Off the Grid San Mateo!

For some sadistic reason, I follow Off the Grid on Facebook. Off the Grid is a group that organizes local food trucks at events all over San Francisco. So every time I see a post, I drool and regret not working in the city. So imagine how excited I was to hear that Off the Grid was finally coming to a Peninsula location - downtown San Mateo! Yum yum yum! I recruited all our local friends to meet up at this soft launch. There were about six trucks there, including Chairman Bao and Mama's Empanadas. Luckily the lines weren't too bad (not like some other failed events we've tried to go to). Lines were about 15 -20 people deep...about a 15 minute wait or so. But fun was had by all - even the little monster. I think he was more excited about the Caltrains roaring by behind us, but after a little convincing, he decided he liked the empanadas and proceeded to get it all over his face.

Photos are courtesy of my little bro, Kevin and his fancy camera. I was busy chasing Justin with a napkin and trying to keep him from eating food off the ground.

We'll be back San Mateo!

The dream realized!

Reasonable crowds

Baked bun with pork belly and pickled daikon from Chairman Bao. A bit pricey, but SO good. I do believe pork belly is my new favorite food!

Really, what's not to like about pastry dough stuffed with meat?

I think he ate a whole empanada by himself

So yummy!

Goofing around under Mommy's sweatshirt (?!)

Getting to eat dinner AND play at the same time? FUN!

Summer, summer, summertime!

You know, people always tell me that this toddler age is the best and I have to agree. Life's problems are easy to fix and it's so easy to please them. Their joy is so unbridled and it makes you feel like the best parent ever! :)

Since we don't have a real vacation planned for this year, we been trying to make full use out of these summer weekends, especially now that the weather is so nice! On Saturday, we took Justin to see "Cars 2". It was a special showing through my mommy's group where the theaters don't turn the lights all the way down and they turn the sound down a bit too. I had previously taken Justin to see "Rio" and he had a great time between the hour and half of "big tv" time and the popcorn. So when we told him we were going to see a movie, I thought he was going to jump out of his skin with excitement! We had to wait for Jay to park the car and meantime it's lucky that the move theater had a big lobby so Justin could run around in circles and burn off the excitement.

On Sunday, we took Justin to Gilroy Gardens since they had a dinosaur exhibit that was ending. Between riding the train (twice) and "excavating" dinosaur bones, life was blissful for this two-year-old. Luckily for Mom and Dad, the weather in Gilroy was actually downright pleasant.

On the car ride home, we thought for sure the little monster would conk out, but apparently the excitement of the day was just too much. He chattered to his new friend, the stuffed stegosaurus, all the way home.

A great weekend all around. Of course, it made getting up Monday morning all the more painful. But that's okay...it's time to start planning for the next weekend!

The first ride of the day - he had fun, but apparently it wasn't exciting enough for the little daredevil. We had to move on to the hot air balloons!

This one was a bit better - it moved a little faster so you could at least feel the wind in your hair

"Digging" for dinosaur bones

Finally managed to catch Justin so we could take a picture

Then Justin wanted to take a picture of me

Our little photographer wanted to take a picture of the Microraptor

And the T-rex

Naptime with Daddy

Naptime with Daddy is always the best! Whether you're 6 weeks old or 2-1/2 years old! :)

Summertime Fun

What better way to spend the first real hot weekend of the summer than with a slip and slide with friends! We were invited to a BBQ at the Ngs house and one of their friends brought a Slip and Slide! It's been a long time since I'd seen one of these, so we were anxious to introduce Justin to it. Justin was a bit wary of the water squirting out, but he quickly figured out this was a fun thing! Of course, while all the other kids played with the slide normally...you know, slipping and sliding? Justin really just wanted a drink of water. Oh well, to each his own. I was almost wishing I could go down the slide just to get some respite from the 100 degree weather!

After this BBQ, we headed over to another friend's house to continue the summertime fun with swimming in their pool. Justin had a great time there too...I think we'll really need to put him in swimming lessons by next summer.

Our tuckered out little man fell fast asleep in the car on the way home. Didn't even open an eye as we carried him upstairs into his crib. What a life! A great summertime day spent with friends and having fun. Can't ask for too much more than this!

Eating Our Way Through Napa and Sonoma

Our friend Ron got married this past weekend in Sonoma so Jay and I took the opportunity to turn it into a mini-vacation/anniversary getaway. So off went Justin to my parents' house for the weekend. After dropping Justin off at preschool on Friday, we set forth to the North Bay and enjoyed adult conversation and the opportunity to eat WHATEVER WE WANTED!

Bone marrow appetizer at Morimoto's

Lunch bento "box" That's stewed pork belly on the bottom left.

Recreating our perfect lunch from when we were on our honeymoon in France - French bread, prosciutto, Brie cheese, and pate. We sat on the patio at OxBox Public Market and pretended we were in the South of France again.

Our friends Chris and Danille enjoying a much needed weekend away from their boys

Our friends Terry and Sharon also enjoying a weekend away from the kids

It was great to hang out with our friends and not worrying about wrangling a toddler

I made a vow to eat one of everything from Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. I came pretty close!

Chocolate heaven!

My haul

Yes, I did eat lunch first before eating all that dessert

Enjoying the afternoon at the Mondavi Winery

I even got to carry a REAL purse, with no wipes, diapers, or dinosaurs inside!

A beautiful afternoon

The boys. Hard to believe they're all grown up! :)

Ho'ike 2011

It's hard to believe that I've been dancing hula for 13 years now. *Gasp* I'm getting OLD! On Memorial Day Weekend, my Kumu Hula Kau'i Isa-Kahaku celebrated 25 years of teaching and her 15th ho'ike. It was at the Fox Theater in Redwood City. It's always a frenzied, yet fun event...trying to get costumes and props together, corral the little ones, convince the older ones to stop texting for one minute, remember all the last minute changes...but it always comes together into a beautiful show (or so my parents always tell me)! 


Jay brought Justin and both boys made it through the whole show! Jay said that Justin was pretty entranced throughout the show...maybe because it looked like one big TV show :) Before the show, I visited the boys at their table, but Justin looked at me warily...I think because I had my costume on and lots of makeup (well, I had makeup on, which is different enough!)


But fun was had by all and I was so relieved to sleep in the next day. I've been running myself ragged between hula and work and homelife...I fantasize about naps nowadays...maybe one day I'll be caught up on sleep!

Mother's Day 2011

 In a never ending quest for the perfect Mother's Day Brunch restaurant, I dragged my family out to a local San Carlos restaurant that sounded promising. It most definitely was NOT. We won't waste time on that, but Justin actually managed to have a good time in spite of everything. He especially enjoyed dessert...(oh yes, he's definitely my son!). And we managed to get a nice picture of me and my mom and Justin, so the day ended well. :)