When I first received the book Baby Beluga as a gift, I didn’t know it was a song, so I’d read the book to Darren and it’s one of his favorite bedtime stories. Then one day I noticed on the bottom of the book’s front cover that it’s a song by Raffi, so I downloaded it on iTunes. Ever since then I’d always “sing” the book—no more reading it. Darren and Cameron both love the song and today Cameron started singing it at his favorite restaurant Tea Plus Noodle. But then I don’t know if he was messing around on purpose or if he forgot the lyrics and messed up—either way he thought it was really funny!
I still remember the day that Old MacDonald became our Lo household’s signature lullaby. Darren had just tried out a morning gym class and we were on our way home. He had just turned one and his nap schedule was changing. He was getting pretty fussy as I was driving, so I started singing Old MacDonald as an attempt to soothe him. Within a few minutes, it was quiet in the back and I realized Darren had fallen asleep! Since that day, Old MacDonald has worked magic for both Darren and Cameron.
Unlike Darren, Cameron loves sleeping on his tummy. Today at lunch he decided to put one of his stuffed animals down just like I do to him. I don’t pat him quite as hard as he did to the poor lion or sing as loudly, but you get the idea! 😉
By the way, Cameron doesn’t usually speak or sing with food in his mouth unlike Darren who was notorious for storing and not swallowing food when he was younger and this video of Cameron reminds me of this other video of Darren who managed to go through the alphabet with his mouth full!
After scoping out the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club the past three days, Vincent took me and the kids there today. Normally I’d put Cameron down for his nap before going out, but it’s such a special event that I decided to ignore our usual routine. When Cameron fell asleep on the shuttle bus ride over to the Olympic Club and when Darren woke him up soon after, I wondered if I should have left Cameron at home. But sitting on the slope at the 18th hole even just for 45 minutes validated my call. The kids loved clapping along with the crowd (and playing with the binoculars!) We had to make it home in time for dinner, so as not to completely turn the kids’ schedule upside-down, but before Cameron went to bed, he got to watch the very end of the game which Dad recorded on TV and he still knew to clap when the ball went into the hole!
We were just there three weekends ago during Memorial Day weekend, but today’s Darren’s second day of summer break and his summer programs haven’t started yet, so we met up with friends at Gilroy Gardens for a day of fun in the sun! The Monorail wasn’t running last time, so Darren made sure to seek it out today. It’s open today all right and has a bit of a line too, so I got a rare picture taken with my two monkeys! Actually we were worried that Cameron wouldn’t get to ride because of the height requirement, but Gilroy Gardens luckily is much less strict than Legoland—yet another reason we love Gilroy Gardens!
Before we parted way with our friends, I tried to take a group shot of the kids. The first one was a close attempt at a decent photo, but the situation fell apart quickly with the notable exception of Cameron who decided to party it up! Meanwhile Darren looks pooped from the day-long outing!
Uncle Alwin’s leaving tomorrow! 🙁 It’s been too short a stay! We’ll just have to plan a trip to Hong Kong over the holidays to visit our favorite uncle. Thanks for stopping by on your way home to see us and play with us Uncle Alwin!
After “unsuccessful” shopping, we went to the Children’s Creativity Museum. I had taken Darren there twice in the past and both times he had a blast. It’s Cameron’s first time there and he enjoyed it too. The boys both liked the kids’ karaoke the best, belting out their signature numbers like “Twinkle Twinkle”, “Kookabura”, etc. The biggest hit though was the carousel outside the museum. I have to admit it’s probably my least favorite kind of ride, but whatever makes the kid happy, right? 😉
Uncle Alwin is visiting us this week! Today we had lunch at Darren’s favorite restaurant, Straits, after Darren’s audition for the San Francisco Boys Chorus and then we hit a couple of stores with Uncle Alwin. He came out empty-handed, but Cameron and Darren tried out these cool shades and this funny baseball cap that says “Let’s Party”! Who says shopping with kids can’t be fun?! 😉
Darren used to take gymnastics classes at The Little Gym, so of course Cameron is not going to miss out and started going 3 months ago. Cameron might not appear to be as good or natural a gymnast as Darren, but I think a lot has to do with the language barrier. Actually Darren started at The Little Gym a bit later—when he was 2 years and 8 months old—whereas Cameron started 6 months younger than Darren. I usually try not to jump in and translate everything for Cameron, but that means outsiders might think Cameron isn’t following instructions. Oh well—I might as well have the language thing as an excuse! 😉
