Browse Author: beakatude

Birthday Weekend

IMG_8624 I had a pretty good birthday.  Turning a year older is so much easier when you’re surrounded by the people who love you.IMG_8628The celebration started on Friday, my birthday eve, with a dinner at La Briciola with Jason and Jia.

IMG_5323On the morning of my birthday, we woke up early to catch a flight to LAX.  The flight was full but we got to LA in one piece.  My mom picked up my favorite treat and I was so happy.

After the baby shower, we went back to the Magical House to rest.  Then it was dinnertime!!!  IMG_8639IMG_8645

IMG_8648We went to Lawry’s for our favorite prime rib meal and it did not disappoint.  IMG_2336The last time Brother and I celebrated our birthdays there was in 2010 and it was good to be back.

Baby Shower

DSC_3618In less than a month, I’ll be an auntie!!  Baby Alice is due soon and we all celebrated at their Baby Shower on Saturday in Cerritos.  It was a gathering of all of Brother and Joy’s friends and family.

DSC_3575They had food from everywhere you can imagine.  There was Thai food, Hawaiian, Costco pizza, and some tasty desserts.  Brother and Joy made some coconut macarons but I didn’t get to taste any.  Oh boo.

DSC_3621Brother had his friend Shane set-up all of his Legos and even brought a homemade air canon that he used to blow up the stuff that everyone built.

DSC_3619I think the grown-ups had just as much fun as the kids.

DSC_3629 DSC_3634It was so good to see all the cousins and Kumquat had a fun time wandering around the park and playing with her 2nd cousins.DSC_3639

Can’t wait to meet our newest family member!!!

Birthday Treats

On my 38th birthday, I was lucky enough to have 5 different birthday treats.

IMG_5288The first one was at work where I got a tasty lemon tart, ice cream, and warm chocolate chip cookies.  Thanks, Patty!

IMG_5299Later that evening, we had dinner at La Briciola and the restaurant brought out a tiramisu for me.

IMG_5368The next was on my actual birthday.  Joy had bought a triple berry cake from a place in Manhattan Beach opened by a baker who used to work for Sweet Lady Jane.

IMG_5445On Sunday, I had brunch with Holly and she brought me a chestnut cake from Paris Baguette, which was basically a pastry with a crossaint crust and a tasty cake baked on top.  She also brought candles but didn’t have enough room for all the letters of “Happy Birthday” so I got the I, T, and R.

IMG_5446Then that evening we had dinner with Jes’ parents and I got a strawberry cake that tasted like fresh strawberries.  Kumquat wanted a piece for herself that night.

Somewhere to Sit and Sleep

IMG_8529Our new couch arrived this morning.  It was a little stressful trying to coordinate with the shipping company this morning but it made it upstairs.  Unfortunately, “they just dropped off the box and boned out.”  That’s what Jes said.  I’m not sure how he did it but Jes actually took it out of the box, assembled it, and put it in the spot I cleared for it all on his own.  It’s leather, has no sharp corners, it’s easy to clean, and converts to a twin-sized bed by folding the backs down to flatten it out.  It’s just what we needed.  Boy, slowly our house is getting furnished by Costco.  First our bedroom set, then Kumquat’s shelf system, and now this.

Even Stevens

IMG_5199On Sunday we went to watch the America’s Cup Finals again.  Oracle Team USA started out with a 2-point penalty and was getting their butts kicked early on.  At one point, it seemed pretty pathetic and that the Kiwis would take it all very easily.

IMG_5200On Sunday, the score was 8 to 3 with New Zealand favored to win it that day.  They only need to get to 9 to win the cup and there were two races scheduled that day.

IMG_5201Once again, I ran to the park with Kumquat in the stroller and we got a good spot on the lawn again with a giant beanbag and all.  We had plenty of time to do a little shopping in the stores and grabbed lunch from the truck parked inside before the races began.

IMG_5232We had empanadas, garlic fries, and shared the water bottle of wine that we brought from home.

IMG_8484Well, the two races were actually pretty exciting to watch and USA won both races!  Amazing.

There was a race yesterday (Monday) and two today (Tuesday).  USA won all three and now their tied at 8 to 8!  Who would have thought this would go on for so long?!  Everyone expected there would be a winner by the end of summer but it’s fall now and we still don’t have a winner.  If the conditions cooperate, there is one more race scheduled for tomorrow.  Too bad I have to go to work because it would have been fun to go watch it.  I honestly don’t care who wins.  It’s just been a fun event to mark the summer of 2013 for us.

Update 9/25/13: They won the America’s Cup today!  Wow, unbelievable.

Double Surprise

IMG_0013On Friday, I was really swamped at work.  While I was waiting for people to call me back in between patients, I got a random text message from Keni, the husband of my very good friend from OT school.  He and Dahlia were in town for the weekend and he was asking if I was free for lunch on Saturday.  We didn’t have any plans so we agreed to meet for lunch to surprise Dahlia.  At the end of the work day, I went downstairs to figure out my schedule for Monday.  Our front office assistant came by and told me that I had a package that was dropped off by someone special.  When I saw the bag it was labeled “TOTORO”.  What?!  I recognized that writing right away and was shocked that Dahlia had actually stopped by to surprise me but I wasn’t around to see her.  It was a bag filled with Totoro stuff that she had found in Chinatown the day before.  That was so sweet of her.  Her note said that they were in the area and wanted to surprise me but someone told her that I wasn’t at work that day.  She sounded so disappointed in the note. Hm, maybe I didn’t actually need to go to work after all!!

Anyway, on Saturday, we met up at M.Y. China at the mall.  We arrived first and got seated.  Keni and Dahlia arrived shortly afterward and the host who was walking them to our table was blocking Dahlia’s view all the way to the table.  IMG_8475So, when he moved away and she saw me, she was in so much shock that she gasped and then started to cry in her usual Dahlia way.  In fact, while this was all happening, Jes was in the restroom and could hear her from there.  Haha…we sure know how to make a scene.IMG_8476We had a big long hug and I was so happy to finally be reunited with my friend after not seeing her in over 8 years.  Oh how I wished Heather (Oregon Totoro) was there to enjoy the moment with us.

IMG_0009Over lunch, we got caught up, reminisced, and had a lot of laughs like old times.  Unfortunately, Kumquat was so overwhelmed by the crying and hoopla that she was afraid of Dahlia from the start.

IMG_5649As soon as she went over to say hello to Kumquat, I got a big boo-sad face and then she started to cry with her arms stretched out toward me.  Oh shucks.  Maybe next time.

IMG_0011The funny thing was that she liked Keni and flirted with him throughout lunch and even let him hold her.  Look at how she wouldn’t take eyes off of “Crazy Auntie” as they were posing for this photo.  Funny girl.

Anyway, it was a wonderful reunion and I’m so glad that we were able to pull this off on such short notice.  I’ve missed her so much and glad that see that she’s doing well down in San Diego.  Can’t wait for the day when all three of us can be in one place at the same time.

IMG_0722-2005Here’s a photo of us 8 years ago.

For those of you who don’t know what Totoro is, here’s a link to give you a better idea.  The reason why we call each other Totoro is because we used to watch the movie in grad school and thought they were so cute and funny.  Heather also started knocking on my door and calling out “Totoro!” every morning before class.  After a while it stuck and it was our little inside joke and nickname for each other.  Sounds really silly when I have to write it all out but I guess you just had to be there.  🙂