Food + Family + Friends = Fun

Warning: Photo overload! I didn't know where to cut the quantity of photos in this post, so I made this a mishmash of more special moments from our trip. Man, we had a great time...

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My brother Moses came into town from Minnesota to see his goddaughter. Paloma had an immediate, genuine liking to him.

Lately, the news around my friends and family has been about births and pregnancies. We were lucky to meet Caden, my friend Cathleen's 6-week-old baby boy. Yawn...this makes me want to take a nap.

Paloma had fun hugging Caden's cousin, Giselle, and playing with Caden's big brother, Noah.

We also got to pay a visit to (Princess) Jasmine, who's my cousin JC's daughter.

"Baby!" Paloma is enamored with Grove, Jasmine's little brother.

We had some really tasty Japanese food at Anjin, a restaurant where you cook your own meat on the grill. Highly recommended! And Paloma got to sit by my friend Linda, who has a way with making kids laugh.

We were lucky to have our vacation schedules coincide. My cousin, Phillip, and his family live in Hawaii, so we were able to have a quick lunch with them.

Nelu does a karate chop. Hiiii-ya!

This is what we had to lunch on. Pancit palabok, it's been a long time!Dear Chrissie. I was lucky to see this chica, who is currently in law school and was able to squeeze in some time for us. Her law school stories make me laugh, cry, and cringe all at the same time.

Alex stopped by for an afternoon at the park. Down the spiral slide...wheeeeee!!

Let's do it again and again!

Leila, my cousin Lougene's dimply 3-year-old daughter, also came by to play.

This was mad chaos. Mad chaos, I say!
Leila in action.

More posts from California to inundate this blog. Lates!

Picture Happy As Usual

This is the third time that we've been to California as a threesome, and it's also the third time that we're using our friend photographer, Nghia, to take some family shots of us. When will it stop? I don't know. As long as I love the way Nghia captures us as a happy family and as long as he has the time and willingness, we might have family shots done every time until we hate the way we look ;-). Here are a few photographs taken in my parents' house and backyard garden.

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Miss P in the living room.

Another dramatic shot.

Reading can be serious business.My Facebook profile shot, which makes me smile. I find this one so sweet, especially the look on Paloma's little face.
Nghia brought a prop. This one cracks me up..the doe eyes peeking from under the umbrella.
Another fam one.
Padre-hija shot.
I love these kisses!!
Paloma finally broke out a real smile while playing with some green tape.
Little munchkin.

Trying to walk on the rocks.

OK, I'm biased. Her laughs are the best too!

The rest of the shots found here. Thanks for looking, friend and family!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

My love-hate relationship with Disney started when the term "Disneyfication" was introduced to me in my communications class in college. Which was once the happiest place on earth was deconstructed and mutilated by sociology professors. But who can't love a cheerful mouse? As such it is, having small children brings you back to the mouse and its idealized world. It's just all fun, perfect, and beautiful. So, we went two days in a row to Downtown Disney for some fake cheer...and it worked!

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We met up with our friends Kim and Rob, OC Dental Couple of the Year.

It was like summer. Jamba Juice, I've missed you too!

Fernando as Nimmie, as Paloma calls her.

We found a really cool store called D Street, which has offbeat, vintage Disney products, even from underground artists. Disney, you got me again!

How cool is this Mickey.

Disneyfied caramel apples? You're killing me. Too cute!

P and I in front of the Lego store.

Woody, our buddy in a sort of pixelated appearance.

I also learned in my classes that the large circle with two smaller circles is the most recognized icon in the world. Paloma will even say "Mickey" if she sees something close to it. Scary!

Perfectly placed palm trees wave across the blue skies. Oh, and the kettle corn smelled so sweeeeet.
Day 2. We had lunch at the House of Blues. P colors and gets in touch with her inner child, which wasn't difficult to do.

It was even hotter this day. Jamba saved us again.Smell the urban happiness.
P makes a wish.
It's that lovable character again.

The magic of plaster made us feel like we were in front of the Mayan pyramid.

Driving the boats.

From a distance, Paloma got excited to see one of her favorite shapes looming ahead in gigantic form.

"'tar!!" (That's "star".)

Giving the star a hug. Ah, life's simplicities.
'twas fun!

California in the Spring 2011 - 2

Second edition is up! I'm still going through the tons of photos that we took in the States. In seeing how many I took, I have (gulp), 1,000 photos! Luckily I'm very good at deleting, so I think I'll end up with 300 at the most.

We are back in Barcelona and have transitioned fairly easily back into our routines. To my surprise, we had our best flight with Paloma, since we had the most difficult one in going to the U.S. Lufthansa offered us bulkhead seats with a bassinet, so I was able to put Paloma down for a bit while I got a little bit of shuteye for once. Our suitcases are still full, our things are a bit strewn about the flat, and we're still suffering from jet lag a little. But the city has received us with sunshine, and this helps in what usually is an emotional time for me post-USA trip. Anyway, here are some photos to share.

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Date night! Which rarely happens! Fernando and I paid a pretty penny for some nosebleed seats at the Staples Center just so we could go watch the beloved Lakers.

Linda takes Paloma for a spin around Bella Terra.
Wheeeeeee!!!

Shopping is enticing when we're here. P tried on a scarf and some jewelry at Cost Plus.

It's rare for her to see me driving since we don't have a car in Barcelona. She wanted to see what it will feel like when she turns 16.
Goofing off at home.
Paloma tries on Lolo's shoes.We had some people over for dinner. Crab!
Men's hat club in the house. David, Grove, Uncle Cesar, and Uncle Abraham show off the latest hat styles.
I thought Grove was the best model of all.

Alex had fun riding the truck around the house.

Paloma couldn't stop laughing at him.

Mmm...pastries. Armilyn introduced us to Paris Baguette, a lovely little pastry shop with moist, fluffy, soft yummies. I hadn't had anything like them in a long time.

The decor is quite lovely too.

Lastly, my friends from my master's program and their families got together for a really pleasant dinner at Amy and Clive's home. I finally got to meet my friend's darling baby girl, River. She can pull herself up and stand at nine months!
Paloma loves kissing babies.
This is a memorable photo that I think I'd even frame. These girls are the best!
This one makes me smile too. Until we meet again, friends!
Third edition in the works.