Recreational Fun

First Pool Visit This Year!

April 29, 2014 By Misono in Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: Chantilly, Cub Run RECenter, indoor pool, Mio, Mirei, pool, videos, water slide

On Sunday afternoon, we took Mio and Mirei to the pool for the first time this year. Mio still remembers all the fun she had at the water park and pools last summer, and she’s been saying “Go to waterpark!” for a couple months now. We went to Cub Run RECenter, as they have an indoor pool with a water slide and play area for kids. Mio had so much fun splashing around that she was reluctant to leave at the end!

Mio splashing around as soon as we got to the pool:

Mio going down the water slide:

Mio couldn't get enough of the slide! — Mio couldn’t get enough of the slide!

First pool visit of the year! — Venturing to the deeper end with Daddy.

Wading around with Daddy:

Mirei woke up so we changed her into a bathing suit, too!

Mirei's first time steeping into the pool... — Mirei’s first time steeping into the pool… she cried a little at first, but once she got used to the water, she seemed to love it!

Sweet big sister planting a kiss on Mirei.

Chubby legs in the water... — Chubby legs in the water…

Mirei's expression here is so funny and cute! — Mirei’s expression here is so funny and cute!

Mio's hug attack from behind! — Mio’s hug attack from behind!

We’re looking forward to more visits to the pool and to the water park as the weather gets warmer!

Be with Me Playseum

April 24, 2014 By Misono in Local Gems, Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: Be with Me Playseum, Bethesda, Kailee, Maryland, Mio, play, Playseum, playtime, video

Yesterday, Mio got to go to the Be with Me Playseum in Bethesda with one of her best friends, Kailee! It was our first time there, and while it looks like a pretty small space initially, there are several themed rooms in which children can play and entertain themselves — they can easily spend hours there and never get bored!

Shelves lined with empty boxes and food containers for kids to shop.

The produce area, complete with plastic fruits and veggies.

Firefighters Mio and Kailee! Mio, I think you're using that backwards... — Firefighters Mio and Kailee! Mio, I think you’re using that backwards…

Entering the "Pet Shop" room — Entering the “Pet Shop” room

I was surprised to see that they actually had real animals in the "pet store"! — I was surprised to see that they actually had real animals in the “pet store”!

The "Bella Bethesda Salon" room featured dresses and wigs for dress-up. — The “Bella Bethesda Salon” room featured dresses and wigs for dress-up.

Mio playing with a fan. — Mio kept calling herself “Princess Mio!” Here she is playing with a fan.

As much as I have my reservations about the effect of the princess culture on little girls, I do admit it’s pretty stinkin’ adorable to see Mio’s smiles and spins of delight as “Princess Mio.”

A room themed to be "Grandma's Attic." — A room themed to be “Grandma’s Attic.”

There's a lot of props and details that go into these rooms! — There’s a lot of props and details that go into these rooms!

Playing with the instruments on the performance stage.

Taking a snack break while listening to Auntie Ju read a story.

Mirei looking up at me from my Ergo baby carrier. She was so well-behaved the whole time we were there!

Putting toppings on pizzas in the pizza parlor room.

Putting their pizzas in the oven... — Putting their pizzas in the oven…

Mio with the "cookies" she cut out of rolled dough. — Mio with the “cookies” she cut out of rolled dough.

A circus area where kids could dress up as clowns.

Mio and Kailee had so much fun at the Playseum that they were in great spirits on the drive home, squealing and laughing with each other! It was really sweet to see them playing so well together. Special thanks to Ju for suggesting we go to the Playseum and for driving all of us over!

Tidal Basin & National WWII Memorial

April 15, 2014 By Misono in Family and Friends, Local Gems, Recreational Fun Tags: cherry blossoms, dan, DC, Jackie, Jefferson Memorial, Mio, Mirei, misono, National World War II Memorial, National WWII Memorial, sakura, Ted, tidal basin, Washington DC

Dan took the day off on Monday so that we could all spend the day with Ted and Jackie before they left DC. We thought it’d be a great opportunity to see the cherry blossoms by the Tidal Basin, but alas, the blossoms were definitely past their peak (they were probably best over the weekend, but we knew the crowds would be crazy) and were looking pretty green, with most of the petals in the water and on the ground. It was really windy that day, too, which probably expedited the wilting of the blossoms. Still, we had a nice time walking around the Tidal Basin and admiring the few trees that were still in full bloom, and also got to check out the National WWII Memorial as well. Despite how windy it was, it was a beautiful day — sunny but not too hot or uncomfortable. 🙂

Jackie and Mio on the Metro — Mio enjoying all the attention from Auntie Jackie while on the Metro.

Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin — Arriving at the Tidal Basin… but both girls were conked out.

Mirei woke up so we took a photo with her. — Mirei woke up so we took a photo with just us girls.

Attempt at a family photo... but Mio is too focused on eating her tortilla chip. — Attempt at a family photo… but Mio is too focused on eating her tortilla chip.

My favorite flowers are still beautiful! — My favorite flowers and Mio’s namesake… still beautiful!

Mirei at the Tidal Basin — Mirei was so well-behaved the entire time. Even when she was awake, she was so quiet and let us enjoy the cherry blossoms in peace.

Dan and Mio by one of the original cherry blossom trees.

Our family under the DC cherry blossoms — Another family photo… looks like we just can’t get one without Mio eating a chip!

Ted & Jackie under the cherry blossoms — Ted & Jackie under the sakura.

Mio getting swung by Ted & Jackie — Making our way over to the National WWII Memorial. Mio had a blast getting swung by Auntie Jackie and Uncle Ted!

She couldn't get enough of the attention! — She couldn’t get enough of the attention!

National WWII Memorial — It was actually my first time seeing the WWII Memorial too since it had been built in 2004, and it was really beautiful and impressive!

enjoying a popsicle — Sharing a popsicle before heading home.

Ted and Jackie left after dinner on Monday, but the family visits continue with Dan’s parents flying in tonight! They haven’t seen Mio in over a year and it’ll be their first time meeting Mirei. We look forward to spending lots of quality time together. 🙂

Vienna Easter Egg Hunt

April 12, 2014 By Misono in Local Gems, Recreational Fun, Seasonal Celebrations Tags: Easter, Easter bunny, Easter egg hunt, egg hunt, farmer's market, Freeman House, Mio, Mirei, moonbounce, Oakton, Oakton Farmer's Market, Vienna, Vienna Easter egg hunt

This morning, we took Mio to the local community Easter egg hunt in the lawn of the Freeman House in Old Town Vienna. There were a lot of kids there, and Mio had fun partaking in some of the Easter festivities!

Vienna Easter Egg Hunt — Easter egg hunting!

Mirei with the Easter bunny — Mirei getting a photo with the Easter bunny.

Mio in tears... — As for big sister… the Santa Claus effect happened once again. ::sigh::

among the flowers — The weather was BEAUTIFUL today. The sun’s shining, the flowers are blooming… spring is finally here!

Eater moonbounce — They also had a moonbounce, craft activities, and an egg roll!

After the Easter events, we headed over to the farmer’s market in Oakton. It was a pretty small market and not quite like the ones we’re used to from living in California, but they still had some delicious offerings, including some homemade tropical fruit punch and the most amazing cilantro hummus that we picked up.

Oakton Farmer's Market — Applesauce and pickled goods at the farmer’s market…

Mio’s Birthday Party at Mobu Kids

April 7, 2014 By Misono in Family and Friends, Kitchen Concoctions, Local Gems, Mio, Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: 3 years old, birthday, birthday party, Falls Church, friends, Mio, Mobu Kids, play studio, playgym, three years old, video

On Saturday, we ended Mio’s birthday week with a party with a bunch of her little friends at Mobu Kids in Falls Church! Mobu Kids is a local private play studio (similar to Gymboree) and we thought it’d be a fun place to host the party so that the kids could have enjoy all kinds of play and activities. The staff there were great in that they really engaged the kids, helped out a lot with set-up and did most of the clean-up, and kept the party on schedule. It was still a little chaotic (as is expected with 20+ toddlers and preschoolers), but our stress level was significantly reduced because of them!

Mio's Birthday Party at Mobu Kids — The tables set up for the party, complete with party hats and noisemakers.

The kids shaking their little egg shakers to the “Milkshake!” song.

A video of the kids playing with the parachute:

The bubbles were also a huge hit!

After nearly an hour of playtime, the instructors got the kids cleaned up and moved to the party room, where we enjoyed pizza and desserts!

We got a video of everyone singing Happy Birthday and Mio blowing out the candle. Mio looks so happy!

We’re so glad all of Mio’s friends and their families could make it out to celebrate Mio turning three. Some of our guests came from pretty far, so we’re really thankful that they made the trek out! It was so great seeing everyone, and Mio had so much fun — she’s been talking about the party ever since. Thank you to everyone who helped make her birthday so special for her! ♥

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