Last weekend, our friends Mie and SunJae were visiting from Maryland to show their film Ai Means Love in San Francisco! (Coincidentally, my sister Miwa is in the movie! Click over to the movie site to find out more about the movie.) They brought their adorable 15-month old son Kosei with them, and a whole bunch of us got together to have dinner at De Afghanan Kabob House in Fremont. It was actually my first time trying Afghan food, but I am now a huge fan! I’m already craving me some more of that juicy, tender kabob meat…. It was definitely some of the best meat I have ever had!
I forgot to take photos of the food, but here are some we took with everyone!
Mie and I with our babies!
Mie and Kosei had met once before back in June, when we had visited DC, but they were able to interact a lot more this time! Here are some pictures and video footage of 7-month old Mio with 15-month old Kosei!
Kosei giving Mio a hug. Aww!!!
Mio got so excited, she wouldn't let go of Kosei.
Mio getting some lovin' from Auntie Mie.
We had a great time with you guys!
Thank you so much for making time to have dinner with us despite your busy schedule, Mie and SunJae — we wish you the best in the rest of your film tour, and are looking forward to seeing you all when we visit the DC area during the holidays! 🙂
Last Sunday, we took Mio to Moore’s Pumpkin Patch in Castro Valley — it was of course Mio’s first time at a pumpkin patch, and the grandparents (Dan’s parents) came along for the occasion. (This was the primary reason I had dressed Mio up as a pumpkin — so she could match the pumpkins there!) Mio was a bit cranky because she’d just awoken from a nap and was already tired from being out since early that day, but we got some cute pictures out of it!
Pooh Mio and Piglet Mama... Mio was not too happy about this.
Mio and Daddy with the pumpkins.
The pumpkin was bigger than Mio!
Family picture!
Our little family's first time at a pumpkin patch! ♥
Hugs for the Mio... she looks indifferent.
Mio grabbing Grandma's nose!
Mio with her loving grandparents!
Three generations of Allens.
Mio as Minnie Mouse.
The grandparents bought Mio mini pumpkins!
Mio and I went on a train ride together, and she seemed to have enjoyed it!
Leaning out of the train...
"What? Over already?"
Farm animals! It amused me that they were all thrown together in the same pen. Chickens, pig, rabbits, ducks, geese...
At the end of it all, Mio was tired and ready to go home!
The pumpkin patch was more fun that I’d expected, and I’m looking forward to going back in future years. Maybe Mio will be able to go on more rides next year! 🙂 Excited about all the memories we’ll make together in the years to come… ♥
My best friend Debbie was in town for Columbus Day weekend, and we spent Saturday with her and her boyfriend Jerry. We started the day off with a delicious roasted potato pizza for lunch at Cheeseboard in Berkeley, and then drove up to Napa Valley for some wine tasting! It was the first time in Napa for Debbie and I, and of course for Mio as well! Debbie has been my best friend of fourteen years, and some of my fondest memories of high school and college are those that I spent with her! I miss her so much now that we live on opposite coasts, so I’m really grateful for the time that we get to spend with each other! 🙂
Here are some photos from our day in Napa…
Debbie and Mio meet for the second time! (This was after our Cheeseboard lunch in Berkeley.)
We went to Mumm Napa, which is a winery known for great sparkling wines! (Perfect for dessert wine lovers like us!)
Arriving at Mumm Napa.
Mio waiting patiently in her stroller with Sophie.
Last weekend was Oakland’s Eat Real Festival, where 60 street food vendors, along with craft food market vendors, artisan producers, and culinary instructors rolled into Jack London Square to serve up delicious eats (all $5 or under!) and hold workshops and demonstrations. The festival ran from Friday through Sunday, but we spent our Saturday afternoon at the festival. It was our first time there, and we were a bit overwhelmed by how crazy the crowds were, how long some lines stretched, and how much time was spent waiting in them. (It probably didn’t help that we went at what was most likely the busiest time of the whole three days.) The whole experience probably would have been a little less stressful without having to maneuver the stroller through the gravel and throngs of foodies that descended upon the festival, but we still had a good time and got to indulge our palates!
There was no shortage of street food vendors, but some of the restaurants were also offering some great discounted prices on platters, so Dan jumped at the opportunity to get some Indian food!
