Browse Category: holidays

Quick Trip to SoCal

IMG_1505We had to do our taxes in Cerritos this year so it was a good excuse to go home for the weekend.  The drive down on Friday wasn’t too bad (8am-3pm) with two stops.

IMG_1517When we arrived, Alice was there and it was fun to see Kumquat playing with her.

IMG_1539She also enjoyed having tea in the backyard like a regular suburban kid.  My mom also had dinner prepared (of course, it’s the Magical House!) so we enjoyed some Chicken Rice and soup.

IMG_1565On Saturday morning, Brother and Joy came over.

IMG_1596After breakfast, we packed up the kids and headed out to Huntington Beach.  As soon as we got out of the car, Kumquat cried and was in panic mode for the first 20 minutes.

IMG_1584It was nice just being out there on the sand and enjoying the sunshine and view.  It’s funny how neither of the kids were very happy in this picture.

IMG_3165For lunch, I planned a big family gathering to catch up and to also celebrate Kumquat’s 2nd birthday.  My mom picked up an ice cream cake and we ordered all our favorite dishes.  This picture that Brother took cracks me up.

Kumquat was so cute while we all sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

IMG_1631 It was also so nice to see the cousins again.

IMG_1661Later that afternoon, Holly and Andrew came over.  Andrew as a little quieter than usual but it was nice to do some catching up.

IMG_1667Our tax appointment was at 6:30 so Jes and I left and it took the usual hour and a half to get it all done.  There was a bit of a wait so we went to Starbucks to pick up coffee and went back to finish the paperwork when the office assistant called.  Afterward, we had a nice Japanese dinner without the kid.  It’s so rare that we get a date night.  It’s funny (and a little sad) that tax night became date night.

IMG_1686On Sunday morning, we left relatively early and the drive back was easy (9am-4pm) with three stops.  I hate these super short trips to LA but always glad that we did it.  I miss my family.

Isla’s 1st Bday

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Isla’s birthday is this week and we celebrated on Saturday.  There were lots of kids and Vyl did a great job with the decorations.  Isla stayed awake just long enough for the birthday cake and certainly didn’t wait for the candle and singing. IMG_1284

Big Brother Rowan helped blow out the candle.IMG_1288

She hesitated at first but eventually got handfuls of cake in her mouth by the end.IMG_1291

Jia’s Birthday

IMG_0500Jia’s birthday was on Thursday but we celebrated on Friday night with Japanese tapas in Berkeley.  Jason made a reservation for Kiraku and it was a good thing because they had an hour-long wait for those who did not.

IMG_0516We ordered so many items that I lost track but here is a collection of most of the dishes: 1) Sashimi – including fatty snapper, 2) Salmon with Vinegar Sauce (my favorite of the night), 3) corn tempura with green sea salt, 4) scallops with pesto, 5) raw clam and snow crab salad, 6) pork belly with a soft boiled soy sauce egg on top.  One dish that I also really liked and forgot to take a photo of was the anchovy brocolli – yum.

IMG_0509 We had a really fun and tasty dinner last night.  We also tried to go to CREAM for dessert but the line was out the door and around the corner.  Maybe next time.  Kumquat was also a good sport because we didn’t get home until 10:30!

Happy Birthday, Jia!!

Family Weekend – Part 2

IMG_0304 On Sunday, we took it easy in the morning.  Brother came over around 10 while I was getting ready to leave for a baby shower and Alice was in a really good mood.

IMG_0299We also sang “Happy Birthday” to Joy and had a candle in a pork bun for her.  Funny.

IMG_0325While I was away, Kumquat took a nap and the family went shopping.  I got home just in time to swing by the hotel to pick up the family from the hotel and head back home to meet up with Jason and Jia.

IMG_5086For brunch, we took a walk down to Mission Rock Resort.

IMG_0334They were really busy so we ended up having an hour-long wait.  IMG_0344Luckily, they had a deck in the sun and we had drinks outside in the sunshine.  IMG_0331Here is their bacon bloody mary complete with olives, a slice of bacon, and shrimp.

IMG_0347Once seated, we had a seafood feast including this tower of raw goodness.

IMG_0353Kumquat sat at the head of the table and took some photos for me while we ate.  She actually took this picture with my phone.  I’m so proud.

IMG_0361Back at the house, it was time for Brother and Joy to head out for a dinner date they made with a friend.  So we said our goodbyes.  It’s always so fun having them in town.  See you in March!!

Family Weekend – Part 1

Brother, Joy, Alice, and my mom came up this weekend to visit.  It’s to celebrate Joy’s birthday and as a last-hurrah trip before she goes back to work full-time.  IMG_0198My mom arrived on Thursday night and Brother arrived with the gang on Friday around noon.

IMG_0207 I was lucky enough to get the afternoon off so when I got home, we headed out to Downtown to meet up with them for a bit.

IMG_4981For dinner, we went to Hillstone per my mother’s request.  IMG_4986IMG_4985It was a beefalicious meal and we took advantage of the free corkage there.

IMG_4990Both Alice and Kumquat did pretty well that evening. IMG_0214On Saturday morning, we got up early and met up at the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market.

IMG_0259First meal of the day was a Belgian waffle the size of my hand and a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee – I felt like such a hipster.

IMG_2882 IMG_2886Then after shopping for produce, we headed over to Pier 39 to see what else we could do, see, and eat.  IMG_5013We stopped at the mini-playground to let Kumquat burn some energy and Alice got to ride on Joy’s lap on the slide.  IMG_0264As Joy and I were in the restroom doing diaper changes, my mom picked up a bag of these scrumptious mini donuts from Trish’s.

IMG_0255Then we went over to pay the sealions a visit.  There didn’t seem to be as many of them today.

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While we were there, my mom and I reminisced about the first time we brought Kumquat to this same spot.  It was right around Alice’s age so that made it even more special for us.

IMG_0258By 11, both kids were pooped out so we stopped for some clam chowder.

IMG_5021The grown-ups grubbed while the kids napped.  IMG_0261Aaaah…it was nice to have a little peace and quiet.

IMG_2919Next stop was the Aquarium of the Bay.  The kids were rested and I got 50% off everyone’s admission with my SF Zoo membership.  Awesome!!!

IMG_0276 DSC_4634It was Alice’s first time at an aquarium and she couldn’t keep her eyes off all the activity.

IMG_2932For dinner, my mom was on babysitting duty with BOTH Kumquat and Alice.  Jes, Brother, Joy, and I went to Bouche, which is a little French bistro in the space that Bar Crudo used to occupy.  IMG_2933IMG_0291I had a tasty sole with risotto balls and lobster sauce.

IMG_0292Their crab mashed potatoes were also pretty tasty.

After dinner, we went next door to Tunnel Top Bar for one more drink before heading home.  It was nice to go without Kumquat for a change.  This place was definitely not kid-friendly so it was the perfect choice for the evening.  Thanks for babysitting, Mommy!!

Half Moon Bay

DSC_4575Jes and I had President’s Day off and Mirian was scheduled to work so we took a day trip to Half Moon Bay.  Surprisingly, it’s only a 25-min drive to the coast and I was reminded of how close I live to the ocean still.

IMG_9402We lucked out on a gorgeous sunny day and stopped at Montara State Beach.  The steps down were really steep and then there was a giant collection of water from the rain last week that made our entrance to the shore a little interesting.

DSC_4579The waves were really rough that day but it was fun to watch.  I can’t wait to get to Hawaii again.

IMG_0116For lunch, we drove down the coast a bit more and found Sam’s Chowder House.  It’s the same Sam from Sam’s Chowdermobile, which we’ve had before at various food truck events.

IMG_0109We didn’t have a reservation but got there early enough to get prime seats in the adirondack chairs out front.  We ordered from the bar and ate from the chairs.  It was sunny and warm and a little weird not having to keep my brain on at all times.

IMG_0099I was able to just take my time sipping my wine and eating poke one cube at a time without worrying about what the kid would be up to next.  I zoned out a few times and had this funny anxiety from having to force myself to relax.  It’s hard to describe but that’s what I was feeling that afternoon.

IMG_0114By the way, the chowder is yummy and they brought out a huge bowl even though we ordered a cup.  I guess someone felt bad for making us wait longer than usual for our order.

The drive back up was easy (no traffic) and we stopped at Costco to pick up a few things.  It was crazy busy and nice to not have to worry about Kumquat totally losing it while we waited in line to pay.  It’s ridiculous how the simplest things can make me so happy nowadays.