Halloween 2011

This year, we decided to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. The evening began with a potluck at Tammy & Evan's house (our neighbor 2 houses over). While mingling at the potluck, Linh meets a guy who coincidentally also works at Capital Group (same building that I'm in, different floor). Turns out, he also previously worked for Deloitte...what a small world!

As soon as it got dark, the fun began for both the kids and Linh. Nathan had a great time trick-or-treating with the neighborhood kids and Linh had a great time drinking with the neighborhood adults. Too bad I didn't get a picture of Evan pulling around a cooler filled with beer.

For more pictures, below is a link to my Picasa album. 

Picasa Album - Halloween 2011
 

 Rockin the suspenders.

Fire hydrant to complete the costume.

Matching costumes...who wore it better?

Ryan with his godparents.

Can't contain his excitement.

Why is he taking candy from his own house? LOL

Hello? Anybody home?

Nathan and his friend Hayden.

Nathanisms: Women, dennys & donuts

10/30/2011:  
In the car on the way home from South Coast Plaza.
Me: "What kind of donut did you eat at church today?"
Nathan: "A sprinkles one"
Me: "I wish I can eat donuts"
Nathan: "Then you have to go to church"
Me: "Oh, I see.  What do you do at church?"
Nathan: "I pray for the family"

10/30/2011:  
On the way to South Coast Plaza, Nathan sees a Denny's.
Nathan: "Denny's"
Nathan: "Is that where Uncle Denny works?"
Me: "Why do you think Uncle Denny works there?"
Nathan: "Because its called Denny's" 

10/9/2011:

Nathan reads the sign on the bathroom door when I took him to go to the restroom.

Nathan: "Women"

Nathan: "Mommy, am I a woman?"

Pumpkin carving 2011

While Linh played ball on Saturday morning, I carved pumpkins with Denny. We tried to get Nathan to scoop out the pumpkin seeds with his hands, but he hated the slimy feeling. I thought all kids liked to get their hands dirty, but apparently not Nathan. 

When it came to actually carving the pumpkins, I was debating between angry birds, jack skeleton, UCLA logo, McQueen and/or Mater. Ultimately, I settled on McQueen and Mater since they are two of Nathan's favorite Cars characters.

Impatiently waiting to carve pumpkins.

Making uncle Denny do all the dirty work.

Look of disgust on his face when we made him scoop the seeds with his hands.

Mater by uncle Denny.

McQueen by me.

The finished product!

Visit from Brayden

After coming home from the Columbus Square fall festival, the Valeras came by to visit.  Nathan tried to get Brayden to play with all of Ryan's toys and even dragged the Baby Einstein jumper into the family room (from the living room) for Brayden to play in.  

Nathan: "Do I know you?"

Playing in the Baby Einstein jumper

Baby swap?

Look at the drool!

Phong occupied himself with Nathan's transformer.  The box said ages 5 and up, but based on the complexity, it should have said "requires Bachelors degree".  It took like 35 minutes to finally transform the thing, LOL.  After playing with it for 5 minutes Nathan asked Phong to transform it back into a car. 

Even Brayden was fascinated with the Transformer.

Nathan making transformer sounds.

For more pictures, below is a link to my Picasa album. 

Picasa Album - Columbus Square fall festival

Columbus Square fall festival

On Saturday, we took the kids to the Columbus Square Fall Festival, thrown by Phong & TuVi's association. As soon as we got there, Phong and Nathan headed towards the pony ride. They stood in line for 15 minutes and when they got to the front of the line, Nathan chickened out. I should have known better...he did the same thing at the OC fair (pony ride) and when we stood in line for pictures with the Easter bunny.

Then we headed to the face painting booth where he requested a Lightning McQueen tattoo. We all got our sugar fix from the popcorn, cotton candy and Maui snow cones.  

Not quite Lightning McQueen.

Ryan was super happy!

After devouring all his treats, Nathan headed to the caterpillar bounce house.  This was not your typical bounce house because there was only one way in and one way out...down the slide.  Nathan would go in and never come out!  When we were about ready to leave, we told him he could go one last time, but only if he went through the caterpillar quickly.  Twenty minutes later, he was still inside and there was no way to call him out.  So, we decided to teach him a lesson and hide (so that when he decided to come out, he wouldn't be able to find us).  Let's just say it didn't work as we anticipated.  He wasn't even phased and proceeded to get back in line after he spotted us.

My Ryan fix

Now that I'm back at work (and Linh is on paternity leave), Linh sends me these pics/videos so I can get my daily Ryan fix.

 At Aquarium of the Pacific

He does this all day (grab his feet)

 Not into the jumper yet

 

Ready for his morning walk

Up from his nap and so happy

Tanaka Farms - October 2011

We met up with the Lams today at Tanaka Farms and the kids had a blast climbing on pumpkins and running in the corn maze. They sure gave me a workout trying to run in front of them so I could take their pictures.

 It wasn't easy getting both kids to cooperate for this picture since Nathan fell asleep on the way there and was a little grumpy.

The middle scarecrow looks awfully lifelike.

Nathan and his godparents.

Air Nathan!

Having lots of fun with Aidan.

So excited to pose for pictures, LOL,

 

So heavy!

I could not keep up with these guys! I kept having to tell them to run in slow motion, LOL.

Peekaboo!

 

Cute picture of the boys.

For some reason, I really like this picture of Nathan.

Taking a break.

The horn is too loud!