Christmas Card Wall

By MAGGIE WANG

It was another sweet Christmas with pictures of both longtime and newer friends on our breakfast-room wall, watching over us!

Christmas with the Tsai Family

By KEVIN DING

Christmas was even better than usual this year with Andy's family coming to stay with us, with Sedona and his daughter Anaya becoming fast friends -- to the point afterward that Sedona declared Anaya her best friend. (Sorry, locals.)

We're intent on not letting it be a temporary thing and fling, with regular family trips in the future, which would be sensational. We're planning to visit the Tsai family in New York and Connecticut this summer, as we did in 2009 (see below), when they were kinda tiny tots:

 Even with the NBA lockout not exactly cooperating with our plans -- three Lakers games in three days to start the season while they were here -- we had plenty of quality time, and thanks to Maggie for doing it all while I was away. I'm glad she and Purva bonded meaningfully also.

We have other photos from other cameras, but here are a handful from my iPhone along with a couple very memorable videos: Sedona and Anaya on Venice Beach and then the farewell moment in which Jay laments how far away a summer reunion would be. The goodbye-video reference to our BMW M3, Andy and the police is because he got pulled over while testing the car's power out and going like 90 in a 40, but the motorcycle cop let him go (because I don't think he had the speed via radar). I can easily still recall the tap-tap of this hand on Andy's driver window, alerting us to his sudden presence at the stoplight, though!

After the Lakers' opening game at Staples Center on Christmas, I met up with everyone -- including Andy's dad, who joined the visit -- at my parents' house for some re-introductions and gift exchanges:

 

 I missed out on Day 2 because of road game in Sacramento, but I came home in the morning and drove down to meet everyone for a memorable Disneyland day that carried over into a lively night for Maggie, Andy, Purva and Andy's dad at the Lakers' game at Staples:

 This shot of Anaya and Sedona running at sunset on Venice Beach -- taken with my iPhone and not our Nikon SLR, believe it or not -- became the desktop background on my laptop:

 Andy and I had a meaningful talk while walking down to Manhattan Beach Pier, reviewing a lot of the breakthroughs I had during Tony Robbins' Unleash the Power Within seminar that Maggie and I attended. Great times!

Slideshow: Tsai Family in Cali

By KEVIN DING

Here's a photo slideshow from Purva of the Tsais' Christmas holiday first to see the family of Andy's business partner Peter and then us ...

Disneyland with Anaya and Jay

By KEVIN DING

Disneyland during Christmas week with everyone's kids out of school would seem to be utter suicide, but via my friend Andy's work connection's info, we essentially cut to the front of every line. How? There are ways. These photos of our family and Andy's family (Andy, Purva, Anaya, Jay and Andy's dad) were taken by our "guide" ...

Christmas Eve Videos at Kris' House

By KEVIN DING

Videos from Christmas Eve spent with members of both sides of our extended family at Kris' house ...

Cinderelly and Frosty Performances

By KEVIN DING

Here are the videos from the kids' holiday musicals: Sedona's "Cinderelly" from Hermosa View kindergarten and Maven's two versions of "Frosty the Snowman" -- first with her "Music in Motion" extracurricular activity and then her normal class at La Marina Preschool with Miss Edna, her teacher, conducting ...

Maven at La Marina with "Frosty"

By MAGGIE WANG

So, we've posted pictures of Sedona starting kindergarten and shown you pictures of Maven's great Halloween at school but have failed to share the full story of Maven's very early academic career. 

Maven started school in October at La Marina Preschool in Manhattan Beach. We didn't send her to Montessori, where Sedona went, because when it came time to re-enroll in February, we wanted to take advantage of a La Marina program where they pick up kindergartners (Sedona) from Hermosa View Elementary after their half-day of school is done and care for them at La Marina the rest of the afternoon. We could drop off at two locations but pick up at one, with the sisters being in the same place part of the day.

When Hermosa View suddenly introduced full-day kindergarten, we thought, we might as well still try this new La Marina school. Montessori is also one of the priciest schools in the area. If you can guess, who wanted to try La Marina more? Kevin or me? ... Oh, this isn't a blame game! :-)

Ultimately, we didn't have a major problem with La Marina after some time there, but we felt Maven would be better served back at Montessori. So I spent nearly two months begging my way back into Montessori, which has a monster wait list (of years!). Fortunately, it worked and we got back in for January with Sedona's old class led by Miss Traci. I am very excited for Maven and feel so relieved we were able to be placed atop of the priority list as former students.

Before we end our time with La Marina, let's note that Maven really enjoyed doing two holiday performances on her last day there. Both were routines to the same song, it turned out: "Frosty the Snowman." One was for her class and one was for the dance activity, the latter on video below. It was super cute, and we are so proud of her!

 

Maven's main teacher at La Marina was Miss Edna (right, below) with help often from Ms. Linda (left) ...

Sedona's Daisy Community Event

By MAGGIE DING

Sedona is a Girl Scout Daisy, and this was her troop's Valentine's Day community service event.

I brought Sedona to Mia's house first to make adorable Valentines. The girls also had their faces painted (courtesy of me!) and ate a yummy pizza lunch before walking to the Sunrise Assisted Living Center to entertain the elderly. I later picked up a smiling Sedona!

Marie, co-Troop Mom, and Jill, Mackenzie's mom, assisted the girls in walking to Sunrise. They couldn't stop complimenting Sedona to me about being a great listener and helper. It was great to hear that Sedona's a great guest and helper when she is with others.

Pictured (left to right): Erin, Riley, Mackenzie, Sedona, Jessica, Maya, Gracie, Gigi, Mia and Ryan.

Sedona's Christmas "Cinderella" Show

By MAGGIE WANG

Sedona is let out of school early each Wednesday for her first year of kindergarten, so she asked to sign up to do the "Cinderella" show through Kids Kabaret. 

It was super cute, because she learned the songs so well, she has been teaching them to Maven. They both sing them in the car -- and frankly, the songs get stuck in my head, too! 

They met every Wednesday for 10 weeks and ended with a performance.

"Daddy loves ..."

By KEVIN DING

Just noticed this written by Sedona, 5, on her table here behind my office desk: "Maven loves naps! mommy loves smiling! I love my Family! Daddy loves Coke."