Marina del Rey's Kids Club

Our local shopping center has a weekly event where the kids gather at the Fountain for a special performance of some sort. We were finally able to attend this week and got to watch a puppeteer; in the past, magic and reptile shows have also come. I've also still got my luckiness as we held the winning ticket drawing for a free gymnastics day...a $81 value. :)

Pinocchio and Geppetto?

Lydia and Mommy

The weekly shows get a good turn-out

Broadway Gymnastics brought some of their equipment

Sophie riding it like a horsey

Lydia learning to balance as Sophie takes note

Passing the time in Pasadena

Trung drives to Pasadena every weekday for work, but we wanted to see what the city really was all about. After getting some suggestions from Trung's co-workers and my friends, and doing some research on-line, we hit a few popular places. But first, Trung drops by work...

eHarmonizing

Lunch at Panda Inn Restaurant, the original Panda Express before it turned fast food. The buffet looked awfully good with sashimi and a full Ramen noodle bar, but we stuck with the Panda Beef, Shrimp and Walnut, and a Tofu & Eggplant dish.

After lunch, I dragged Trung to Gravity Hill, where you have the illusion of going uphill on a downhill on neutral. Trung didn't believe it and didn't want me to post the video, but you can see for yourself.

At the Rose Bowl; maybe one day we can watch a real game there

The turtle pond at Caltech

The turtles were sunbathing before we scared them all away like so...

On a bridge over a little stream

A cool fountain

The girls had fun climbing and posing with this cannon

We then went to Old Pasadena, the business district of Pasadena, and did some window-shopping. We sipped on a $1 tropical tea and then headed off to meet Cora's cousin, Jean, and her family at the Griffith Observatory.

The Observatory

The girls stopped often during our hike to draw in the dirt

Alas, the Hollywood sign (on the left)


Andrew, Isabella, Theodore, and Jean

Tacos and Milkshakes

We had a late start this morning, so we leisurely walked across the street to the Farmer's Market for some fruit samples and a couple fresh produce. Then we went back to our apartment complex where the end-of-the-summer taco luncheon was being held, complete with moonwalk. The girls had a blast jumping since they can no longer can jump in our second floor home. I even joined in the game of musical chairs but lost out to bigger "bums". After Trung and Sophie took naps, we headed over to the Westfield Culver City mall and joined in the Hollywood craze; Boo boo Stewart from the movie Twilight: Eclipse was making a guest appearance. Though I bought a milkshake at Millions of Milkshakes and was guaranteed a picture with the actor, I decided to pass and wait for someone more well-known and a bit older. :P One celeb siting down, many more to go!

End-of-summer fun

Lydia comforting Sophie after she bumped her head

In line for our Almond Joy milkshake

Buy one get one free, baby!

Whoo-hoo for Boo boo

He's a cute kid. :)

Stuffing sausages

We went to Costco on a Thursday instead of our usual Friday because I find no reason to go for fresh clams/mussels when I can no longer buy them by the pound like I used to in Texas. Anyhow, I thought samplings were only on the weekends, but apparently it was in full swing when we arrived. Lots of sausages and Mexican food were being showcased "for this weekend only" and I ended up buying a jar of salsa and teriyaki meatballs, which just ended up taking space in the freezer. Oh well, at least the girls had fun and I found yet another meat that the girls will actually eat...hence the meatball purchase.

Yummy sausages

The Makings of a Cartwheel

Ever since the girls saw someone do a cartwheel at the Getty Center this past weekend, they have been wanting to try and do one. Lydia was really excited about it, but wasn't really doing much, but then got all sad and discouraged when Sophie started receiving our praise for actually attempting to do some. I want to teach Lydia how to really do a cartwheel, but our apartment does not have much space and she's awfully clumsy and may end up hurting herself; I think I pulled something myself when I tried to demonstrate. Maybe I should enroll her in a gymnastics class or something.


Sophie's so-called cartwheel

Way back when

This morning the girls and I had a playdate with the family of an old old friend of mine. The three Yen brothers, my two brothers, and I grew up together at my Dad's church starting over 27 years ago. My brother Jimmy is the oldest, followed by Jerry Yen, Jesse Yen, my brother Mike, and then Jasper Yen and I (we are the same age). We all managed to stay in touch over the years whether through Facebook or e-mails, but it still came as a pleasant surprise when Jesse's wife, Christina, informed me a couple weeks ago through Facebook that they are in LA. We set up a playdate for today and got to introduce our kids (re-introduce Lydia) to each other. After some play time, we had lunch at Dumpling House, shopped at Ranch 99, and the girls and I got some milk tea and Chinese pastries. What a fun day!

The view to the Yen's house and Trung's view everyday to work...I could get use to this

Luke aka little Jesse just chillin'

Christina and Luke

Alissa showing Lydia and Sophie a new kick-boxing move

Shopping at Ranch 99

Fun days are oh so tiring

Sunset Boulevard

While Sophie took her nap, I read that the best time to visit The Strip is Sunday afternoons, so as soon as Sophie woke up, we were off. We drove down Santa Monica Blvd to Sunset Blvd and tried to take it all in. Then we had dinner at Greenblatt's Deli where we had matzo ball soup, vegetable lasagna, an avocado sandwich, and a chocolate cake a la mode....yummy! After a quick look at the Hollywood sign, we headed home into the sunset.

Beverly Hills has a celebration on 9.02.10

Now that's a big matzo ball!

The best view we got of the Hollywood sign; we'll have to figure out where to go before people start visiting us.

Farmer's Market (take 2)

I was disappointed with the Santa Monica Farmer's Market last Saturday, but after some research, Trung read that the Sunday one was better. So we went to see for ourselves and sure enough, the prices were better and the food selection was greater. Also, the market is only two blocks from Venice Beach and parking is free before 1:30 PM. We arrived much later than planned, but next time we will definitely arrive earlier and spend some time on the beach, which also has a playground!

Upside-down sunglasses and toothpick-in-mouth pair

Ordering something scrumptious

Waiting in line for our buttery roasted corn

The three pound burrito, complete with bok choy

Apparently the burrito wasn't enough, so Trung went and got a Hungarian sausage with sauerkraut on top...yes, please

The Getty Center

Nestled at the foot of the Santa Monica mountains is a wonderful little place called The Getty Center. It is a beautifully constructed museum with gorgeous views of the city, and best of all...it's free! Parking is typically $15, but after 5 PM on Saturdays, it is free. We spent a lovely evening overlooking Santa Monica, exploring the museum, and dining on fish tacos that I had packed.

The view from the Center

The girls like anything involving water

Sophie getting a hand from Trung

Listening to the museum guide

My favorite structure, I found it quite amusing

The moon over LA

First guests

Jason and Betty hung out with the girls and I in LA for the afternoon before leaving for their flight back to Austin. We had a sushi lunch at SugarFish, which was very good, though a bit strange because they did not offer bento boxes or noodles; I probably won't be back anytime soon. Afterwards, we had dessert at PinkBerry and then I showed them our place. We were so glad that they could come out and visit us; say "hi" to everyone back at home!

At the fountain at Marina del Rey waiting for our table

Jas and Betts, our first guests

Welcome to our humble abode

The girls' new Tinkerbell shower curtain. I wish the extra space in the bathrooms was put to better use, like extra room in the living area instead, but overall, the apartment is pretty cozy.

The bunk bed in the girls' room that we bought in Beverly Hills from Craigslist

Gotta have the hanging letters I made for the girls before they were each born

We sold our TV to the Austin tenants and are currently watching shows on a computer monitor. We'll probably get a TV in our next place since this set-up is working out pretty well. Too bad I won't be able to watch anything "live" anymore, like DWTS. :(