A very busy weekend 04/14-15 2012

To think just a week ago the temperature was in the 50's, it was kinda amazing how beautiful the weather has been in the last few days.  Of course we took full advantage of this not too hot, not too cold weekend to  , what else? Going to fairs and amusement parks!

So Saturday we head out to the annual youth fair at the fair ground.  It felt like yesterday when I took Z with our playgroup to the same fair last year.  Too bad I forgot my phone AND a camera so there's no picture.  I will always have the mental pictures in my head of Z riding the pony eating waffles with ice cream getting a kiss from a sheep watching newborn piggies making paper hats walking thru the garden learning the names of veggie and fruit plants making music dream catcher visor girl scout flag....

Sunday:

Our Sunday began with church.  The church still had decorations up from Easter so Z naturally wanted a picture with the pretty butterflies.

Strike a pose~

 Lunch in the car while on our way to Legoland. Yup I love Legoland (for Z) and determined to get my money's worth.

Told her to smile

Instead I got this.  Z loves to make silly faces lately when getting her pictures taken.

One of her favorite ride.  AND first time on the ride BY HERSELF.  At first she was hesitant until she saw a few boys riding by themselves. 

So much fun!!!

Our other love at Legoland: Apple fries with caramel cream sauce!!  Z completed melted down once when we were sharing one, since then we always get our own.  One for Mommy, one for Z.  No more fighting!

On this day there were a small group of Star War characters hanging around the Star War lego scenes.  There was also a band playing music from the movie.  Z didn't know who Princess Leia was but as soon as we told her she is a "princess", Z became very interested.  After we took this picture Z asked  why this princess didn't wear a pretty dress.....

Driving a boat...Z was #7

Successfully docked at the port! 

Z heard music from NYC and started dancing.  

Z doing homework under DV's (yeah, we are that tight) supervision

Time to drive!  Love that there was no wait

Z surprisingly was a great driver.  She was the only one completing 3 laps while all other vehicles were tangled amongst themselves or ramming repeatedly in into the sidewalk.

while we waited for the last ride Z made me a castle.  I have to constantly remind myself to soak up the moments when all the creative outlets are dedicated to me.  

The nearby flower field is officially open and spring is officially here.

For dinner, we had fresh seafood at Pelly's Fish Market.  This is a BYOB place and the staff are super helpful and friendly.  Love the calamari in the picture. 

Spring is here.  That means Easter, the return of farmers market (yay!), baseball season (2x yay!) and nicer weather for fairs!  Last weekend we came to the OC fair ground for the Youth fair which was alot of fun!  This weekend was the annual Pet Fair.  We love seeing all the animals!!

We were greeted by the lama lama red pamaja by the door.

And baby piggies.

Once we made it inside the exhibition hall, it was doggies galore! This was a grandma doggie.

So was this one.  She was older than CoCo!  Looking so good!

Z participated in the reading to dogs program.  After she got to take the Curious George book home.

His name was Henry.  I don't think he changed position or opened his eyes at all when we were there.  He did hold paws with Z when I scratched his tummy.

The book was all done!  Z cuddled with Henry.

Z read her book to another doggie.  This one is a very nice Whippet.  I didn't know that they are low-shedding and don't smell.  And like to lounge.  Z made herself very comfortable here.

This pup had a hat, wig and doggles on.  And posed.  What a good doggie!

The Iam's Jump show was very fun.  We got to watch different types of dogs do Frisbee tricks.  The trainer dude was way too excited and too loud though.  Other than leaving half deaf I really enjoyed the show.

We made it our mission to visit the kitty cats when here.  It was a chilly day and these two cuddle buddies looked so cozy.

It was very neat to find mommy and baby cats.  Lately Z has been into pretending to be baby kitty cat.  These two were nursing and Z thought it was funny.  

Baby Tiger!!  Why are you drinking a Coke?

After we left the fair, it was time for dinner!  What better to eat in a cold dark Sunday afternoon than a bowl of hot ramen in broth??  

Very tasty tonkatsu ramen @ Ramen Yamadaya 

Juicy and Tender Kaarage.  

I'm Chinese!

As Z approached the 3 1/2 year mark, I noticed she became aware of race and language.   She sometimes would ask if what I just said is Chinese or Spanish.  And whether so-and-so we know is Chinese or Spanish.

I read an article in News Week tonight about family that move to Asia and hire Asian nannies, all so that their kids can learn to speak Chinese.  I'm fluenent in Chinese, yet Z and I speak in English.  Don't know when it all changed but when she was little I spoke mostly Chinese to her.  Maybe since she started school she picked up on more English??  Anyways I'm always a firm believer in that language is a gift, so....starting this week I Will make an conscious effort to speak to her in Chinese.  A few of my Chinese friends who were born and raised in the US all told me their parents used to pretend they didn't understand and therefore couldn't respond to the kids' request ( or anything else,  but mostly request for food) in English.  The kids were pretty much ignored until they tried to ask in Chinese.  And my friends all said that's why they speak Chinese well today,  cuz their parents forced them to!!

Let's hope little drama queen takes being ingnored well (not!!)

Seaworld and Legoland

After having Z, I became a sucker for amusement park pass.  Ok, Disneyland pass is justified since it's just a few exits down the freeway from us, but did I have to get Seaworld and Legoland passes?  They are both fun places but they are in San Diego....

Determined to get my money's worth (I can see/think clearly now, so no renewal), and also to spend time with out-of-town friends, Z got to go to Legoland one afternoon and Seaworld the other day...

 I had to work on Monday morning, so by the time we got down (with me flying on the freeway) it was almost 2pm, with only 3 hours to spare before closing.  We wasted no time to meet up with friends and hopped on the first ride...

 It was a holiday and surprisingly Legoland wasn't super crowded (or maybe it was because most have already came and left....)

 Z was having such a good day.  She loved her friends.  I couldn't help but to post almost all the pictures I took of her that day...She was just enjoying every second of it!

 "Look mommy, I'm so tall!!"  Z is obsessed with being tall now because apparently (according to mommy) that's the biggest benefit of eating her spinach and broccoli.

 "2+3!!!  23!!!"

 This was our view for the rest of day.  The two adore each other.  Funny they tried to act all shy around each other during the first five minutes.

 Love all the poses!

 Come visit again soon friends!  We miss you already!

On a Sunday in February, we also visited Seaworld.  This day the weather wasn't great.  In fact it was drizzling when we got to the parking lot and Z had to change pants because she fell in a water puddle.  Luckily the sky cleared up quickly and we were able to enjoy Seaworld barely anyone there.

 Our first show.  We missed this the last time we came (yes, we have came here TWICE since I got the pass last year.  Did i get my money's worth?  I'd like to tell myself so)

 Z got her face painted for the first time.  I have always shy away for it since Z doesn't like to wash her face...Did she approve?

 A sparkly pink dolphin??? Is there even a question!

 She rocked her face paint for the rest of the day.

And got to meet Elmo and Grover!

Life Sessions from my 3 year old

"The poet Billy Collins once laughingly observed that all babies are born with a knowledge of poetry, because the lub-dub of the mother’s heart is in iambic meter. Then, Collins said, life slowly starts to choke the poetry out of us. It may be true with music, too." -Gene Weingarten of The Post in “Pearls before Breakfast”.


I will try to always remember to stop and smell (and maybe even touch) the roses, Z.  And I promise I will try my best not to rush you when you're doing the same.


Mommy