Halloween

I know it's almost Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't resist posting some belated Halloween photos.  It was fun this year because Emi-chan really understood the concept of Trick-or-treating and dressing up.  However, she was very, very specific on what she wanted to be this year: Sofia the First, a new princess from Disney.  It was exciting that she wanted to be a human instead of an animal, but it was so hard to find the costume!!!  I was beginning to get desperate, but not $400 desperate (that was the going rate for this dress on ebay.com).  Finally, I found it on Disneystore.com and ordered it.  Of course I had to get the full outfit: the tiara, the amulet (can't forget the amulet!) and the shoes.  

All in all, it was worth the effort because Emi-chan was so happy and cute, but I was a little mad at myself for getting caught up in the parent frenzy of getting the "right" costume for my child.  I'll probably do it again next year.  

 Here comes the princess on her debut

 Welcome my royal subjects!

 Emi-chan decorated the window

(ignore the mess outside)

 Emi-chan the First!

 Hanging out with boys eating candy

Bleah!  Look at my tongue!

A Lost Tooth

Whee!  Emi-chan lost one of her front teeth recently.  This makes it the third one she's lost since December.

Who Am I?

Lately, Emi-chan has been wanting her face painted whenever we go to the zoo or an amusement park.  Most of the time we distract her because: 1. we don't want face paint all over the place and 2. we didn't want to pay almost $20 for something so temporary.  Alas, we broke down and let her indulge.  The first time was at Happy Hollow.  She chose to be a cat:

 A pink cat to be exact

She had this face on for the rest of the day, until bath time 6 hours later.

The second time was at Gilroy Gardens:

Tiger, tiger burning bright...

It was such a hot day, the pain began to melt off her face as soon as the painter was done.  Yet, Emi-chan was pretty happy with it...for about 40 minutes and wanted the tiger face off. 

Another Busy Month

Time is just speeding by!  Emi-chan graduated kindergarten, attended sports camp, attended 2 birthday parties, and started summer school.  We also egg sat (which turned into quail sitting) and spent a couple of days in Half Moon Bay.  Phew!  and the summer is only half over.  

Here are some highlights from the past month:

 Happy Graduation!

 Resting for a moment 

at sports camp

 8 quail chicks:

They weren't supposed to hatch for

another week...

 Birthday party #1

 Tide pool at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

 Kelly Beach at 

Half Moon Bay

 Synchronized swimming

with Papa!

Birthday party #2

Family Farm Fun Day

A couple of weekends back, there was a Family Farm Fun Day for children with Autism event in town.  I heard there would be miniature horses and games so I decided to take Emi-chan.  It was a small turn out, but intimate.  Everyone had a relaxing time trying out games and spending time with the horses and the donkey.  Emi-chan loved the time with the animals and kept going back to spend time with the horses and the donkey.  

Although Emi-chan spent most of her time with the horses, she tried some of the other stations, like making a little bag and blowing bubbles.  I was surprised she wanted try face fainting.  Usually she doesn't want anyone to touch her face, but she insisted on having a panda painted on her face.  She kept the panda on her cheek all day she loved it so much.  

Emi-chan loved her time with the animals and her face lights up whenever I mention Family Farm Fun Day.  

 Emi-chan leading a horse with a trainer

 Emi-chan and donkey

 Face painting

Emi-chan and classmate

Happy Birthday!

Emi-chan turned 6 years-old!  I can't believe how time has flown.  It feels like she was just a baby, and now, I have a soon to be first grader.  

She's a lucky little girl.  We threw her not one, but TWO birthday parties.  The first one was on her actual birthday.  Since it was on a Tuesday, it was a little one with just Emi-chan and I (Rick was at work).  She had Cars cupcakes.  I don't think she was really impressed.

Here's my cheesy smile

Not bad...

A few days later, we had a party at SwaRay! with a ton of kids from school, playmates and friends from Sunday School.  She seemed a little overwhelmed but happy.  I know I was overwhelmed.  I think Rick was, too.  

Emi-chan really wanted a Ratatouille themed party.  I tried to talk her out of it, but she was dead set on it.  I wasn't thrilled about having to hunt down rat-themed party items from a 7-years-old movie, but I did it.  Here are a few photos from the party:

One of the play rooms

Popinata!

Go Jimmy!

POP!

(See me flinching in the background)

Blow out the candles, Emi-chan!

Snow Days

Last month, we decided it was time to adventure out and go on a snow trip.  Rick and I have never planned a snow trip on our own.  We've gone on snow trips, but other people planned them and we tagged along.  And we haven't been to the snow in, oh, about 20 years or so.  So, we had a lot of planning to do.

First, where to go.  We ended up in the Gold Country, in Angels Camp.  Why there?  I don't know.  It seemed like everybody and their uncle went to Tahoe, and the other side of the family they don't speak to went to Yosemite, and nobody ever went to to the Gold Country, so there.  We got a pretty good deal for a time-share condo and it was very nice.  It was weird to be treated, I don't know, so nicely by the staff.  The only draw back was we kept getting invited to time share seminars, but Rick shooed them away (my hero).

We went to a sno park about 50 minutes from Angels Camp and introduced Emi-chan to sledding, and getting re-introduced to snow and cold and wet boots.  It was a lot of fun!  Emi-chan kept yelling "again" to Rick each time they went down the hill.  I had fun watching.  I did go down a couple of times with Emi-chan, but the last time I nearly hit a big rock and a tree so I gave up.  

Would we go again?  Yes! 

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.  Hopefully,  I'll be able post here at least once a month.  I hope.  Here are a few things Emi-chan experienced the past couple of months:

 Special Report!

Emi-chan tried turkey, cranberry sauce

and creamed spinach!

 Trimming the tree:

A very detailed job

On Christmas day:

the kids receive a billion toys 

and what do they play with?

The iPad and SmartPhone 

I lost my first tooth!