Our Impromtu Trip to LA

Ferris Wheel at Knotts Berry Farm

The good news is that I got a job offer to work part time at a small CPA firm in Walnut Creek.  The bad news is that we can't take vacation this summer since July - Sept are busy season at my new work place.  So as soon as I accepted the offer, H and I decided to take the kids on a short vacation during Memorial day weekend.  The easiest place to go at a last minute notice was LA, so we took the kids to Knotts Berry Farm and California Science Center.  We pulled the kids out of school on Friday (yeah, so unlike us) and drove down to LA.  We first stopped by Griffith Observatory to let the kids learn about space and see and touch telescopes.  The next day, we spent the whole day at Knott's Berry Farm.  The place wasn't big, but lines were long.  Of course we didn't go on the level 5 scary rides, but even so, we didn't hit everything.  But we did go to the new part of the park and the roller coaster ride called Coast Rider was the boys' favorite. 

Mui was the only one who wants a picture with Snoopy.

On Sunday, we went to California Science Center, home of the spaceship Endeavour.  We love hands on science museum because C loves science and wants to know how things work.  Even in the bay area, we have annual membership to SJ children museum.  Since we're in LA, of course, we cannot miss the opportunity to see Endeavor and the largest science museum in CA.  The place is humogous with 4 stories of hands on fun.  There are also many discovery centers on every floor for babies and toddlers.  You can learn about plants, space, human body, and anything science related.  The biggest attraction is the spaceship.  When NASA brought the spaceship to this Science Center, the boys saw it flew across their school.  Now they are excited to see it up close.  It was very interesting to learn about space and what the astronaunts did there.  We even saw the space potty and learned how astronaunts use it in zero gravity.  The ship itself is magnificent, it's huge and grand.  I can't believe human is capable of creating such ingenious machine.  If we, mere mortal, can be this smart, then, God, our creator, is capable of so much more.  We weren't allow to go inside the ship, but currently there are plans to build a Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center next to the Science Center to place the spaceship vertically as if it was ready to be launched.  The new building will be many many stories tall so that the spaceship can be viewed from many levels.  It is anticipated to open in 2017, I can't wait to see it.  The Science Center is so big that we can easily spend a whole day there, but the boys really want to see the beach also.  Therefore, we left early and headed for Manhattan beach.  The weather was nice, not too hot or too cold.  The beach is clean with plenty of parking.  There are walking and biking path.  The boys and mui just love playing with water and sand.  Joshie dugged in the sand and found many tiny little sand crabs.  Mui likes to just scoop sand.  They did this for two and a half hour.   I love that the kids had so much fun just being outdoor and getting dirty.  What a blessing to see that they can enjoy the simple things in life and find joy without needing expensive experiences.

See the sand crab in the middle of the shovel?  It was J's mission to find more.

3rd Grade Musical

At Jensen, all the third grade classes put together a musical for parents and the school.  Last year, C saw this play and liked the music.  Since it's his turn to be in the play this year, I asked him if hewants to audition for a part.  He said no.  Every 3rd grader is automatically in the chorus and since he doesn't like to be in the spot light, he doens't want to audition.  And he didn't want to give up lunch recess for rehearsal.  H and I encouraged him to audition because he likes singing and we think he will do a good job.  Being a part of the musical will be more fun than just singing back up.  We also wanted him to be involve in school and be an active participant, not just sit back and watch others.  After some convincing he decided that he will audition.  To audition, he has to sing solo to all the 3rd grade teachers.  C chose three parts that he would like to audition for.  We didn't think he will get a part because he is so quite, but we just want him to try and participate.  Low and behold, everyone who tried out got a part. He got the part of an ant in the Rumpus in the Rainforest.  Even though it took alot of time from recess to be in rehearsel, he told us that really likes being in the musical and it was fun.  Here is a little clip of the musical.  For kids who are out going or not so shy, trying out for something and performing might not be a big deal.  But for someone who is shy and does not like the spot light, this is a big deal that he stepped out of his comfort zone to experience something different.  It takes a lot of courage, boldness, and faith.  We are just so proud of him.  We hope that this will be the first of many courageous steps that he will take as he grows.

Wedding Anniversary and Mother's Day

Today H and I celebrated our 12th anniversary.  Believe it or not we got married back in the days when digital photo was not very common.  Those camera was still quite expensive.  So ALL our pictures are in 35mm film.  On top of that, we got a really really bad photographer.  H and I paid for our own wedding and I only started working for a few months.  So our budget was limited.  Correction, extremely limited.  The photographer had a good portfolio, but when he did our pix, they were terrible.  Pictures were dark and when he did use flash, it caused shadows.  So not sure how his portfolio was so nice, perhaps not his work.   The picture above is so many time better that my wedding pix.  That is my biggest regret for the wedding.  I have always wished that we had better wedding photos.  Ours is so terrible that I am ashame to show them.  And since they were not digital, there is no way to fix them.  Oh how I wish we can retake those pictures.

Perhaps now we can.  I can fit back into my wedding gown and all my wedding day dresses again.  I really do love my wedding dress.  My mother made it for me from my own design.  She puts all the design and sequence on by hand.  I love the details, the fit, and the length.  It's hard to see all the details from the above pictures.  She made the three flowers on the back, cut the lace in the design that I wanted and sew it on by hand, and she wrapped each button on the back with the same fabric as my dress.  I was born with a wide shoulder, so I never liked wearing strapless or spagetti strap dresses.  So I designed this dress to hide my flaws.  My mom also made all the bridesmaid's dresses and flower girls' and ring bearers' outfit.  On the back of my bridesmaid dresses are flowers just like mine and loops to hold their shaws. I liked my bridesmaid dresses so much that I asked my mom to make me one too.  Not sure if I told her, but I loved all the dresses she made for my wedding.  I had 4 dresses that day.  I wish I had some place to wear those gorgeous dresses to.

So on this Mother's Day, I want to tell my Mom that I appreciate all that she do/did for me.  Thank you for making me clothes, cooking for us when I am busy, taking care of my kids so I can have a break, and being a great example of patience and kindness.

80s Pastime

C have been asking to try rollerskates.  I really didn't know where to take him since there are no more skating rink.  And I didn't want to buy him rollerskates that he will grow out of in a few months.  Praise the Lord that CSUEB has a rollerskating club that puts together family rollerskating event to promote the sport (I think it's a sport).  Who knew that there such a club?  This was the first time they did it so there weren't that many people.  But it was great for us.  H and I already have our own rollerblade from our college days.  And the club has kid skates that the boys can borrow.  They even had a pink Barrie one for Mui. 

I love rollerskating.  I remember going to the rink often with my friends in JR high school.  Even back in the days, roller rink were closing left and right and they were usually located in the bad neighborhood.  So my parents doesn't want me to go so much.  But I loved skating to rock music and dancing. 

J didn't have a hard time with his skates because it's easier to balance on rollerskates than on rollerblade.  C had the blade and it took him awhile to balance.  But after about an hour he can go pretty fast by himself.  As for H and I, skating is like biking, once you learned it, you won't forget it.  But H was more rusty that I was.  Although I can't jump and spin, I can do pretty well.