Epiphanies

We saw the Radio City Rockettes at the OC Performing arts center in Costa Mesa.  It was pretty cool and festive.  Definitely had xmas spirit.  People were dressed up in red outfits - was cute.  Think the kids really enjoyed it as well as my MIL.  J slept through half of it and he enjoyed the other half.  I was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t give us any trouble at all.

We ate lunch at Mitsuwa’s after that.  They had these New Year’s mochi things that I was tempted to buy just to try out since it was a Japanese traditional thing but I didn’t.  I’ve been trying to be really good about not impulse buying since we’re buying a new house.  I need to refrain.  Of course, I went to Target and that all went down the crapper.

Guess life got in the way.  Things have been so hectic lately, I hardly have time to think.  ACE started today.  C started Karate and B started guitar.  The karate teacher is just too laid back to command any kind of respect.  He doesn’t really have a way with kids either.  C seems to enjoy it so far though so I guess I can’t complain.  But if I were to enroll my kid in a real karate dojo, I definitely would not go to his.

B starting guitar is cool except I think the ACE coordinator really should have scheduled guitar on a different day.  Monday and Thursdays are music days and the likelihood of kids having another musical instrument to carry is high.  So not only does B have to bring a violin, he needs to bring a guitar also.  It will be ok though.  Since I have to bring C in for karate anyway, I’ll just have to drop off the guitar each time as well.  What a pain.

We’ve been cooking brown rice the last two nights.  It’s really not that bad at all.  I really want to eat healthier.

I met a woman in the park, Ashley.  She was the nanny of this little 18 month old girl whose name I couldn’t even spell out if you asked me.  They’re Italian.  She was pretty cool, we chatted for a bit.  J was really cute.  I wanted him to get used to sand seeing as how we’re in California now.  I let him eat sand once so that he would know not to do it again.  It did discourage him for a bit so that was ok.  I think he’ll forget next time though and do it again.  This was a big change from the last time I let him sit in the sand.  Last time he didn’t like the feel of sand on his toes.  This time, he was practically swimming it and had a lot of fun swishing it about.  He’s so cute.  I need to bring a camera next time.  I could only take a photo from my cell.  Oh well next time.   I need to think about how to schedule his naps though because he was pretty cranky today from lack of sleep and now I’m cranky from having to deal with it.

Took the Metrolink with Lisa and Pamela and all the kids to San Juan Capistrano. It cost me about $20 for the train tickets - for me, and B. C was free. Zoomars was fun for the kids because they liked chasing the guinea pigs and putting them in baskets. Buying carrots for the kids to feed the animals was great for the kids. They loved feeding the rabbits, llamas, mini donkeys and emus. Those emus were like velociraptors. They really snapped their necks towards us - was a bit scary. The kids didn’t want to do the pony ride nor the train ride. Oh well. Metrolink was a pretty nice train, multiple levels. I had trouble finding parking though at the station. I had to follow someone around finally in order to get a spot. That was highly stressful when you have a timetable to follow. We ate at Ruby’s later and the kids all had milkshakes and fries. Healthy I know.

We hosted our second Family Night out.  It was fun.  Reminded me of the days when we camped out in Central Park in NY for picnics under the stars while listening to symphonies or operas.

We also went house hunting in the morning.  Depressing.  Why can’t we find a house we like?  I’m a bit stressed over it.

Went to the company picnic at William Mason Park.  The idea was great, the execution less than stellar.  If you are going to throw a bbq, make sure it has good food at the very least.  Hot dogs, corn, hamburgers and chicken is the lamest bbq menu you can possibly have for a company picnic.  This is how you show your employees appreciation?  They had some game booths but ran out of stuffed animals relatively quickly.  They should have had a kid only section because it was unfair that adults could play.  The booths were too simple for adults.  The emcees were probably the only hi point.  They got the crowd going with bingo, party games and such.  B won a chess set, a boogie board and two stuffed animals  (one which he won for C).  It was fun meeting Dh’s coworkers though.  I especially liked meeting Robert and his wife Ling because they were super nice and I’ve heard so much about them since we moved out here.