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.

March 2026 (Walk For Life, Double Date with Pastor, Isaac Birthday, Project Hail Mary)

Two things you might notice--we don't do things as a complete family as much anymore, and at the same time, Manny and I go out more often. It's more challenging to align schedules, with the kids getting older. At the same time, Manny and I are more able to get out together more now. We're of course also going out alone to have some quality time. We had Peruvian food for the first time together (I've had it maybe two or three times before way back in college), and then Mediterranean which we have often together.

Our pastor has been a big part of our healing journey. He and his wife suggested we go on a double date, so we went to a nearby Chinese restaurant. He said later that he had wanted to try out my "go-to" Taiwanese place if I had one. I did, and I was about to suggest it for next time, only to find out that after 28 years of going there, it has closed. I'm really bummed about it! I took my mom and aunts there, college friends, of course went as a family, but alas, it is no more. Anyway it was a good time, but I find that I open up fairly easily to him and his wife, and I probably said a lot without time for context. 

This year is a big one for blockbuster releases. Included in that was Project Hail Mary, based on the book. I'd read it last year, or listened to the audiobook actually, because I seldom can sit down and read without interruption. I had also read The Martian by the same author, which you probably know was adapted into a movie starring Matt Damon. This one starred Ryan Gosling. I really liked the movie. Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres. Certain scenes were well worth watching on the big screen. I cried during certain parts of the book and then during those same parts in the movie, so I guess the plot and heart of the novel translated well.

Manny and Lucas participated in the Walk For Life fundraiser again this year. I usually stay home with Isaac. Raising money for crisis pregnancy centers is not about politics for us (and shouldn't be), but about raising funding for women who need or want prenatal and postnatal care and providing options for them that won't come down to money or hardship. 

The big deal for March was that Isaac became a teenager! There's a lot I want to say, but I'm trying to be more mindful of the kids' privacy. I will say the eating program has been working, and he started wanting to build a PC (but still hasn't completed buying the parts yet). He wanted a black and white chocolate drip cake. I thought about attempting the drip icing, something I've never done before, but decided to just buy the cake in the end. Naomi came home for the weekend, and we all went to Olive Garden to celebrate. The waiter folded origami gifts for us, which was sweet. They went to Isaac for his birthday. 

Lucas and Manny at Walk For Life

Out for Peruvian food after church

For some reason it won't let me upload the photo of us with our pastor and his wife at the Korean bakery, so here's our wonton soup from the Korean-Chinese restaurant lol

For Pi Day I wanted a small wild blueberry pie, but only found a frozen gluten free one, which wasn't bad.

Mediterranean food with Manny

Coach sleeping on Pluto

Birthday berry shake for Isaac

Squeezed into a smaller table at Olive Garden

paper swan and I think a cat

Huge drip cake

Birthday boy

Movie date

Had some okay beef noodle soup after the movie

February 2026 part 3 (Levi's Stadium and 49ers Museum, Birthday Dinners, Lucas Sports Class)

I ended up going out with friends for my birthday toward the end of the month. What I was really celebrating were the relationships. Manny and I also took the boys to Levi's Stadium and the 49ers Museum in between the Super Bowl and World Cup. It was a great experience to me, although no one else was really on board with my taking silly pictures. I may be old now, but I still am a kid at heart, or at least part of my heart. It may also surprise some that I'm the main American football fan in the family. I don't have a true favorite NFL team, but Jerry Rice is on my goat list. We also continued with Lucas's sports class doing track and field with a professional coach followed sometimes by a student-led game of kickball. It turned out to be a great February. On to March!

We came to the same restaurant for my 40th birthday. It's gotten so expensive for the portions, though. We don't think we will be back.

Escargot. Yes, we had snails. Not my favorite, but not as gross as it may sound.

I'm a big fan.

I'm going in for a hug but I think he's going in for a tackle. My family thinks I'm ridiculous.

They receivers often jump several feet in the air. This was above my head.

Manny on the bench.

Isaac rarely smiles in photos. It was a windy day, but nice and sunny for February.

We ate in seats overlooking the stadium. I've actually been in the VIP area (top left) before--to get my Covid shot.

Physical fitness at the track (Lucas in the middle)

All the families gathering for intro and warmups. We usually have a smaller group in the winter months, but with the professional coach combining everyone was more organized this year.

With my vegan friend at a nice vegan restaurant and my vegan birthday dessert. I love vegan food, but I still rely on meat for protein.

I had a delicious tofu curry bowl, and my friend had a plant-based burger.

Birthday with old church friends at Pacific Catch. One of them can't eat gluten, and there's good GF options here. They also accommodate her disabilities. I always feel satisfied with my meal there.

I like finding faces in nature. This looks like Yosemite Sam or an old bearded face from a Disney cartoon.