Visit to California Academy of Sciences

After ten years under renovation, the California Academy of Sciences is finally opening its doors. We didn't hesitate to becoming members and were fortunate to preview this amazing architectural wonder before it officially opened to the pubic on Sept. 27. Our enthusiasm for the Academy is partly driven by our childhood memories of countless field trips to see the alligator swamp, animals in African Hall, exotic fish, and two-headed snake. While the Academy still needed to put the finishing touches, we were not disappointed by the half-dozen sting-rays swimming under our feet, albino alligator, ginormous sea bass, and the most amazing public building ever.

Albino alligator


Future explorer...

...and her sidekick

Playing on their indoor structure




Elise standing on the living roof




Pointing at some fish

All smiles



Pointing at more fish and chasing them


Elise posing in front of a zebra

Grandma Bui's Birthday and Von Voyage

In September, we celebrated Grandma Bui's birthday and she was treated to yummy Thai food from Osha (why are all the good Thai restaurants in SF?). Grandma Bui's birthday also marks the beginning of Bui-birthday blitz - 7 birthdays occur in rapid succession from September to beginning of November so we'll be eating alot of cake.

The celebration also marked another purpose, a "Von Voyage" party for Auntie Von who is going to Lushoto, Tanzania for 4 months. Auntie Von who is a professor at the University of San Francisco will spend her sabbatical teaching in a school for children with disabilities and doing research at their university. Her noble work not only is brave but extremely inspirational. We will miss her dearly and wish for her safe return.

Elise and Grandma Bui

Auntie Von and Elise

Grandparents and Elise

Grandkids (minus Sean who couldn't sit still for a picture) getting ready to blow out candles and get some cake

Who wants cake??!!

Sean and Cousin Nyla no doubt getting into mischief

Elise and Cousin Kayli

Elise eyeing the cake

Elise petting Auntie Von's dog, Bobby

Backyard Fun

Back-to-School

Elise went back to Centennial Montessori and we're all still adjusting. After being at PJCC camp all summer, frolicking in the sun, swimming in their heated pool, and being entertained by clowns every week (yes, every week), it's no wonder she's having a hard time going back to "school". Every morning she says she wants to go back to Teacher Monica's school (her PJCC camp teacher) which really breaks my heart to hear. We struggle with what we think is best for her and we believe that to be a Montessori education but doubt creeps in every so often. Would she better off in a play-based school? Maybe. Are we sweating this too much? Probably.

A very thougtful gaze


Finishing a homemade mango popsicle

Sean Turns 15-Months

Sean went to the pediatrician for his 15-month check-up and we were relieved he gained some weight and grew a little, not much, but some. His last check-up had him barely moving up the curve so it was good to see some progress this time around.

His stats:
Weight - 20lbs. 6oz. (5%)
Height - 28.25 inches (5-10%)

Looking more boy than baby, Sean's personality is really starting to make its presence in our family. His endless curiosity and energy are so much larger than his pint-size body can contain. He won't be bullied and stands up to his much bigger sister when she tries to poach his toys. In music class during circle time, he walks around to each of the parents and peers into their faces, sometimes only inches away. While he may show some testosterone-laden behavior, Sean also has a soft side. When Elise is upset and crying, he waddles over and plops right down next to her and tries to pat her back. In the midst of his tasmanian destruction, he takes frequent "hug-breaks" or cuddles in our laps before shooting off again.

His 15-month birthday also marks his first day in daycare. We decided a little while ago that we needed to find alternative childcare options on MWF since we really wanted to give Grandma Nguyen a break. The more active he became we knew she couldn't keep up with him much longer. After visiting about 12 in-home daycare options, we settled on a place in Burlingame. It looks more like a school than an in-home daycare which we like but our biggest concern is that most of the other kids are much older. It probably will end up being a good thing since he'll learn plenty from them but we wonder how his needs will be met if he requires a bit more attention than the more independent older kids. So far, it has worked out okay since Sean really likes one of the teachers (Miss Chara) who he follows around all day. With her, he doesn't cry at all and is pretty content. She devotes much of her time to him so we're relieved he has found someone to bond with. It's also amazing that he can sleep so well in a strange place. We had so much anxiety over his sleeping but turns out that our worries were so unfounded since he sleeps well over 2 hours in daycare. So far so good after Day 2...

Thumb-sucking usually is a sign that he's 1) tired, 2) bored, 3)stressed, or all of the above

Taking a major bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub

Lazy Days of Summer

Realizing the summer was quickly coming to an end, we were determined to eek out as much as we could over Labor Day weekend. We drove to Antioch for their small kid-friendly water park and hung out by the pool til we were all pooped and delirious from too much sun. Then on Labor Day, we drove almost an hour to Pescadero Beach and had a picnic with Auntie Truc and Cousin Jake. It was the perfect punctuation to a beautiful summer we saw flash too quickly. We crammed alot in the last 2 weeks and realized we didn't nearly take advantage of all that we could have and tried to make up for lost time. Part of it was our busy schedules and getting caught up with maintaining everyday life. The other part, I'm afraid to admit, is being paralyzed by all the work that goes into packing up 2 kids and getting the whole family to go out on a big excursion. Just getting ready to go to the market is at least a 45 minute process. Sure we came home each time from one of these big outings so tired we could collapse on the floor but so worthwhile in the end. We definitely are going to be better about exposing ourselves to more adventures and never mind the laundry that piles up a day longer or the blog postings that are outdated (we'll just have more stories to tell when we do post).

Enjoing our picnic lunch

Cousin Jake basking in the sun's rays.


Mom and Sean who wanders off by himself but always checks in with a hug before scampering off again

Playing ball in the sand



Elise getting her groove on

Sean uses a stick to draw lines in the sand

Seans wants to play with the big kids but can only watch.

Elise getting her feet wet...

...and running towards the waves

San Diego Vacation

We took advantage of the week off between the end of Elise's summer camp and beginning of regular preschool by going to San Diego with friends Margot, Vi, and their son Kush. This was such a last minute trip that it was looking so unlikely but we overcame our lack of inertia and general fear of travelling with two kids alone. As our vacation approached, it was the only thing we could think of, we were just so excited to start our adventure. On the day of our trip, Sean woke up with a 103 degree temperature and was very fussy. We gave him some Tylenol which reduced the fever but not his crankiness. The only thing that would comfort him was being held by Dad.

After a delayed flight and very long line at the car rental company, we arrived in Carlsbad and stayed at the wonderful West Inn and Suites. From the moment we stepped inside, we felt right at home in their clean, homey, kid-friendly hotel. We stayed in one of their suites which gave us some flexibility with having the kids sleep earlier while we got to stay up and watch TV. We never wanted to leave and it is a definite must-repeat next year.

Mom and Sean in La Jolla. Sean is still sick and just not himself. Normally rambucious and fiesty, he prefers to sit on our laps and wants to be held all the time.

Elise at Legoland, a major highlight of our trip. We loved the place and will definitely return soon.

Elise and Kush who were great playmates together. Elise would always ask for Kush when he wasn't around and scream in delight when she saw him.

On the third day of our vacation, Sean's fever broke but he had red blotches all over his body and face. Once we saw the tellItale signs of the hive-looking patches, we knew he had Roseola, a virus common to babies which we confirmed when we called his pediatrician. The good news was he didn't have a fever anymore and starting to break out of his fussiness.

Elise learning to drive her first car on the race track. It took her a while to figure out the gas pedal and that she could actually drive the car at her own discretion.

Sean in an immobile car pretends he can drive anyways.

One of Elise's favorite rides is this mechanical horse that rode around a track through a "forest". It was her first ride by herself and you can tell she was nervous but held a great front.

Here's the beautiful smile that was hiding the last few days.

Sean is endlessly fascinated with anything with wheels. I'm convinced boys are programmed from the start to like cars, wheels, trucks, and trains.

It was towards the end of our visit to Legoland that Sean got to enjoy the park. Elise is sleeping by now in the stroller (3 hours!) having spent the entire morning and early afternoon running around.