We spent Chinese New year weekend in LA as usual, although we weren’t really planning to this year. It was a last minute decision since I mis-booked Yee Po’s plane ticket and didn’t want to pay extra to fix it. So we decided to drive down Saturday morning so she could ride with us instead and Willy decided to come along too. We ran into thick fog while driving down. It was very dangerous and scary! As the sun rose, it got better.

One of our activities in LA, aside from going to Pinkberry (yet again), was to find a new cupcake place. Thanks to Birdie, she suggested a place called Violet’s in Pasadena. Conveniently, it was 2 blocks from Pinkberry. Violet’s cupcakes had a more homemade feel to them. The mocha cupcake was my favorite. Natalie and Tyler fell asleep in car ride there, so they missed the selections.

We got 8 cupcakes – all different flavors

Chinese New Year dinner at the Chiu house

Kaiya, cute (and petite!) as ever!

Tyler snapped this photo: Gong Gong, say CHEESE!

Chinese New Year dinner at the Kha house

Strike a pose!

While playing with Uncle Steven and Auntie Kitty, Natalie asked Auntie Kitty, “Why do you like Uncle Steven? Is it because he’s so funny?”

On Sunday night around 11pm, it hailed! Lasted about 5 minutes. It was loud and scary and the size of the hail pellets got bigger and bigger it seemed.

We decided to go to Pinkberry again tonight A) coz we’re so excited to have one nearby and B) we wanted to take advantage of the BOGO coupon before it expires. We ran into Mandy and Chris at Pinkberry! Small world. It was Chris’ first time having Pinkberry. He liked it, but said next time he’d try a different topping. (He had mango tonight).

We love our Pinkberry! Nat got original with chocolate chips

It was a nice night to be out. Not too cold.

After Pinkberry, I wanted to go over to Kara’s and pick up a couple more cupcakes. They were so good! We got Chocolate Velvet and Sweet Vanilla tonight.

I want that one please!

Daddy, how many can we get?

Tyler and I started out the morning by going to the bank to get some new money for Chinese New Year. Then we drove up to South City and had dim sum with the uncles (Big, Khang, & Eli). Natalie and Tyler liked the shu mai, dan tats, and coconut jello the most.

Tyler stealing some of Big Uncle’s coconut jello

In the afternoon, we went to another birthday party at the little Gym. This time it was for our neighbor Monique.

After the party, we went over to Yee Po’s house to hang out with Uncle Chubber, Wileen, and Gooey. Gooey is visiting from LA this weekend. We went to Santana Row for dinner, cupcakes, and pinkberry!

On the way to dinner having fun in the car

We had dinner at Pasta Pomodoro. While waiting for our table, I ran over to newly opened Kara’s cupcakes to grab some before they closed. The place seems very similar to Sprinkles.

After dinner, we treated ourselves to some Pinkberry! Also newly opened at Santana Row. The line was pretty long, but moved fast.

Sampling the pomegranate flavor

We all ordered the same thing, small original with mochi balls

I’m a model, you know what I mean?

Tyler and Uncle Chubbah, BFFs

Matching shoes!

Natalie holding the cupcakes. We got home too late to try any!

Nat and Gooey. She was sad in the car after we dropped everyone off. “I miss Gooey mom”

Tyler’s latest thing – while sitting in the car, he’ll ask “Mom, where do trees come from?”

On Saturday, we had a surprise dinner party at Banana Leaf for Mandy. It was us and the Wongs and Chris brought Mandy. She had no idea. When they got to the restaurant, the waitress was seating them at a table nearby and Mandy walked right passed all of us and didn’t even notice! She was pleasantly surprised! Maggie brought party hats and the kids had fun playing together.  After dinner, we sang Happy Birthday and had some oreo chocolate cake.

Then on Sunday morning, we went to Yashas’ birthday party at the Little Gym in Belmont. Natalie and Tyler really enjoyed playing on the bars and participating in the activities. It was a tiring morning for the kids running around for almost 2 hours! After the party, we celebrated with pizza and cake at Mountain Mike’s next door. On the car ride home, Tyler passed out, but Nat managed to stay awake, though when we got home she looked pretty tired.

Some of the food we ordered: Mango Chicken and Indian Mee Goreng

Oreo Cake

Natalie balancing on the bars at the Little Gym

Tyler practicing to be a gymnast

Who wants some cake?

Hey look at me!

After school today, Natalie and I were looking at a Pottery Barn Kids catalog together to get ideas for their next bedrooms. She smelled kinda stinky so I sniffed her and said “You’re stinky”. She laughed and said “I just fart”.

A little while later while she was coloring, I thought I smelled it again so I asked her if she farted again and she said “No… at least I didn’t feel it”.

On Sunday, Mandy came over to hang out and she and Natalie decided to take a walk to Starbucks, since Tyler was napping and I was watching TV. They bundled up and Nat got a hot chocolate and Mandy got coffee. Natalie was sporting her new Hello Kitty purse that she got from Big Uncle, and who knows where he got it from…

For New Year’s eve, we hung out at Uncle J’s house and had a feast. We had hot wings, spam musubi, cajun shrimp, lobster, spicy salmon rolls, and beef tataki. Dori made the kids fun animal balloons and hats. Tyler had a great time playing with Paigow. We played some games and watched the countdown on TV. Natalie and Tyler fell asleep before midnight.

On New Year’s Day, we got a surprise visit from Auntie Diana, Uncle Barry, Grace, and Meliya. So we decided to have a party to celebrate some upcoming birthdays: Genton, Uncle Eli, Uncle Barry, and Big Uncle. Uncle Khang made his specialty dishes and Big Uncle made some chicken, followed by a delicious chocolate cake that Auntie Diana bought. We had a house full of people! After dinner, we played taboo and the losing team had to have a go at Egg roulette. 3 raw eggs, 10 cooked eggs. There’s a video at the bottom.

Playing Taboo

After his bath,Tyler came downstairs and saw everyone eating cake and said “Oooh, I want some cake too!”

EGG roulette