Samantha & Amelia’s First Piano Recital

February 12, 2019 by

In preparation for their first piano recital, Miss Jenny started Samantha and Amelia practicing their two songs in December for their February recital. We were getting pretty sick of hearing Indian Song, Skip to My Lou, Alouette, and When the Saints by the time their recital rolled around!

The recital at the recital hall was planned for a Sunday, but since that interfered with our church start time, I told her we’d be happy to host a recital at our house on a Saturday. There were several families who couldn’t do the Sunday recital either, so we planned the recital with Miss Jenny and the families, with about fifteen people planning on attending to perform and watch. I had planned to borrow chairs from my friend, Phi, whose son, Parker also took lessons from Miss Jenny and was doing the recital hall recital, and Miss Jenny asked everyone to bring some food to our house for after the recital. Things were all set, until two days before the recital, Miss Jenny told me two of the families were sick and didn’t think they would make it, and she was sick as well! The other families didn’t mind postponing, but after hearing the girls practice the same songs for two months, I didn’t think I could listen for another week!

After telling Phi what happened, she generously offered to have a little mini recital at her house the next day since her in-laws were not able to make Parker’s recital a few weeks prior. She put it together totally on the fly and we were so grateful! She had originally planned on hosting us for dinner as well, but Meredith and Eleanor both had colds, so we decided to just come over for the recital while Jake watched the two sick girls at home, and came over at the very end so he could switch me places. It was so nice of Phi and family to host a little recital so the twins could at least play for someone! After all their hard work and talk of the recital, I really wanted them to have a chance to play for an audience other than our family. They were so excited to go to Parker’s house and it was a treat to hear Parker too, who is so talented!

I put together a little “program” and Parker was the MC for the night– such a natural!

It was fun for the girls to see how good they could be if they keep practicing– Parker is amazing!

We had practiced going up to the piano, sitting down correctly and getting hands in position for literally MONTHS, but both girls were on a silly streak and did not do anything we had practiced! Maybe they felt too comfortable being at Parker’s house! I had to bite my tongue at their posture!

The girls had been playing their songs perfectly by memory for weeks at this point, but I think having an audience threw them off just enough to forget what they were doing! It required a lot of me silently repeating to myself, “They are five. They are five. They are five”! They still tried their best and it was the perfect first introduction to performing for an audience for these shy and silly girls!

 

Amelia was very brave with her poor casted arm.

We had practiced SO many times what to do if she got stuck or couldn’t remember (go back to the beginning of the measure), but I think the pressure got to Amelia and she needed a little help!

I went up to help her a little bit at the end of When the Saints too.
After everyone performed, Maple and Parker gave a special performance of their dragon dance for us, complete with an authentic Vietnamese/Lunar New Year dragon! We clapped along and thought they did AMAZING, especially cute Maple!

Jake arrived at the end to come in and say hi, leaving poor sickling Meredith and Eleanor in the car. Meredith was SO upset to not be able to come in and play with Maple, but Phi had a little “treasure box” that she let everyone pick something out of and Maple sweetly picked out a toy for her. We were so grateful to the Nguyen family for hosting the twins’ first recital! It turned out to be so much more fun with friends.

Lots of love,

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Nutcracker, Christmas Lights and Newport Beach Boat Parade

December 15, 2018 by

Samantha and Amelia have never been in to any type of show much (they only really ever care about the refreshments), but this year, I decided to take them to the Nutcracker. The show we went to was the perfect length for them and the kids in the show were so impressive! They laughed at Mother Ginger with all her kids running out from her skirts and they loved getting a cake pop at intermission. They had TONS of questions during the show, but the theater was packed with noisy kids, so I didn’t feel too bad about constantly whispering to them about what was going on.

Their friends, Parker and Maple, were at the same showing.

Later that evening, we checked out some of the lights around our town with the Nguyens. There was one house down the road from us who put together an actual ride inside their house!

Journey to Polar Point was very legit, complete with a security guard and roped line while we waited, moving seats, a lap bar, lights, sound effects, and amazing decorations… the whole deal. Apparently, the dad and his son spent $10k on this ride! And they also do one for Halloween!

Holiday ride built at Ladera Ranch house is part of plan to make Mystic City theme park

Santa was waiting to greet us at the end of the ride!

We stopped by some of the other houses to see the lights and grab some hot chocolate and treats people were selling for charity.

Another weekend of seeing the lights with Parker and Maple! We went to this same neighborhood last year and it’s always a block party there, with people selling hot chocolate and popcorn, and the entire neighborhood decked out. We didn’t see the guy dressed up as the Grinch this year, though.

This house was insane. Definitely a Clark Griswold-esque house.

The girls got out of the car and danced to the lights that were choreographed to Beatles songs at one house.

The highlight leading up to Christmas was Jake and I being invited to ride in the Newport Beach Boat Parade! Jake is friends with the husband of the Orange County Supervisor, Michelle Steele, and he invited us on their friend’s yacht for the parade. We’ve been to watch the boat parade before with the kids, but have never actually been in the parade, and it did not disappoint!

“Burning Daylight” (named after the Jack London novel, according to the yacht owner) was the lead yacht in the parade, so we had the MC on board our boat announcing Merry Christmas to the crowds on shore– it was quite the party. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner were catered on board and we tried to keep warm while we boated around for four hours. The night ended with fireworks, and it was definitely the Disneyland of boat parades! The other boats in the parade looked amazing and I was just pinching myself that we were onboard such a beautiful yacht as we waved to the crowds!

Santa driving the yacht.

 

This volcano-themed boat spouting fire was in the parade last time we took the girls. We also loved one of the boats that had a carousel and ferris wheel on board!

 

 

 

I pretended like I was Kate Middleton and practiced my royal wave to the crowds ha.

Our friends, the Smiths, were at the beach watching the parade and we waved to each other as we passed by. We had an unforgettable time!

Lots of love,

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Neighborhood Adventures

July 22, 2017 by

I wouldn’t normally put “fun” and “moving” in the same sentence, but one of the more enjoyable aspects of moving has been exploring the new neighborhood. We are only ten minutes away from our old house and already knew this area pretty well, but it’s different being a resident. Almost every afternoon this summer, we’ve been out discovering all the local parks, splash pads, and best biking paths. The twins have been busy finding all the best patches of flowers to pick and discovering all the new bugs (box elder beetles really seem to love our new neighborhood). Bandit’s favorite new spot is the trail on the hill behind our house and Meredith loves “walking” him there, stopping to pick flowers along the way. We love being able to walk or bike to several little parks, splash pads, the water park, and the elementary school and library. It’s been a summer of adventures right in our own backyard!

Biking to the park.

Many afternoons, we just hang out at home and have friends over to swim. There are several pools within walking distance to us, but I don’t think we’ve been even once this summer, just because it’s so nice to not have to load up the car to cool off.

Meredith loves saying hello to Jodi’s yet-to-be born little boy.

Toddler playdate with Maple.

Forget the craft or playroom– everyone’s favorite room is our empty living room!

Water table fun.

Morning swim date with Amy, Sheela and their crews.

Can’t decide on a floatie? Just throw them all in!

Our first official overnight guests were Jake’s nieces, Lacey and Olivia, who were taking a summer road trip from Utah after graduating high school. The twins were fascinated with all their makeup and clothes and basically shadowed them the entire time.

Italian soda night. 

Frolicking at the cute splash pad down the street.

Our favorite neighborhood attraction has been the little kids water park, and since residents are only allowed to bring five guests at a time, we’ve slowly been cycling through invitations to our friends. The girls were happy Nate could make it!

Meredith usually spends the entire time snacking.

After a morning at the water park with Crystal’s girls, the twins finally worked up the courage to stand beneath the bucket to get drenched!

 

Meredith’s favorite splash pad.

Exhausted from running around, filling up buckets of water, and pouring them down the slide to make a water slide with Gavin, Owen and Parker, everyone took a break.

Break time for babies.

Take away our snacks? Oh no you didn’t.

Meredith throws a fit and thrashes around if I put her in the puddle jumpers and try and swim with her, but with Jake, she’s as calm as can be.

Those cheeks.

More snacking.

Staring at the fascinating flecks of color on the floor! Summer lounging at its finest.

Lots of love,

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Four and Fabulous

March 24, 2017 by

From wombmates to roommates, these two four-year-olds are still as close as can be! In between the constant arguing, tattle-telling, badgering, teasing and driving each other crazy, there are some sweet moments. Today, before bed, we were sitting on the couch and Amelia hugged Samantha saying, “I love you because you’re my sister.” Samantha repeated the same to Amelia and they both gave Meredith, who was feeling left out, a giant bear hug and “I love you’s.” Those heart-melting moments make up for all of the hair-pulling ones.

From becoming big sisters to starting preschool, these girls have really grown up over the past year!

Their big day began with a festive balloon drop… because who wouldn’t want to be showered with balloons on their birthday?

The girls chowed down on the traditional funfetti birthday pancakes, which, tragically, did not turn out as fluffy and pretty as in years’ past. The girls still gobbled them up just the same!

Funfetti birthday pancakes in their former glory:

  

After breakfast, the girls caught a frog on the patio! While I was shrieking and leaping back in fear, the girls were super calm and tried their best not to squeeze it to death.

The girls played with some of their fun crafts and gifts from their birthday celebration the day before, and opened some birthday packages that had come in the mail. We are loving this awesome Shakespeare for kids set from Marisa and Lori! I love it when I don’t have to be bored to tears during storytime!

Samantha and Harper went for a cruise to the park in their bday jeep from Katie and Jenny.

Won’t be long before they are driving their friends to the mall… I just had a minor heart attack.

Meredith LOVES this thing. She’ll hop in and start hitting the steering wheel and screeching for someone to start it for her.

Let the good times roll.

Samantha and Amelia had their ballet/yoga class while Meredith took her morning nap, and then we met up with Phi, Michael, Parker and Baby Maple for some pasta and foosball/bean bag tossing. Parker and Maple always have the most excellent audiobook recommendations and gave the girls Madeline and Cat in the Hat, which we’ve been enjoying in the car!

These two were hilarious toddling around with their signature baby zombie walks.

SQUEEZE. The girls wouldn’t take off their number 4 necklaces from Meredith until bedtime and randomly kissed Meredith and told her thank you throughout the day.

Hmmmm… I think it goes through this hole.

Eh. Close enough.

Struggling to hold wiggly babies!

I think it was time for a nap…

Later that day, Grammy and Grandpa drove in from Utah just in time for birthday cake with Great Grandpa.

Make a wish! We are apparently going to have an awesome Christmas this year, because every time the girls throw a coin in a pond or wish for something, they wish for a “Merry Christmas!”

Chocolate and milk YUM.

The only way I can get the girls to look at the camera and smile for pictures these days is to have them make a silly face first, and then tell them to switch to their princess smile faces.

Close enough.

Way to start off a year of four and fabulous!

Lots of love,

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