On Sunday, we went to Crissy Fields in San Francisco to attend Nakayoshi‘s Annual Welcome BBQ. We haven’t been able to go the past couple years because we’ve always happened to be out of town, but we were glad that we could make it this year, especially since it’s been a lot harder to go to Nakayoshi’s events since Mio was born. The BBQ picnic was a really family-friendly event, and it was a good chance for Mio to meet all her aunties and uncles in Nakayoshi! 🙂
Jamie did an awesome job organizing the BBQ! We’ve known each other since she was a freshman at Virginia Tech who joined JCA during my senior year. It’s awesome having a fellow Hokie transplant in San Francisco, and I love that Jamie’s involved with Nakayoshi now! 😀
There was so much delicious food that everyone made!
This was seriously the best spam musubi I have ever had.
Mio happily eating some onigiri.
Mio reunited with Uncle Graig — she loves him!
With lovely Auntie Sam! Thank you for always being so sweet to Mio. 🙂
Nakayoshi Chair Haruka welcoming everyone welcoming everyone at the Meet & Greet.
It was hard to keep Mio from running around everywhere during the Meet & Greet. (><)
Touchdown! She discovered a football.
Despite the foggy weather, it was a great turnout!
Megumi made a surprise appearance — it was so good seeing her again!
Mio meeting Tiffany and Atsushi for the first time.
Giving high fives all around!
Jason leading all the fun of the Nakayoshi Games!
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay for the games because it was Mio’s naptime and she was getting cranky, but we heard it was fun! 😀 We’re glad that we could at least be there for the first half and see everyone again, as well as meet some of the newer Nakayoshi members!
The Marin County Fair is going on from June 30 to July 4, so we drove over to San Rafael yesterday so that we could give Mio her first taste of a fair. She was too young and short to go on the rides, but she still had a lot of fun with the farm animals that were there!
Walking around the fair, making our way over to the farm animals area.
The fair was a huge affair by the water – we were impressed by how many rides, food tents, and vendors there were.
In the area with the farm animals, Mio got to see so many animals — rabbits, chickens, geese, sheep, turkeys, cows, goats, deer, horses, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, potbelly pigs, wallabies… there were so many that she got to see for the first time!
When the animals were inside pens, Mio got very adventurous and climbed up on the railing and leaned in to touch them, as she did with this cow.
I think one of the highlights for myself personally was watching the potbelly pig race! I’d never seen a pig/hog race before, so it was actually really fun to watch!
It was an intense race! And the potbelly pigs were so cute.
There was a petting farm area specifically designed for little kids, so that they could go in to touch and feed the free-roaming animals. While Mio had been really brave up until then, trying to touch the animals inside their cages and pens, she suddenly became very timid when she was in an area where they weren’t behind bars.
Here I am, trying to get Mio to pet the llama… but she refuses.
Mio is usually very quick in trying to run off, but this time she clung to me.
She even turned away from the smaller animals like the baby goats.
We finally got her to willingly feed a little fawn, probably because she felt safe as it was one of the few animals that was caged in.
Mio feeding the fawn from her hand.
A baby goat wedged its way in to get fed, too. Mio has great practice with feeding animals from feeding our pet chinchillas back at home!
Even though the fawn was behind a pen, it still managed to reach its neck out to take a couple bite out out of my dress, leaving holes in it! 🙁
Mio loved climbing up on the wall of the cages to look down at the animals.
A little overwhelmed by all the animals.
Had to take a picture with the creepy-looking Clover cow.
…and of me as a cow.
Taking a lunch break on the haystacks.
Gotta stay hydrated!
I forget how small Mio still is compared to Dan…
After Mio was done eating, we walked around to try some of the delicious fair grub ourselves…
Turkey legs remind me of college! I was tempted to get one, but I didn’t.
There were so many good food stands! We decided on some delicious garlic fries, Cajun seafood gumbo, and a root beer float… all delicious!
With our tummies full, and our hearts warmed by all the cute animals, we headed home. It was a great first carnival experience for our little family! 😀
Last Saturday was sunny and hot, so we took Mio to Alameda Beach so that she could have a fun beach day! We invited our friends Tarrin and Jason along, since they live in Alameda, and they suggested the delicious idea of having brunch at Off the Grid which is now in Alameda on Saturdays. Off the Grid is a gathering of food trucks and tents selling all kinds of yummy street foods, and we’d actually never been to the weekly ones in San Francisco nor Berkeley, so this was our first time!
Excited to eat delicious street food!
Mio staying cool with her shades.
I decided to try the Hiyaaa! truck.
My bulgogi on a roll from Hiyaaa. There was kimchee inside, too!
Dan got the Peruvian burger and potatoes from Sanguchon
Digging in!
Tarrin and Jason also got some delicious andouille poutine from Fins on the Hoof for us to share, and we picked up a lemon lavender cupcake from a cupcake truck and a chocolate cream puff from Pacific Puffs for dessert, and headed over to the beach together.
We’ve taken Mio to the beach before when we went to Santa Cruz last Labor Day weekend, but she was young and not very mobile so she couldn’t really get the full experience, and it’d been cold so we didn’t put her int he water at the time. So this was Mio’s first true full experience of the beach, where she could walk around and play in the sand and water!
Trying to coax Mio into the water…
Mio is stunned by how vast the ocean is!
We changed her into her bathing suit and got her in the water!
Mio’s first time in ocean water! She was loving it, and kept trying to move into the deeper water.
“Jump! Jump!”
She kept lifting her legs up so they were flat against the water… lol.
As you can see from the video below, she’s quite the waterbug! She was really loving the water, and later the sand… definitely a beach babe! 😉
Mio finally had enough of the water, and started walking towards the shore…
First time playing in the sand… and eating, it too! ::sigh::
Walking about, exploring the sandy shore… she was really interested in the other kids.
A contemplative Mio, deep in thought as she looks out at the ocean. As Jason put it, “very Hemingway.”
There are no words to describe how much her expression here tickles me!
She soon fell asleep in Mama’s arms and took a little nap on the beach.
After all the fun in the sun, it was eventually time to go home…
Mio riding on Tarrin’s shoulders as we head back to the car.
Auntie Tarrin is so good with Mio… Mio really loves her!
Thanks Tarrin and Jason for making our beach outing so much more fun and memorable! We loved that we could spend the day with you. 🙂
We had a pretty busy weekend, and instead of going into the details of the places we went and the friends we saw, I thought I’d just share some snapshots! I find that I’ve been leaving our camera behind a lot lately… while it takes great pictures, I’ve been lazy and just love the ease of using my phone to take quick snapshots and instantly share them online. I used to wonder what all the fuss was about Instagram, but after a few months of using it, I’ve been bitten by the bug and am now admittedly an avid Instagrammer!
So if you already follow me on Instagram, these pictures are old news, but here are some of our memorable moments from the past weekend!
Happy birthday Brent! On Saturday, we got to celebrate Brent's 30th birthday over in Dublin with amazing food and great company.
Cuties looking out the window, watching Brent BBQ-ing.
Staredown between Mio and cute doggies Miko and Dumpling.
Thanks Brent and Estella for having us over to celebrate with you all! 😀
On Saturday evening, we drove into the city to have a sushi dinner at Sanraku with Stephanie, who has been one of my dearest friends since college! She’s getting married in late September, and I couldn’t be happier for her! So glad that we could have dinner and catch up before she left to fly back to DC.
Mio checking out the drink menu...
On Sunday morning, Mio got to have some fun playing with a bunch of other tots in San Leandro…
In the afternoon, we went to Hayward to attend baby Easton’s first birthday party!
Smash that cake!
Chasing balloons...
It’s been pretty hot lately, so I’ve been having fun dressing Mio up in cute little sundresses. We’ve been staying cool indoors while enjoying frozen fruit! 🙂
Last Sunday, we went to a garden party hosted by Dan’s British coworker Liz, celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee — the 60th anniversary of her being the Queen. We’d never been to this kind of celebration before so we didn’t know what to expect, but it was a really lovely garden party with such beautiful details…
The Diamond Jubilee flag on the fence in front of the house.
Trifle and strawberries with cream.
Loved the presentation!
The little cuties at the party.
Cedar has gotten so big now. He's almost two years old!
I'm a sucker for details like this... so cute!
"Whack-A-Rat" game
Mio eating some fruit.
Delicious-looking cupcakes on display.
More yummy treats!
Mio was constantly running off somewhere and exploring the beautiful garden. It was all we could to keep up with her!
The food was superb, and everything about the party had the designer’s touch! We had a wonderful time. 🙂
