Sunday, October 11, 2026

April 2026 (Naomi's birthday, Michael, dinner dates, Frenchie puppies, Artemis launch)

Naomi had her big milestone birthday in April, and we got to make up for our Hello Kitty Cafe celebration for my birthday by celebrating hers. Her friend joined us, and then they went to her celebration at the escape room where her friend works. Naomi's college friends also threw her a party where everyone dressed up as her favorite things. I thought that was such a cute idea. I usually don't post her pictures anymore, but I'll include some here from her birthday. And then she also celebrated at home, and I got her a medley of different cupcakes. Manny and I also took her to a wagyu sukiyaki house.

I also got to do my make-up birthday yoga with puppies event. I saw an ad for it, and I got so excited at the idea of with golden retriever puppies. The company claimed that runs the puppy yoga says that their puppies are not from puppy mills and are adoptable puppies. I ended up signing up for corgi puppies, which was cancelled at the last minute, so they called up a Frenchie breeder and we get Frenchie puppies. On the one hand, it felt healing to see little Frenchies and remember our sweet Nacho. On the other hand, I don't like the way Frenchies are bred. I wasn't sure anymore where these puppies were coming from, so I decided I wouldn't sign up for one again, maybe unless they are rescue puppies.

Manny went to a Warriors/Kings game with Chris the same day. His car battery died on the way home, but thankfully we have AAA. We went out to a ramen place owned by a Mexican-American family, and the portions were huge. We also went to an Irish restaurant the following week. We go out to dinner more often these days.

Also in April, we took Lucas to see Michael. Michael Jackson's nephew really embodied his uncle, and it felt more like a concert than movie sometimes. After doing some research, I am even less convinced the charges against Jackson were valid, but I don't truly know. At least for the years covered in the movie, from his unconventional childhood to the start of the Bad tour, it was a time of nostalgia for Manny and me. And while I liked the Jackson 5, they were before my time, so likewise Lucas can appreciate Jackson's performances, but the pandemonium was also before his time. 

We played soccer in April for Lucas's sport class. I coached again and played goalie as well when we were short a player. My shoulder really bothered me so I couldn't really throw it in well. Another mom also had a frozen shoulder, and she convinced me to inquire about physical therapy.

Last but not least, I watched the Artemis II launch online. They were the first crew to do a flyby of the moon. For some reason I thought we'd cut back on the NASA launches, so it was special to witness. Victor Glover, a Christian navy captain and astronaut from the crew, talked about his faith in interviews, how he did not see science and his faith conflicting. I feel the same way. We make it conflict depending on perspective and motivation.

Escape room party

Michael

Spring soccer game

Pot pie and shepherd's pie at an Irish restaurant

A big bowl of ramen

Manny got the even bigger bowl.

Manny and Chris at the basketball game

Puppy yoga: she fell asleep

Puppy cuddles




Cupcakes from one of our favorite bakeries (three of us, anyway)

Time sure flies!

Wagyu master


We sat around a huge wooden counter with other patrons.

We have liftoff!

Here for the countdown, by myself. I tried getting my kids into space stuff, but it just didn't take off (pun intended).

With M. at Hello Kitty Cafe for Naomi's birthday and my belated birthday.




April 2026 (Naomi's birthday, Michael, dinner dates, Frenchie puppies, Artemis launch)

Naomi had her big milestone birthday in April, and we got to make up for our Hello Kitty Cafe celebration for my birthday by celebrating her...