While we were in the Bay Area, we wanted to make sure that we stopped by our old neighborhood in El Cerrito/Albany area. It was our first home as a family, where we brought Mio home from the hospital and where she spent her first year and a half. There are so many fond memories we have there, and we really missed it!
Our good friends Sonya and Sofia were still in the area, but packing up their house for their move to Portland. I’m so glad we could meet up with them and see them in Albany, before they moved! It was so sweet to see how both Sofia and Mio have grown so much, and reunite in the place they had so many playdates together as babies!
Shyly exchanging gifts:
Mirei kicking a ball around
Playing with bubbles!
Mio playing with Sofia’s toys
Can’t believe how much they both have grown up!
The girls playing in the backyard:
M&M and S&S reunited!
Best of luck with your new chapter in Portland, Pou family! 🙂
Hugging each other goodbye:
My heart could burst seeing these cuties reunited! Mio and Sofia hugging each other goodbye.
After our playdate, we drove over to nearby Memorial Park, where I used to take Mio often when we lived in El Cerrito. It’s still one of my favorite parks, and it was kind of surreal to see Mio running around on the larger playground, which I had to constantly steer her away from when she used to run into it as a toddler for fear that one of the older kids would crash into her. Now she’s one of the big kids! Mirei is around the age that Mio was when I would bring her to Memorial Park, too, so watching her there conjured up some sweet nostalgia for me.
Mirei on the swing with Daddy at Memorial Park in Albany
Mio climbing to the top! (of course).
Mio climbing the rockwall at Memorial Park
Mirei and I on the playground
Mio making her way along the monkey bars
Going down the big spiral slide
So grown up now!
It seemed like Mio subconsciously remembered the playground. As soon as she saw it when we parked by it, she broke into a run towards with a huge smile on her face. She happily refamiliarized herself with the playground, and played to her heart’s content.
It was such a beautiful afternoon, and we’re so glad we could spend it with our close friends and at one of favorite parks! There are just so many places in the Bay Area that we always wish we could stop by, and there’s never enough time…
We recently returned from our trip to California! It had been a little over two years since we last visited the West Coast, so it was long overdue and we have really missed the Bay Area, including all of our friends and family there. We were so glad we could spend a week in Northern California, catching up with loved ones and seeing familiar sights and eating all the good food we’ve missed from the area.
We woke up early the morning of Friday, May 15th to go to Dulles to catch our flight to San Francisco.
Riding the shuttle to the terminal:
Despite how early it was, Mio was hyper and running around the airport. She got especially excited about this rainbow wall at Dulles.
Collapsed on the floor.
…only to jump back on her feet to run around again! Waiting at the gate to board our flight
This was Mirei’s first flight ever! We were all a little anxious about how she’d do, but she did surprisingly well and was well-behaved for most of it. We had told Mio we were going to be visiting California in the days and weeks before the trip, so she was really excited!
We arrived in the afternoon and spent the first couple days of our trip around our favorite city!
Arriving in San Francisco! Dan’s parents came to pick us up!
 We were pretty hungry when we landed, so our first order of business was of course…
In-N-Out Burger! Thirsty Mio Mirei dipping her fries She’s so independent now and loves to eat food on her own, whether it be using her fingers, a spoon, or a fork!
On Saturday, we spent the morning in Japantown — probably the part of San Francisco I spent the most time in when we lived in California. So many good memories of shopping around, browsing Kinokuniya bookstore, eating delicious Japanese food, attending the annual, Cherry Blossom Festival there, volunteering with Japanese American organizations like Nakayoshi… it’s really a place that is close to our heart, so I’m so glad we could stop by and visit this time, since we weren’t able to our last trip.
At Japantown’s Peace Plaza in San Francisco
We also wanted to stop to see the Golden Gate Bridge, so we drove through the Presidio, hopping that the fog would clear…
Missed this view!
We left our hearts in San Francisco… We missed our favorite city!
On Valentine’s Day, a bunch of my high school girlfriends and I drove up to Philadelphia for a day trip to visit our dear friend Debbie! (Dan was a great sport about watching the girls while I got to spend time with my friends, and we had already had our own Valentine’s celebrations in the days prior.) Jen, Mimi, and I headed out in the morning, and got to Philly in time to enjoy soup dumplings for lunch with Debbie! Juli flew in to join us afterwards for post-lunch dessert at Audabon Bakeshop!
Audabon Bakeshop with the ladies
Mimi and I at lunch right before.
Neat signage at Audabon Bakeshop
Delicious macarons from Audabon Bakeshop
Strawberry brick toast at Audabon Bakeshop
It was so amazing that it necessitates posting another angle of it.
Walking to The Barnes Foundation museum as the flurries fell around us.
Lovely Mimi!
Us at the Barnes Foundation
The snow made everything look so romantic!
Cool crystals hanging from the ceiling of the museum.
Juli, Debbie, and Jen at dinner
We enjoyed dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant called Kanella. We didn’t realize that we’d be dining off of their Valentine’s menu, so it ended up being quite a meal!
shepherd’s pie
lamb chops
Lobster from Kanella
Chocolate cake with lavender ice cream. My favorite dessert there!
This was also delicious.
Our day trip to Philly was quite eventful! It was a fun and memorable day, and it was so enjoyable getting to spend Valentine’s Day with these amazing ladies!
We got caught in a bit of a blizzard on the way so it took us a while to get home, but thankfully we made it back in one piece around 2 in the morning. Can’t wait until we are all reunited again!
We got to be a part of our dear friends Mimi and Alden’s wedding celebration when they tied the knot on September 28th! The wedding was held at Early Mountain Vineyards near Charlottesville, and it was a gorgeous place for a beautiful ceremony and reception to celebrate the couple. We had a lovely time — Congratulations, Mimi and Alden!
Mimi looking stunning coming down the aisle.
Beautiful ceremony at Early Mountain Vineyards
Korean style ceremony
Lovely wedding cake!
Loved the adorable cake toppers!
A video of their bridal party’s grand entrance at the reception:
We spent this past weekend at Camp Shehaqua, a family camp at Hickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. We arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Sunday afternoon, so it was a fun three days and two nights spent with friends and their families in the great outdoors!
Our little cabin for the weekend. Arriving at Camp Shehaqua Mio relaxing in the hammock by the dining hall. Mirei and I squeezed in too. It was so comfy! Both nights, there was a campfire and s’mores after dinner. Here’s Mio on the first night by the campfire. Hanging out by the campfire. Roasting marshmallows. Mio and I enjoying our s’mores! She loved them. 6 month old Mirei and 10 month old Avonlea. Avonlea, 2 month old Alanna, and Mirei! So many baby girls! Morning activity the next day for the “Twinkles” group (which was 3 – 5 year olds)
Mio had a good time participating in the activities with Dan. Meanwhile, Mirei and I were in the “Milky Way” group for babies under two. Mirei got to make some new baby friends!
Mirei with her friends:
The campground had a really clean and well-maintained pool! Mio had a great time swimming in it in the afternoon. Mirei got to take a dip, too! With our sweet girls in the pool. The dodgeball tournament in the evening of the second day. Lots of outdoor fun! Mio and Seiji watching their Daddies play dodgeball from the sidelines. The girls with Daddy after the game. Mirei sitting up in the field Dojoon was so sweet and doting with Mirei! Mirei getting lots of attention! Seiji playing with Mirei A bunch of the boys hugging Mirei. She was getting bombarded with affection! Mio climbing a tree for the first time. She had such a good time at the camp!
While I’m not a very outdoorsy person and camping usually is a challenge for me, it was nice to unplug and get away with other families and friends, and spend time in nature together. The kids definitely enjoyed it, and we’re looking forward to going again in the future!
