Happy Hallow, Again

 Recently, Emi-chan and I went on a play date with one of her classmates, Little Boy M, and his Mom, M.  Another family was supposed to join us, but couldn't make it.  Emi-chan was excited to see the animals, but both she and Little Boy M spent most of their time on the rides and on the play structures.  We all had a good time and I got to chat with M and learn more about her and her family.  But, boy!  It was exhausting chasing after 2 energetic kids!

Emi-chan loved the cars!

Little Boy M is looking at the falling water.

Emi-chan is looking for guinea pigs.

The goats were very aggressive this day.

A few were knocking people over 

to get fed.

Raagh!  The Mighty Dinosaur Hunter!

The Jungle

Emi-chan and I had a play date at The Jungle with a friend from her old co-op preschool days.  I haven't seen E-san, I-chan, and Little I-kun in months so it was fun to hang out with them.  

There were a couple of firsts for Emi-chan.  One major one is that she actually spent time playing with I-chan!  It was neat to see them running around together, giggling and taking turns with the games.  Another is that Emi-chan acutally climbed into part of the maze.  Usually, she would freak out when she tried to venture into the nets and tunnels, but she braved it to keep up with I-chan.  I was very proud of her. 

Some random shots:

I-chan "swimming" in the ball pit

It's jumpy-jump time!

I got into the net,

now how do I get out?

Emi-chan playing "basketball"

Zebra

Catching Up

It's been a L-O-N-G time since I last posted.  I was lazy (like usual) and we all were fighting one cold after another.  We're finally healthy (knock on wood).  Hopefully, we'll stay healthy for awhile.

Emi-chan's has done a lot since the last time.  She's doing very well at school and on the most part, can handle herself fine during outings (except for maybe today...).  

I'll be posting again soon.  Here are some teasers for upcoming posts:

We'll be back soon!

Emi-chan's Excellent Adventure Part III

Sorry for the long break.  Emi-chan got sick, again, and I was distracted.  Here's the 3rd segment of her busy week during her winter break.  

Emi-chan and I met up with a friend L and her daughter at Coyote Point in San Mateo to enjoy the break in the rainy weather.  It was a gorgeous day!  We met my L at the main playground at Coyote Point.  I thought there was a giant concrete slide in this play area, but L said it was replaced years ago with a GINORMOUS castle/slide/climbing structure.

The castle/slide/climbing structure from far away

 

The view from the castle/slide/climbing structure

 

Emi-chan didn't like sliding, but she liked climbing

After about an hour or so, we said bye to L and her daughter and made our way to the Coyote Point Museum, renamed CuriOdyssey.  The name may have changed, but the exhibits were mostly still the same.

One of Emi-chan's favorite exhibits,

a Rube Goldberg machine you crank

Look! A coyote at Coyote Point!

It was a nice visit to a great park and kid's museum.

Happy Birthday, Emi-chan!

I'm taking a little break from chronicling Emi-chan's adventures this past week to write about her birthday!  She turned 4 years old!  Time has really flown by.  

This morning, after she woke up, Emi-chan opened some birthday presents and got a call from Grandma and Grandpa.

Later in the day, we helped Unca Jeff out and Emi-chan opened more presents.

The cute little bear family was from Unca Jeff. 

 The Mater Firetruck was from Uncle Ted, Auntie Yumiko and Mi-chan.  

 Then we gave her a cupcake and sang her "Happy Birthday."  She loved the icing on the cupcake.  

Hanging out with Grumpy Bear

 Her favorite toys were the least

expensive ones...it figures

We hope she has a healthy, joy-filled, wonderfully blessed year.

Emi-chan's Excellent Adventure - Part II

On Monday, I took Emi-chan to Happy Hallow Park and Zoo.  Partially because Rick and I promised her a trip to the zoo if she used the potty 30 times and she finally did last week, and partially because she was driving me bonkers cooped up in the house.

On the way down, she kept talking about animals (giraffes, elephants, etc.).  The funny thing is this particular zoo doesn't have those animals.  Mostly animals like parrots, cows, goats, and lemurs.  Oh, I think they have a jaguar.  Once we got there, she wasn't interested in seeing the animals.  She just wanted to play and run.  

 The only animal she wanted to see: a parrot

 On a rope bridge

 I'm on top of the world!

Emi-chan went on a bunch of rides, even the ones I was sure would freak her out. 

She liked the ladybug ride this time

She loved the car ride

 Here's Emi-chan screaming,

"All done swing!"

 

Emi-chan's Excellent Adventure - Part I

On Sunday, we decided to go to Half Moon Bay and visit tide pools when we got a last minute invitation to have dinner with some friends in Monterey.  We quickly changed our plans and headed down for some seafood for dinner and to visit the tide pools down there.

We hung out at Uncle Vince's house until some people showed up and then headed to Pacific Grove to check out the tide pools at low tide.  I guess during the spring and summer the low tide is pretty low and the sea is mellower.  

When we went, the tide wasn't very low and the sea was pretty angry.  But we persevered and checked out the pools.

We saw a lot of hermit crabs and sea anemones.  And I didn't knowingly step on them and destroy the poor sea creatures.  Emi-chan had a great time looking at the hermit crabs and throwing rocks into the tide pools.

We finally called it quits after about 40 minutes or so because it was getting dark and it was so COLD.  Emi-chan was the only one who wasn't affected by the cold.  We'll come back, when it's warmer.   

Valentine's Day

We had a low key Valentine's Day.  I made a salmon dinner and ate it myself because I was too hungry to wait for Rick (sorry, Papa).  Then Emi-chan and I made chocolate brownies.  She did a good job mixing the ingredients, sprinkling the sprinkles, and eating the batter.  

W

After the brownies were done, I had a great idea of cutting them into heart shapes using a cookie cutter.  Cute idea but I had trouble making them look cute.  Oh well, the brownies still tasted good.

 

Sick, sick, sick

We're all sick at the Yoshida Shire.  First, Emi-chan caught a cold and got over it.  Then I caught the flu, then Emi-chan caught it from me a couple of days ago, and now, Rick is feeling pretty blah.  *Sigh*  So much for hoping and praying for a healthier new year.  

Happy New Year!

I'm so far behind in posting.  It's pitiful.  One reason why is that we were all sick until recently.  Emi-chan was the worst off.  She had an awful cough and her nose was running constantly, but we were still able to do somethings together.

 Practicing riding the tricycle

Push faster, Papa!

Crafting

 Perfect!

 Swinging on swings

Stomping on her friends

If you look closely, you can tell her cheeks are RED.  That's because Emi-chan kept rubbing her nose and face with her shirts and refused to blow her nose in a tissue.  Another issue we have to work on.

To The Zoo

We went to Happy Hallow Zoo on Thanksgiving weekend.  This was the third time for Emi-chan and I, and the first time for Rick.  We had a good time despite it being FREEZING the whole time we were there.  It was so cold that most of the animals were either huddled around the heat lamps or hiding in their dens.  That was alright because Emi-chan spent most of her time riding the rides she didn't get to go on the past two times we went.  

 Yaaaah!!

(I'm grinning so I won't scream)

 Emi-chan's favorite ride,

Danny the Dragon

 The view from behind 

Danny's head

 Fake pandas

 The 3 Little Pigs

 Yeah, I can handle this...

 Hey!  No!  Wait!

Get me off this crazy thing!

 Oh, Papa, stop being so silly!

Yes, Emi-chan went on the roller coaster and the lady bug rides.  She really wanted to get on.  I doubt that she'll want to be on them again any time soon.