Elliott's birthday!

One of Maya's favorite pals is Elliott.. This year we got to celebrate his birthday in California..

Katherine invited a small group of friends and family... The kids played in the jumper and chased each other around the yard while the rest of us caught up with old friends..

Here they are in the jumper, all smiles...

Look at that face! Doesn't that cake look delicious?

A quick snapshot of Elliott and Katherine before he rides off to play with his friends..
Until next year..
Happy 3rd Elliott!
Alex

Grandma's Birthday gift...

Maya loves plays and has now seen several thanks to grandma...This year for Maya's birthday gift, grandma took her to see "Beauty and the Beast"downtown...

Seeing a play is also a good chance to play dress up.. All three of us girls gussied up and headed to the play in ladylike dresses and smiles...

Speaking of smiles, I took the opportunity to take some pictures and this one was hands down my favorite.. This girl loves her grandma...

Beautiful!
Alex

A "Haute" Halloween!

This year for Halloween we knew we had to make it to the Pira's house.. For years, we have heard about all the fun they have scaring their neighbors and haunting the house.. Dan has been a fan of Halloween his whole life and that fact that his birthday is in the same week adds to the madness..
The funny thing is this year was Dan's 35th and a somber reflective mood came over him.. Instead of decking the house with crazy scary decor, he scaled back and went with the flow.. The neighbors were dissapointed but the candy was still welcome...
Scaled down or not the the Pira's do Halloween right.. they have a real theme.. This year it was Alice in Wonderland... Paige was Queen of Hearts and Ava was Alice. The kids had a great time trekking in the cold.. Maya enjoyed hanging out with the Pira girls and made a few new friends too...

Dan sharing glow sticks and being silly...

Here's Lindsey (AKA Mad Hatter) and her Frazzled Mom pumpkin...

Maya decided that her SilverMist costume wasn't quite right for Halloween (thank goodness she had already worn it twice!)... Instead she opted to stay in her "fancy" wear... At 7 the girl is already about Haute Style.. Light a candle for her mother, will you?

Boo!
Alex

What a surprise!

I must be getting old because I had no clue what my family had up their sleeves... After spending a fabulous day at Glen Ivy with my mom and Sharon I was starving.. I was looking forward to my favorite appetizer MUSSELS! Well little did I know I would not be eating seafood.. Instead I walked into my surprise birthday party!

I could not believe it.. My dearest friends and family were there.

My aunt Hilda and uncle Alfredo trekked up..

All the Dans..The Liegghios, Piras and Hogans! We are setting records this year for seeing each other.. I love that we are all in the same state..

My cousins..Luis, Monica and Mona.. Permanent figures in my life..

The Bell Family made it too!

Really it was more than I could even take in. My mom cooked my favorites- Mole and Chiles Rellenos.. She also managed to get this FABULOUS cake.. Just like the chinatown cakes of my childhood.. This was an amazing light sponge cake filled with fresh strawberries and decorated with slivered almonds...I was amazed, surprised and so happy to be with so many of the people who make my life what it is..

Thanks Mom, Arthur and Martin.. Oh yes, and the little decoy Maya..

I felt loved and oh so grateful...
Alex

A magical 7...

Missy is 7..

I can't even believe it.. How could the years fly by so fast? Somehow they did..

On the actual day we pulled her out of school early and headed to Disneyland.. We even got to meet up with uncle Arthur for dinner.. But when it came time to celebrate this year she wanted the whole kit and caboodle.. She wanted a costume party, all her friends and all the trimmings...

No matter how much prep I did, I still needed more time and more hands.. Thankfully between my hubby, Diana, Andre and the late night hours it all got done...

We ordered a jumper, I started cooking on Friday night, Thursday night I baked her cheesecake, then I made a regular vanilla cake, cupcakes, and dairy free cake.. We melted caramel and chocolate for pretzel rods, we stuffed goody bags..We were ready.. Then the rain came.. Saturday morning at 7am it was sprinkling and by 8 it was pouring.. The soccer game was cancelled. I said my little prayer, please let the sun come out or at least let the rain stop..

Ask and you shall receive by noon the sun was peeking out!

The kids all came in their adorable costumes and the party began...

There was the Pinata which always mean scary fun..

There was the decorate your own goodie bag craft...

The party was topped off with some amazing gifts.. Maya was in crafty heaven.. She even got a real sewing machine from her favorite family..the Bells.. But it was the amazing quilt that took the cake.. Noi Noi made Maya a personalized quilt (and matching pillows!) just like her sister-friends Grace and Lily.. Maya has already told me that she can now be just like them when she spends the night at their house..

What a day! A magical day for sure..

Happy Birthday Missy!

Love you!
Mom