were the most impressed.  There was a 16 year old violinist from South Korea that stole the show.  I wonder if the boys will pick up a stringed instrument???

Noah at the block

Noah was nervous at his first basketball game.  The first two rebounds he ended up travelling because he panicked, but his coach was really supportive and told him to calm down and shoot it back up.  By the end of the game he was shooting the ball and playing defense.  Noah is learning new skill sets, exercising, and having fun! What will his next game be like???

Micah at the point

The boys started basketball today...  Micah is in the Division AA and Noah is playing in Division A.  Micah is really enjoying his team and has made a new friend, Z.  While he was playing, he would run down the court and wave hello to me.  So cute.  At this stage, the kids are still allowed to travel, double dribble, and make mistakes which takes the pressure off of the kids.  Will Micah grow up to be a baller like Uncle Zach???

MOCA

Today was the 10th year celebration of "Museums for All" where there was free museum admission throughout Los Angeles.  There were so many great places to choose from
and we decided on MOCA in downtown LA (DTLA) which featured Andy Warhol's, Shadows.  Afterwards, we explored the Grand Central Market which has new food stalls like Santa Barbara's McConnells Icecream Shop.  Everytime we head into DTLA I think we should visit more often. When will we head back???

Korean Show

Tonight we went to see a Korean show at the Korean Cultural Center.  There were many traditional songs, instruments, and dancing displayed.  I love living in this city where there are many opportunities for the boys to see different shows... and it was free!  What can be better than that???

MLK

Today we went to the California African American Museum to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.  It was a fun event with various performers such as African dancers and traditional Korean dancers, professional readings of MLK books, and art.  It was a wonderful day to remember the work and legacy of Dr. King.  What will we do to make a difference in our world???

New ride

We bought a new Pruis last month and today we received the license plates!  The kids loved helping Dad with the car, but Noah said it's going to be hard to find the Prius without the whale!  There are so many Prius' in Los Angeles... how are we going to find the car???

First tooth

Micah lost his first tooth today at lunch while he was at school. He said that he was eating chicken piccata and it felt like it was coming out so he went to the office. Anne, the office manager, pulled out his lower right central incisor. There was not a lot of blood according to Micah and he was very proud of himself! The tooth fairy left a note with a $1 that had glitter all over it.  My baby is growing up, right???

My boys

I love my boys... here we are having lunch with Jawsh in Venice Beach.  We have enjoyed lunch at the beach throughout the year but now Jawsh's office is moving next week (farther from the beach, but closer to home).  Where will our new lunch spot be when we visit Daddy???

Exposition Park

Today we went to Exposition Park for a few hours where we visited the California African American Museum (CAAM), Science Center, and took a walk around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  CAAM is a smaller museum so we visited one exhibit, Looking' Back in Front of Me by Steven Greenfield.  Then we went to one section of the Science Center, World of Life.  The boys watched the show, Body Works, where there is a 50 foot body simulator explaining the importance of homeostasis!  Afterwards, they got  a scoop of ice cream and we walked to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  When will the games comes back to LA???

Mommy Date by Micah

"Today me and Mommy went ice skating.We ate Chicken and Fries."  By Micah

Micah has been asking to go on a Mommy Date for a while so today we went to the Toyota Sports Center (practice rink for the Kings) and went to skate.  Micah had a good time going around the ice and he really enjoyed watching the hockey games that were on the other rinks.  We ordered some lunch and watched the games.  I wonder if he will want to play hockey when he gets older???

Best dessert ever

We had dinner at Connie and Ted's tonight... this is one of our favorite seafood restaurants but it's so far that we don't make it here as often as we would like.  Tonight we took the kids and decided to order the Blondie.  The Blondie was a vanilla brownie, topped off with ice cream and caramel.  It was super delicious.  When will we head back???

HNY

Today we went to Halmoni's to celebrate the new year by making Korean mandu. Mandu are Korean dumplings filled with minced meat, tofu, green onions, garlic and ginger and usually served with kimchi, and a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar and chili. They are time consuming to make but worth it once you get to eat it!  My mom took the time to show the boys how to make mandu and they did a pretty good job.  Micah had a school project to complete so he chose to use this experience.  It came out pretty good, don't you think???