Sunday Shopping...

Century City:



Jack's first trip to Beverly Hills:


Versace:

Easter...

We celebrated Easter and Dawn's 30th birthday at my parents house:

Palm Springs Part II...

We stayed at the Westin Resort and Villa's in Rancho Mirage. It was pretty nice...it was like staying in a condo. We had a full kitchen, outdoor bbq, two patios and a patio table. Perfect for a family stay and I think we will go back with Jack once Jack can stay outdoors at the pool for 8 hours.

Our trip wasn't as eventful as day 1. It didn't deter us from drinking but we didn't booze it up as much.

Here is Aya waiting for a table at breakfast:



Walking to the car for dinner:



Dinner at LG's steakhouse:



Dinner at the Corktree restaurant:

A great anniversary for us. It doesn't seem like Aya and I have been married for 10 years already. It just kind of went by in a blink of an eye for us. We watched our wedding video for the first time in 5 years and it was bitter sweet.

You think you remember the day but then you see the video and you see all the little details you forget about. It was bitter sweet because the video shows the loved ones we have lost since the time we got married.

Still it was great to think of all the things that have happened to us the past 10 years. Happy Anniversary!!

Palm Springs Part I....

Last week Aya and I headed to Palm Springs to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Jack stayed home with Grandpa and Grandma so it was just me and Aya again.

Our first night in Rancho Mirage we went to Las Canseula's. One of Aya's coworkers recommended the joint to us. When we drove up the parking lot was HUGE and it was packed. I assumed it was for a strip mall but as we got closer to the restaurant we discovered the parking was ONLY for this mexican place. We had a 45 minute wait at 7:30 in the middle of the desert!

Aya and I decided to wait at the bar and even the bar was packed. When it was my turn to order, I got margaritas and the bartender said, "Small" or "Large"? Of course, LARGE.

Well, the drinks weren't that large so I swear I think Aya put a roofie in my drink because we got HAMMERED!

Cheers:



Yum...but already getting faded:



Total boozer:


Happy time!
We bumbled and stumbled our way to the room and then passed out. I was so drunk that I started to get sick but I was too lazy to go to the bathroom to throw up...so I threw up in mouth and then ate it again.

I realized that it was nasty so I spit some out on my pillow...but I then thought I don't want to sleep in it...so I just turned the pillow over and hoped I wasn't sleeping in barf.

Whew...when I woke up I had some funky morning breath. Ahhh...vacation.

Sports...

Here is a video clip of Jack shooting a basket:

Here is Jack on baseball's opening day:

Swim Class Week 5...

I had a busy week posting last week so this was from 2 weeks ago. Hopefully it was a break thru week for Jack because he did SO MUCH BETTER at swim school! Yeah!!

For the first time he did not cry. He did not stall. He listened. He did a lot of the drills, float, assisted roll over, climb out of the pool, jump in and put his face under water.

Granted he still did not want to go to class but once there he was a lot more comfortable. He still freaks out if he swallows the water but I think he is finally understanding he can't talk and swim at the same time.

10 Year Anniversary...

It sure doesn't feel like it was 10 years ago, but 10 years ago today Aya and I got married at Friendly Hills Country Club.


It had been raining all week and then the day of our wedding the skies clears, the sun came out and we had perfect weather!



I met Aya in late 1996, hmm....I must be getting old, I can't remember when we got engaged, 1997 or 1998 and then married in 1999. I am going to say engaged in 1998....I totally got sick when I bought the engagement ring.

Yup, 10 years...who knew. I know everyone thought Aya wouldn't stick around this long but that just shows my greatness as I was able to get her to marry me before she knew any better!

Totally NOT cool...

This is a conversation with my mom last week:


Miles: I am not going to enroll Jack in summer school.
Miles: If you get a park & rec mailer let me know because I will sign him up for that instead.
Mom: OK, I was already thinking of enrolling him in gymnastics.
Miles: Gymnastics??
Mom: Yes, it should be fun.
Miles: Gynastics is kind of G-A-Y.
Mom: It is tumbling
Miles: Hmm...I guess but he isn't good at that stuff.
Mom: Yes so gymnastics will help his coordination.
Miles: What about karate?
Mom: Well, we were thinking of doing gymnastics AND ice skating?
Miles: ICE SKATING?? What the heck?
Mom: What is wrong with that?
Miles: Gymnastics and ice skating are the TWO gayest male sports.
Mom: No.
Miles: YES...absolutely not. NO ice skating. Karate. Maybe gymnastics but thats it.

Can you imagine if Jack actually was good at ice skating?? Goodness gracious. I wouldn't be able to tell anyone where I was going on weekend for his practice or competitions. I dunno...I know I am his dad and everything but I just dunno if I can be supportive watching male ice skating OR gymnastics. Nope...no way...can't do it....not for a boy.

Oscar's Birthday...

Yup, lots of birthdays. We celebrated Oscar's birthday at the Canal Club in Venice.

I forgot I had my camera so I only took one picture from Happy Hour.

Dawn's Birthday...

We celebrated Dawn's birthday this past weekend...the big 3-0. THIRTY years old...I bet some of you out there are feeling pretty old now!!

We went to Sakura for dinner:



One of the few places where Dawn actually eats a lot of food:



Back at home for cake:



Jack wanted to cut the cake to get the FIRST piece:



Jack using Aunty Dawn as his own personal pillow:

Jenny's Birthday...

We had a belated birthday celebration for Jenny at Duke's in Malibu on Saturday. I wasn't 100% sure if I was going to go but Jack said he wanted to go see Aunty Jenny so Aya and I decided to go to Jenny's birthday.

Even though Jenny texted Jeff, Saori and myself 30 minutes before the start of the party CANCELLING it, all of us still ended up going...except for Ron and Judy...deadbeats.

Jeff and Melanie:



Saori's Family:

Red-faced Jenny and Jack:

Swim Class Week 4 video...

Jack is slowly improving at Swim school. We try to practice during the week but sometimes Jack just refuses to go to the pool to 'practice'. He will go to 'play' but he doesn't want me to do any of the drills that he does at swim school.

Swim Class Week 4...

This was week 4 for Jack's swimming class. The second he woke up Saturday he told Aya and I that he did NOT want to go to class.

Despite not wanting to go, Jack really did a lot better. Class is private one on one for 15 minutes and this week Jack tried talking to teacher Lauren for the first 5 minutes and stalled as long as he could before actually doing anything. Grr. I was not happy that teacher Lauren was falling for Jack's stalling tactic.

Luckily teacher Lauren went right ahead with class and kept the weekly progression. Jack tried wimpering and fake crying but none of it worked:

Even though this pic doesn't look like Jack was doing well, this was his best week. He held his breath more, put his face in the water and did assisted roll overs. Hopefully next week he won't cry anymore...but I doubt it.

You had to be there...

This is NO April Fool's joke. It should be...but it isn't. Over the weekend Aya, Jack and I went to the park at our house. No one was there except for the three of us.

Jack and I like to race from one end of the park to the other. We had a race and the first one to tag Aya at the other end was the winner.

Jack and I took off running and as we neared Aya, Jack started to lose his balance, leaning more and more forward until SPLAT...he takes a header into the sand. He was okay, but after I did my winner-winner dance, Jack claimed that I pushed him down. (I did not...thought about it...but didn't push him).

Jack then tells Aya and I to race each other and tag him.

Aya says okay and then Aya and I walk to the other end of the park. Keep in mind the entire length of our park is about the width of 10 cars so not long at all.

As Aya and I are walking to the other end this is our conversation:

Miles: Are you sure you want to run?
Aya: Sure
Miles: You aren't going to fall are you?
Aya: Nnnn-oooo.
Miles: Are you sure?
Aya: It isn't far at all.
Miles: Yeah, so are you sure?
Aya: No I will be okay.

Ready, Set, Go!! And we are off...

I was kinda jogging and then I see Aya really determined to win...so I sped up a little and from the corner of my eye I see Aya start to lean forward....then more forward...then SPLAT!

The EXACT same spot...the exact same position...Aya crashed in the sand!!! You would think and adult would put there hands out to break their fall but nope...Aya's hands are pinned into her body and she has a mouthful of sand!!

I KID YOU NOT!!

The sad part is Jack runs over and the first thing he says is, "You pushed Mommy down!! You tackled her in the sand!"

Grrr...what the heck is wrong with this boy?? Then it all flashed in front of my eyes.

Some kids are the first ones picked....some kids play the bare minimum minutes. Well, it flashed in front of me that Jack would be the last one picked in sports and I could just picture him running over after the game...not happy or sad if his team wins or loses...but what kind of refreshments are being served after the game!!

Jack and Aya are peas in a pod!

P.S - Both Jack and Aya were okay from there tumble. I on the other hand was a bit saddened because I realized Jack really did inherit Aya's athletic prowess.

Brea Part II...

Since the front yard is not landscaped, Jack had fun riding on the front lawn made from dirt. Too bad he fell at the end and landed in the gutter water.