This weekend we headed down to Big Basin with most of Maile’s class for a family camping trip. As far as camping goes it was pretty easy going – we stayed in small cabins and there were nice, clean bathrooms – but it was just enough to whet the appetite and we had a ton of fun.
Including siblings there were about 30 kids there – so lots of playmates for Maile. They ran all over the camp ground, exploring, playing. We hiked to a small waterfall and had a great picnic lunch. We slept in sleeping bags and even though it was cold and rainy for the first night and early morning, we survived! Lauren was a trooper as well, although the rain and mud made it a little frustrating for her – not quite as much freedom moving around as she would like at this age.
There was no cell reception at all, so the phones were put away – hence not a ton of pictures to share (although I did sneak it out to take some video and pictures when we were doing S’mores around the fire 🙂
The only family picture from the trip - at In-N-Out on the way down 🙂
Mommy and Lauren survived the night - although Lauren was a little confused as to where we were I think...
Daddy taught Maile the fine art of s'more making!
Maile was VERY focused on her marshmellow – she wanted to make sure it didn’t burn!
A full day in and still a little bit confused...
There's a marshmellow in there along with those fingers... Yummy!
(Click here for the video.)
In one week we’re headed to China with Maile! (Lauren is going to be staying home for this one with Grandma and Papa Hawaii). Maile is very, very excited!
Christine and I wanted to make sure she was indeed going to be able to deliver and help get us around – I think it’s safe to say, we’ll be okay 😉
(Click here for the video.)
While Maile and Daddy were away on Sunday, Mommy and Lauren took advantage of the time together to work on saying “Momma”…
Getting closer!
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on February 24, 2014
The text came in at 5:38 PM on Friday afternoon:
Guess who took 4 steps on her own?!?
And sure enough, when I arrived home a short while later, Lauren was ready to rock and show off her new fancy footwork for her daddy…
I went to the archive and Maile took her first steps on August 25, 2010. Incredibly they both started walking at exactly the same time (Maile was 46 days after her 1st birthday, Lauren was 48 days). Pretty crazy!
Here's to the many, many steps to come!
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on February 17, 2014
In the build up to the Olympics we started watching some ice skating with Maile and she absolutely loved it. From there she started pretending that our hard wood floor was ice and she’d skate around on her socks after dinner. Today, Mommy decided to introduce her to the real thing and they headed down to the Yerba Buena Skating Rink to try things out.
(Truth be told this was our second time trying to skate – two Christmases ago we had an aborted attempt at the rink they put up in Union Square. We lasted about 10 seconds on the ice that time. This time went WAY better…)
Holding on for dear life at the start ... but she got the hang of it pretty quick...
These buckets are genius - definitely don't recall that when I was little, but they worked out great - gave Maile lots of confidence on the ice to explore a bit on her own...
Mommy managed to capture some great short snippets of Maile’s first time out skating – I combined them into a video that captures it nicely I think…
(Click here for the video.)
On Saturday, Mommy introduced me to one of her favorite movies, The Sound of Music. I can’t really tell you what it is all about because we mostly just fast forwarded to the parts where the kids are singing. But the music was fun!
Mommy and me getting ready to watch The Sound of Music!
Towards the end, we just let the movie play through and I have to say, I really didn’t like the parts where the children weren’t singing. Their family gets chased by some bad men. I would recommend just fast forwarding through that part – I know I will be next time!
Get away Von Trapps! Get Away!
Oh man, I really don't like this part - can you let me know when the children are singing again?
(Dad note: I am thoroughly enjoying the beginning stages of Maile’s movie watching. I was in the other room when Christine started sending me these pictures – they just absolutely slayed me. I love her so much.)
This morning Christine and I went to Maile’s school to participate in a tea ceremony. Maile and her classmates have been practicing all week. It was a great little ceremony.
Mommy, Daddy and Maile - Chinese New Year's 2014
New Year Tea Ceremony is a traditional custom in the Chinese Lunar Year celebration. Traditionally, on the day of Chinese New Year, children present a cup of tea to their parents, grandparents and elders in the family to wish them a prosperous new year. This ritual is called 拜年（Bàinián) wishing people happy new year. In return, the elders give the children a red envelope for good luck and good wish.
To start the ceremony, Christine and I sat down in chairs and then Maile served us each tea while wishing us happy new year in Chinese: 新年快乐 （Xīnnián kuàilè）Happy New Year!
Maile serving Mommy and Daddy tea...
After we gave Maile a red envelope we had prepared – Christine made a butterfly by folding a dollar bill 🙂 I gave it to Maile using two hands and we wished her Happy New Year too and 恭喜恭喜（Gōngxǐ gōngxǐ) Congratulations!
Daddy giving Maile her New Year's envelope...
Tonight we put the envelope underneath Maile’s pillow where it will stay for 15 days. After that she will open it to find our good wish on February 14th 🙂
Today is Chinese New Year – Year of the Horse! 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè）Happy New Year! It’s the start of what should be a fun week at Presidio Knolls culminating in the school-wide party next Friday.
In preparations, Maile has been helping Christine and I with our Chinese character writing. Maile came up with a new year’s wish for our family that we “grow up big and strong” – her teacher translated it to Chinese characters and we’ve been writing it on red paper.
Mommy and Maile writing their new year's wish
Daddy needed a little more help!
The teachers have a bunch of fun activities lined up for next week – so stayed tuned for more and have a great new year!
Lauren is getting a bit bolder with her big sister. Anything Maile is doing she wants to be a part of – and I think it’s fair to say that Maile doesn’t always want to share her activities. The boldness extends physically too – she’ll grab Maile, pinch or scratch her a bit.
The following transpired this morning:
Scene: Maile and Lauren are playing on the ground in our bedroom. Lauren scratches Maile on the face and it hurts Maile. Maile kicks her – hard enough that I notice and Lauren starts to cry a bit.
Dad: Maile, don’t kick your sister!
Maile: But she hurt me first!
Dad: Maile, you’re bigger than her. You need to say you’re sorry.
Maile: I didn’t mean to though!
(At this point, Mommy intervenes and tries to explain to Maile that even though she didn’t mean to hurt Lauren, she still did and she should apologize.)
Maile: But Lauren started it! She hurt me first! Why doesn’t Lauren need to apologize to me?
Mommy: Well Lauren is a baby, she doesn’t know any better, plus she doesn’t talk.
Maile: But she didn’t even apologize to me in baby language!
(Cue Mommy and Daddy stifling laughter as once again, Maile Girl makes a very good point.)
Apparently, today was opposite day and it started with Lauren feeding Mommy breakfast…
(Click here for the video.)
