Los Angeles

We're in L.A. this week. Been here since last Saturday & go back to Seattle on Monday. We came down to celebrate Tyler's 1st birthday with my family...and because we haven't been here since last August. It's the cheapest option for a little sunshine in February, though it hasn't been very warm. We did make it to the beach yesterday. I will post pictures when we get back to Seattle. I couldn't upload on David's computer this morning and didn't want to mess anything up.

Here's what we've done so far:

Saturday - Flew to L.A. - dinner at Yoshinoya (fancy, huh?) then slept
Sunday - Visited my mom's Chinese school, watched lion dancers perform. Dinner at Road to Souel, Korean bbq.
Monday - hung out in Hacienda Heights. David and I went to see Avatar while kids napped.
Tuesday - South Orange County for the day to visit my friend.
Wednesday - KidSpace Children's Museum in Pasadena & Speed Zone.
Thursday - Santa Monica Beach and pier.

The plan for today, Friday, is nothing. Saturday we will take Vincent to Disneyland, while Tyler stays home with my parents. Sunday is Tyler's birthday party. And, we go home Monday.

FUNshine! & A Piece of Mommy For Everyone

There are 6 living beings in our household...half of them don't want me to cook food, they would prefer I pay attention to them instead. One of them couldn't care less, as long as there's food in his dish at all times. One of them appreciates it when I cook food & happily eats it up. The last one IS the cook. That's me. I usually want to cook, but only on my terms, which is all by myself in the kitchen, making as big of a ruckus as I please. That rarely happens. Can you guess who the other five are? And, just so you know, I just tried prepping for dinner, and finally gave up because a certain female cat got right in front of me as I was chopping mushrooms. She rubbed her head against my hand as it was holding the top of a shitake while the other hand held a sharp knife...the same sharp knife that sliced my finger open this morning.

But, it's sunny today and the boys and I got outside for a little wheels action! Check out Tyler's moves - thumb sucking while triking!

Tyler fits into Vincent's old Teva sandals. I love hand-me-downs, especially when they get handed down more than once. Vincent had on matching Tevas, too. Also a hand-me-down. What a coincidence!

And, as I sat down to write this post, Stella was on my lap like butter on toast the moment my booty touched down. At least I know that I would win the popularity contest in this household.

Fat & Skinny

Vincent: "Mommy, I see something over there."

Me: "Ooh, yeah, that's a dog. A beautiful dog."

Vincent: "No, Mommy, who's that walking the dog?"

Me: "I don't know who that is."

Vincent: "That's a big lady walking the dog. Mommy, that lady is fat."

Me: "Oh, Sweetie, it's not nice to call people fat."

Vincent: "Why, Mommy?"

Me: "Well, would you want someone to call you fat?"

Vincent: "No, Mommy. But, I'm not fat."

Me: "Okay. Would you want someone to call you skinny?"

Vincent: "Yeah, I would. Cuz...I am skinny. That would make me happy."

Oh dear. Where does he get this? I guess I lost that one.

Coincidence

When Vincent was a baby, he received two pairs of pajamas that are exactly the same, except for the sizes. I bought him the size 12 months one & my aunt bought him the size 2T. It was a coincidence that both boys ended up in matching pj's one morning this week. I dressed Tyler & David dressed Vincent. Yes, he still fits the 2T, although barely. I know I'm their mom & supposed to say this, but they are so stinkin' cute!

Happy Birthday David!

It's David's birthday today. Lucky for him (not), he had to go to work early & stay late. With the little time we had with him today, we tried our best to make him feel special.

This morning, he was greated by Vincent with a gift, which Vincent immediately began to open as soon as he saw David.

For dinner, since he was staying an hour late & would then have to be in traffic, we decided to take dinner to him. I packed us a dinner of Trader Joe's microwaveable bbq beef brisket, some simple kaiser rolls, a salad, and sauteed snow peas with sesame seeds. The kids and I had also stopped to get balloons and cupcakes earlier in the day, so we brought those, along with candles & matches, too. We heated up the food in his swanky new cafeteria & feasted. Microsoft provided the flatware, napkins, and drinks. Happy Birthday Daddy David!

Pink Acoustic Guitar

My children love music. Okay, all children love music. But, it has only just become evident in the last week or so that Tyler is really into it. We've known about Vincent's love of it for a long time now.

Today, on our way out of the grocery store, there was a young guy standing outside with a pink guitar. Vincent asked what he was doing, and so he started to play us a song. The boys sat in the shopping cart listening happily, Vincent tipped him $1, and we clapped when he finished. He said that we had made his day.

"I feel sorry for you."

That was what was said to me by a nanny today, after she asked me if Vincent is "like this all the time." She was referring to his energy level. Yes, he pretty much is energetic at all times. It's exhausting, and I find myself telling him to settle/calm down many times a day, but I don't think I would want him to be the complete opposite.

And, since I'm quoting, last week I was asked by a fellow mom, after she gestured at her belly, "How far along are you?" Yup, this is my almost one year postpartum body you're all lookin' at.