p.s. the Dole pineapple whip is the BEST!!! when it touches your lips…

Mario taught the newbies poker and soon had everyone playing into the wee hours.  Alcohol was definitely involved.  Lots of  laughing. Tons of snacking.  It was a good night.

Friday we headed to Heavenly to ride the Gondola and play at the Adventure Park.  The gondola ride up was breath-taking.  So much fresh powder and the clean air.  WOW!   A stop at the Observation deck , some photos and off to the Park.  The kids did a short stint on the saucer ride.  Lily liked it once and only once.  She just wanted to walk, touch and eat snow.  We headed back after a lite snack.   Everyone was beat especially the parents.

Saturday we packed up and headed out around 2.  Took last minute photos and a fast sled ride before heading back home.  Mario made it home in record time.  We got home at 4.  Glad to be home.

These pics capture time spent with friends, families & Christmas. Lily has blossomed into a little girl. She’s grown a couple of inches and her feet are quite big! She’s definitely hit that terrible two stage but it’s not as bad as we imagined (so we think?). She’s thoughtful with a tinge of attitude. Today dad said lily gave him the “stink eye” LOL. She had a great time with her grandparents & great-tita. Thank you nena & papo for opening your home to us and making our holiday a sweet one to remember. Best wishes & Happy 2009!

we walked up the street to catch the 11:37 train from atherton to hillsdale  mall.  we had lunch and then did some shopping.  dad & lily went up & down the escalator.  i was looking for them and i swear i heard lily’s voice coming from the upper level.  i turned walked back towards the escalator and they were coming down.  lily started getting tired so we took the train 1:40 train    back home.  while we waited for the train we took some pictures…        me & mini-me.  today she wanted to pictures, so i let her use my camera & that girl actually took a photo, here it is… .  in this photo you might ask yourself,  where’s lily?  she’s the one taking the picture!  i know hard to believe.  she’s a treat and so much fun these days.  

we all took a long nap (we woke up around 5) just in time for dinner.  lily said she wanted to back on the train.  so we got dressed and took the train to redwood city sequoia station.  we walked around downtown, let lily play at the courthouse square.  we headed to max’s for dinner.  lily ate her entire salmon dinner.  it was a nice dinner, lily didn’t get out of hand but she was wiping the glass & cleaning.  after we went to the bookstore where lily read some of her favorite books.  we headed home around 7:40 just in time to catch the train just before they pulled out.  when lily got on she said whee, just made it.  she’s so funny.  

here’s something funny dad remembers from today…he had lily on his shoulders walking home tonight.  she said, “dad hold on to my legs–my legs are small”.  hahahaha.  that’s funny!

what i remember is everytime lily got on the train, she would say “chug chug choo choo–chug chug choo choo”.  we had such a great day, it was so much fun!      10.26.2008

Oct. 5th– just us hanging out in the front yard on a sunday morning reading the paper.     

Oct. 6th– lily & dad rough housing. actually lily’s been climbing dad everytime he lies down   & leg  locks on dad.    VICTORY!!

Oct. 12th–here’s lily at the SF Zoo .  our lil monkey  was sick but she had fun.  it was a beautiful day, warm & thankfully not crowded.  she loved playing in the  playarea, ride the  carousel.  ooh the electric train  ride was cool.  the tunnel was decorated with holiday lights and bubbles came out as we went through it.  lily loves that ride, she always looks forward to it.  as always i love taking pictures of lily on the way home.  we like to see how long it takes for her to  crash…not long, less than 5 minutes.

Oct. 18th  PARTY 1– philip’s   2nd bday at Townsend park.  it was awesome, she played in the jumper   most of the time, a few breaks for   food &   cake.  more fun with her friends  in the jumper & at the playground with her friend tom.     

< leaving philip’s party we went directly to benicio’s party.  lily literally slept for 5 minutes before waking up ready to PARTY!! >

PARTY 2–later that day we went to benicio’s  1st birthday party at gymboree.  boy did lily  like that place.  running jumping   screaming, it was nuts.  she had a great time.  more cake & fun!  she also got to see her cousin jojo.

since we were in san mateo we did yummy korean food.  see lily eat…  haha…she loved it!  on the drive home from dinner, out of nowhere lily said, “i see a shooting star”, what the heck…where did that come from?  we were playing along…oh that’s great, where did it go?  then a few moments later she said it again, I see another shooting star.  this time we were like, really where did you see it?  then she said, oh no it’s not a shooting star, it’s an airplane…she laughed.  we started laughing!  geez our baby caught us off guard!  that’s our girl–silly lily. 

Oct. 20th– last night dad & lily  carved her pumpkin and set it out next to the scarecrow.  i’m so excited to see her dressed up & going trick treating her first time.  i’m not sure if i’ll let her eat any of her halloween candy…we’ll see.  she’s going to be a skunk–lil stinker!  she picked that herself not us.  can’t wait to put her in it.

 ~trick or treat~

  We had her party at the Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos.  It was a sizzling day (Lily & Tom putting their feet in the cooler) but well worth it, spending time with friends in nature!  The first to arrive  (the korean mamas).  They got there before us–oops!

Ok it was hot  so we skipped some things on the guided tour.  Our tour guide was   Miss Sue.  We got to visit cows, sheep, goats,  (natalie feeding the chickens) & pigs.  They touched the  animals, fed them, smelled them .  The kids really enjoyed their time  exploring the farm.  So cute to see the kids scream when they got cornered by a gang of goats or chickens & just run in the  pasture .   After the pigs, the kids found a  log  in the shade .

After the tour the kids werelet loose in the picnic area, run around, eat &  just be kids.  We had a great spot at the  Bay Tree Bluff with a gigantic Bay tree for shade (also great for climbing). 

We’re so happy that Natalie , baby Sean,  Stan, Ella;   Tom,  Molly, Young;   Philip , Robin,   Dave;   Tangerine , Noa   Peli, Sione,  Pauline & Tim were able to join us in celebrating Lily’s 2nd Birthday!  Benicio & Beageon, we wish you were there & we missed you! 

We feasted on Applewood gourmet pizza (thank goodness they delivered), Kara’s cupcakes         & lots of fresh fruit.  The kids enjoyed the cupcakes…see the picture.  Those cupcakes were deelish!  Oh so moist and the frosting had just the right amount of sweetness–yum yum!  The kids had chocolate raspberry dazzle & the big kids had chocolate velvet-

Here she is on the ride home from her party  (watching Shrek w/her headphones on)!  It was a great day. 

Thank you everyone for making Lily’s Party the best!!!  Love you all-       09.27.08