Star Wars Episode 1

After Jawsh's birthday brunch, we had a big decision to make... to see Star Wars Episode 1 Phantom Menace or to not see Star Wars Episode 1 Phantom Menace. Jawsh, being the big Star Wars fan he is, declared years ago that the boys would only watch the original trilogy and not be exposed to the likings of Jar Jar Binks. But George Lucas' Star Wars machine had already exposed the boys to characters like Darth Maul and Queen Amidala. This was a toss up for Jawsh because now that Episode 1 was being re-released onto the big screen, he was wavering on his previous declaration and it doesn't help when every other billboard we pass has Star Wars 3D displayed across it. After some soul and internet searching, we found a theater that was showing this movie in 2D (we did not want to bother with the 3D) and the boys eager with anticipation and excitement got to watch Episode 1 in their very own theater (there were only 2 other people there so it felt like we were alone). Never under estimate the power of the Dark Side (capitalism)... when will Episode 2 come out???

Birthday brunch

Let the birthday festivities begin! Today we celebrated Jawsh's 35th with Grandpa and Grandma at Gjelina on Abbot Kinney. The standouts were the roasted sunchokes with salsa verde, wood roasted parsnips with pistachio gremolata, and the Tuscan kale, salad with bread crumb, shaved radish, fennel and ricotta salata. Definitely a great place to eat your veggies! The boys enjoyed their pizza and all in all, we had a great meal! What will we do next???

Noah heart Stegosaurus

Rain days mean early pick up at preschool, so we played hooky and headed to the Natural History Museum for a few hours since it was First Free Tuesday. Last time we went to the museum, we went with a lot of friends so this time it was much more relaxing with just the boys. We spent more time at dinosaur exhibits and Noah purchased his first piece of jewelry... a fossilized Stegosaurus necklace. When will we head back???

Bye Reno Rubins!

Jawsh and I got to spend sometime with GA and GT today while Aunt Julia watched the boys. We went out to lunch and ran a few errands. Afterwards, we headed back to GA and GT's house for a bit. It was nice to spend time with them and I'm sure the boys had a great time with Aunt Julia. Today is our last day in Reno and I know the boys are going to miss this place... the house is full of so much warmth and love and the boys are free to chase cats, search for crawfish in the creek out back, and plenty of attention is bestowed upon them. It's been so nice to spend time with the family... when will we head back???

The Rubin Cabin at Lake Davis

Today we ventured to Uncle Steve and Aunt Julia's cabin near Lake Davis, California. There was more snow than anticipated which brought much excitement to the boys. They loved sledding, throwing snow balls, making snow angels, and snow men... every once and a while we would look back and Noah would be lying down on the ground head in the snow, eating away. It was too funny. After all the snow play, Uncle Steve lit a fire and we all enjoyed smores and snokes (Coke mixed and snow). The boys loved sleeping in the loft and they had a wonderful time at the cabin... when will we visit again???

Hello Reno Rubins!

Today the boys had a great time hanging out at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. The boys loved interacting with all the exhibits, especially the water play and the art areas. It was a nice time spent with GGA, GGT, and Aunt Julia. Afterwards, we went back to the Rubin abode and the boys had a great time chasing the cats and spending time by the creek. The boys are so happy here! What will tomorrow bring???

Year of the Dragon

We ventured to Chinatown to celebrate the Year of the Dragon! We parked our car in Koreatown and took the metro with my friend and her daughter. It was really easy getting in and out of Chinatown via the metro and the kids loved it. We saw part of the parade but the best part of the day was eating at Foo-Chow Restaurant and having the dragon dancers come inside. The dragon's movements traditionally symbolize power and dignity. Jawsh was born the year of the Dragon... what will this year bring???

Ode to Micah

Micah... where do I begin??? Micah is our little sous-chef. As soon as hears me in the kitchen, he will stop playing, run to get his stool, and will stand in the kitchen next to me ready to help (he is now shaving carrots pretty good). He also loves tamping the coffee grinds for Daddy's Americanos. Micah loves to ride his scooter, although we have to constantly remind him to use his brake (his little legs go fast). He is always singing a song and changing the words and you know you're really on his good side, when he addresses you as a favorite food, "goodbye rice, goodbye cookie, goodbye shushi." Micah is my little Asian boy who likes his sushi, rice, tofu, noodles, etc... At restaurants he likes to take the cucumber out of cucumber rolls and eat just the rice and seaweed and at preschool he will eat rice and seaweed and insist to everyone he is eating a cucumber roll! Only in his logic does that work. Micah is our headstrong boy who is growing more sensitive to others feelings (yes, empathy!), and those cutie dimples and smile will get you every time. Oh Micah... what will you get into next???

Huntington Beach

The boys are so lucky that Bubbe lives less than a mile to Huntington Beach! They had fun of scootering at the beach this past weekend. They also loved collecting shells and rolling down the sand hills. It's always fun for the boys to visit family and they love their Bubbe! When will we see her next???

Noah can read

Noah read his first online book (totally indepedent) today, Zac the Rat (I like the fact that it has his uncle's name in the title). Noah has been working on sight words and blending letters here and there, but today I can say as his mother (and teacher) that my son can read! It's very exciting... what will he read next???

Puppy luv

Noah and his friend, N-o-r-a (he never says her name, he just spells it) have been an item at preschool for sometime. I think N-o-r-a showed interest because Noah is the tallest and oldest boy at school and Noah showed interest when he saw that she was the only girl who could cross the monkey bars independently. They have been like "peas and carrots" at school swinging, hanging on the bars, and looking for treasures (confetti in the sand). At the writing table, Noah and N-o-r-a often exchange papers... Noah wrote his first love note that read, "Nora love Noah" and added his signature abstract geometric drawing and Nora draws him pictures of rainbows. Isn't that too cute???

Liam's Baek-il

In Korean tradition, on the 100th day after a child's birth, a small feast is prepared to celebrate their life. The number 100 has an inherent meaning of maturity and perfection. Our family celebrated Liam's Baek-il with beautiful rice cakes and a delicious dinner prepared by his two grandmothers. Liam is such a cutie... who does he look like more... Kaitlyn or Emma???

Birthday for Grace

We helped celebrate Grace's 2nd birthday at Music Stars and Masters. It was interesting to observe Noah because he would not participate in the group activities... he felt like he was too old to sing and join in with the rest of the kids. Instead he took Jawsh's camera and took pictures of the event. I couldn't believe he was acting like this at a birthday party and it made me realize that he is getting older and distinguishing himself as a "5 year old boy" and no longer just a "big boy." At the end of the party, we enjoyed cake and desserts while the boys dressed up as the true rock stars they are... can we say, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards???

Getty Villa

I have said it before, and I'll say it again... I love living in a city with so many free cultural activities. We went back to the Getty Villa so Jawsh could view the exhibition: Modern Antiquity: Picasso, de Chirico, Léger, and Picabia which focuses on how they reinvented and transformed the artistic legacy of antiquity. The boys were not so interested in this exhibition, instead they liked walking the Herb Garden that featured a mosaic of fruit trees and they enjoyed the Outer Peristyle that is adorned with hedge-lined pathways and circular stone benches around a 220-foot-long reflecting pool that has a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. Here is a great photo of Noah relaxing at the Outer Peristyle... what was he meditating about???

Hooky

Micah went to school and Noah and his two friends went to the Petersen Auto Museum. They had fun racing cars, playing Marble Run, and of course, we had lunch at Johnny Rockets. Micah didn't mind too much since we brought him a small lemonade. When will we go back???

NHM

Good old free day at Natural History Museum... since the kids were all on school break we met up for a few hours playing in the Discovery Center and looking at all the exhibitions. It was kind of crazy walking around keeping track of all the kiddos but I think they had a great time. Afterwards, we went with Kaitlyn and Company to the Science Center. We did not have enough time at the museum, when will we head back???

Topanga Beach

Jawsh wanted to start the new year in Malibu. As we were heading out, my friend posted on her facebook that they were at the beach. So in this day and age, I just texted her and we ended up meeting up for a bit. An impromptu play date, how great is that???

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! We spent the night playing a traditional Korean board game called Yut Nori (Yunnori). Instead of dice, wooden sticks are thrown which determine the amount of spaces a player can move. Noah had a great time with Harabujee and really enjoyed the strategy behind the game. Should we teach Noah chess???

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!! We enjoyed a quiet evening at home, drinking Martinelli's apple juice. What will 2012 bring???

Solvang

Today we went on a spontaneous day trip to Solvang, CA. Solvang means "sunny fields" in Danish. The city was founded by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish colony and is home to a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California. The architecture of many of the facades and buildings reflects traditional Danish style. We ate authentic Danish food like medisterpolse (sausage), frikadeller (meatballs), and of course, aebleskiver (pancake balls with powdered sugar and raspberry jam). We also went around the town on a surrey which the boys really enjoyed. It was such a nice afternoon biking to museums, eating ice cream, and enjoying the nice sunny weather. It was a great way to end the year, wouldn't you agree???