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California 2015: Big Sur

May 31, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Recreational Fun, Videos, Wanderlust Tags: Allens, beach, Big Sur, California, cove, dan, family, getaway, grandma, grandpa, grandparents, Hyo, Hyosook, Jackie, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Mio, Mirei, misono, Pfeiffer Beach, Point Lobos, state park, Ted, waterfall, Whaler's Cabin, Whaler's Cove

Tuesday, May 19th was the highlight of our family getaway with Dan’s family, as we explored our main destination of the trip — Big Sur! We got to go to Point Lobos, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Pfeiffer Beach. Dan and I had gone to Big Sur three years ago and we fell in love with the gorgeous sights there, especially the waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. We have been talking about coming back to see Big Sur for a while now, so we were thrilled to be able to return, and to get to show our girls the sights there, too.

Our first stop in the morning was Whaler’s Cove at Point Lobos. It was pretty cloudy and overcast in the morning (typical of Northern California), which only intensified the unsettling aura of the cove.

Whaler's Cabin at Whaler's Cove in Point Lobos — A small cabin built by Chinese fishermen from that era still remains and is now a cultural history museum.

With the whale bones by Whaler's Cabin — With the whale bones by Whaler’s Cabin

Mio & Mirei at Point Lobos — I liked the inscription on this bench: “Tell them how special they are.”

We then took a walk around the cliffs of Point Lobos, and took in some of the prettier sights there. It was my first time at Point Lobos, but I observed that it has a very rugged beauty to it.

Picnic lunch at Point Lobos — Enjoying a picnic lunch at Point Lobos

After eating lunch, we drove over to my favorite part of Big Sur — Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park! It was a bit of a drive from Point Lobos, but it gave the weather time to clear up, and by the time we arrived, the sun was completely out, making for a gorgeous day to see one of California’s most scenic locations.

Auntie Hyo holding Mirei as we make our way to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Our family at Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP — Our family at Big Sur’s Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park at Big Sur — Gorgeous view of the waterfall… this is my favorite view in California.

The girls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park — The girls taking a break on the bench

Us with Mirei at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park — With our little Mirei, almost 16 months old at the time.

Our last stop in Big Sur was Pfeiffer Beach, which looks like a beautiful beach set straight from a movie, with light shining through the Keyhole Arch rock formations and almost purple-looking sand.

Mio with Auntie Jackie at Pfeiffer Beach — Stunning Pfeiffer Beach

Jackie and Mio at Pfeiffer Beach — Mio walking with Auntie Jackie at Pfeiffer Beach

Mirei with Uncle Ted at Pfeiffer Beach — Mirei with Uncle Ted

The girls got to play in the sand with the beach toys that Grandma thoughtfully brought along for them.

The Allens at Pfeiffer Beach — Big Sur is so gorgeous! It was wonderful to be able to come back here with the whole Allen family, including our sweet girls.

California 2015: Pajaro Dunes

May 31, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Recreational Fun, Wanderlust Tags: beach, beach house, California, dan, getaway, grandma, grandpa, grandparents, Hyo, Hyosookm family, Jackie, jellyfish, Mio, Mirei, misono, Pajaro Dunes, sand dollars, Ted, vacation, Watsonville

After spending much of the first day of our mini trip in Santa Cruz, we headed down to Pajaro Dunes, where we would be staying at a beach house for the next couple days. It was a beautiful and spacious beach house right by the shore, and we had a great time relaxing there, enjoying the view, and easily taking walks on the beach as it was only footsteps away.

Mio and Mirei unwinding at the beach house — Mio and Mirei unwinding at the house

Mio and Grandpa at the beach house — Mio and Grandpa

Mio drawing at the beach house — Mio drawing

Mio and Mirei with the handmade zabuton from Grandma — Mio and Mirei with their gift of handmade zabuton from Grandma – so impressed that she sewed them herself!

Taking a morning walk on the beach the next morning…

Morning stroll on the beach at Pajaro Dunes

Our family at Pajaro Dunes — Family photo at Pajaro Dunes â™¥

California 2015: Santa Cruz

May 30, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Recreational Fun, Wanderlust Tags: Allens, boardwalk, California, dan, family, grandma, grandpa, grandparents, Hyo, Hyosook, Jackie, Mio, Mirei, misono, picnic, Santa Cruz, sea lions, Ted, wharf

During the week we were in the Bay Area, we went on a mini-getaway (a vacation within a vacation for us) with Dan’s family for three days, and we chose to explore the Monterey Bay area, including Santa Cruz, Point Lobos, Big Sur, and Moss Landing, renting a beach house for two nights at Pajaro Dunes Resort in Watsonville. It was a fun few days in which we could really spend some quality time with Dan’s side of the family, and the girls had a blast!

Here are some photos from Day One, which was mostly spent in Santa Cruz.

Mirei enjoying Santa Cruz — Mirei enjoying the breeze!

Mirei with her aunties at Santa Cruz — Mirei with her aunties

Mio with Grandma at Santa Cruz — Mio with Grandma on the boardwalk

Mirei with Jackie at Santa Cruz — Mirei with Auntie Jackie

Looking down at the water — The sun came out to make it the perfectly sunny day!

Sunbathing sea lions at Santa Cruz Wharf

Mio and Grandpa looking down at sea lions

Mirei with Grandma at Santa Cruz — Mirei with Grandma

After thoroughly enjoying Santa Cruz, we headed over to Pajaro Dunes in Watsonville to settle into our beach house where we’d be staying for the rest of the trip — we’ll share photos from there in our next post!

California 2015: San Jose

May 29, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Wanderlust Tags: aunt, California, dan, family, grandparents, great-grandmother, Hyo, Hyosook, Jackie, Mary, Mio, Mirei, Monica, relatives, San Jose, Ted

On Sunday evening during our stay in California, we drove down to San Jose to see Dan’s grandmother and aunts. It was the first time the Allens (Dan’s immediate family) has been all together in a couple years, and we got together with some of the relatives so that we could all see them together. Mio and Mirei were particularly interested in their grandparents’ dog Choco!

Visiting San Jose — Dan and Mirei sitting with Dan’s grandmother, who is 96 years old.

At one point, Mio went into her grandparents’ room, where Grandma let Mio try on her odori (Japanese traditional dance) hat, adorned with flowers.

Mio trying on Grandma's Japanese dance hat — Mio trying on Grandma’s Japanese dance hat

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It was nice to be able to spend time with Dan’s grandmother and aunts, since we rarely get to see them as we’re on the other side of the country. Our hearts are always warmed by their hospitality!

Last Weekend of 2014

December 30, 2014 By Misono in Family and Friends, Local Gems, Recreational Fun Tags: annex, Chantilly, Fairfax Ice Arena, Hyo, Hyosook, ice skating, Jackie, lunch, Mio, Mirei, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Ted, YeChon

Dan’s sister Hyo, brother Ted and Ted’s fiancÃ© Jackie came to visit us the weekend after Christmas, and we got to spend some quality time with them for a couple days! The girls loved being with their aunties and uncle, and were getting spoiled by all the extra attention!

On Saturday morning, we decided to all go ice skating! I’m not very good at ice skating, so I stayed outside the rink with Mirei, but it was Mio’s first time skating on the ice and she seemed to enjoy it! Dan and his siblings did a great job of holding her hands and keeping her safe as she skated.

Mio ice skating with Dan — Mio’s first time ice skating!

Mio watching the rink — After half an hour, Mio got tired and wanted to take a break so she watched with me from outside the rink.

Mirei's first skate with Daddy — Mirei got to skate a lap with Daddy, before he was told that it wasn’t allowed for her to skate strapped to him.

M&M by the lockers — M&M playing by the lockers while everyone else skated

After ice skating, we stopped by the Snocream Shavery bus to have some Taiwanese shaved ice!

Later in the afternoon, we headed over to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which is the National Air and Space Museum annex in Chantilly.

Mio in her stroller at the museum — Mio taking a break in her stroller at the museum.

Mio jumping with Ted and Jackie — Mio loving the attention from Ted and Jackie!

Our family at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center — Our family in front of the Discovery space shuttle

Sunday Lunch at Yechon — Lunch on Sunday at YeChon before seeing everyone off.

It was a short visit, but we had a lot of fun spending time together! It can be difficult for us to travel with two young kids, so we really appreciate whenever Dan’s family can come to us to visit. We look forward to the next time we’ll get to see each other again, and hopefully we can visit California in the new year!

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