Muscat grapes

These grapes are out only once a year. Daddy and Mama first had tree-ripened Muscat grapes in France. They were already squished in the bag by the time we stepped out of the store. They also had thinner skin in France. These Chilean Muscat grapes will do here. Cups thinks these are awesome, and Mama doesn't know what she's going to do once the season is over.

The day Daddy turned 36. . .

Calzone at Pazzo's on Eastlake. . .





Yes, the pictures told the story: we had a typical family gathering. Happy birthday, Daddy!

Auntie Esther's cupcakes

Auntie Esther practiced making red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for her niece Lauren's birthday. Those of us in the office benefited from the occasion. Thank you, Auntie Esther!

Cups & raspberries

Just Cups being silly. . .

Someone save me!

"Save me," Uncle Eric thought to himself as he read Pinkalicious to Cups. (Mama had insisted that Cups ask Uncle Eric be the one to read to her — moohaha — for him to fully reap the rewards of being an uncle.)

Cups loves to watercolor.

The 2010 Gem Show in Seattle

At first Cups didn't want a picture taken. Then we just forgot. Cups and Mama attended the gem show at Seattle Center with Auntie Boo. We found street parking, and while waiting for Auntie Boo someone gave us free tickets. It was quite a day.

Mama explained how it was important that she had pictures for the blog so that Cups could look back to all the things that she did growing up. Cups asked for these pictures to be taken — to make up for not having pictures taken earlier that day.

Even when she was hungry and tired, she hung out for another hour before we left.

On her head is what she got from the gem show.

The biggest and best shaved ice on earth

Mama thought that Cups would get to visit with great grandma in Vancouver this weekend. However, we then found out that great grandma was still in Taiwan. Ahgong and ahma still took us to Vancouver for lunch — what a treat!



After lunch. . .this is the shaved ice that Mama has been hearing about. Mama didn't realize this until recently, but shaved ice would have to be her favorite food since she was a child. Bubble tea would come second.



This was the same shaved ice from the other side, but surprisingly most of it was gone. Cups stuck to her favorites of tapioca and grass jelly and expanded out to taro.

Thank you very much for a fun weekend, ahgong and ahma! (Uh. . .Cups gets the royal treatment when she visits. She likes to play with water. Ahma sat next to the tub and held the shower head for her for a good twenty minutes while Mama slept in. Wait, both Cups and Mama get spoiled.)

Welcome home greeting

On dark and wet days it warms Mama's heart that Daddy always remembers to turn on the front porch lights for Mama. Daddy and Cups can usually hear Mama come up the stairs and come get the door. On a sunny day Mama got a welcome home greeting from across the street. I love you, family!

Gae and Don's chickens

They are our fun neighbors, and Don works with Daddy!

Cups' new trick at the park

Cups is not the most adventurous at the park. Daddy was so proud of her when she learned to go up these hoops a while ago. Today she had a chance to show Mama. (Mama is not the most patient when it comes to going to the park, so Daddy gets park duty most of the time.)









Cups likes getting on these big rocks.

Cups' third Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

Cherry blossom along Green Lake. . .

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day is so much of a family event for us that we postponed our chiropractic appointment even though we had not seen Dr. Thomas in three weeks already — when we normally do every other week.



A little obsessed. . .Daddy asked/told Uncle Eric to move over as to not block the cow. And he still did. . .oh geez.



This is a very happy family photo. Oh, yes, uncle ran to get his free cone. However, he left before second round as it got seriously chilly after the sun set.



Cups loves her chocolate chip mint.



Mama and her second cone. . .after we left Daddy then told Mama that Cups wanted to leave after we had the first cones. She still waited patiently for another half an hour so that Mama could get another cone. Mama was so touched that she didn't know what to say. Cups has always been super considerate at a young age.

Uncle Brady's helicopter

Auntie Boo and Cups laughed (hysterically for Cups) as the helicopter turned upside down.

Thank you so much for inviting us for the walk (and sharing your snacks afterward, ha), Auntie Boo and Uncle Brady!

Mercer Island 5K

Due to the packed course, strollers were not allowed. We gave this a try. Some people still brought strollers. Cups was probably the youngest walker. We had a great time with her. She walked half of it! We came in second to the last group of three.









Cherry blossom!

Little card maker

Getting serious. . .

Jiejie and Meimei

Another jello moment

Irish dish

Since Daddy and Cups are Jewish, Mama left out the bacon. The dish was not the same without bacon, but we still gave it a try!

Auntie Sindy's taco recipe

Mama didn't follow through and prepare all the sides for tacos, but the most important thing was the yummy taco meat made with Auntie Sindy's recipe.



Cups preparing her taco. . .



And it's done! She had the same thing at Uncle Michael and Auntie Penny's the night before when everyone else had fajitas. She decided that she didn't want the same thing after she had made it tonight. She ended up having just taco meat on the side. When Cups asked Mama to help her eat, Mama sneaked some guacamole on the side of the meat on the spoon because Cups wouldn't try it. After two bites Cups told Daddy, "I tried the green stuff!" And Mama thought she was being so sneaky.