Books and Cookies

Sophie and I woke up bright (well, it wasn't light out yet) and early this morning at 4:30 to attend the news taping of a new "Books and Cookies" store in Santa Monica. We arrived a few minutes after 5 and enjoyed breakfast, storytime, and cookie decorating. The owner Chudney Ross, I found out after I got home, is Diana Ross' youngest daughter; I didn't even get a picture with her! You can see us on TV here, here, and here!

Christine & Elyse, Karen & Emily at Books and Cookies

Sophie and the iPad

Sophie, me, and Allie MacKay, a reporter for KTLA

Trouble in a tepee

Later in the afternoon, Lydia had her kindergarten assessment to determine which class she would be attending in the Fall. We had a couple friends join us afterwards at a frozen yogurt.

My big girl!

Old Mission Santa Barbara

After a sleepless night of being kicked by Sophie multiple times, we had a quick breakfast and were off to Old Mission Santa Barbara. It was the 25th annual I Madonnari Italian street drawing festival and certainly a sight to see; the kids particularly enjoyed the cartoon chalk drawings. After a short stop at Trung's uncle's place for lunch, we let the kids run loose at the gorgeous Alameda Park. On the way home we dropped by the Camarillo outlet where the girls and I got new shoes. :)

Quang, Trung's Uncle, and Trung

Sophie's "Cat in the Hat"

Artists hard at work

A peek

Old Mission Santa Barbara

The Kid's Squares

Friars Trung and Lydia

Heading out

Alameda Park

Santa Barbara

This morning we enjoyed a waffle breakfast at Bru's Wiffle and headed off to Santa Barbara for the holiday weekend. We walked around historic El Presidio, had lunch at Brophy Brothers, glanced at Stearns Wharf, and surreyed along the beach. Then we went to Trung's uncle's house for dinner and to spend the night. You would think that the girls would be tired, but they stayed up well past their bedtime. The loud Vietnamese television probably didn't help. :P

The harbor

It was a very windy day. The kids (and Trung) had fun playing with the sand.

Sand in the wind


After lunch, when everyone is happy.


The girls got front row seats on the surrey. Yes, Sophie STILL has that crown on.


The surrey was so cute that we had to rent one ourselves.


Talk about a figurine collector


My goofy Sophie


The girls with Aunt Phuong, Trung's cousin's wife



The girls' first train encounter


Santa Barbara at sunset


The love of my life

Track and Field

Today at the sports class, the girls learned different ways of throwing balls and ran their first obstacle course.

Waiting in line for the obstacle course

And there they go!


I'm glad I gave Lydia "bunny ears" today


Sophie insisted on wearing her princess crown, which happens to be missing the letter "P" in her name

Kung Fu Panda 2

Lydia's school had a Furlough Day today, so I gathered a few of her classmates and their families to watch Kung fu Panda 2. Eight pre-schoolers, eight siblings, and seven adults attended the movie. The parents with infants sat at the back of the theatre and the rest of us sat in the middle front. There was an entire row just of children, it was so cute! Then afterwards, most of us went to Santa Monica Place to grab some lunch, again, loads of fun!

Lydia, Amani, Ennis (Amani's older sister), Logan, Isabelle, and Tuesday (Natasha, Tia, and Ava are missing from the picture taken after the movie)

Sex in the City in 30 years, cell phone reception bars or what have you. LOVE this picture of Sophie, Amani, Lydia, and Ennis

The clan heading up to The Market at Santa Monica Place for lunch

The kids pretty much took over the place

A Windy Sunday

All the surfers and sailboats were out today, enjoying the nice wind. We took a leisurely bike ride down to Venice to have lunch; Lydia rode her first tandem bike with me while Trung pulled Sophie in a trailer.

Surfers and sailboats aplenty

Sophie taking it all in

then falling asleep on the way home.

The cool dragon structure at the pier

The girls

Lydia pretending to take a shower with the Dragon's mist

From me to Minji

We started the day right with a scrumptious breakfast at Amandine Cafe. I enjoyed French toast, Trung had an omelette, and the girls scarfed down pastries.

My adorable mocha, almost too cute to drink

We went straight to sports class, where the girls practiced their new basketball skills.

Lydia one step ahead, mainly because she doesn't listen to instructions

Sophie said that she would play basketball this time and seemed happy at the get go

Lydia dribbles quite well, while Sophie likes to swipe at the ball if anything


Passing skills



She shoots...she scores!

I had a quick sushi lunch and was off to have some "me" time. A pedicure/manicure and haircut/highlight later, I was on my way to my future sister-in-law's shower.

Everyone brought in a pair of panties that represented themselves or their relationship with Minji.


Soonmee, me, Sylvia, Minji, and Janie



Minji's reaction to my gift


It was a bit see-through, literally


Everyone loves Vicky's!

Child entertainers

We always see entertainers waiting to be discovered on the 3rd Street Promenade, but these two little boys caught my eye. The guitar was seriously bigger than the little boy on the left!

Tuesday turns 5!

We celebrated Tuesday's birthday at Marine Park at school. The party was dog themed and Marianne did a spectacular job. As one little boy said, it was the "best party ever!"

The birthday puppy, er, girl

Lydia and the last birthday boy, Benjamin

How many kids fit on a tire swing?

Marianne's awesome chocolate puppy cake

What's a puppy themed party without a bone-shaped pinata?

Sophie got a lift from Veen, Tuesday's dad

The girls just LOVE this tire swing.