While our main purpose of going to LA on Memorial Day weekend was for Megumi & Daniel’s wedding, we got to squeeze in some time to have some recreational fun of our own in between the wedding preparations and festivities. Here are some other photos and videos from our weekend in Los Angeles.

First stop in LA: Porto's!
First stop in LA: Porto’s! It was so delicious, and especially satisfying after a long drive down.

 

Afterwards we checked in at the Hilton in Glendale for the weekend, and the girls were so happy to get to the hotel room after being in the car for over seven hours!

Happy to be at the hotel!

 

Happy to be at the hotel!

 

On Saturday morning, we met up with Estella for lunch. While we had became close friends from working together at a web design studio in Oakland, she’s now attending Art Center in Pasadena, so it was great to see her again in a new city! I am always so inspired by Estella whenever I see her — her drive, ambition, and talent are all things I admire so much about her, and I cannot wait to see the places she’ll go! She’s also one of those friends with whom you can just pick up right where you left off and just chat and joke with so naturally — I so love and treasure that about my friendship with Estella. 🙂 I’m pretty sure we’ll still be like that fifty years from now.

Lunch with Estella in Monterey Park
Lunch with Estella in Monterey Park. Reunited and it feels so good!

 

Mio and Dan at lunch at Mama Lu's
Mio and Dan across the table at Mama’s Lu Dumpling House

 

Mirei eating Chinese noodles
Mirei eating Chinese noodles

 

Mirei eating Chinese noodles
She clearly loves them!

 

soup dumplings a MaMa's Lu Dumpling House
Soup dumplings from MaMa’s Lu Dumpling House

 

spicy wonton at Ma Ma's Lu Dumpling House
Spicy wonton… ehrmagerd, these were so good!

 

fried rice at Ma Ma's Lu Dumpling House
Fried rice, also very delicious.

 

noodles from Ma Ma's Lu Dumpling House
These noodles were bomb dot com as well! We got so much food… and it was all amazing.

 

Estella and Mio at Ma Ma's Lu Dumpling House
Estella and Mio 🙂 Estella’s seen her grow up from newborn! I still remember Estella being horrified by my ultrasound photo when I showed her at work. “YOU HAVE SOMETHING WITH HANDS AND FEET INSIDE OF YOU!” …but she came around to being one of the best aunties ever! 

 

Always love seeing Estella!
Always love seeing Estella!

 

M&M at Ma Ma's Lu Dumpling House
Mio cheesing while Mirei attempts to drink tea

 

After lunch, we said goodbye to Estella and drove over to the LACMA to see the Urban Light exhibit that I’ve always wanted to see in person. Of course, there were so many people there as it was a Saturday afternoon, but we still had fun looking around!

Urban Light at LACMA

 

Urban Light at LACMA

 

Urban Light at LACMA
Mio straddling at Urban Light

 

Mirei at Urban Light
Mirei ponders the meaning of life under a sea of lights.

 

The girls with Daddy at Urban Light
The girls with Daddy

 

Little Mirei among the Urban Light lamps
Little Mirei looks so tiny running between  the lamps.

 

Mirei at Urban Light

 

Mio running around Urban Light
It was quite the playground for the girls!

 


 

Mio & I at Urban Light
Mio and I 🙂

 

Family picture by the LACMA lights
Family picture by the LACMA lights

 

Sunday was a busy day as it was Megumi & Daniel’s wedding day, and while I was occupied with preparations as part of the bridal party, the girls got to cool down at the hotel pool before making their way over to the wedding venue.

Pooltime at Glendale Hilton
Pooltime at Glendale Hilton

 

Pooltime at Glendale Hilton
Daddy’s girls taking a dip in the pool.

 


 

Pooltime at Glendale Hilton
Mirei getting tossed up by Daddy

 

The next morning, we had to get up super early at dark o’clock to get to LAX, return our car, and make our 8am flight back to Dulles. We were all pretty exhausted and sleepy, but thankfully everything went smoothly and we were able to make it back East without leaving any of our sanity or children behind.

Sleeping while waiting to board at LAX
Waiting to board at LAX

 

Sleeping while waiting to board at LAX
…annnd they’re both out.

 

A huge thank you to all the family and friends who made us feel so welcome and made everything so memorable and enjoyable while we were visiting California! It was truly a treat to see all of your faces, and we miss you all so much already. Hopefully we can make it over there again to visit soon! 🙂