Picture Day

Here's how Anna looked on picture day. Hopefully her hair stayed put when they took the actual photo at school!

Charlie Brown

Just taking some photos in the backyard...


In this photo I noticed Sam's head seems to be close to the shape of a perfect circle...

Disneyland's Petting Zoo

Disneyland has a petting zoo tucked away near Big Thunder. Yumi and I took the kids one day afterschool for a short trip. Anna liked the goats and sheep...


Sam was a little apprehensive, he can't handle anything bigger than a small bird these days.


Adjacent to the petting zoo is a small cabin where kids can color some Disney pictures. We were the only ones in there, it felt like our private house for the time being, we were like VIPs at the park.


Sam enjoyed this time more than going on the rides, I think we all did!

Allyn, contact me!

Allyn, I see you have commented on recent postings! Email me/call me... I need your info so I can get in touch with you! I've tried your old email address! Your last phone message cut off on me!

Mina :)

Quack, quack...

Last weekend we had breakfast at a park in Huntington Beach, and Anna fed the ducks breakfast as well. She fed them two bags of duck food that we bought at the restaurant.


I might have mentioned Sam loves ducks. Especially this big white variety... or are these geese. Hmm... in any case at the sight of a pond, even if empty, Sam says "cack, cack" in anticipation of seeing one.

The things people leave curbside...

Yes, a piano. Left curbside right around the block. Sure, it's a little out of tune, and some of the keys stick. But a piano!

Detective Steve saw it curbside on trash day last week, went up to the door and asked if it were for the taking. The answer was "yes" and would he like help bringing it home? Steve said he'd be fine so there are treadmarks in the street from wheeling it home. Currently it's outside under a tarp, soon to go into our "clean" garage... or the bedroom? Neighbors enjoy "delightful" tunes in the meantime.

First Day of School

Yesterday was Anna's first day of school. Here are Steve and Anna posing in front of the classroom...


...and here we are in the courtyard near her room.


Anna was super-excited about school starting, but once we were there she really just wanted to know where her teacher was, to put her mind at ease by seeing another familiar adult face. Things went smoothly after they all lined up.


The teacher allowed the parents two minutes to take photos in the classroom before their lessons began. I didn't see any parents crying but once they were away from the crowds perhaps it was different.

Sam's First Ice Cream Cone

Sam had his first soft-serve ice cream cone the other day, at IKEA. Double-click on the above image for all the "action".
Even though he looks pretty nonchalant, he ate practically the whole thing!