Hollywood Park: The last race

Hollywood Park was closing down and is going to be torn down. It is quite sad that a part of history will disappear. We headed out for the last race day before they closed their doors forever. 

We made some bets. Did pretty well with a parlay bet until it came back to me in the 10th race. Aotearo didn't show :(

Had to make a bet for the very last race ever. Even Lil J made a bet. sadly no winnings here. But regardless we were a part of history. 

Our special gift

Lil J made a beautiful gifts for us at school. She was very excited to give it is. We absolutely love it. 

I love that she wrote the card. So awesome. 

Her writing just gets better and better everyday. It is so amazing and beautiful to see. 

O Christmas Tree: Better late than never

The Saturday before Christmas, just 4 days before Christmas, we got our Christmas tree. We were a bit late this year. But it was such a busy time just enjoying the holiday season. We headed to Home Depot and definitely didn't have to deal with any crowds.

Lil J got to make an ornament while there. 

There weren't many trees left but the first one we looked at was a great one. It was our perfect tree. 

Christmas fun time

We head to the OC to enjoy some Christmas festivities at our cousin's barber shop. The shopping center goes all out and it is a lot of fun with lots of activities. 

With Matt and Corey. 

Building a Lego house for Santa's village. 

Riding a pony. 

Petting some animals. 

Seeing Santa. 

Watching the tree lighting ceremony. 

Dinner with the boys. 

Most Wonderful time of the year

Christmas and Devember seemed to creep right up on us. Before I knew it there was so much to do. Luckily grandma had an idea for to make cards for all of Lil J's classmates. 

The cards they made. All her little friends loved them. We got so many compliments on them. It's nice having a creative grandma who also is a retired teacher. She knows all the tricks of the trade. 

Grandma also bought a little lot to build a gingerbread house. They started it and then we brought it home and finished it. Lil J did a nice job at designing and decorating. 

We baked some gingerbread as gifts for teachers, coworkers, and friends. 

We went to see the Christmas lights in Alta Loma. Dani came along with us for the ride which was a ton of fun. This year, Lil J really enjoyed them. 

Lil J saw a Nativity scene at one house and said, "hey look it's a Jesus set-up."  :/ she has her own little set-up as she calls it and even princesses (on far right) come to see baby Jesus. 

Decorating cookies with Lola. 

Looks like she had more frosting in her tummy than on the cookies. 

We love getting ready for Christmas. It is much fun. Even with all the busy stuff surrounding this time of the year it is so much fun to see it all through the eyes of a child. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Exhausting but wonderful. 

Santa 2013

Lil J was very excited to see Santa this year. She had her list ready and even made sure that she wore her pretty dress to go see him.

Her Christmas list...

Oh yes, it is two-sided. 

Waiting to see Santa. 

Pictures with Santa

Desert fun

The Friday after Thanksgiving we headed out to Johnson Valley for a little time out in the desert. Daddy had to do some pre-run thing with Team Italy, so we tagged along to check it out. 

Lil J did enjoy playing in the dirt and watching the big car run around. 

There was a little sprinkling but not so bad and we got to see a beautiful rainbow. 

It was Lil J's first time to spend the night in a motor home. She quite enjoyed it. 

Go Team Italy!

Gobble Gobble

We had two Thanksgiving. The first one was a nice small Thanksgiving at home with Papa, Lola, Nono, and Uncle Mike. We had a turkey with all the fixings. It was my first time making an entire Thanksgiving dinner and I was pretty pleased with how well everything went and how yummy it all was.

I suppose my planning really helped. The morning before we had a Thanksgiving Feast at the preschool; Lil J and one of her BFFs.



That afternoon Lil J and I did some prep work. We baked. Lil J was a great sous chef and helped with the baking.



My first attempt at apple pie. It was pretty yummy!



The turkey turned out great.



Yum





We had our second Thanksgiving at my cousin's home with Great Lola.  With my family, we have Filipino food, so at least we didn't overdose on turkey. Most of all it was just great to see family. That is what it is all about.

With Nono...



With cousins.



Great Lola and mommy.



Nono and Uncle Mike.



with Uncle Mike.



with Great Lola.



with Lola.



more cousin time.



Lola and Nono



The whole family.



silly cousins





with mommy



Mommy, Auntie Joy and Hanna

Little Snowboarder

On opening weekend of Mountain High, we headed up for Lil J's first snowboard lesson with daddy. Daddy used to be a snowboard instructor for preschoolers back in the day. So now he was ready with his own preschooler. 

She did really great and loved it. 

She's a natural!

Look at her go!

2013-11 first snowboarding day from Sherylle White on Vimeo.

Ready for snowboard season

We shopped for a snowboard and gear to get ready for the winter season. Shopping in a summer dress and flip flops for winter sports, only in So Cal is that possible.



No sure who is more excited.



Definitely ready... just waiting for snow.





Gotta have a helmet.


2013-11 ready to snowboard from Sherylle White on Vimeo.

The month of November 2013

November went by so quickly.

Just after we got back from Montreal, we were back into the swing of things. That first morning I came home from crossfit in the morning and Lil J was dressed and ready to go to school waiting from me at the door. She was still on Montreal time and couldn't wait to see her friends at school.



This kid definitely has her own sass and style. Gotta love her.



We attended a friend's birthday party.



Lil J had her first celebrity sighting at Hollywood Park. Look its Mel Brooks.



I just love this self-portrait she drew. She is pretty happy!

Montreal: Halloween and more

So we spent Halloween in Montreal. Unfortunately, it was raining so we didn't really try to find a neighborhood to do any trick or treating in for Lil J. But she still got to dress up in her costume for the evening.

Princess Ariel having some Pho.



Trick or Treat in the hotel lobby.



So yes, I did work while in Montreal. I had a poster presentation with one of my students.



I also chaired a could of symposiums. I was quite busy at this conference. But Lil J and Daddy kept themselves busy. We stayed a couple of extra days after the conference.

We enjoyed Old Montreal.




The Notre Dame Cathedral



Lil J lighting a candle for great-Lola and saying a prayer.





Sleeping after a long day of sightseeing. I love how they sleep alike.



Waiting in customs, ready to head back home.

Montreal: The Biodome

Wow, I am really behind. Let me try and catch up on this blog....

Back in October we went to Montreal. I started back with Day 1, well here is there rest of the trip.

I took an afternoon off from the conference and headed to the Biodome with the family. It was a perfect outing on a rainy day.

Check out the clown in the background. Kinda interesting. Not sure what he was up to.





The penguins were pretty cool. They were our favorite.





This is a capybara, a heavywight rodent. That was one big rodent!



Look, we found Waldo!



My little egg hatching...

Day 1: Montreal

We are in Montreal for a conference. It is a beautiful city. Check out the view from our room. 

It is nice to have my family tag along when I have to work out of town. But while I have to work, they get to play. Great for them a little sad for me. So the first day I had some work to do and they headed off for some fun adventures.

They went shopping at the largest underground mall. I started with them before I had to head off to my conference and got a little lost trying to get out. 

As I worked, I received some texts of their fun time. They went on a bus tour around the city. 

They checked out the church next to the hotel that we can see from our room. 

When I was done with the conference, I met up with them and headed to dinner. 

They had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to getting some time in Montreal toward the end of the conference.