This morning we packed up camp and headed home. Cheers to another camping trip with these animals.
Camping in Oakland
We are camping in Oakland this weekend! Right after swim, we headed home, packed up the car, and drove up the hill to our campsite in Redwood Regional Park. The 0.8-mile hike up the hill from the car to the campsite with ALL our stuff was rough but we made it. By the time we had the tents up and dinner warmed, it was 9pm and everyone enjoyed Dada’s beef stew.
Another Celebration
Every year, we have Chinese New Year dinner with old friends from UCLA (Uncle Bang and Uncle Ryan). It’s fun to see our kids grow up together. Poor Janie came down with a fever that evening and didn’t look so happy by the time we got around to taking their annual group photo.
Lunar New Year Eve
Every year, we celebrate the new lunar year with Rowan, Isla, Jack, and Reese. This year, we met up for dinner in San Francisco Chinatown.
We also take a photo of all the kids together every year.
After dinner, we hand out red envelopes to all the kids and the amounts get a little more as they get older.
Happy Year of the Dog from this dragon and ram!
Lunar New Year 2017
It’s Chinese New Year and the start of the Year of the Rooster. We had dinner in Millbrae with the usual gang and got another photo of the kids together again.
Dim Sum
We celebrated the Lunar New Year this morning and Peanut joined the gang at the table with his applesauce and some of Mama’s jook.
He also got his hands on this bao but luckily didn’t get it to his mouth before Mama caught him.
Happy New Year!!
Dinner at the Clubroom
This afternoon, Jack, Reese, Rowan, and Isla came over with their parents for dinner. We were lucky enough to get the Clubroom for our dinner party. Janie set-up her tea set while Daddy prepared the steak.
Peanut got to meet Auntie Michelle today. She was very impressed by his weight and sturdiness.
Janie had dinner at the counter with Reese while the others sat at the tables.
The kids were super rowdy after dinner but then settled down to watch Madagascar 2 before heading home.
Last Camping Morning
Today is Mother’s Day and Mommy woke up to these two little jokers. Janie must have slept really well last night because she was in a great mood.
For breakfast, all the kids had cereal and milk.
The kids found an extra big banana slug near the campsite.
Janie played her kazoo again while Mei Mei tried to stomp on it.
Before the fire went out, Janie roasted one last marshmallow. Her stool came in handy all weekend and went everywhere with her including the bathroom, picnic table, and campfire. Everyone called her the “stool monkey”.
Uh oh…that marshmallow is toast!
What a fun camping trip and the mess on her face really shows it! She slept the whole drive back to Auntie Jia and Uncle Jason’s house and when she woke up, she was all smiles.
Skipped Nap
While lunch was being prepared, Janie drew some banana slugs.
Auntie Vyl prepared some yummy noodles with veggies, chicken, and peanut sauce.
Then, instead of taking a nap, Janie ran laps around the campground with Rowan and Auntie Vyl.
We also built a fire and Janie played with her painting notebook while Jack and Reese watched.
https://youtu.be/dytd-DC4Xbc
She also learned how to roll dice during a game of “Pass the Pig”. Actually, she was rolling pigs but she got the idea.
Everyone snacked on fruit, cucumbers, salami, and cheese before dinner.
We also had some early marshmallows and Janie was so happy.
https://youtu.be/2QyZWJmoFyA
She roasted one next to Daddy but it went up in flames before she could eat it.
Before dinner, Janie and Mommy did some relaxing in the tent. No napping took place at that point either.
Later, we all went out for Mexican food nearby since we didn’t have anything food prepared for that evening’s meal. As expected, Janie passed out in the car on the way back to the campsite and slept for the rest of the night. I guess that’s what happens when you skip your nap.
Evening Campfire
After dinner, Janie was ready to go hang out in the tent. She must have been exhausted from the day’s activities but I think she was just excited to be sleeping in a tent. So, she changed into her PJs and hung out with her books for a bit.
In the meantime, we started a fire and eventually she asked to come back out.
She loves marshmallows and was very interested in watching everyone roasting them.
I think she gobbled up 4 marshmallows that night while we were all preoccupied.
We also put one on a stick and let her give it a try too.