Nose Picker...

Lately Jack has been picking his nose more often...often enough to catch it on a camera!! I think it is hilarious and had been using this picture as my PC wallpaper but Aya thinks it just encourages Jack to pick his nose more often so I had to change my wallpaper picture....still think it is funny!

Sand Dune...

Last week we went to the Sand Dunes with Jenny. When Jenny told me that she was running up a hill of sand I thought two things:

1. The hill couldn't be that big.
2. It couldn't be that hard.

Yeah, I was wrong on both counts. The sand hill is pretty freakin large. It may not seem that large in the picture but it is 100 feet high. As for difficutlt...way harder than I thought. Walking the dune isn't so bad but running the dune is tough...especially when you get 3/4 way up it just seems to get steeper and the sand seems softer so you 'sink' in further.

It was still fun and I would rather do something like that then just round around a track. Aya and Jack also came along. I originally thought that Jack and I would play in the park with Aya and Jenny went up the hill but Jack didn't want to be left behind so Jack went up the hill as well. He loved it!! He loved going down even more!!

So even though it was harder than I thought, I didn't think I would get sore. That night my legs got so sore and tired that I had a hard time sleeping because if I moved I was sore. Grr.

I think I might have to go back...but during the day. Aya and Jenny like running the cold and dark. I like running in the warmth of the sun and while the sun is out!

Piggy Bank...

Well during these economic tough times, I decided to teach Jack about saving some money. Instead of just using his piggy bank as a decoration, I am teaching Jack to put his money into his piggy bank and when he saves up enough money then we can go to the store to buy something.

Good thing Jack doesn't know how to count money yet because when he gets a $20 bill I put $18 into his savings and then only $2 for his piggy bank. If not, he would be able to go to the toy store all the time!

Birthday...

I have tried to avoid this day for 3 years now, but I think the time has finally come...weekend birthdays! ugh.

For the last 3 years we didn't have a birthday party for Jack because I didn't want to subject anyone to the pain and torture of a childs bday. I figured if I don't invite other kids then they won't invite Jack and then I don't have to go to any birthdays on the weekend.

Now that Jack goes to pre-school, he has certain 'friends' that he plays with at school so now I figured we should at least go to the party if we are invited.

We went to Child's Play for a dinosaur themed party for Jacks friend Justin 4th bday:



Jack is also friends with Amber (who leaves school the same time as Jack so I have seen Amber a few times):



Jacks first time in a ball pit and he loved it!


A "dinosaur" that was doing balloon animals:

Disneyland...

Jack was on spring break and Aunty Dawn took the day off from work since it was her birthday and she got free admission to Disneyland.

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: