Anna is 10!

We celebrated with a dinner at one of Anna's favorite restaurants, Garlic Jo's. She had the molten chocolate cake for dessert. Party photos will be posted soon!

Happy 1st Birthday Julia!

Girls Scouts and Cookie Sales

Anna's Girl Scout Troop has been selling cookies at the mall and other locations. We had a fun time at the Main Place Mall. It was neat seeing the girls interact with those ready to buy the cookies. The popular flavors are the Thin Mints and Caramel Delites.
This is a wonderful group of fourth grade girls, eager with lots of activity ideas, and ready for service projects as well. We started out with the minimum 4 girls needed for a troop, and now there are a dozen.

My Valentine's Day

Steve surprised me with flowers and then brought home chirashi sushi for dinner.

Valentine's Day Candy

Here are Sam and Anna afterschool on Valentine's Day, with cards and candy necklaces galore. The excitement continued at home where they looked at their treasure trove, each item, one by one. It's no wonder that many kids say Valentine's is one of their favorite holidays.

San Juan Capistrano Date

Steve and I had a Friday holiday while the kids went to school, so we went down to San Juan Capistrano for brunch at the Ramos House Cafe. Steve ordered the bbq pork sandwich with the best sweet potato fries, and I had the crab hash with bacon scrambled eggs. Afterward we took a stroll behind the train tracks and then went to the mission. It was a very relaxing day.

Making Valentines

Sam and Mom at Mother's Beach

Anna at Mother's Beach

Tet Festival

Last year, Cook Elementary held its first Tet Festival. Here at Monroe Elementary, this has been a tradition for several years. Dragon dancers, singers, and even a magician entertained everyone in attendance. While grand in scale, it made me nostalgic for last year's inaugural event at my old school and for its teachers, one who lent me the ao dai that I am wearing. Thank you Tho! Here's to old friends and new friends, and new beginnings! Happy Chinese New Year.

Mother's Beach in Long Beach

We've passed this little beach on our way to Belmont Shore but never stopped here until after our meal at Open Sesame. This gem of a playground is called Mother's Beach, I had heard of it before and now I can why it was named so: shallow waters buoyed off, slides and monkey bars on the sand, and grassy area with the perfect climbing trees for kids to perch on. The homes across from the water made for a nice backdrop. Steve had packed the trac-ball and we had a fun time playing and prancing at Mother's Beach.

Open Sesame

Yes Sam, this is a sit-down restaurant and we're going to have you try something new...


What we ordered:
Pita (which Sam enjoyed) and hummus
Potatoes with garlic and lemon
Lebanese pizza (Anna enjoyed all of the above)
Lamb and okra on rice
Beef Shwarma
Iced tea with mint