First day of Kindergarten

The whole family walked with Lydia to school for her first day of kindergarten. Her former classmate Isabelle and her dad Tom joined us since our place is on their way to school. Lydia had a rough drop-off because she wanted Trung to stay and play with her, but was all smiles at pick-up! Yay!

Happy kindergarteners!

Crossing the street to school

Ready to go!

Squeezing by Mrs. Scholder and a classmate to get to me during pick-up

Sophie missed Lydia while she was away

After a quick lunch, we jetted to the pediatrician's office for Lydia's five year old check-up. She has been worried about shots ever since seeing Isabelle's bandages a couple weeks back, but I assured her that she wouldn't be getting any since she was up to date on her vaccinations. Little did I know that the doc would ask for a urine sample and blood work, so poor Lydia still got poked. I treated the girls to yogurts at Costco afterwards, which seems to help. Lydia is in the 60%tile for weight and 45%tile for height. :)

Meeting the teacher

Today we got to meet Lydia's new kindergarten, Mrs. Scholder. She is a little older (aka has more experience) and seems nice. We are so excited for Lydia!

In Lydia's new classroom

Lydia's preschool friend Logan is in the same class!

After meeting the teacher, Annie, June, and Faye came over to hang out before school starts tomorrow. We had a blast at home and later at the beach. It's nice that the girls are the same ages.

Lydia and June playing hide-and-seek


Sophie and Faye analyzing the bush

Pier Day

Our friend Snow's church was hosting a day at the pier with discounted prices. We got the kids tickets and grabbed some dinner after an afternoon of festivities.

The froggy ride

Sophie was sad that she couldn't go on a ride because she was too short

The pirate ship; you can see Trung with his raised arms

Trung had to hold Sophie in place because she kept sliding around

I was getting nauseous just watching this


The view from the ferris wheel; it was our first time and quite nice.


Sophie getting ready for the froggy ride by herself while Trung and Lydia went on a roller coaster

Free fridays

Trung has been getting Fridays off this month and this week we took a family trip down to Costco to buy our last round of things since we won't be renewing our membership next month. We treated ourselves to some cold desserts at the cafe and the girls were actually nice to each other. Trung later had the brilliant idea of letting the kids lay on Disney Princess body pillows in the shopping cart and they behaved quite well the entire time. Wish Daddy was around more for our weekly shopping trips.

Lydia feeding the little sister

Rash guards

Since the girls' swim class is at 6 PM this session, I got them some long-sleeved rash guards to keep them warm and to protect their skin a little bit more. It also helps save time not having to sunscreen.

Popsicles with the Principal

Lydia got to have a mini-introduction to the principal of her new school, who gave her and Sophie each a popsicle. The kindergarten class has already had two gatherings and school hasn't even started yet; I'm sure this is just the beginning.

Third move in thirteen months

We moved 6 blocks up and one block down into a townhouse and are totally enjoying the extra space. Even though we liked the last two places where we lived, I feel like this is finally where we should be. Thanks to our friends Tom, Jessica, and Marianne for helping us move!

Moving in

Brunch and a little break at Zenga overlooking downtown Santa Monica

We enlisted extra help

Session 3 Swim Class

Lydia had a great instructor and learned so much during this third swim class session. She even went swimming in the deep end with no life jacket!

Getting ready to dive



There she goes!

I was not as impressed with Sophie's instructor, but Sophie still seemed to have fun.

Hanging on for dear life

Still working on that stroke

Isabelle's Beach Birthday Bash

We enjoyed an ocean view birthday party this afternoon, complete with face painting. Lydia's former and future classmate, Isabelle, celebrated her fifth birthday with plenty of sunshine. It has been nice attending birthday parties throughout the summer as the kids seldom get to see their old classmates.

Lydia chose a butterfly

while Sophie got flowers.

Puppy dog Malaysian dressed birthday girl Isabelle

Area, Jo Ann, Marianne, me, and Jessica

Trung was popular with the kids

Little fishes

The girls started their third swim session this week and have progressed in leaps and bounds. I had them enrolled in one swim level all summer, but the instructors informed me that the girls were ready for the next level. Fortunately, a couple spots were available, though at different time slots, so the girls can keep learning.

Lydia the Guppy

Someone had an accident, so we had to go to the big pool, which got awfully crowded

Lydia swimming at the end deep

Can you believe Sophie wouldn't even put her head in the water before we started swim lessons?


We got to see Josie and her mom, Area, at the public library party. We hadn't seen since school ended, so it was nice to see them again.

Trung's Texas Trip

Trung took a three day trip to Texas to take care of our old and new tenants, and hang out with with our Austin friends. It was a nice little break for him and he had a wonderful time.

Our old neighbor, Sarah, and her son Justin, who was born just weeks before we moved.

Our friend Henry hosted a barbeque and had the best food, according to Trung.

Yuri and the kids. My, have they grown!

The newest addition to the Austin gang. Brandon, born to Jason and Betty in mid July.

A huge play date

This morning we had dim-sum at our favorite place, Happy Harbor, and ate to our heart's content. Then after picking up some Chinese groceries, we said good-bye to Mike and Minji. Lydia wanted to go straight home, so we rested awhile before going to her first kindergarten play date at her new school, Roosevelt Elementary. I expected only a handful of families and blankets on the yard, but it was actually a huge ordeal with refreshments and activities. Only three more weeks and my baby is going to be a kindergartener!

A little snack before heading home

Lydia forgot her dribbling skills already

My kindergartener

Orange County Fair

Mike, Minji, the girls, and I battled the heat (and lost) and went to the Orange County Fair. We took the tram first and we only a couple minutes into it when Lydia's hat flew off. Fortunately, I was able to get the attention of some guys below us and get the hat back later. My cousin Ben and his family joined us for lunch and then we went to the Ice House to see ice sculptures. After a few more rides, we headed home to rest before meeting my cousin Christine and Aunt Monica for a great Chinese dinner in Rowland Heights. Even though we kept busy, the girls still thought about their Daddy at the end of the day.

The tram, just before Lydia's hat flew off

The kid's section of the fair

Bumper boats

Stop smiling and start bumping! :P

Oozing with love

A few firsts

Today we headed to Orange County for the first time without Trung, who went to Austin to clean up the house for our new tenants. We browsed around the Citadel Outlets, which were okay, but at least LA now has an outlet; then ate lunch at Class 302 and had our favorite dessert of shaved snow; picked up kettlebells from Brea; and chilled at Brea Mall until it was after 4 and time to go to Mike's house. Minji made a delicious homemade meal of lasagna and salad, which was the first home cooked meal I had ever had at my brother's place; must be nice to have a wife now. :) Later, Minji gave Lydia her first "piano lesson". After a few tests and learning, Lydia could play "Mary had a little lamb"...I guess it's time for piano lessons!

Big smiles for shaved snow

Lydia's first piano lesson, by the best piano player that I know and I'm not just saying that because we're related now. :P

Kidspace with Isabelle and Tuesday

We our monthly trip to Kidspace Museum, but weren't sure we would actually be able to make it out. When I drove the car to the girls' swim class, it was shaky and the "check engine" light was flashing. I contemplated for awhile whether to risk driving it with a vanload of people and get stranded or not going to the museum at all because no one else had a car big enough. Fortunately, Jo Ann let me switch cars (my Infiniti for her minivan) for the day and we still got to enjoy Kidspace and dinner at L'Grande Orange Cafe.

Sophie taking a closer look at Mommy

Isabelle, Lydia, Sophie, and Tuesday

Getting ready to put on those dirty helmets

Intersection!

The gang

Four little girls in a row