Conspiracy?

We were supposed to have Mason's 2nd bday party today, but mommy and daddy canceled the party. Was it because we weren't behaving? Nope. Was it because mommy changed her mind? Nope. It was because Mason and I are both sick.

Mason got sick first and then me. I told mommy that he got me sick. Mommy and daddy took turns taking care of us. Mommy stayed home on Wednesday. On Thursday, she had to go to Utah for a work. So, daddy got lucky and had to take care of both of us because I woke up with a fever.

Daddy thinks it's a conspiracy. Whenever mommy leaves for work, we manage to get sick. He thinks she purposely gets us sick just before she leaves. But it's not true. We don't get sick EVERY time she leaves.  Just 80% of the time. :)

Anyway, we're both on the mend. Mommy and daddy are working out when to reschedule the party.

President's Day/Chinese New Year Gathering

Uncle Eugene and auntie Jean hosted a President's Day/Chinese New Year gathering at their house. Since Mason and I have never been to their house before, I asked mommy if they had any toys for us to play with. She said probably not. So, we packed up our Thomas the train toys and headed out to their house.

Once we got to their house, we got red envelopes from Auntie Jean and Uncle Eugene. Auntie Jean also brought out a box of Thomas trains that belong to their nephews. Woo hoo!

While mommy gobbled up dried squid (yuck) and pineapple cake, Mason and I played trains and snacked on fruit. We also tried playing a new game called mah jong. It's a game that po-po used to play when mommy was a kid. Mommy "washed" the tiles, which means she nosily spread the tiles around the table and then stacked them up. Mommy said the sound of the washing tiles reminded her of when she was little. Po-po would play mah jong late into the night while mommy and uncle Eddie would fall asleep to the sounds of washing tiles.

Auntie Jean taught me to match the tiles, recognize the Chinese characters and count in Chinese. I was more interested in matching the tiles than the characters and counting in Chinese. After a while, I lost interest in matching tiles too. Eventually, Daddy Mason and I made up our own game. We stacked the mah jong tiles to make a pyramid and an airplane.

Thanks for hosting a fun gathering uncle Eugene and auntie Jean! 

Playdate Saturday

Since we didn't have cooking class today, Matthew and I met up at the Children's Discovery Museum (CDM) this morning. We haven't been there together in a long time. We explored the Imagination Playground where we could build stuff with giant blue blocks, Secret of Circles exhibit, the Wonder Cabinet, and of course, Water Ways.

My favorite has always been Water Ways. This time was no different. I kept asking if we could go there, but mommy said that when we have playdates, we need to find things that both of us want to do. Matthew's not really a fan of Water Ways. But after a little bit of encouragement from his mom, he got into it. Yay! 

After spending a few hours at CDM, we headed back to Matthew's house to play and have lunch. I loved lunch - Mickey Mouse shaped chicken nuggets and apple juice! Since I don't usually get to eat stuff like this, I ate it all up. After lunch, Matthew and I played with his toys while mommy, auntie Audrey and baby Jeffrey sat around talking. It was time to go home when Matthew had to take his nap. Plus I had another playdate.

Thanks for inviting me to CDM and lunch at your house, Matthew! I had a great time!

My second playdate was with grandma and grandpa! I love it when they come over. We read books, play trains and go out to eat. We went to a Persian restaurant for dinner.  It wasn't very loud inside, so Mason and I had to be on our best behavior. I did a good job, but Mason ended up sitting in the car with grandpa part way through dinner. Grandpa says that Mason is stubborn. He tried to calm him down and talk to him, but Mason just kept crying and wouldn't listen. So Grandpa started to play Candy Crush. I wonder where he gets his stubbornness from.

Thanks for coming over grandma and grandpa! Can't wait to see you again.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I like Valentine's Day. It's another day where we get and give things to show how much we love someone. To get ready for Valentine's Day, mommy bought a box of Dr. Seuss valentine cards. I helped her spell my classmates' names and seal them with a heart-shaped sticker. We got stuck when it came for my Indian classmates. So, daddy got a list of names from Ms. Evonne. Mommy also drew big hearts on colored construction paper that I got to cut out and decorate with stickers and crayons. We gave those to grandma, grandpa and po-po.

Just like last year, Mason and I got Valentine's Day cards from grandma and grandpa. I got a super hero card with a memory game. Mason got an space alien card that came with stickers and unfolded into giant sheet of paper he could color.

At school, we made big envelopes with our name on it for our Valentine goodies. I got lots of cards, snacks and candy. Daddy confiscated the snacks and candy (boo!) and let me have my cards. Mommy ate all the chocolate without sharing any of it. I guess she must be stressed out or pregnant (not). I made a valentine for mommy and daddy. It's a heart that I cut out of blue construction paper and decorated. Mommy loved it!

Mason didn't exchange Valentine's with anyone in his class. Instead his class made heart-shaped sugar cookies to give to the mommies and daddies. It was great art, science and fine motor skill activity combined into one. Mommy and daddy said the cookie was delish!

Is this what grown-ups do on Valentine's Day too? I don't think mommy or daddy gave their friends or co-workers cards, candy or treats, but maybe they're just atypical.

Spirit Week

This week was Spirit Week at school. Each day has a different theme. This year's themes were a little different than the previous years. Here's a re-cap

• Monday: Sports Day - That was easy. Mason and I wore our Sharks jerseys to school! I wonder if Mason got bonus spirit points for wearing his Cal hat too.

• Tuesday: Western Day - This was a new theme. And it was hard because we don't have any western stuff. So, we just went to school wearing normal clothes.
• Wednesday: Crazy Hair Day - Too bad Mason didn't have his old, crazy hair anymore. Daddy actually bought hair gel to make our hair crazy. He made my hair look like a mohawk. And Mason had messy, bed head. Mommy says this picture looks like a mug shot because we're standing against a wall.

• Thursday: Silly Sock Day - Another new theme. Our interpretation of this theme was mis-matched socks. Mommy could've participated in Silly Sock Day. She has lots of silly socks.

• Friday: Favorite Character Day - Another new theme this year. We didn't dress up in a costume, but some of the other kids came dressed as super heros. We could've wore our Batman and Superman shirts that had capes on them, but they were dirty. Mommy didn't realize they were dirty. Mommy fail.

Daddy has a soft side

I've been asking daddy about when we can go to another Sharks game. Luckily we happened to have tickets to tonight's game! Now I just had to convince daddy that he should take me instead of someone else.
I did my best. I didn't listen when he asked me to do something. I talked back, saying "No!" several times. I'd roll my eyes or give him the stare. I'd pretend not to hear him. Mommy tried to coach me and let me know that I should really reconsider my approach because I wasn't winning points with Daddy.

In the end, it didn't really matter. I still got to go to the game with daddy. When mommy asked him how come he decided to take me, he said he felt bad not taking me because I've been asking him about it. Who knew daddy had a softer side?

We had a great time at the game, while mommy and Mason hung out at home. Like all the previous games I've been to, my favorite is still the zamboni. But now I know the name of the Sharks goalie. His name is Niemi. Part way through the game, I started to get tired and wanted to go home. So, daddy and I left the game early.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

At breakfast today, mommy said that we should be extra nice to daddy today because it's his birthday. When I heard birthday, my ears perked up. Mason and I wished daddy a happy birthday.

Here's a recap of our conversation about how old daddy is:

Mommy: How old do you think daddy is?
Me: 30
Mommy: 30, huh? Can you even count that high?
Me: Sure...1, 2, 3, 4, 5...28, 29, 30!
Daddy: Do you know what comes after 30?
[pause]
Me: Umm...(looking at mommy for help)
Mommy: thirty (holds up one finger)
Me: 31, 32, 33...40!
Mommy: so, how old is daddy? 40!

I know that daddy is old. So, I'm just going to pick the highest number that I can count to.

After swim lessons (for me) and Little Gym (for Mason), we ate leftovers for dinner. After dinner, we had a small celebration. Mommy put 8 candles in the piece of cake she bought at the store. After lighting the candles, we turned out the lights and sang Happy Birthday. And then we helped him blow out his candles and eat his cake.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

An East Bay Weekend

We spent a lot of time in the East Bay this weekend. On Saturday, we went to Danville for mommy's cousin's co-ed baby shower. She is expecting a baby boy at the end of Feburary.

Daddy wasn't very excited about going to the party. The last time daddy went to a co-ed baby shower, it was for Auntie Jeanette and Uncle Jeff. Daddy says that if it's a co-ed baby shower, there should be drinks and entertainment for the boys. None of this purse scavenger hunt business.

But it's a good thing that he went because he won the blind-folded diaper challenge. In fact, daddy and Uncle Eddie both won this game. They each won a lottery ticket. Mommy also won the guess how big the momma belly is game. I helped her pick her prize. Instead of the hand lotion mommy was looking at, I picked a Forget-Me-Not Grow Kit. Who wants smelly hand lotion, when you can play with dirt?

I think baby showers are boring. There are no toys for us to play with. I guess it makes sense since they don't have kids yet. At least there were a few other kids our age at the party.

Today, we had another football playdate at Kyden's house. Kyden and Sienna played with me and Mason so daddy and mommy could watch the Super Bowl. Uncle Ritchie, Auntie Margaret and Uncle Henry also came over.

Auntie Christi made a sheet of prop bets for the Super Bowl. So we all filled one out. Daddy would ask me a question and then circle my answer. The cool thing is that I didn't have to pay for the entry fee ($2/person). Apparently the Super Bowl was more of a super bust and the only thing that kept anyone interested was the prop bet.  Mommy ended up winning the pool. Daddy finished in second. And I didn't finish last!