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Megumi & Daniel’s Wedding Weekend

June 3, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Videos Tags: Ali, All of Me, bridal party, bridesmaid, ceremony, dan, Daniel, flower girl, Glendale, Granville, John Legend, kimono, LA, Los Angeles, Megumi, Mio, Mirei, reception, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, Sam, Southern California, Vertigo, video, wedding

After spending a week in Northern California, we drove down on Friday, May 22nd for the much-anticipated wedding of our dear friends Megumi & Daniel! The rehearsal dinner was on Friday evening, and the wedding was on Sunday, and we were honored that Megumi and Daniel had asked Mio and I to part of their bridal party — I was so touched that Megumi had asked me to a bridesmaid, and Mio a flower girl in what was to us the wedding of the year! We wereÂ all so excited to see them and our mutual friends again since it’s been so long since we were last together, but it was truly extra special to be there by their side as they tied the knot.

We drove down on Friday and got to Glendale in the afternoon, in time for the rehearsal at Vertigo, where the ceremony and reception would be on Sunday. The rehearsal went well, full of heartwarming moments and hugs with friends we had missed so much!

Megumi & Daniel's ceremony rehearsal — After the wedding rehearsal on Friday

After the ceremony rehearsal, everyone was invited to Daniel’s parents’ beautiful home in Alhambra, where a taco truck catered a delicious rehearsal dinner, along with lots of amazing sides and desserts cooked up by Megumi and her family and friends.

Mirei and Kanoa at the rehearsal dinner — We got to meet Ali and Tim’s adorable son Kanoa for the first time! He’s only a few months older than Mirei, so it was cute watching them play together.

Leila taking selfies on my phone — I loved meeting Megumi’s adorable niece and nephew! Here’s sweet Leila-chan.

Kaminaga kids' selfies — The Kaminaga kids! Leila and Julian. 🙂

They loved taking selfies with my camera, so I took a bunch of videos of the adorable kiddos.

On Saturday evening, we had dinner at Granville in downtown Glendale with some of the other bridesmaids and friends from San Francisco/Nakayoshi who were in town for the wedding. So glad we got to spend some extra time with them. 🙂

"Mama, take a picture of panda!" — “Mama, take a picture of panda!” Mio feeding a sprig of rosemary to the panda doll that accompanied our travels.

Sunday started bright & early for the bridesmaids, as we got breakfast together at the hotel and gathered in Megumi’s suite for makeup and hair.

Getting my hair done as a bridesmaid on the wedding day.

Sam enjoying some In-N-Out during bridal party prep! — Sam enjoying some In-N-Out during prep! The bridal party’s got to eat, and these were some pretty satisfying provisions! 😀

Gorgeous bride in her wedding dress — The gorgeous bride in her wedding dress.

The stunning bride! — Isn’t she just breathtaking? *sigh* Megumi was truly stunning!

Selfie with the bride! I don’t recognize myself with all the heavy makeup. lol

With lovely MOH Sam! — With the lovely Maid of Honor, Sam!

Room for the ceremony. Those hanging white flowers were made out of coffee filters and pipe cleaners, and many hours of hard work by the bride and the other bridesmaids (I only helped a little at the end when I came into town). They turned out gorgeous!

Even the bathrooms were gorgeous! — The venue Megumi & Daniel chose was so glamorous. Even the bathrooms were gorgeous, with these huge, ceiling-high leaning mirrors!

Daniel & Megumi's first look — First look between the bride and groom. â™¥

Of course, I had to get it on video, too.

Love my flower girl! — Mio getting ready as the flower girl!

Can't believe Megumi sewed the flower girl dresses! — Can’t believe Megumi sewed the flower girl dresses! The inspiration was Carrie Bradshaw.

Mio with MOH Sam — Shy Mio with beautiful Sam.

The happy couple with the kids in the bridal party. The cutest flower girls and ringbearers 🙂

pre-wedding libations — The bride & groom enjoying some pre-ceremony libations

Lovely wedding cake! — The wedding cake was gorgeous, with gold ombre and beautiful details. Everything was perfection — not a surprise, considering that it was Megumi’s wedding!

Mio being silly with the photobooth props

Mirei with Daddy — Dan arriving with Mirei. He was on babysitting duty during the ceremony, since Mio and I were in the bridal party.

Because I was in the ceremony, and Dan was busy wrangling a cranky Mirei, we unfortunately don’t have any photos from the actual ceremony, but it was beautiful and tearjerking, and so fitting for Megumi & Daniel!

Afterwards, we had fun mingling with friends, and Mio had a ball playing with the photobooth props.

Megumi changed into a gorgeous purple kimono for the reception. It went perfectly with her wedding color scheme, and she looked absolutely beautiful in it!

Daniel & Megumi in kimono — The bride & groom looking amazing in their kimonos

The bride with her proud parents — Megumi surprised her parents with the kimono! So sweet â™¥

Mr. & Mrs. Xavier making their way to the reception — The kimono was gorgeous, even from the back. Look at that obi!

With the bride in kimono! — With the stunning bride in her kimono.

Table numbers made by Dan — Dan made the table numbers for the wedding. The centerpieces came out gorgeous!

During the reception, Megumi surprised Daniel by serenading him with John Legend’s “All of Me” during the slideshow. It was so romantic, and Megumi has such a beautiful voice. 🙂

Megumi and Daniel cakecutting — Cakecutting time! Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Xavier!

Megumi's bouquet toss — Megumi’s bouquet toss!

Flower girl Mio — Mio caught a small part of the bouquet… a single rose head. 🙂

Alas, we couldn’t stay too late into the wedding, as we had to catch a plane very early Monday morning, so we had to say our goodbyes and return to our hotel to pack and get a couple hours of sleep before we had to depart the following morning.

Saying goodbye to Ali and Sam — Saying goodbye to aunties Ali and Sam

Polaroid with fellow bridesmaids Ali and Sam — One last photo with fellow bridesmaids Ali and Sam

Congratulations Daniel & Megumi! We were so happy we could be there for your big day. Thank you for letting us be a part of it! â™¥

Anna’s 4th Birthday Party

April 26, 2015 By Misono in Family and Friends, Mio, Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: 4 years old, 4th birthday, Anna, birthday, birthday party, bubbles, cake, Cara, children, cupcakes, egg shakers, Falls Church, four years old, friends, instruments, kids, Mio, Mirei, Mobu Kids, music, party, Pat, pizza, playgym, sticks, video

We were invited to celebrate Anna’s fourth birthday at Mobu Kids playgym in Falls Church! The girls had a blast and we loved seeing and catching up with Anna, Cara, Pat and Theo. 🙂 Thanks so much for inviting us to be a part of sweet Anna’s birthday celebration — can’t believe she is four already!

Mio at Mobu Kids — When we arrived, Mio ran right in and started climbing everything. No hesitation!

Mirei playing at Mobu Kids — Mirei needed a little more coaxing but she eventually warmed up to the play area when I went in with her.

Anna's 4th Birthday Party at Mobu Kids — Circle time with the instructors

Anna and Mio with the parachute — Parachute time!

The girls in the middle of the parachute — Anna and Cara in the middle of the parachute

Mirei hanging with the boys... — Mirei refused to get off so she stuck around for the boys’ turn… lol

Mirei loving the parachute — Mirei didn’t get to wave the parachute up and down, but she definitely enjoyed the breeze from it and seeing the balls bouncing!

At one point, Mirei went under the parachute and got lost under there, which made us panic for a moment:

Dan also captured the funny moment:

Chasing after bubbles — Mirei running around in excitement!

Mio climbing the rockwall — Mio in her element, scaling the rockwall

Pizza and cupcakes at Anna's birthday party — The kids enjoying pizza and cupcakes

Singing “Happy Birthday” to Anna!

Mio eating her cupcake cone — Mio loved the cupcake cone!

Mirei playing with the water fountain… we were surprised she climbed up on the stool herself and started pushing the button

With lovely mama Pat! — With lovely mama Pat, one of my dearest friends. â¤ Thanks for inviting us to be a part of Anna’s birthday party! Can’t believe our girls are four… it’s been such a joy to experience motherhood at the same time with you!

Last Day as a 3 Year Old…

April 1, 2015 By Misono in Milestones, Mio, Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: 3 year old, 3 years old, birthday eve, Chika, Hiroki, last day, Mio, Mirei, playdate, playground, three year old, three years old, video

April 1 was Mio’s last day as a 3 year old. We had a fun playdate with her friends Hiroki and Chika at their home and neighborhood playground.

Mio running off with Hiroki — Mio running off ahead with Hiroki-kun

Playdate with Hiroki & Chika — Cuties at the playground together.

She was so excited at bedtime about waking up as a four year old, that she couldn’t go to sleep! Mama, on the other hand, was an emotional mess… I always feel a little bittersweet on the eves of my kids’ birthdays, but I’ve been feeling more teary than ever this time… 4 years old just sounds and feels so big, and time seems to go even faster as they get older. Mio is definitely not a toddler anymore.

I will always look back on and treasure my memories of Mio as a 3 year old, as I will her other ages. Each age is so special, but three was so much fun because she really started talking a lot at this age and her personality really started coming out. I can’t wait to see what four has in store for us!

Meadowlark with Grandparents

March 31, 2015 By Misono in Local Gems, Recreational Fun, Videos Tags: gazebo, geese, grandma, grandpa, grandparents, interactive children's garden, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Meadowlark Gardens, Mio, Mirei, misono, obaachan, ojiichan, pond, sisters, spring, stroller, video, Vienna

On Tuesday, the last day of March, my parents and I took the girls out for an outing to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, as the weather is finally starting to warm up! It’s my Dad’s favorite local garden/park to go to, so it’s become a sort of annual tradition to visit a few times a year! He took a lot of photos, so I thought I’d share some here on the blog.