San Francisco for dinner

One of Jeff's college friends is in town from Tokyo so, we thought we would meet David and his son for dinner.

Since we left early to try to avoid traffic, we were able to stop by Japan-town.


And a quick stop at Ocean Beach...I tried to tell the boys that we should take pictures of them from this side of the ocean, and then one from Hawaii and see if it looks different...HAH!


Dinner was at North Beach Pizza. Seems like we used to go there more often when we were BK (before kids).


Dave and his son Max...


...and the rest of the boys....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Busy Bees

I have been busy with a new pattern this month...I finally had time to sit down and do some stitching! I love the material I bought, not too thrilled with the pattern instructions, and I am not keen about the open top...but, it's seems to be a great tote!



Of course, it is purple....

Over the past few days, we did our raids to the bookstores. Jordan and Neil both reached their goals at Borders and Barnes & Noble...albeit, their read the Yugioh manga books towards the end...but, really, they would get through 10 books by the end of the summer...so, okay, at least they each read 2-3 "real" books...here is their booty from the stores




The books are packed and ready to go on the plane...of coursse we also hit Half Price books up...all in all the boys turned in about 4 certificates each...so, they got $12! Yeah! Gotta love free book money!

Tomorrow we are heading out to the Garlic Festival in Gilroy. my cousin Teri's daughter is the Festival Queen...so, we want to go...Jordan wants to eat...big surprise.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Bridgewater Pl,Fremont,United States

Shopping in the City

Tuesday was my shopping day in the City with my friend Shelley. It was a beautiful day, not too hot nor cold.

As usual our first stop was at DSW, where I found the cutest pair of Ed Hardy slippahs...perfect for Hawaii...I actually wore them since I made the mistake of wearing heels shopping...silly me...

Our next stop was lunch at the Burger Bar....on the 6th floor of Macy's. It was a beautiful view overlooking Union Square. Lunch was okay...but we should have gotten burgers instead of chicken burgers...duh!



Shelley wouldn't cooperate and take a picture...so, I had to pose...yuck!

After a little shopping for some clothes, we made our way to Brighton, Vera Bradley and Nordstrom's. After some "minor" damage, we ended with dinner at Out the Door.

We feasted on: Crispy Imperial Rolls (triple yum), grapefruit and jicama salad (too spicy for me), Carmelized Prawns (another triple yum), and a noodle dish (okay three way tie for "triple yum"). I think we need to alter our itinerary to start with lunch at Out the Door...that way, I can get an order of Crispy Imperial Rolls!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Food in SoCal

Opps! Forgot to post! Lucky you...you get TWO posts!

-------------

Jeff and I made a last minute decision to go down to SoCal to visit some sick family...thee were too many indicators that said we should come down...first, Jeff aunt went into a nursing home, then her daughter was very I'll, and my father's cousin is also sick...plus, the Orange County Buddhist Temple had their Obon Festival this weekend...Jeff wanted to do some espionage...

So, Dad and Dean drove up to Fremont, Friday afternoon and we left as soon as Jeff got home. We pulled into Santa Clarita (Magic Mountain) around 11pm. Saturday, we were up and out early and visiting with Auntie Shiz by 10. Her nursing home is BEAUTIFUL! It was just opened last year and was built by the San Fernando Japanese American community. Many of the artwork was donated by the residents since they needed to downsize their homes. It has a beautiful Japanese rock garden, a fruit orchard and most importantly, a poker game every Monday night...Au tie Shiz looks wonderful and is happy there...except the poker game is for fun...not real money :(

Lunch was at Johnnie Pastami! Our car is full of the fragrant smell of our pastrami leftovers whenever the boys go into the ice chest...



We had some time to kill before checking into our hotel, so, we went to Seal Beach...it was breezy, but, it was a beautiful day. Neil made a new friend...




Grandpa and the boys...


Uncle Dean and the boys...


Jeff and me WITHOUT the boys!


We went by the OCBC Obon for a late afternoon snack...after snacking on udon, fried wonton, chow mien, and introducing the boys to dango...we headed to Uncle Mas' house in Laguna Niguel.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Take that AT&T!!! They just came to the door to try to get us to sign up...Jeff came home with the phone bill and asked, "Do you want to tell me something?". There was a charge for a call to a dating service. "um, Jeff, we were on our Alaskan cruise...". AT&T refused to see if they were working on the lines...so, we cancelled...

$h!t happens...but, their Customer Service ticked me off, basically saying that I DID MAKE THE CALL, and was trying to get out of it. I even said that I would fax them my tickets...grrrrr.....still makes me mad...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Take that AT&T!!!

Braces!

Today was an exciting day for Jordan...he spent 2 1/2 hours at the orthodontist getting his second phase of braces. This time, he got both upper and lower braces...

Here is his before picture...



And his after...


Yes, he got Blue bands...big surprise. I was bummed he would let me take "during pictures"...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Manju anyone?

This was the second day of Manju making at the church.

Kuri Manju is a Japanese pastry made with a sweet Lima bean center covered by a sweet pastry dough.

Here is a picture of the ladies cutting the pastry dough into the proper size...




After it is cut, it goes to the next set of people who form the pastry dough over balls of sweeten Lima bean mixture (sorry, everyone is on break)



Next, Jordan and Neil were promoted to helping this year, the boys brush on an egg mixture and add a beautiful dash of poppy seeds...


After baking in the oven, the Manju is transferred to wire racks and cooled prior to packaging...




After we finished the Manju...I left to go and wait for my NEW washing machine to be delivered....I waited and waited...my delivery time was between 12-4...they came at 4:50...Augh!

But, Jeff, already hooked it up! What a wonderful surprise...it is run ing the first load now! YEAH!!!!!


Doesn't he look nice next to his "brother"?



Now, if we could do something about the walls in the garage...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad