Goodbye Christmas and California dreamin'

I put the last lingering Christmas decoration, our dancing snowman, away today.  I really miss the way my mantle looked this Christmas.   Steve's Grandma Z knitted his and my stockings and Steve's sister, Sarah, knitted all of my children's stockings.  They are great treasures to us.  I added that mitten garland to my collection just this year and I am in love with it.   I haven't really blogged about any of our Christmas vacation, but I am sort of overwhelmed by how much there is to blog about.

California weather was amazing.  It was in the 70s every single day we were there.  It did make me wonder why we don't just live there, but I do really love the seasons in Virginia.  Even winter has its virtues.  

Several of us ran around the Rose Bowl the morning after Christmas.  It was wonderful.   Even after taking a break from running after the half marathon, Steve and I were able to run the three miles comfortably, which felt good.

Steve and I attended my 10-year high school reunion.  We had a really great time.  I felt so much love for everyone there and I was so happy to hear of everyone's successes.

I loved catching up with the school librarians and our old French teacher, who feel more like my favorite girlfriends than anything else.   Marc, my half-Chinese "brother" and fifth grade boyfriend was there.  Marc and I didn't really talk to each other much in fifth grade, we just held hands during the "couple's skate" on our elementary school's many field trips to Fiesta roller rink.  We were better friends in high school.

Vincent, my cheerful friend with the most infectious laugh, was there with his wonderful and completely-worthy-of-him girlfriend.  Steve enjoyed catching up with old coaches, teachers, and teammates.  None of my close girlfriends attended the reunion, which made me sad, but it is interesting and wonderful how ten years sort of removes old barriers between people.

We attended the all-school reunion afterwards, where I saw a few of my beloved fellow cheerleaders, Alex, Natalie, and Brooke.  I love those girls so much.

Brad and Ie Mei, Jeremy and Michiko, and Steve and I took our families to Santa Monica Pier just to walk around, and then we settled down on the sand to let the cousins play.  I really love this picture of my beautiful sister, Ie Mei:

It was a very dreamy day and it sufficiently tired out all the little ones.

My little sister got married on New Year's Eve and my sweet baby nephew, William, was blessed the day after in San Diego.  We were so happy to be able to participate in both events, but I am kicking myself for not having one single picture of that beautiful child on my iPod Touch.

We spent a couple of days with Zack and Ana in San Diego and made a morning trip to the beach, which turned out to be quite chilly.  Jack, Mei Li and Stephen played so well together.  What a blessing to have so many cousins to love and be loved by.

While in LA, the W cousins played at Lacey park several times.  It's such a pretty park.  We went once more on our last day in California.  Sadly, all the cousins were gone by then.

I'm pretty sure we'll never live in California again, but I'm just grateful it's a place we get to visit at least once a year. Now I just have to blog about Christmas Day before I can move on to present life.  I have this great sense of loss for the days I've neglected to write about.  I hate that.

Wednesday

I didn't drive to the school today after Mei Li got on the bus.  My car is broken.  

Mi Na went down for a nap right after we took Mei Li to the bus stop.  Stephen had a short quiet time and then I asked him to help me make pizza dough.  I'm really loving this recipe, by the way.  I resisted almost every urge to correct his helpfulness.  He loved watching the "tornado" in the mixer.

He wanted to watch TV after making the dough, but since he lost TV privileges for a week, we made a birthday card for someone special instead.  He sat on my lap and I helped him write the letters.  I love that boy, and I'm glad that Mei Li being at kindergarten has given us more one on one time together.

Mei Li had a frown getting off the bus.  She came straight to me and had me hold her.  Somehow, in the one mile between the school and home, she got sad.  Her brand new friend who is in her class and on her bus, decided to go to the back of the bus (against the rules for kindergarteners) with her older friends instead of sit next to Mei Li.  I consoled her, and she seemed to feel better.  Her smile returned as soon as she saw her neighbor friends playing outside.   I love her resiliency.

We were all ready to go to the swimming pool when I heard Mi Na say, "Da-ee."  Steve had come home early.  He got his suit on and we were about to leave when the ice cream truck rang its bell all the way down our street.  It wouldn't be summer without an ice cream truck treat, so we indulged Mei Li with an ice cream sandwich and Stephen with a cyclone popsicle.  Mei Li said, "Wow! Dad's home early, the ice cream truck came, and now we're going swimming!  This is turning out to be a great night after all!"

 

Mi Na and I stayed at the pool for half an hour and then we rushed home to make the pizza so it would be ready when the others got home.  Mei Li said I got the dough just right this time.

Tonight after the little ones were in bed, we did her homework and read a couple of books.  Then she asked if we could read from The Friend magazine.  We read several stories and after we were done, I told her that no matter what happens at school, she will come home to a house full of people who love her.  She said, "I know."  I'm glad she knows.

12/26: High School Reunions

It was a day full of reunions. Brooke, my FPS cheer buddy, came by my parents' home to catch up. I love this girl to pieces. We haven't seen each other since Mei Li was a baby. It was a lovely visit.


Later that day, Steve and I left the kids with my parents to go to his 10-year high school reunion. Steve graduated just one year before me so I still knew everyone there. I was proud to be at Steve's side. I was happy to listen and not say much, but I did make friends with David Y.'s pianist girlfriend.

David remembers me doing a lot of singing in high school and asked me if I still perform. I thought about it for a moment, and then I told him that mostly I just sing lullabies to my children at night. Thinking about it some more, of all they times that I've performed in front of people, singing for my children is my favorite way to use my voice.

It was fun to see everyone all grown up. Many are married and one guy, also named Steve, has a daughter now. Steve enjoyed talking to him about that.

I'm glad we went because Steve had a good time. He really loved high school. He was so likable then and remains that way still.