Take me out to the Ball Game!!!

Me and my 3 co-workers and best buddies (Kenta Fukami, Andrei Panchenko and Justin Holland) had free tickets to one of the Giants' game last night at the AT&T Park. It's not a game I am crazy about, but hey, who can say no to a free ticket worth $85 and I was 5 rows from the diamond plate. And of course, the chance to watch the legend of baseball Barry Bonds in action. Although we didn't see him hit a home run but he did hit the ball a couple of times but it was quite awesome!!!

Curious Shaayla

We had a good afternoon gathering at Natalie's place to visit the new baby. She just turned 1 month a few days ago. And of course, it was another occasion for Shaayla to play with her friends Alya, Katelyn, and Adam.

After that, we all had dinner at Red Kwali, an Asian restaurant. It's a Singaporean / Malaysian restaurant serving quite a wide variety of food that we're very familiar with. The mee goreng was great...spicy, but great. The laksa was not too good, though. But the kids really enjoyed the satay, roti prata, and char kway teow. We rounded off dinner with ice kachang. It was very far from the version that we're used to Singapore. It lacked gula melaka, and there was none of the color syrup or the carnation milk. The food quality is not too consistent at this restaurant, but it's one of the better Singaporean / Malaysian restaurants around.

By the time we got back home, Shaayla was obviously tired, but certainly not too tired to do a 'Curious George' stunt. She experimented with Daddy's shaver and managed to nick herself on her upper lip and chin. It was just 2 little cuts, but guess she was quite stunned by the blood. She didn't even burst out crying immediately after cutting herself. It was only after I noticed it when I walked into the bedroom. Well, there's no doubt she knows what NOT to play with the next time.

All Red for National Day

Last Sunday, we had a wonderful summer picnic up at San Francisco's Crissy Field. It was a good opportunity to celebrate Singapore's and Malaysia's National Day. Thanks to Johann, all of us were decked out in bright red t-shirts. And of course, Shaayla had a great time with her best friend, Alya.

And what's a Singapore/Malaysian picnic without satay and kuih.

Shaayla's First Visit to the Dentist

Suresh and I were apprehensive about Shaayla's first visit to the dentist this morning. But she surprised us both by behaving like a big girl throughout the visit.

After searching for pediatric dentists on the web, we finally decided on First Smile Pediatric Dentistry at Sunnyvale. She played with the toys and read the colorful books at the waiting area while I completed the paperwork. Then an assistant showed us a funny video of a monkey's visit to the dentist. That video really amused her. The examination room was bright and cheerful too and she had a fun time using a giant toothbrush on a toy dinosaur. She also listened attentively when the assistant how we should brush her teeth.

When she was told to lie down and they pinned the paper towel and shone the light down, we thought she would protest, but she was very co-operative. They even gave a pair of sunglasses to shield against the bright light. Throughout the cleaning, polishing and application of vitamin, she didn't flinch at all. Straight afterward, she got up and was all smiles. Guess the goodie bag made her day too..it was filled with a Piglet toothbrush, toothpaste, sticker, crayons and pencil.

Guess she's getting to be a big girl now and knows there's nothing to be afraid of.

Bravo, Shaayla!

A World of Discovery

We had a fun time at the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum today with Alya and her mum, Salizah. Both girls' summer classes have ended and we had to keep them 'entertained' for the next few weeks before their fall classes start.

The girls had a great time playing dress-up, baking pretend pizza, having a picnic with the animals and most of all, playing with water at the Water Works area.

The morning outing ended with lunch with Daddy and Aunty Wan at Falafel Drive-In.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat...well, almost

After getting our picnic lunch all packed up, it was off to Vasona Lake Park. The ride on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad was great. It was a short 7-min ride on an open-top train around the great expanse of the park. Despite being apprehensive about getting on the carousel initially, Shaayla got over her fear quick and it was all smiles the whole ride through. A shady tree provided the ideal spot for our picnic lunch of hotdog, hamburger, and egg sandwich.

A short drive to the other end of the park and we were at the boat launch area. After getting fitted with our life-jackets, it was off onto the pedal boat with Shaayla, our Captain, steering the boat.

A cool ice-cream provided just the right respite from the oppressive heat of the day.

Click on the photo above for all the photos of our picnic.

I MADE A PIZZA!

It was Shaayla's last class at "Imagination Station" on Wednesday and it was fitting that it ended with the kids making a pizza during the class. Throughout the entire session, the class learnt the song "I am a pizza" and it's now one of Shaayla's favourite.

We had a good time making the pizza with muffin bread and topping it off with cheese, pineapples and olives...although she only ate the muffin cheese in the end.

Fun at the Fair

Last Friday, we went to the Santa Clara County Fair with Salizah and Alya. It was an exceptionally hot afternoon as we 'cruised' the parking area for an available lot. Can't believe it was only the afternoon and the carpark was already full.

The fair looked rather exciting from the outside, what with the ferris wheel and rides. But, there was nothing much inside. We brought the girls on the carousel ride first before heading off to the petting zoo. The highlight for the girls was the petting zoo, I'm sure. They had a great time petting the small rabbits, feeding the goats and avoiding the pecking chickens. The stop at the livestock area was great too as we encountered sheep, cows, and pygmy goats.

Click here to see all the photos that we took.