I am back home now, after a few days in New Jersey. I usually like to write my blog in chronological order, but I am going to write a special post in honor of my Grandmother. This Thursday, I flew back to the east coast to attend my Grandmother’s funeral. Due to the snow storm, my flight(s) were delayed/canceled/rescheduled, and my cousin Dave waited almost 3 hours at the airport to pick me up. Door to door, it took over 16 hours.

Friday morning was the funeral. This may seem strange since I’m 36-years-old, but it to me, my Grandmother never aged. From the time she visited when I was a little girl to the last time I saw her a few years ago, she always looked the same, was always a strong and fearless person. It just didn’t seem real that she was gone. My sister Sophie played the piano during the service. Many of her children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren spoke about her. There were numerous stories – some humorous, some sad, all touching – about her strength and love for her family.

My father spoke of her in high regards that day, as well as throughout my childhood. Having such a respected matriarch of the family definitely influenced the person I am – I don’t think it’s coincidence that all her granddaughters are independent, opinionated women!

The two nights I stayed in New Jersey, I shared a hotel room with my cousin Patt. It was a great bonding experience. We had so much in common, from our views on parenting to our poor taste in movies (Bruno anyone?) We talked every night until 3am! We had a family lunch after the service, and Friday evening, all the cousins who were in town went out for drinks and pizza at a local Princeton bar.

I’d like to think that Grandma was pleased to see all her children and so many grandchildren come together. Her life was truly one to celebrate. And even though she lived 100-years, it didn’t feel like enough. I will definitely miss her. May Grandma Shu-Ching (“Nai Nai”) rest in peace. 

Ah – my first post for 2011 … Happy New Year! But not so fast, I still have one week left in 2010 to blog. And it was a nice relaxing end of the year – almost everyone was out of the office, and I only worked half days. On Monday, we had James’ friend Bill and his family (including mom) over for dinner, where we served homemade tamales, salad, and pesto pasta.

The next day, we met up with them again at SkyHigh. We left Calie at daycare since it was her naptime, so both James and I could jump – Zachary loves it when we ‘double bounce’ him. That evening, we went to Sam and Melissa’s for dinner. What an honor to be invited to share a traditional holiday dinner with their extended family! We indulged in roasted turkey, stuffing, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, rolls, and pumpkin pie. I definitely have a weakness for freshly baked bread and homemade gravy. Visiting with Melissa’s parents and brother made me miss my own family though – I’ll need to set up a vacation soon to see my parents!  

Wednesday, we met up with Bill and his family at John’s Incredible Pizza. Most of the food was mediocre at best (salad bar, pastas, pizza, soft serve ice cream), but the freshly made donut holes were amazing – they tasted like funnel cakes! Calie loved the Frog Hopper ride and went on it 3 times. Our family favorite was ‘Wheel of Fortune’, but we also played Skeeball, and a few other games. Using Groupons, we fed our family of 4, went on a few rides, played carnival games, and redeemed tickets for a set of Disney Princess dominos and a Cinderella “Barbie” for under $30. Now that’s what I call cheap entertainment!

We drove home quickly (after the kids had one more ice cream cone), as Alice, Sophie, and Eddie were enroute to our home for a holiday get-together. We traded gifts and played board games … Settlers and Ticket to Ride. Zachary had a lot of fun playing soccer outside the next day with Uncle Eddie.

The kids also had a good time with spin art and crystal growing. Since crabs were in season, we steamed a few for dinner, along with a side of roasted red potatoes and salad.

New Year’s Eve, we kept it low key. We had Sam, Melissa, and John over for dinner … more tamales, salad, and pesto pasta! (We are really getting a lot of mileage out of the tamales – they freeze so well and we are also kind of proud that we made tamales from scratch!) I also baked a cherry pie. I bought a 4-cherry pitter last year and Sam challenged the usefulness of it compared to his 1-cherry pitter. So being the fool that I am, I said it would make a big difference when making a cherry pie. I have to say though … I made a really good cherry pie! I just followed a recipe, but it was delicious – the homemade crust made a huge difference. What can I say, butter makes it better.

 
 
The first day of 2011, I took Zachary to see “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” with Alex and Nicole. It was a good show,  but I could tell that in some parts (dancing), he was restless. He liked the balancing and acrobatics best, but admitted later that he would have rather gone to a Kings basketball game. This was a good test – it was worth taking him to this local, less expensive show, but he would not appreciate it enough for me to take him to a Vegas production. Post show, we met up at Hot Italian for dinner. I think this might be my favorite pizza restaurant (barring Village Inn from C-U, but that place comes with family memories so no restaurant can really touch that). Super thin crust and unique ingredients like smoked salmon, dill, and fresh cream …yum. The best part was the hot oil dip for the crispy crust. Sunday it was back to our regular schedule. Zachary had basketball practice, and as if they just couldn’t wait to get back to work, coworkers started logging in Sunday afternoon. Argh! (Yes, I realize I only know because I checked email, but I didn’t send any!)

Speaking of work, it’s focal/review season … that combined with all the hiring, and I pretty much had to hit the ground running Monday morning. Not quite as bad as Melissa though, who had to fly to Singapore the day before. Since Sam was playing single dad, we decided to invite him (and kids) over for dinner after work Wednesday. We also invited Kathy  – it had been too long since I’d seen her last because her weekends tend to be booked with travel! We had Dungeness crabs with sides of roasted potatoes and butter dill carrots. Not too bad for a weekday dinner, although if I had to be honest, the carrots were a bit over steamed and the potatoes could have used a few more minutes in the oven. For me, timing is one of the hardest things when it comes to serving a multi-dish meal.

Last weekend, was a very typical weekend. I got up early for a short jog with Erjia. Then it was Calie’s dance lesson. I have to admit I was annoyed with her class that day. Her classes is 9am-9:45am. But since there was a performance coming up, the teacher scheduled a rehearsal at 9:30am. Older girls started coming in at 9:15am, which was distracting. When I asked the teacher why her class was cut short, the reason was because there were so few kids in her class. Since when was the instruction time depended on the number of students?  Hopefully it was a fluke, since the 4 free lessons were good! The same day, Zachary had his basketball Jamboree … which is basically a series of 3 short games to get the boys familiar with the court and playing against another team. And because I enjoy self-inflicted pain, I signed up to track stats for his team. His real first game is next week.

(Bonus closeup photo of the gingerbread house kit Sebastian gave my kids – they had a fun time making and eating it!)
 
Sunday, the kids started up their swim lessons again after a 2 week break. Afterwards, we went to Dylan’s house for a lunch playdate. It’s been very cold here (for California), and warm Thai chicken curry over rice totally hit the spot. We played ‘Just Dance’ on the Wii, which was very entertaining. I am a terrible dancer, and my score totally reflected that. Paul was harassed mercilessly by Karen for his poor dancing ability – and he proceeded to beat her score! I love it when the underdog wins!

(The irony in this last photo … within a few days of owning the doll, Cinderella is now missing a shoe.)

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a relaxing holiday, and was able to spend quality time with family and friends. The weekend before Christmas, after her 4th/last free class, I signed Calie up for 2 more months of dance. Then I went to check out the nearby 24 Hour Fitness using my own free pass. While the facilities were nice and the childcare option was incredible (2 hours of fun for $4?!), the weekend classes were over crowded. I had to share weights in the Body Pump class and the next day, the cycling class was filled before I got there. It made me very grateful to have a gym at my work place –  newly remodeled, to be opened mid-January! Saturday evening, the kids’ favorite babysitter came over, and James and I went to the annual Baco Christmas party. We always enjoy the potluck, traditional carols, and infamous white elephant gift exchange. Thank you Joe and Sara for hosting again!

Sunday, James and I took the kids to the Discovery Museum. Their ‘Bones’ exhibit ends in a few weeks, and we wanted to catch it before they moved to the next theme. Also, since we are members (had to buy an annual family pass for Zach’s birthday party this year), we still had free admission. Calie made a sachet and attended a porcupine talk, while Zachary was mostly occupied with puzzles.

In the evening, we went to Sandy’s 1st annual Cooking Challenge party. The concept is best described as a potluck, where people voted for their favorite dish. Winner received a traveling trophy and a $50 Massage Envy gift card. Congratulations Annie! Her marmalade glazed chicken wings were delicious. Of course, so was Karen’s berry cheesecake cups, Dana’s chocolate dessert, and Sam’s boeuf bourguignon … she had tough competition!

Monday evening, one of our neighbors set up a sleigh ride gathering. They offered popcorn from an old-fashioned popcorn maker, and also set up a fire pit, where kids could roast marshmallows and make smores. Neighbors served up hot chocolate, wassail, and a table full of desserts. They even had a craft table in their garage … kids’ ornaments have totally taken over our Christmas tree. Calie liked the sleigh ride so much, we had to go twice. We live in a great neighborhood - as usual, it’s the people that make the difference! James put the kids to bed, and I joined Karen, Sam, and John for a late dinner at Thai Paradise followed by a later showing of the movie Black Swan. A great (but disturbing) movie – I was thoroughly impressed by Natalie Portman.

Tuesday, it was my turn to put the kids to bed while James and a few other guys took Sam out for dinner at Cafeteria 15L and the IMAX version of Tron. Happy Birthday Sam! (Okay, so I took the kids to Pinkberry – we were out anyway for dance class.)

Wednesday, Karen, John, James, and I took Sam to Fats for a birthday lunch (multi-day celebration). We used buy-1-get-1-free discount cards that we got through work, making our entrees (i.e. honey walnut prawns, wasabi filet mignon) very reasonably priced. Since it was a light week, we extended our lunch with a stop at Pinkberry. Best frozen yogurt place ever – I highly recommend the original tart with raspberries and mochi.

I worked half days all last week since it was slower at work with no meetings. I picked up the kids early every day, which allowed us more time to hang out at home with no plans. We did workbooks, art, made cookies, watched holiday specials on TV, and just played.

Friday was Christmas eve. That morning, James took the kids to play at Bill’s parent’s home. Bill and his family were visiting from New York, and they wanted to get our children together to run around. At the same time, I took a 4+ mile trail walk with Dana followed by lunch at Mikuni’s. We used to exchange Christmas gifts every year, but we’ve since decided (in our old age?) that spending time together was a better way to celebrate the holidays. When we got home, James’ parents were already in our house – good thing they have our spare keys! As always, the kids enjoyed playing with their grandparents; they spent most of this extended weekend playing board games, being read to, and building with Legos.

Christmas morning was great this year. In the past, opening gifts was trying. Zachary never really cared for toys, and we don’t keep up with the latest trends either. We’d have to prod him to open gifts, and it would often take all day, sometimes longer. I remember one year, 8 or so adults, crowding around Zachary (only kid), and he was just so uninterested in the pile of presents. This year, Zachary was actually excited about seeing all the gifts under the tree and opened them in one sitting with only a breakfast intermission. Calie, having inherited my more materialistic gene, loved presents from the get-go (at 2-years-old).

I wish I captured the look on her face with my new camera when she saw the pink bike under the tree. (On the other hand, maybe it’s better I experienced it fully instead of behind camera lens.) She knew immediately that it was hers. She wanted to ride her trike while holding her new soccer ball. She tore open her coloring books, scribbled on a few pages, put on her tap shoes, had us read all her new books to her, and took photos using Zachary’s new kiddie camera. That’s my girl! She makes shopping for a pleasure.  James and I kept gift giving minimal since we don’t really need anything. I got him 2 spatulas and he bought me a pair of knit boots from my Amazon wish list.

For Christmas dinner, James’ made pork/chicken and cheese tamales. I made tamales once when I was on bonding leave with Zachary … and decided it was too much work. Despite my warning, the fear of eating of turkey or ham weeks on end won over, and James took ownership of our holiday dinner. I’m glad because it tasted great, and I didn’t have to cook!

(Trying some modes on my new camera – I like the close ups!)

Sunday was supposed to be raining, but it was a sunny day instead. I went for a jog and even got a slight tan (Hmm. I must have been out for while … how slow do I run?!). James set up the volleyball net in the backyard, and the kids played outside. For dinner, we went to Mikuni’s. Happiness is eating sushi twice in one week. I’m sure unhappiness will be stepping on the scale tomorrow morning. That said, I’m working half days again next week – so no excuses for not exercising!

Early December, I took my direct team to ‘Brew It Up’ to make vanilla oatmeal stout. I had never made beer before, and there were a lot more steps than I expected.  Between measuring and stirring, we had $3 happy hour appetizers and drinks. Given the stressful weeks post driver release, it was great to get out of the office. Of course, a few of us (myself included) had smart phones, and we kept them dialed into work email just in case there was an escalation.

The next 2 days I had all day meetings. I’m starting to get used to standing up and presenting to big groups! After the first day, my manager took his staff and a few other extended team members to Q’Bole for dinner. I specifically sat next to people who flew in from outside the country (I.e. India, Poland, Mexico) since it was a somewhat rare opportunity to get face time with them. Imagine my embarrassment when I introduce myself, and someone responds with, “I know you, and actually you know me too. We talked last time I was down here, and we have exchanged numerous emails as well.” Hahaha. I am a walking social faux pas.  After the 2nd day of meetings, I was mentally exhausted  – and it was quite ironic that I had to present 6 quarter plans when I don’t even know what I’m doing Christmas weekend!

 
Since James was in San Francisco with his parents (his dad had surgery), I kept the weekend pretty low key. It was cold and drizzly Friday evening, so I opted out of the city tree-lighting event and had Dana and Dave over for dinner instead. As it was a work day, I kept dinner easy … grilled butter garlic mahi mahi, salad, and pesto pasta. After they left, the more lenient parent (me) let the kids stay up and watch Polar Express on TV. James unexpectedly came home that night since his dad’s surgery went well – Busted!   Saturday, I took Calie to dance class. She can’t put steps together yet like some of the older girls, but she does well in the first half when they go over and repeat the moves. The best part is that she is so happy and proud of herself.

That evening, we helped host our annual neighborhood progressive dinner. I totally over ate (typical!) and am disappointed to report that I have gained 2 lbs since the start of the holiday season.

Sunday, I took this kids to their swim lessons, followed by a playdate at Dylan’s house. We had planned to go ice skating afterwards, but we were rained out.

Tuesday, I hosted my annual team holiday party at my home. I’ve missed two years in a row due to maternity leave (2008) and a feverish baby (2009.)  I roasted a turkey (yes, while I was at work) and asked the other manager to bring in a ham. Right before I left to make sure my house was not burning down, I received news that funding for a new program was approved – hooray! I now have 3 more positions to fill (so 4 in total) … and fortunately also a part time administrative assistant to help me. With that good news, the team enjoyed a potluck dinner at my home, complete with turkey, ham, garlic mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, gourmet mac/cheese, a vegetable platter, *5* pies, and lots of festive beverages including homemade limoncello. It was great to meet/catch up with the spouses, and the kids kept themselves entertained with the Wii.

 
On Thursday, Zachary’s school hosted a ‘Festival of Lights’ celebration, where tables were set up, representing different countries and how they celebrate the holidays. The Diwali table had the best food.  There was also a Santa, but since James took Calie home already, I only got a photo with Zachary.

Friday was Zach’s first basketball practice. He has never played (aside from throwing a ball at recess), but since he has a good coach and 2 assistant coaches, I think he’ll learn a lot his first season. Go Bruins! After practice, I headed out to catch a movie (Burlesque) with my girlfriends Sandy, Karen, and Rachel.  I enjoyed it quite a bit … the dancing and singing more than made up for the bad acting. And quite frankly, on a Friday night, I just want a light hearted movie where I don’t have to think too hard!

(Calie’s big girl bedroom set is here! We are officially a crib-free family … whoo-hoo! )

Saturday, Calie went to her pre-ballet class, and then we headed to Intel for their annual family holiday event. Zachary wrote a letter to Santa asking for “real” sports equipment. I guess he has outgrown the plastic Little Tykes toys! The kids also made ornaments using sticker foam. And of course … met with Santa. The event was not nearly as crowded compared to years past, and the lines moved quickly. Calie was afraid of Santa (clung to James for dear life), so we ended up with a photo of just Zachary and then a family photo.

Afterwards, we went to BJs for lunch with Bhavana’s family. I had to get the ahi appetizer … yum! In the late afternoon, Zachary went to Shaan’s 7th birthday party at the local sports complex. The kids played indoor soccer and basketball. Happy 7th Birthday Shaan!

Sunday, the kids had their swim lessons. I’m pretty happy with Zachary progress (especially given that we only go once a week), but Calie is still not swimming on her own. If anything, for water safety, I’d like to see more progress from her before next summer. After class, we headed to Alex and Nicole’s pajama party smelling like chlorine. We had turkey sandwiches for lunch, decorated cookies, and socialized in comfy attire. Thanks to Melissa and Sam for hosting this annual tradition!

This week was the last full week of work before the holidays, so there were lots of celebrations. Tuesday, my team wrote/signed/decorated holiday cards for the local nursing home during our lunch break. On Wednesday, we took the afternoon off and bottled the beer we made 2 weeks ago. We bottled over 100 bottles, and split them amongst the team so that everyone who wanted to, could take home a 12-pack. My manager and another staff manager decided to join us for appetizers and drinks. I had to leave at 5pm to make it back home and then back out again with the family to see the Radio City Holiday Spectacular.

I was impressed by the precision of the moves, but the seats we won from work were not very good and the kids got restless halfway through. I may be a bit spoiled since I tend to get ‘best available’ when I buy show tickets myself. I’ve found the experience to be worth the price premium, especially since I don’t go often. Friday, the Graphics Validation department had our annual holiday potluck and gift exchange. I ended up with a Charlie Brown Christmas DVD for the kids and a $10 iTunes giftcard – not bad!

In the evening, we went to Calie’s preschool holiday party, where the kids made numerous ornaments and reindeer food (a mess of oatmeal and glitter). I steered the them away from the cookie decorating and gingerbread house making rooms since we came straight from work and no one had dinner yet. The preschool also hired a Santa, and we *finally* got a picture of both kids!

And that brings us to today … Friday … so glad for the upcoming days off, but unfortunately it’s supposed to be rainy all week. At least we’re not going to Tahoe this year. We had thought about it, but decided last minute that we would wait and only hit the roads under good conditions. So let’s see what we end up doing on our least planned holiday break ever!

(Hm. What’s the probability of both kids wearing the same outfit for the Christmas and Thanksgiving school event? See photos of post below… )

The week before Thanksgiving, both kids had ‘mini-feast’ celebrations at their school. In Zach’s class, they sang songs and had a potluck lunch. The next day, in Calie’s class, they had a Thanksgiving lunch catered by their cafeteria. I was glad I worked so close and was able to attend both!

That Sunday, James and Zach went the Sacramento Kings vs New Jersey Nets basketball game. James was rewarded the tickets (box seats) from work for his contributions on our latest chipset. I was concerned Zachary might lose interest, but he had a great time! It helped that it was a very exciting/close game and the Kings won. At the end of the game, Zach asked,”So what other sports are there in the world?” Saturday, I took Calie to a trial pre-ballet class. She was the only 2 year old, but she did great. She wasn’t able to follow as well as the older girls, but she listened and tried her best. I don’t think I would have appreciated her social maturity as much had I not experienced her brother, who licked the mirrors at dance class a few years ago.

Next up on the agenda – an afternoon/evening of celebration with my friends. In honor of Sandy and Melissa’s birthday, Karen and I joined them at Arden Hills Spa. I indulged in an 80 minute massage and also hung out in the complimentary jacuzzi and steam room. After our spa treatments, Sandy, Melissa, and I had a leisurely dinner at Mulvaney’s B&L in midtown. Happy birthday to Melissa and Sandy!

Sunday, Zachary’s soccer team had their end of year party at SkyHigh. The boys had a great time jumping, followed by a pizza lunch and handing out of ‘participation’ trophies. It’s a great group of kids (and parents), and I hope they all decide to stay on the same team next season. They must have thought I did a decent job as team parent too, because I received a Thank You card with a $50 gift card to BJ’s restaurant.

In the evening, we went to Dana’s house for a playdate followed by dinner. The kids had a great time playing, and the salad, potato soup (from a blender!), and grilled salmon was very delicious. Thank you Dana!

I took Monday off to spend some extra time with the kids since it’s a nonacademic week for them. Unexpectedly, both kids said they wanted to go to school. Then Zach tried to negotiate half a day at home and half a day at school. We played at home for awhile and then went to SkyHigh for ‘Munchkin Monday’, which meant $5 for 2 hours of jumping. To maintain my status as “Parent of the Year”, we had pizza, nachos, and Dipping Dots for lunch!

After SkyHigh, I gave Zach the option of going to school. He said,”Well, since you took the day off and that’s rare, it’s a special day for you … so I’ll stay home.” Gee… thanks, Zach. In the evening, Zachary invited a few classmates (Alex, Billy, Rohan, and Dylan) and their parents over for a Wii playdate. Since it was rainy/cold and I had the day off, I made my light version of Zuppa Toscana soup. I also picked up a loaf of jalapeno cheese bread for appetizer and white chocolate cinnamon bread for dessert – I love fresh bread with real butter. I am pleased to say that all the food was eaten. Success!

Tuesday, I had planned to take the day off, but there was an escalation at work I needed to take care of. James also had to manage a roof repair on our rental home. The day wasn’t lost though – we got what we needed done by afternoon, had a late lunch at BJs (thanks soccer team!), and did some shopping before picking up the kids. Wednesday, James’ parents came … of course the kids were very happy about that!

Thanksgiving morning, James, Zachary, and I went on a 5k run while James’ parents watched Calie at home. I knew I could run a 5k in slightly over half an hour, but I did not expect Zachary to be able to finish it. Therefore, the plan was for James to stay back with Zachary so that he would not get lost in the crowd. On the way to the race, I reminded Zachary he needed to pace himself. After about half a mile of pacing with me, I was done with Zach pestering me about running faster. I decided that if he wanted to learn a lesson about over exertion and cramping, then he could go ahead. James sped up to run at a faster pace and pretty soon, I couldn’t see them. At the 1 mile water stop, there was a big crowd, and I assumed Zachary and James were in the midst of it, probably needing to walk the rest of the way. Imagine my shock when I crossed the finish line at 32 minutes 44 seconds … and saw Zachary and James waiting (and eating Cheetos – is James trying to compete for my ‘Parent of the Year’ award?!). Zach’s official time was 29 minutes and 26 seconds. He ran the entire way, with only a few stops to wait for James. He was the fastest kid under 7-years-old, and there almost 4000 people running/walking the race. According to Zachary (who was way too smug), he could have run faster if he didn’t have to keep pace with his parents. While I was proud of him for performing so well, it was also a bit demoralizing for me. Is this when the new generation starts outperforming the previous? So early? I’m only 36-years-old … aside from video games, I should still be better at everything, right? Next goal for me …take a minute off my mile.

We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes etc. After dinner, everyone went to sleep so I headed to the outlets for early Black Friday shopping. The deals weren’t that great, but it’s the one time during the year where store are open after the kids are in bed. I shopped until past 2am!

Saturday, James’ parents left and my sisters came to visit. We went to SkyHigh (again!), followed by a sushi dinner at Mikunis. After dinner, James took the kids home while my sisters and I hit Nordstroms Rack. We all had Groupons (paid $25 for a $50 gift card) and I ended up with a pair of black skinny jeans (Joes, size 27 … mismarked because I am not a 27) and a black cardigan for just $15 over my gift card – Score!

Sunday, the kids had swim lessons. During the day, we played board games, read books, and set up our Christmas tree – this year, both kids could hang up ornaments. In the evening, we headed to the Rancho Cordova tree lighting. We went on a small train ride, the kids made some ornament crafts, and we had some of Tabitha’s warm cider (yummy!), but it was too cold to stay for the tree lighting. We left after an hour, and ended up going to La Favorita for dinner instead … very good Mexican food!

And so that concluded our Thanksgiving week … family, food, and SkyHigh, I mean, fun. Back to work on Monday (actually Sunday evening, but we won’t talk about that.)

It’s only been a week since my last post, but I have some fun pictures to share.
 
Earlier this month, I won 2 tickets to the 2010 tour of ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ I watched season 4 with my mom when I was on maternity leave but otherwise haven’t kept up with the show, so I went online and watched over 2 hours of season 7 before the performance. Since James didn’t care to go, I took Melissa.

We got to sit in a box suite, which meant plush seats, much more elbow room, and a private bathroom. It was a very entertaining show, and I was able to recognize most of the dancers and quite a few of the routines too. 

 
Friday, Kathy, Karen, Melissa, and I headed off on a girl’s weekend getaway in Las Vegas to celebrate Karen’s 40th birthday. For the first time in 7 years, I traveled without a carseat or laptop! We stayed at the Palazzo, which is a newer hotel on the strip, adjoining the Venetian. Kathy booked us suites through Priceline for only $130 per night.

Our first mission? To indulge in the culinary experience that is Joel Robuchon.  I’ve seen the Three-Star Michelin restaurant featured on Top Chef (one of my favorite shows) … so I had very high expectations. We were picked up in a gold limo and entered the restaurant through The Mansion at the MGM Grand.

The décor was very opulent … huge crystal chandeliers, plush purple velvet seats, and numerous flowers arrangements. We decided to split 2 16 courses and 2 smaller courses between the 4 of us. It was definitely the right call, as there was plenty of food. My verdict … it was a good experience, but maybe I just don’t have a refined palette, because out of the 16 courses, there were only a few that I really liked.  I’d go again, but I’d order the smaller (and less expensive) courses.

The dining experience took a few hours, and we didn’t get back to our hotel until almost 2am. By then, Sheri (Kathy’s cousin) had arrived to join us and was deep asleep. (Note: I got a haircut during my lunch break, which is why my hair looks full. It’s professionally styled … the only “style” I know how to do is the ponytail.)

 
Saturday, all of us took 2 exercise classes in the morning … fit strip and muscle conditioning. Since I have no dance training and minimal coordination, fit strip was more of a mental exercise than anything else. I did much better with the muscle conditioning class, and my core muscles definitely felt the workout!

After class, Kathy, Sheri, and I had lunch at Canyon Ranch Grill (delicious open faced ahi sandwich– highly recommended), while Melissa and Karen went rock climbing. We then met up at Aquavana, which is possibly the most expansive spa I’ve ever been to. For only $20, we had access to a steam room (I stayed here for a long time to sooth my cough/laryngitis), Experiential Rain room with multi-sensory cooling showers (Caribbean Storm, Tropical Rain or Cool Fog), Sauna, Herbal Laconium (room with herbal-infused steam), HydroSpa (whirlpool), Igloo (cold room with three Arctic mist options), Conservatory (waiting area with fruit, beverages, magazines, and the most comfortable anti-gravity, memory foam lounge chairs), Salt Grotto (“sea air” washes over heated benches), and a Wave Room (anti-gravity chair positioned with head down/feet in the air, overlooking waves projected on a dome ceiling.) We stayed all afternoon! In the evening, we got dressed up for dinner and headed to CUT by Wolfgang Puck for some good steaks.

After a bit of indecisiveness, I ordered a 10oz Wagyu ribeye. The table also shared sides, including their famous mac and cheese (which to my untrained palette, reminded me of the frozen Trader Joe’s mac cheese that Zachary loves). Karen ordered the best carpaccio appetizer I’ve ever tasted – I’ve already decided it’s a must order the next time I’m in Vegas.  I sat across from Kathy – and while we both were full halfway through our steaks, our inner thriftiness would not allow us to leave “$50 on the table” … so we ate it all. Here is my take on Wagyu beef. It’s quite fatty. And since it’s well marbled, you can’t cut the fat off. So while it’s very good, it’s also very heavy. My recommendation would be to share a steak with someone … and order more appetizers … like an extra plate of carpaccio. 

Next on our agenda … Meeting up with Rachel for Le Reve at the Wynn theatre. We had excellent seats …. 4 rows from the stage. We could see the expressions on the performer’s faces and feel the mist from the water. It was an amazing show. I might even like it more than ‘O’ … although it’s hard to compare since the seats I had for ‘O’ were pretty far back. Post show, we enjoyed drinks at Parasol Down, where we had patio seating with a view of the Lake of Dreams waterfall and light show. It was a bit chilly, so we left after 2 shows (they rotate different shows every 20 minutes or so.)

Sunday morning, Sheri, Melissa, and I headed to the gym to burn off some of last night’s dinner … I ran 3.3 miles, a 3oz calorie equivalent of my 10oz ribeye.  At 11am, we checked out, stored our luggage, and headed to Zine (Chinese food) for lunch. I ordered duck and also shared a side of jellyfish with Karen. Food in Vegas is definitely good! Very dangerous for the waistline. Then it was shopping time. There are a lot of nice stores at the Palazzo, but I had a very specific goal: to buy a pair of Christian Louboutins that I’ve been admiring for almost 2 years. I was worried that they would be uncomfortable and that I would have to walk away empty handed. But while my favorite pair (Very Prive) felt too tight, I found a double platform peep-toe sling back that was very comfortable, especially considering the 4” stiletto heel. I had a few people stop me and congratulate me on my purchase or ask me what I bought. One woman even said,”Your husband is so nice to you.” – she’s lucky I had laryngitis.

We continued shopping the rest of the day, with a break for frozen yogurt, and then had dinner at Samba Sushi. They had some unique fusion dishes, but I stuck with plain sushi and sashimi with a side of yellowtail ceviche. The other girls tried more interesting dishes, such as rolls with foie gras and gold leaves, and their signature Peruvian corn (huge meaty kernels).

All too quickly, 7pm rolled around and it was time to gather our luggage and head home. I grabbed a box on Ethel’s chocolates for my team at the airport. Got home at midnight – exhausted yet relaxed and happy. Thank you Kathy for organizing such a great weekend – and Happy 40th Birthday to Karen!
 
Kids had a good time at home as well. Friday after school, Zachary had another playdate at Quinn’s house.  On Saturday, he went horseback riding for Quinn’s birthday party at Royal Oak Farms. Happy 7th Birthday to Quinn!

Then he had his last soccer game … Warriors lost (4-5), but it was a close game and Zachary delivered some strong kicks while playing defense. In the evening, James took the kids to Sam’s house for dinner, where (not to be outdone by Wolfgang) they also had ribeye steaks. Sunday was swim class, and by the looks of our foyer, a lot of free play with Lincoln Logs and other toys. I’m very grateful to have a husband who is such a capable father … I was able to enjoy time to myself without any concerns about how the household was run back home.

Monday, Sandy, Kathy, Melissa and I went to Curry Club for an Indian buffet lunch – Happy Birthday Sandy! Okay … diet starts now… got 2-3 lbs of damage to undo.

We had a fun Halloween weekend. On Friday, I volunteered in Zach’s classroom for a Halloween party. I helped kids make the finger puppets that Melissa donated! The next morning, I ran a 5k with my coworker Jaybal. Finished with a time of 33:44. It was trail running with some hills, and I definitely felt it the next few days!  Afterwards, despite the drizzle, I took the kids to Folsom FallFest in their Halloween costumes. I did not buy any costumes this year. Zachary was a devil … same costume as his “red bat” last year. Calie was a “butterfly” … same costume as Zachary’s dragonfly a few years back. We walked around to the various vendors and partook in a coloring activity and costume parade/contest. There were some pretty impressive costumes … one family had a fisherman, a mermaid, and a chef carrying a lobster baby in a stock pot! Another mom had twins each in their own bathtub buggy. I guess not all parents buy their costumes online between meetings! 

In the afternoon, Zachary played soccer … their 3rd loss in league 2. After the game, the team went to Mountain Mikes for pizza. A few mom were talking about how their sons hid candy from them in their bedrooms. I was surprised, and even said, “I don’t think Zach would do that.” Less than a few minutes later, I found him by the candy machines with a mouthful of Skittles! I didn’t give him any money, but apparently, some of his teammates had quarters for video games, and shared with Zach.  If I ever say,”I don’t think Zach would do drugs/smoke/sleep around” … please remind me of this story.

Sunday, the kids had swim lessons .. . and in the afternoon, Zach’s friend Quinn came over for a playdate. I made slow cooker pot roast and pesto pasta for dinner, the boys played with Legos, and then it was trick-or-treating time. James stayed back to hand out candy, while Quinn’s parents and I took the kids around the neighborhood. After a few homes, it was obvious that the boys were too excited to wait for a 2-year-old, so we let them go with Quinn’s parents while I kept a slower pace behind with Calie.

It was the first time Zachary went trick-or-treating without me. It actually felt okay, like it was the right time for this next step. It was Calie’s first real trick-or-treating experience and for days after, every time we’d go get the mail, she’d want to go to our neighbor’s house. Looks like we have a future beggar on our hands! 

 
 
Thursday, Zach went on his first playdate by himself. I dropped him off after school and picked him up 2 hours later. He and Quinn made Martians out of a mold, quizzed each other on shark and solar system facts over dinner, and made an obstacle course in the garage. Zach thought Quinn’s mom was super cool for letting them “kick a ball in the house!” (It was really a finished garage) No photos because … well, I wasn’t there.

Friday night was date night. James and I dropped the kids off with Sam/Melissa and went to Bistro33 for dinner. We had tacos, ahi tuna, Caesar salad, beer, coffee, and dessert … and to our surprise, our half used gift card covered it all with ~$10 left! We believe there must have been a snafu in our favor. The kids had fun playing with Alex and Nicole; the girls played dress up and the boys played a game called ‘Break the Safe.’

 
Saturday morning, I took Zachary to a trial martial arts class. It was a disaster – he was especially antsy during orientation and refused to stay seated. The instructor said, “We take all kinds of kids, and we even handle kids on the autism spectrum.” How discouraging! I was beyond furious at Zachary. When we got home, I had him sit still for 5 minutes, and of course, he did it without any issues. Frustrating! In the afternoon, Zach had a soccer game – and they won their first (out of 4) league 2 game!

In the evening, we went to Vish and Bhavana’s annual Diwali party. The kids played basketball outside until it got dark, and then moved into the garage to decorate goody bags and make Diwali cards. The sparklers and the piñata were a huge hit (no pun intended). I loved seeing all the women’s extravagant saris and jewelry – so beautiful. They served Indian food, and much to Zachary’s relief, also cheese pizza. Why anyone would eat pizza when there’s Indian food is something Calie and I will never understand. Happy Diwali!

 
 
Sunday, the kids had swim lessons, and then I took Zachary to Vaibhav and Gaurav’s birthday party at SkyHigh.  He had a fun (and sweaty) time! Since it was raining and more crowded than usual, the toddler trampolines were opened. Zachary opted not to move over, but play dodge ball with the older boys instead. I was glad because I was more worried that he would knock over a toddler than an older kid would knock over him. When did that happen?! We had just enough time to scarf down a cupcake before heading to Quinn’s LazerTag party. Zachary had never played before, so I described it to him as “similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride… but people are the targets.” All that practice in Disneyland must have paid off because Zach got the top score out of 10 kids on his first try – he was totally surprised and beaming (and would not stop bragging … hmmm, need to work on that.) On the 2nd and 3rd game, he was 4th place out of ~14 kids. It was great fun, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to ask to play again in the future! We had pizza and ice cream cake before heading home. Happy 7th Birthday to Vaibhav, Gaurav, and Quinn!

As for Calie milestones, she is no longer a baby. She talks in paragraphs and tells us about her school day – from new songs to who poo’d their pants that day. She dresses herself, spits after brushing her teeth (we’re moving her off baby toothpaste), and even gets her own water from our refrigerator. She’s pretty much out of diapers at night, and we just placed an order for her new bedroom set.  Seems like in the last few months, right after turning 2-years-old, she’s become a little girl.  My kids are growing up! And I mean that in a good way … it feels like we really lived and enjoyed babyhood to the fullest, and it’s the right time to become parents of little kids. I thought I would be more wistful, but perhaps because we did so much with them or because they are spaced over 4-years apart, I really don’t miss having babies. And that is a good feeling!

Wow, it’s end of October already! I’m loving the cool weather, although I don’t like the rain.  Mid-October,  I had a quarterly  at my house,  where teams drew categories (appetizer, main dish, dessert) and were given a Safeway gift card and time limit to prepare a dish. I think I’m trying to relive the days when I had cable and watched Top Chef on Bravo. The food came out pretty good, although one guy tried to convince everyone that banana slices on a saltine was an appetizer.  Afterwards, we played card games for gift certificates. 

That evening, I went out to a champagne and caviar bar with my girlfriends.  It was nice to sit outside and talk with such fun and interesting ladies!

Saturday was very busy. I made an  8am dentist appointments for the kids. It was Calie’s first dentist appointment, and she was very cooperative.  No cavities for either kids – whew.  Afterwards, we took Calie to her gymnastics class … and guess what we did after that? Soccer game! (Or as Calie calls it, “soccer bang!”)

Because the team had won 4 out of 5 games, they were moved up a league, from 3 to 2.  The game was much more exciting to watch … Warriors lost, but it would have been a tie had they not scored on themselves (which kind of tells me they should have stayed in league 3, but oh well) J  

At 4pm, James took Zachary to youth basketball orientation. And in the evening … our annual Halloween party!

I made 3 types of pasta and apple cake with cream cheese frosting. I also put out some fruits, vegetables, and snacks. I could not have asked for better weather, and the kids had fun playing soccer or on the play structure.

When it got dark, the kids came in for a craft … little kids used foam stickers to make a card (same foam stickers we’ve used for 3 years … they last forever!) and the older kids made wooden haunted houses with some assistance from parents.

The winners of this year’s costume contest, by popular vote, were Mario (Dylan) and the royal court (Sam, Melissa, Alex, Nicole.) 

Sunday, after my morning jog, the kids went to their swim lessons. Then we went to the Aquatic Center for kayaking and a potluck picnic. The weather was great … grey, overcast, and cool. It almost reminded me of kayaking in Alaska … minus the iceberg, sea otters, pine trees, and bald eagle that is. Zach was happiest when Vaibhav and Gaurav came with a volleyball. It was the first time he played volleyball (we’re not a very athletic family) and he really enjoyed it.  Thanks to Dana for setting it up!

Last week, I went to Guadalajara for work with some coworkers.  I flew out Wednesday morning, and landed in Mexico early evening. The first night, we took a tour of downtown. The city was very lively, especially for a Wednesday night, with a Mariachi band playing and lots of people bustling about. We visited the Plaza de Armas, Palacio de Gobierno (Govenor’s Palace), Plaza Guadalajara, Plaza de la Rotonda, Tapatia Plaza, Cabanas Cultural Institute, Teatro Degollado (theatre), and Guadalajara Cathedral. As I’m sure you guessed, I took pictures and then matched them up with internet images to recall the landmark names.   For dinner, we went to a nice outdoor restaurant, where they made salsa to-taste at your table. It was really good and I’ve realized that when I say I’m not a huge fan of Mexican food, what I really mean is I’m not a fan of Americanized Mexican food.

The next day, I went to the Guadalajara site to tour the lab and learn about the capabilities of the teams down there. After work, our group went to a Cuban restaurant, where we could write on the walls (and ceiling and lamps.) On our third day in Mexico, my coworkers and I attended a 10th anniversary celebration of Intel Guadalajara site.

We had a sit down dinner with good tequila, followed by a Cirque style acrobatics show, and dancing. I opted to go home at midnight, but a few of my travel companions stayed out until 6am!

On Saturday, my flight didn’t leave until the afternoon. Since I had the time, I hit the spa for the best ever (2 hour) mani-pedi followed by a leisurely buffet brunch. I also had some time to pick up a few souvenirs for the kids. The lowlight would have to be the trip home … on my first leg (~3 hrs), I sat next to someone with horrible body odor. I had to rush to catch my connecting flight and missed lunch. I sat next to a woman eating bologna. She actually offered me some (I must have looked hungry), but I knew she flew in from New York, and I wasn’t comfortable with eating meat that’s been in someone’s purse for that long. On the positive side, the smell of warm bologna curbed my appetite. When I got back to Sacramento, it was raining like crazy. I had to make a pit stop for gas and ended up driving in the wrong direction for almost 25 miles – ACK! I did get back before the kids were in bed though, which was my goal.

While I was traveling, James had managed the kids, including a soccer game (another loss) and a school Halloween event. I’m grateful to have a capable husband! Since he had the kids for 4 days, I took the kids to swim lessons Sunday morning. In the afternoon, I went to Melissa and Sandy’s dance showcase. Melissa danced the cha-cha and American waltz, and Sandy danced the tango. I knew how much effort and practice went into the performances, and it paid off … they put on a terrific showcase - I have some very impressive friends! We ended the past weekend with a playdate … Zachary had his classmate/friend Chinmay over for dinner, soccer, and board games.

Two very busy weeks have gone by! I kicked off the first Friday in October with Mahjong night at Melissa’s house. We started the night playing Mahjong, but then Melissa showed us dress candidates for her upcoming showcase. The rest of the night shall be named “underwear intervention.” It provided good laughs, mostly at Melissa’s expense (note: I only jest because I can totally relate), and I didn’t get home until past 2am! Good times with great friends. The next day, we had our usually activities … Calie’s gymnastics class, followed by building a fireboat at Home Depot, and then cheering at Zach’s soccer game. Another win! Post game, a few teammates and their families went to Red Robin for lunch. It was Tryston’s birthday, so his mom brought cupcakes. Happy 7th Birthday Tryston!

After lunch, we drove to Sebastapol for James’ 20th High School reunion.The kids had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa G. Since Calie cried the last few times we got a babysitter, we were apprehensive about how she’d react. We had nothing to worry about – both kids waved goodbye and had so much fun, they didn’t even miss us. Thank you to Mom and Dad G for watching the kids and entertaining them with so many fun activities! The reunion was at a hotel ballroom. I didn’t know anyone (and I don’t like small talk), so I was glad when Rad and Danielle showed up for real conversation. It was great to get to know them even better.

Sunday, we went to Six Flags … it was on the way back home and our workplace sold $10 admission tickets, which included free parking. How could I resist? What a great day to go! It was pretty empty, which surprised me since it was a weekend. We might have had to wait for a turn on a few rides, but most times, we could walk right on. The weather was excellent too – not too hot, almost a bit too chilly in the evening.

Since it was Halloween season, there were characters handing out candy throughout the park. The only downside for the day was the height restrictions. The cutoff for riding alone on a kiddie ride was 36″, which meant Calie couldn’t get on some rides. And the cutoff for the thrill rides was 48″, which meant Zachary was limited to the kiddie rides. After Space Mountain and Tower of Terror, I’m pretty sure Bertie the Bus was a letdown. I don’t think it makes sense to go back until our kids hit those height milestones.

Thursday, my manager treated my team to lunch at Tahoe Joe’s to celebrate the release of a major work project. My team worked evenings and weekends to make the launch happen, so it was nice to be acknowledged for our efforts. I had a salad (okay, with fried shrimp) because I had evenings plans with my girlfriends. Sandy, Melissa, Karen, Rachel and I met up in midtown for dinner at Crepeville followed by a Broadway show. We saw ‘Burn the Floor’, and I was very impressed by the choreography and execution.

Friday night, I played (and lost) Mahjong again. My strategy is to play fast and make as few mistakes as possible. As my dad advised me, it’s better to make quick decisions and lose … and get invited back so that I can practice and eventually win, than to fall into analysis paralysis and not get invited back. Of course, I think there is a fine balance, because if I continue to be a horrible player, I’m not fun to compete with either!

Saturday was extremely busy. I started the day with a short morning jog, and James took both kids to Calie’s gymnastics class (Zach waited and played iPhone games) while I had an eye exam. Then it was off to Zach’s soccer game – where they won, but I was not impressed by Zachary’s sportsmanship. He broke down in tears because he was knocked over by the other team, while unsuccessfully blocking a goal. He kept arguing that the goal should not count. Sigh … a life lesson on flexibility and not taking things too personally.  After soccer, we drove to Alameda for a coworker’s wedding.

Congratulations Xin and May! They had a nice church wedding followed by a Chinese banquet dinner for over 250 people. Their church groups put together a slide show and sang fun, personalized songs. Since two couples from our table did not show, we ended up with a lot of extra food to package up and take home. Hurrah for not having to cook – and bonus that it’s authentic Chinese food.

The next morning, we went to Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm. Since we had a birthday party to go to later that day (didn’t have much time to stand in the long lines), we opted to skip the ticketed activities. Zachary bounced on the hay a few times to let me try out a feature on my new(ish)camera. Calie didn’t want to jump on the hay after falling twice, and mostly liked watching animals from a distance. Then it was off to a playstructure, followed by pig races, and a hayride out to the pumpkin patch. We did meet up with Melissa, but had to leave before spending time with Sandy and Ivette.

After Zachary observed the cost structure of the pumpkins at checkout, he told me that,”Next year I’m going to get a tall thin one because it’s by how wide it is.” Hmmm. Is cheapness nature or nurture? Of course, after 2 weeks of no accidents, Calie fails to make it to the port-a-potties in the parking lot. Hence it was off to the party, in mismatched clothes.

We had a fun time celebrating Zayan’s first birthday at Little Gym. I was impressed by how many people came - it spoke volumes to Reshma’s ability to build friendships for both herself and her little ones. Happy 1st Birthday Zayan!

End of September has been fun, with the highlight being my parents’ 1 week visit.

Calie had her 2-year-old appointment this month. She did so much better than I expected! She followed directions and responded to all the doctor’s questions. She even showed her sassiness when she was asked to open her mouth – stuck out her tongue and made a silly face! The most amazing thing was that she actually peed in the specimen cup. I remember Zach’s doctor asking me to collect a sample at his 3-year appointment, and I knew there was no way he’d pee on command. Very different kids! She also finally received her MMR shot … not that we purposely delay vaccinations, but because we’re slacker parents and never got around to scheduling her appointment until the office called to remind us. As for stats … very average. 34.5″ tall (50%) and 28.8lbs (50-75%). You know you take your kids to amusement parks too much when they tiptoe during the height measurement.

Zachary also had a doctor’s appointment that week. Less routine though. He’s always had a sensitive digestive system, but in the past year, it seemed to be getting worse. He is now on medication … not ideal, but better than the constipation-diarrhea-acid reflux cycle he was in. We are still fine tuning the dosage.

Last weekend, I ran a 5k with my running partners Erjia and Jaybal. My time was 34 minutes and 6 seconds. Not fast, but I did run the whole way … including the uphill trail at the end. That same morning, James took Calie to another trial class at Tricks (I had to call into a work meeting) … and I took her to their open house later that afternoon. Ugh. Too crowded. I still didn’t see a huge difference between what she would get from the class vs daycare, but I decided to sign her up for a month anyway. Heck, free membership and $15 for a month plus free t-shirt. Can’t beat that.

James took Zach to his second soccer game … Calie and I met up with them at the park only 10 minutes before the end of the game due to inaccurate directions from my iPhone. Warriors won … whoo-hoo!

That evening, we went to Satya and Lalita’s baby shower at Naan India Grill. Congratulations Satya and Lalita! The kids loved playing with the balloons, and dinner was awesome. They purposely stayed away from typical Indian buffet food, and had some unique dishes I had never tried before. Calie and I wore matching qipaos that James bought 8 years ago, before we were even married. I was so happy to have a daughter to wear it with … and also pleased that I could fit it again!

The next day, after the kids’ swim lessons and another work meeting, I drove down to the Bay Area to pick up my parents, who had just flown in from a trip to China! That week, we kept Calie home from daycare since we knew she would benefit from some 1:1 time with her grandparents. My mom is the ultimate homemaker – we ate so well, and the house was in better shape despite having a 2 year old running around in it all day. She even did laundry while I was at work – wow!

On Thursday, we invited my friend Melissa and her family over for dinner. They are foodies, and I knew they would appreciate homemade Chinese food. Friday, we took my parents out to Scott’s Seafood, where we maximized their buy-1-get-1-free deal using 2 Vault cards. (Unbelievably, I stayed at 135lbs for the final weigh-in at work … whew!)

On Saturday, I took Calie to her first paid (and 3rd total ) gymnastics class. She really enjoyed it, especially the long trampoline. The circle times, she already gets from daycare, but perhaps it’s special to her that I’m there with her.  At the same time, James took Zach to Lowes to build a firetruck with Alex. At 2pm, my parents joined us to cheer on Zachary’s soccer team. They won again - Go Warriors Go! Zachary had a few assists but no goals yet this season. They say that playing a sport teaches useful life skills, and I would have to agree. Zachary isn’t the strongest player, but he surrounds himself with good team members. I’ve made a career out of this skill.

That afternoon, my sisters drove up to take my parents back to the Bay Area. We had dinner at Yummy Kitchen, and despite apprehension about “Folsom Chinese food”, my sisters and parents enjoyed it. Since Zachary was good all week about eating Chinese food (potstickers, tofu, fish … hmm, still all beige foods), when my parents/sisters departed, we treated the kids to chocolate frozen yogurt topped with gummy bears. After the kids went to bed, James went to JP’s house party – Happy Birthday John!

Today, I had to work again (this really has to stop) while James took the kids to swim class. In the afternoon, Zach and I went to Alex’s birthday party at the local sports complex. He had a GREAT time! Happy 6th Birthday Alex! It was a soccer themed party, and I even burned a few calories running around. It’s surprising how fast 6-year-olds can be! Zachary assessed me as a strong kicker but slow runner. Blargh. We had pizza and cake for lunch. Melissa told Zachary he had to eat a fruit or vegetable, so he ate 8 carrot sticks. (AND, for dinner we went to Red Robin, where he ate a bowl of apple slices. I know, sad that I am pleased that he ate carrots and apples … normal things a 6-year-old child or horse would eat!)

Despite no real parent involvement*, Calie has basically potty trained herself. Her longest no-daytime-accident streak was 9 days … and she’s more often dry than not overnight. We’ve actually started taking her out in underwear, although we still use pull-ups when we go to people’s (carpeted) homes. As long as we can avoid a regression, we’ll have 3 big boxes of diapers to donate! <cross fingers>

*I gave her 2 Silly Bandz (well, knock-offs) as an incentive one week, but I don’t think she made the connection.

Bonus pictures: James and his friend Rad took a vacation day and hiked Feather Falls this month … and a recent family photo we have from Picture People.