The restaurant has a large patio area, which is about the same size as the indoor space. The kids had a great time playing with Mia after they were done eating, and we had no problem keeping an eye on them from the patio.
Breakfast at Jimmy's Place
On Saturday, November 7, I took the kids to Jimmy's Place in Union City (http://www.yelp.com/biz/jimmys-place-union-city). Vanessa's mom and dad were having a soft opening for their new breakfast/lunch place. I was looking forward to going because of my love of breakfast food. It only took 20 minutes to get there. A lot faster than I had thought it would take. The food was delish, fresh, and very reasonably priced. We got 5 beignets for only $2. The menu is really diverse. And if you like omelettes and eggs benedicts, they have a great selection. I want to take Hansel back there since eggs benedict is his breakfast of choice.
The restaurant has a large patio area, which is about the same size as the indoor space. The kids had a great time playing with Mia after they were done eating, and we had no problem keeping an eye on them from the patio.
The restaurant has a large patio area, which is about the same size as the indoor space. The kids had a great time playing with Mia after they were done eating, and we had no problem keeping an eye on them from the patio.
Mia's 5th Birthday Party
Sunday, November 1, was Mia's 5th birthday party. Hansel was still in Toronto, so I took the kids on my own. Since I was so preoccupied by all the Halloween festivities, I hadn't yet bought Mia's birthday present. Call me last-minute Lisa. So we left a little earlier to buy a gift on the way.
When we got to Valley Dance and Cheer, they had just finished doing a dance routine and were about to start on the obstacle course. The place had a great set up. There were two large gym floor areas and a loft area above, where tables and chairs were set up and where you could look down on the action. Maile and Beck loved the obstacle course. I was setting up courses for the kids for days after the party.
There was a plethora of desserts including cupcakes that Lynna made. Maile and Beck used potato chips to scoop off and eat the frosting. Not a combination I'd try.
For party favors, the kids got hula hoops. All the kids immediately started playing with them in the first gym area. Beck didn't really know what to do with it. But a few days later when the kids were playing with them at home, he got the hang of it.
Halloween Cookies
We had some cookie dough left over from the Halloween cookies I made for Beck's school. So we made some pumpkin shaped cookies with the dough, and the kids decorated them. Below are the results.
Halloween Party
For the past few years, my two cousins who both live in Los Altos have taken turns hosting a Halloween party. Since we had not hosted Halloween before, we offered to host it this year. And, it was also a good opportunity to invite them to our new home. We also invited our good friends and neighbors, the Yaus.
One of the days leading up to the party, I took the kids to Diddams to buy some party stuff. Afterward, I took them to the Peninsula Creamery for a milkshake. It was their first milkshake. We got strawberry.
Hansel unexpectantly had to go to Toronto, and I would have managed okay (thanks to the Yaus who watched Maile and Beck earlier in the day) if it weren't for these darn spiderweb eggs I decided to make. It took me like 10-15 minutes to peel each egg, and for a lot of the eggs I didn't even peel off the entire shell. The reason it took so long is because I had to peel off the shells while keeping the thin membrane in tact to keep the spiderweb effect. Other than the spiderweb eggs, we had Carrot Fingers, Mummy Hotdogs, Pizza Mummies, Blood and Guts with Eyeballs (linguini, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella balls stuffed with olives), Halloween-themed cheese and crackers, pumpkin mini-muffins, and green juice (kiwi and mint). I got all the recipes online. One of my cousins brought Halloween cookies while the other brought vegan pumpkin muffins.
One of the days leading up to the party, I took the kids to Diddams to buy some party stuff. Afterward, I took them to the Peninsula Creamery for a milkshake. It was their first milkshake. We got strawberry.
Hansel unexpectantly had to go to Toronto, and I would have managed okay (thanks to the Yaus who watched Maile and Beck earlier in the day) if it weren't for these darn spiderweb eggs I decided to make. It took me like 10-15 minutes to peel each egg, and for a lot of the eggs I didn't even peel off the entire shell. The reason it took so long is because I had to peel off the shells while keeping the thin membrane in tact to keep the spiderweb effect. Other than the spiderweb eggs, we had Carrot Fingers, Mummy Hotdogs, Pizza Mummies, Blood and Guts with Eyeballs (linguini, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella balls stuffed with olives), Halloween-themed cheese and crackers, pumpkin mini-muffins, and green juice (kiwi and mint). I got all the recipes online. One of my cousins brought Halloween cookies while the other brought vegan pumpkin muffins.
After dinner, I stayed home to pass out candy while the rest of the mom and dads took the kids trick-or-treating. We didn't get as many kids as I expected but more than we had gotten in Los Altos. Around 7:30 I heard a gaggle of kids ring the doorbell. To my delight it was all of our kids returning. Oh how I wished I had a camera at hand. It was a sight to see all of them thrusting their buckets at me and saying "Trick or Treat."
Another Phone Photo
Some of my favorite photos of Mathis I took with my phone. Below is the most recent one from 10/30. In the photo, the canopy of his carseat is down. He did that himself. He likes lowering it. It's funny when he wakes up after falling asleep in his carseat, his hand will shoot up and he'll pull the canopy down and crane his nect to look out. I want to get a shot of that.
Halloween Parades
Sadly, on Saturday, 10/24, Hansel's paternal grandmother passed away. She lived a long life surrounded by her loving children. Hansel flew out to Toronto Friday morning to attend the service.
On that Friday, both Maile and Beck's schools had costume parades. Maile's was going to start at 8:30, and Beck had to get to school no later than 9:15. But then, I had also volunteered to help bake cookies for Beck's school and was asked to try and drop them off as close to 9:00 as possible. I knew that wasn't going to happen; I was hoping to get there before 9:15.
We took the below photo of Maile before Hansel left. It looks like it's night time but it's actually 6:50a (before the time change).
Not sure what Beck's classmate is looking at. As far as I know, he didn't have any candy stashed in there.
On that Friday, both Maile and Beck's schools had costume parades. Maile's was going to start at 8:30, and Beck had to get to school no later than 9:15. But then, I had also volunteered to help bake cookies for Beck's school and was asked to try and drop them off as close to 9:00 as possible. I knew that wasn't going to happen; I was hoping to get there before 9:15.
We took the below photo of Maile before Hansel left. It looks like it's night time but it's actually 6:50a (before the time change).
Beck, Mathis, and I stayed long enough to see Maile's class parade around and then bolted for our car. Beck's school has a tiny parking lot that is always full, so we had to park on the street. When I dropped off the cookies just before 9:15, I was relieved to see that the other cookies hadn't been distributed yet, so we weren't late.
Not sure what Beck's classmate is looking at. As far as I know, he didn't have any candy stashed in there.
After the parade, some of us parents in Beck's class helped set up an art project for decorating pumpkins and then set up the potluck. I had let Mathis hang out on their circle time rug. Normally, he's cooped up in his carseat.
Claire and Ed's Birthday Party
On Sunday, 10/25, the Suns had a birthday lunch for their daughter, Claire, and Ed. They had a bounce house and had someone making on site Indian crepes and pancakes (forgot what they are called). I had never had them before. They were delicious.
Ed said Tina wouldn't be able to put 40 candles on one cupcake. She proved him wrong. In the first photo Vanessa is lighting the candles. In the second and third photos, the candles are aflame.
Ed said Tina wouldn't be able to put 40 candles on one cupcake. She proved him wrong. In the first photo Vanessa is lighting the candles. In the second and third photos, the candles are aflame.
While we were at the party, Hansel was finishing the Silicon Valley marathon. Afterward he wasn't that thrilled about his time. But after he had time to think about it, he realized his time was pretty good, considering he had been really sick earlier in the month.
Lucas' 3rd Birthday Party
On Saturday, 10/24, Maile was going to a Princesses Disney on Ice with Hannah and Zoe, and Beck was going to go to Lucas' 3rd birthday party. Originally, the moms were going to take the girls to the ice show, but Hansel wanted to take Maile. He had a few reasons -- he wanted to see Maile's reaction, he needed to pick up his packet for the Silicon Valley marathon he was going to run the next day, and he wanted to take it easy before the race. Since Hansel decided to go, Zoe's dad decided to go as well. I think those guys are closet ice skating fans.
So, I took Beck and Mathis to Lucas' train-themed birthday party, which was at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. The park has a small train and a carousel.
So, I took Beck and Mathis to Lucas' train-themed birthday party, which was at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. The park has a small train and a carousel.
Beck already had a dress-up train conductor outfit.Here is Beck with the birthday boy, Lucas, and his older brother, Marcus.
As we were leaving the party, I let Beck play at the playgrounds. He made a beeline for the train.
For party favors, they had conductor hats with each child's name and train-shaped lollipops. Mathis is gnawing on a wrapped one. They were wrapped super tight, so I knew he wouldn't be able to get to the lollipop.
More Random October Photos
I found some more photos on my phone that I took in October.
Maile likes taking photos with Mathis. Below is one of them.
The other photos are examples of Mathis smiling with his eyes (or as Tyra would say, "smizing," not sure of the spelling) and not smizing.
"Smizing" (smiling with his eyes)
Not "smizing"
Maile likes taking photos with Mathis. Below is one of them.
The other photos are examples of Mathis smiling with his eyes (or as Tyra would say, "smizing," not sure of the spelling) and not smizing.
"Smizing" (smiling with his eyes)
Not "smizing"Harvest Festival
October 17 was Ohlone's Harvest Festival, an annual event to raise money for the school's farm. As part of the hospitality committee, I volunteered to bake something for the festival. I first baked some pumpkin applesauce cookies from a recipe I cut out of the newspaper. They tasted okay, but I felt not yummy enough for someone to buy. So I made pumpkin bread, which turned out better. But based on what I later saw at the tables, I'm guessing my bread didn't get bought. There was a lot more decadent, enticing stuff there, like M&M cookies, cupcakes, etc.
Each class organized a table with an activity. Maile's class did a make-your-own paper lantern activity. Maile got her face painted, of course. And Beck played a chopstick game. He started out kind of slow and shaky, but by the end he was moving kernels of corn. There was also live music, which the kids enjoyed. There was a boy playing the guitar who looked to only be maybe 8 yrs old.
Each class organized a table with an activity. Maile's class did a make-your-own paper lantern activity. Maile got her face painted, of course. And Beck played a chopstick game. He started out kind of slow and shaky, but by the end he was moving kernels of corn. There was also live music, which the kids enjoyed. There was a boy playing the guitar who looked to only be maybe 8 yrs old.
Random October Photos
Below is from the first time Mathis was in a playground swing at 8.5 mths old. The reason we hadn't tried one earlier is Maile and Beck don't play in tot lots any more, so we're not around those types of swings. Mathis loved it -- a lot more than Maile and Beck when they were babies.
The below photo could be titled "Beck in a Box." He was playing in the dress-up storage ottoman.
The below photo could be titled "Beck in a Box." He was playing in the dress-up storage ottoman.
Our attempt at a family photo. It's sometimes harder to get Beck to look at the camera than Mathis.
Maile getting the princess treatment from her PoPo.
Reading to the kids before bedtime. Not sure how Hansel got Mathis' attention, but what a reaction.
Beck slipped off the bathroom stool and bit his tongue. He said it didn't hurt. It doesn't look that way.
"Let's Go Shopping"
Mathis playing with his first laptop.
Mom Flies In, Hansel Flies Out
Well before Maile's school started we bought tickets to all fly out to DC the first weekend in October for Haniel and Anita's 40th Birthday party. A couple of weeks before I looked at our itinerary and was surprised to find that we were going to be gone for almost a week and that Maile would miss 4 days of school. Since she just started school, I didn't want to disrupt things by pulling her out of school that long. So I decided to stay home with the kids while Hansel went to DC. My mom wasn't able to come out when we moved, but afterward she asked if I needed her to come out and help. I didn't at the time, but now I did. She managed to fit in a two-week trip and flew in the Monday before Hansel left.
It was great having her here. Mathis took to her right away thankfully. He sometimes has stranger anxiety or more likely separation anxiety. As usual when my mom visits, I fell off my pescatarian diet, but she did cook with less meat and more veggies.
The Saturday after Hansel left I took the kids to a Moon Festival Celebration at Beck's school. They had various stations set up where the kids received stamps after completing each activity. After they received 8 stamps, they could turn in their paper in exchange for a tea egg. The activities were simple and fun -- face painting, frame decorating, make-your-own lantern, make-your-own mochi, story telling, etc. Maile was entranced by the story telling even the one told in Mandarin.
It was great having her here. Mathis took to her right away thankfully. He sometimes has stranger anxiety or more likely separation anxiety. As usual when my mom visits, I fell off my pescatarian diet, but she did cook with less meat and more veggies.
The Saturday after Hansel left I took the kids to a Moon Festival Celebration at Beck's school. They had various stations set up where the kids received stamps after completing each activity. After they received 8 stamps, they could turn in their paper in exchange for a tea egg. The activities were simple and fun -- face painting, frame decorating, make-your-own lantern, make-your-own mochi, story telling, etc. Maile was entranced by the story telling even the one told in Mandarin.
Beck's First Classmate Birthday Party
Sunday, 9/27, was Beck's first birthday party for a classmate and the first party he went to without Maile. Since we didn't know the family personally, I didn't think it would be appropriate to bring Maile altough I did bring Mathis. But since he's strapped to me, he's more like an extension of me rather than another person.
The party was at The Little Gym where Beck used to take a sports skills class. Two teachers from his class were actually running the party. Like their classes, they spent the first part of the class warming the kids up by running in circles. It's so basic and doesn't involve any of the gym equipment, but the kids love it.
The party was at The Little Gym where Beck used to take a sports skills class. Two teachers from his class were actually running the party. Like their classes, they spent the first part of the class warming the kids up by running in circles. It's so basic and doesn't involve any of the gym equipment, but the kids love it.
Lisa's Getaway
A while back, Diana organized a girls getaway in Sonoma with me, Ann, Caroline, Leilani, May, and Vicki for the last weekend in September. Even though I was looking forward to it, I was a little worried. It was going to be my first whole day away from Mathis, and he hadn't taken a bottle since his first month. In preparation, for a week we'd try to give Mathis some formula from a bottle once a day. He never drank more than a couple of ounces.
Since it was going to be my first whole day away from Mathis, I decided not to join most of the gals for brunch and hitched a ride with Ann. I also decided not to partake in a spa treatment since I still had a couple of spa certificates waiting to be used at home. It was nice just to relax by the pool and catch up with everyone without the distraction of kids and babies. For dinner, we ate at the El Dorado Hotel. Dinner and dessert hit the spot.
Only Diana, Leilani, and I stayed the night. I pumped a couple of times before going to sleep, but still ended up waking in the middle of the night to pump because I was so uncomfortable. It was like Mathis was still with me.
On the flip side this was the first time Hansel took care of all three kids for a whole day. Mathis did not sleep at all during the day and would cry every time he saw the bottle, but at least he slept through the night out of pure exhaustion.
Since it was going to be my first whole day away from Mathis, I decided not to join most of the gals for brunch and hitched a ride with Ann. I also decided not to partake in a spa treatment since I still had a couple of spa certificates waiting to be used at home. It was nice just to relax by the pool and catch up with everyone without the distraction of kids and babies. For dinner, we ate at the El Dorado Hotel. Dinner and dessert hit the spot.
Only Diana, Leilani, and I stayed the night. I pumped a couple of times before going to sleep, but still ended up waking in the middle of the night to pump because I was so uncomfortable. It was like Mathis was still with me.
On the flip side this was the first time Hansel took care of all three kids for a whole day. Mathis did not sleep at all during the day and would cry every time he saw the bottle, but at least he slept through the night out of pure exhaustion.
One Month Later
So a month after the kids' schools started, we're still settling into school. On Tuesday, Maile's school had a Parent Coffee for parents of kindergarteners and 1st graders. I baked a coffee cake for it with the assistance of Maile and Beck, but I couldn't even stay for it since I had to drop Beck off at school. The next day Maile had her first day of Spanish class. We don't expect her to necessarily speak, but we thought it'd be better than being bored at home when Beck is still in school.
Here's a family photo we took that night.
I discovered only two weeks before that Maile had a four-day weekend -- Friday was a teacher in-service day and Monday was Yom Kippur. That's what I get for not looking at her calendar in advance. So Friday I took Maile to the Palo Alto Jr Museum, which we can walk to, to meet up with Hannah. They had a great time inside the museum and out in the little zoo. They spent a good amount of time playing on and around the frog statues.
Even though Maile and Beck play really well together, I sometimes feel like I should play with them more. I realized the wardrobe boxes from our move could be used as play houses. So I flipped them over and set them up in Beck's room. The kids had a great time. After a few days, they turned one of them into a slide. Anything can be a toy.
Here's a family photo we took that night.
I discovered only two weeks before that Maile had a four-day weekend -- Friday was a teacher in-service day and Monday was Yom Kippur. That's what I get for not looking at her calendar in advance. So Friday I took Maile to the Palo Alto Jr Museum, which we can walk to, to meet up with Hannah. They had a great time inside the museum and out in the little zoo. They spent a good amount of time playing on and around the frog statues.
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