Good morning! The comfy couch was free today so Peanut helped himself to the corner.
Fremont
This morning, after dropping Janie off at school, we drove to Fremont to get Mama and Dada’s eyes checked. Since Auntie Jia is our optometrist, the cousins all got to see each other again!
Peanut tried on some glasses today. Mama is a sucker for kids with glasses.
Let’s buy a tree!!
Janie has been very excited about buying our Christmas tree. Dada picked her up from school early and met up with Mama and Peanut at the tree lot.
We had just enough light out to pick a good one and our only criteria was that it was going to be no taller than Janie.
Janie ran around trying to find the perfect tree asking, “how about this one?!”
These 3-foot trees are so cute!
Here’s a Peanut-sized tree.
We picked out tree and waited patiently for the tree guy to wrap it up for us.
The best part of buying a 3-foot tree is that it’s small and light enough to just carry home.
Zoo!!
This morning, we went to the zoo and met up with Rowan, Isla, and Ariel. We got there pretty early and saw lots of animals before they arrived. It’s nice to have the hippo all to yourself. Janie was delighted!
Our baby hippo was awake and posed with the bigger hippo floating in the water.
Mama likes it when it’s empty and there aren’t random people photo-bombing our pictures.
peacock
giraffe
At 11:30, we went to see the bears for their feeding time.
Janie got a spot right at the window and was watching the fish (lunch) swim around before the bears were released.
When the bears were released, one of them quickly caught the fish and the kids watched the bear eat the fish. It’s funny how none of the kids felt bad for the fish and they also didn’t get grossed out.
Next was a ride on the train. We took full advantage of the zoo passes and got all 4 kids on the ride for free!
As usual, Peanut sat out with Mama and watched the train go by.
Uncle James got to meet Peanut for the first time and helped hold him while Mama was putting things away.
Janie scored another smushed penny and chose the bear today. How appropriate.
She also wanted to take a picture with this statue at the entrance. She usually doesn’t want to take photos but when she does, she cheeses-it-up really well.
Here are all four kids together. By the end of the morning, they were all chasing each other around and playing.
What a fun day at the zoo! What’s even better is that Janie took a long 2-hour nap afterward. Hooray!
aquarium
We went to the Cal Academy this morning and arrived right before it opened for members only. Janie brought her spyglass (toilet paper roll) today so she could spy on the fish.
Peanut sat in the stroller today so he could see all the fish.
This was his favorite exhibit. Reminds me of the photo we have of Janie at the same age.
This was Janie at 3 months at the Waikiki Aquarium.
Janie spent extra time at the large tank with Dada. They searched for the fish shown on the guide cards.
Peanut just hung out with Mama and stared at the fish swimming around.
Janie made another smushed penny with Dada and got one with penguins on it.
For lunch, we walked to Pacific Catch just outside of Golden Gate Park.
Janie got a tasty Carrot Ginger soup and they serve fish pretzels and edamame as a snack! Perfect.
And for dessert, we stopped at the ice cream truck and got a vanilla and chocolate swirl soft serve – Janie’s favorite.
On the way home, both kids were asleep in the car. It was a fun and exciting morning for us all.
happy boy
He’s always in the best mood in the morning. This is the look I usually get when he wakes up.
It’s when he is most easy-going and will hang out by himself much longer than any other time of day.
He also likes to sit next to Mama on the sofa while he watches big sister playing.
Light-up Night 2015
For the second year in a row, Dada was in France on Light-up Night. But that didn’t stop us from going to Embarcadero Center to see the fireworks! This little guy was all bundled up to pick up his sister from school and head over to the festivities.
We stopped at the Hyatt first and discovered that they weren’t doing the same festivities as previous years but there was a big tree there!
Back at Embarcadero Center, there was an ice rink with a show right before they lit the buildings. Then the fireworks went off and Janie had a good view of them from below.
She said they were very loud but very cool too.
We later went back to the Hyatt to let the kids run around. Janie took a picture of Mama and Peanut in front of the tree.
Then she wanted to take a picture with Little Guy.
All the kids got a chance to play together and have some snacks before heading out to dinner.
This was the best we could do in getting a photo of all the girls together.
Janie also liked playing with the water fountain.
Dinner was at Super Duper Burgers before we all headed home.
It was a late night for everyone, including this little guy. He napped off and on all evening and fell asleep as soon as we got home.
Cheers! Let the holiday season begin!!
Baby Rhyme Time
This morning, Peanut took a nap in the stroller while dropping off big sister. Once he woke up, he had arrived at the local library and ready for his first Baby Rhyme Time!
We got there a little early and had a reservation so we sat outside to enjoy the morning sun.
As usual, it was a full house and we were so glad to have a reservation. He enjoyed the songs and watched all the kids around him. He smiled each time Mama helped him with the hand motions for Wheels on the Bus and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.
On our way out, he got a library sticker and was all smiles.
This is his sneaky look. “No one’s getting my sticker or my doggie!”
Walnut Creek
This morning, Peanut went with Mama for a 3-mile workout at Lafayette Reservoir.
We also had lunch with Auntie Ranee, Sophie, and Avia. Avia kept saying “baby” every time she saw Peanut. These two will be up to no good together in no time.
Thai restaurant
I guess we couldn’t stay cooped up in the house all day. When Mama asked Janie where she wanted to go for dinner, she said, “Thai restaurant”. So, we bundled up Peanut in the stroller and took a little walk in the dark. Luckily, we had Janie’s trusty flashlight.
I guess she knows this is our usual dinner place when Dada is away.
With a full belly and a brisk walk home, she was ready to go to bed and fell asleep shortly after changing back into her pjs and washing up.