Aloha Hawaii

Hawaii is such a beautiful vacation spot and we were excited to stay at the Aulani Disney Resort in Ko'Olina, Oahu.  It's a brand new posh resort that opened a few months ago sprinkled with a little bit of Disney.  The resort grounds were amazing with a lazy river where you can float down a stream in your inner tub which Lucas loved, various pools, snorkeling pool with tropical fish, sting ray habitat and a kids club (which Lucas was a bit young for but he loved the enourmous ipad device and the movie theatre).  We spent a lot of time in the water and on the beach.    When we were in the hotel room, he referred to "hawaii" as the resort downstairs.  "I want to go to Hawaii".  Oh and we spotted a bunch of celebrities at the hotel since they were filming Kelly Live and sat in the audience.  All her guests were staying there so we kept running into random celebs, like Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mathew Morrison, Daniel Dae Kim, Jorge (Hugo from Lost), Carson Kressley. 

The last part of the trip we attended Helena and Kevin's wedding at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, and it was such a beautiful and intimate wedding.  Lucas at one point was break dancing and spinning for the guests during cocktail hour. What a ham!  We are missing Hawaii already!

Mount Seymour & Vancouver

We went for a visit to Vancouver in January for almost 2 weeks, and I had almost forgotten the weather during this time - rain and dismal.  I've been too spoiled by the california sun!  The sun did peek out on the day we went to Mount Seymour for sledding.  It was only a 30 minute drive away and were on a mountain top with snow and sleds and sun.  It was Lucas' first experience with snow and he love making snow balls and throwing them at the tree trunks more than the sledding itself.  It didn't help that the first time he went with Todd down the hill, they bit the dust and he was scared after that and spent the rest of the time playing in the snow. 

We did the usual, EAT and EAT and EAT with family and friends.  Todd and I took advantage of the babysitting in the evenings and went out every night. 

Mount Seymour, Vancouver

 

Lucas & Maddie

Vancouver Aquarium with Maddie & Conner

Look at these goofballs and their snacks

We met Elliot! Myra & Charles' little man.

Private bouncy house in my brother's House.

5 Pin bowling - A canadian thing!

Oh and the roller coaster in my brother's house.

Dynamic Duo

More eating

Cousin Aisha - Happy 2nd Birthday! Fun party!

Lucky got to sit in the cockpit with Captain Bill on the plane ride home!

3 Strikes for Lucas!

This year we celebrated Lucas' 3rd Birthday at Presidio Bowl in San Francisco.  He is so into bowling these days, on the ipad, his mini set at home, wearing his bowling t-shirt.  We rented 2 lanes for him and his little friends and all of them had a blast rolling the 6lb ball down the lane.   Lucas is still talking about how much fun he had!

Wee

Here's Lucas and I playing in the park (my new office these days) in our soon to be new neighborhood Noe Valley.  He asked me to join him in swinging back and forth and was particular that I sit on the red one and him on the yellow one.

Summer begins!

I love summers in the bay area and you really can't beat the weather.  Coming for a city that rains, I've been pretty spoiled by the weather here.  I guess that's why it's so expensive to live here.  A perfect start to summer with a fun-filled 4th of July weekend!  And a Happy Canada Day too!


Lucas and I took Todd to the zoo on his day off.  Lucas was more interested in the steam train ride, which he rode on twice, than the animals but I figure sooner or later he'll get into the animals.  There's a little petting zoo area we went to and Lucas had fun feeding the goats, until they started swarming him and then he got a freaked out. 

Brunch the next day with 2 of my friends and their families who I worked with at Hotwire.  It was nice to catch up and meet Curt's little girl for the first time.  Then we were off to the park with the boys.

Ready to go in after having some tequila!

Couldn't wait for New Kids on the Block Concert with Backstreet Boys that evening.  That was a trip down memory lane and it took me back to my teens and going to their concerts then.  I went with a bunch of girls who were big time fans, so it was fun to live that all out with them.


While I was at the concert, Todd and Lucas went to Ivan & Kevin's pre-4th of July BBQ which I heard was so much fun. Bummed I missed it, but nkotb called :-)

Pool party at the Bergmans! Quite a different scene from 5 years ago where we we didn't have kids and they threw late into the night house parties.  Now, it's kids kids everywhere.  I think they are beginning to outnumber us. 

4th of July BBQ with Coni and friends at her place.  Todd fired up the grill and cooked us steaks, chicken, corn..yum yum. 

We ended 4th of July evening with fireworks at K&P's house which is in the hills of San Mateo.  They have a sweet outdoor patio which a clear view of the fireworks.  Lucas as into the first 5 mins, and kept saying after every fireworks "i see it, i see it!" about 15 times. 

NYC

I was lucky enough to take a short trip to new york with some girlfriends - diaper and stroller free!  We rented an apartment in Chelsea area and roamed around the city.  I've been to New York several times for work, and have seen all the touristy sight seeing stuff, so I was excited to go this time with Y who's lived there and D who's been there a bunch of times.  I got to explore the different neighborhoods (my feet were throbbing after each day of walking) and ate my way through new york.  I can't wait to go again.  Oh, and the weather was so perfect too. Not muggy and really warm.  

Stoop in front of our apartment in Chelsea

Here's a list of the places we ate over 3 days.
Cafeteria
Doughnut Plant
Chelsea Market
Tuck Shop (Australian Meat Pie)
People's Pops
Truffle Salt at The Filling Station
L'Arte del Gelato
The Corner Bistro
Billy's Bakery
Bon Chon
Momofuki Noodle Bar
La Bottega (below the Maritime Hotel)
Magnolia
The Coffee Shop Bar
Le Pain Quotidien (it's like the La Boulanges of the East!)
Famous Original Ray's Pizza
Boqueria

The street we lived on - such a cute neighborhood with tons of brownstones.

Highline Park - Such an oasis in a bustling city.

people are sunbathing

view of city traffic

meatpacking district - meat and high end shopping and restaurants. interesting combo

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Special ordered the fried chicken weeks ahead.  A lot of chicken for a bunch of girls..delish!

Famous pork buns. yummy!

Magnolia Bakery - you can get cupcakes at midnight!

Caught a broadway show.  Good one!

Dive bar with excellent burgers!