A few photos

This week has been hectic with Elizabeth home from school for a few days with a little tummy virus. She seems better today.

Here are some photos of her from last week when she had a few play dates with her buddies.

There are some photos of here with Kaila at the mall and on stage at Pretend City. One thing I learned last week is never going anywhere that involves children during Spring Break unless you enjoy mob scenes. Pretend City was kind of a "bust" since every child in Orange County decided to go the same day we did.

I also have some video I will post when I get a chance that shows Kaila, Emma and Elizabeth going a little crazy at Nordstom's cafe. (not sure we will be invited back there anytime soon!)

A little Moment

Yes, I have said it before--it seems in life that we don't remember days, but we remember moments. And this photo offers up a special moment for me, special in that it was utterly spontaneous and really sweet.

After shopping for our usual mundane groceries, Elizabeth spied the flower stand at the market and willy nilly picked up a bunch of flowers of all different types. After chiding her to "put them back", I realized the colors were really pretty together. Realizing that she had already become attached to these flowers, I caved in and bought them and the woman behind the counter turned them into a lovely bouquet.

It was a sunny day out and Elizabeth walked out of the store looking as if she was on her way to a wedding. A man called out, "I think I just saw Miss America walk by."

It was a really special moment, precisely because we hadn't planned it to be.

Friends

Last weekend Elizabeth met up with Emma and Mei Mei after their Saturday morning Chinese class and had their usual fun time together.

Young Chef Elizabeth

Elizabeth got together with her friends from school to celebrate their classmate Ginia's 4th birthday. The party was at the "Young Chefs Academy" and as you can imagine, the kids had a blast.

Elizabeth made pineapple pizza and cupcakes--all quite edible I might add.

ABC's with Kaila

I have been meaning to post this video for a while..I took it a couple of weeks ago when Elizabeth met up with Kaila at the mall one morning...

Bubblegum Days

Okay, so here it is..the photo of Elizabeth chewing gum for the first time in her little life. Well, it was an unexpected introduction and happened late Sunday afternoon at the Golden Spoon Yogurt Shop where Mei Mei spied a giant gum ball machine with those gum balls the size of ping pong balls. I told Mei Mei,"no you can't have those--those are for big girls." And too my mind, they were--I couldn't imagine a three year old chewing such a giant gum ball. I did notice the slightly mischievious look on her mom Patty's face and next thing I know Mei Mei has a shiny quarter in her hand and suddenly a giant gum ball in her mouth..

Whoa..."she can chew that?" I asked incredulously. Patty laughted as if to say, "this girl has been chewing gum for years."

Once again, Mei Mei is ahead of the pack and there I am sitting with Elizabeth who is looking at me with these giant eyes and look of profound disappointment as Mei Mei chews away happily on her giant yellow gumball. What is a mom to do? I have to admit even though gum chewing was not high on my list of achievements I had hoped for with Elizabeth, I did have this sense that I didn't want her to be the only kid on the block unable to chew a piece of gum (Heaven forbid!). So mama caved in to peer pressure and said. "Sure," when Patty pulled out another shiny silver quarter and treated Elizabeth to her first giant yellow gumball. Of course, I, being significantly less brave than Patty--broke off a little piece for Elizabeth to chew. And chew she did. I have to say she seemed quite pleased with herself and I thought, "another developmental milestone covered."

The good news is that now Elizabeth will be all set for her next plane trip. I have often worried about her ears getting clogged from flying--but now I will will pop a piece of gum in her mouth and let her chew away.

Thanks Patty. I think.

Ice Cream time

Here is a little video of Elizabeth with George and Carmela over at Fashion Island. I don't think anyone knew they were being taped until I told them. Funny.