November 2025 part 1 (Manny's Family Birthday Party, Birthday Date, Memorial Service)

Manny had his 50th birthday last November. It's taken me a while to post this because I had to get the photos downloaded, but also I was thinking how to approach what happened here. Some will notice the kids and I weren't there. I'm just going to tell you a summary of my version of the events and say that I do wish I could have been there. When we first heard my mother-in-law throwing a party, Manny asked if the boys would want to come, and they didn't want to miss school. He said okay then he'd go ahead and invite two of his good friends, and they went and also stayed at my in-laws'. There was no mention or implication of my going or Naomi going since she was busy at school. I figured he'd have the family party there, and we'd have a celebration here with just us when Naomi was back home.

I didn't think flying there just for the day was possible because that seemed expensive. However, I think that's what Manny thought I was going to do, since I kept talking about how we wouldn't be able to be there. I kept bringing it up because I was kind of bummed, but I think he thought I was trying to throw him off and make a surprise visit (which again, I should have). I really should have asked or clarified if he was fine with our flying down for the day, or maybe he could have told me to. I have never really been one to surprise people. So the day of the party, I went to take Lucas to his game meetup and run errands and then to my friend's father's funeral service. In between, I spoke with Manny, and it became clear that he had wanted me to come down with the kids. I actually looked at flights, but it was already too late. I think it looked very disrespectful for me to not show up, and Manny told me as much. I felt pretty bad.  

I was busy back home trying to put together a birthday video and some gifts and figure out how to make the cake for his birthday. He said he didn't want a big party up here. I can see that flying down would have meant more than all that. I guess I really am that clueless. Then again, when my 50th came around about three months later, the day just came and went for the most part. It's like the same standards did not apply for me. 

The party looked fun, and it was a great turnout. I think it is wonderful that Manny was so loved by the family. He got to have some nice outings with his friends, too. They came from afar to celebrate with him. He looks great for 50!

All that aside, Manny and I had some nice dates in November. We went to see Predator: Badlands, which was surprisingly good. It had good pacing, good acting, good action, not much cursing and violence, no gratuitous scenes, and the story had heart. We also had a very nice Italian dinner to celebrate his birthday at the same restaurant we went to last year for his birthday since we liked it. But this time they didn't have that wonderful pistachio panna cotta. In general, we've just been trying new places since then. We are blessed with a huge variety of restaurants and cuisines around us.

I am thankful, though, that I was able to attend my friend's father's funeral. I had met her dad on many occasions. He was a composer, a music educator who traveled to many countries with his wife to teach music, and just a big musicophile. Yet he loved God even more than music, and I think what really struck me most was the legacy of faith being carried on to the next generations. It's something I really long for in my own family.

Manny with his family and friends at his 50th birthday party

Food is always good

He really does look young for 50.

Dessert table

Even some favor bags with some 80s trinkets

His sister and cousin hosting a mini bar

Manny and JP

Manny with Chris

Just some old birthday photos. Manny as Superman swinging at the piñata.

Out for a movie

Birthday dinner date at A Bellagio

Fancy charcuterie

Man Solo in the carbonite (I think that's what it was called in Star Wars?)

Bell choir that my friend's dad used to lead playing at his memorial service

January (Food and More Food, Friends, Lunar New Year, and Planetary Alignment)

January seemed like a food tour month! We ate out a lot, sometimes with each other, sometimes with others. I guess it seemed a good time after Christmas to do that. Manny had a very belated birthday lunch with K while I had an early birthday dinner with O. I also went to visit my former coworker whom I haven't seen in 13 or 14 years. She just had twins. Lucas's sports class did physical fitness test training in January. The "Parade of Planets" also happened in January throughout the month where several of the planets appeared to line up across the sky. While there was this appearance of order, I felt my own self starting to shed appearances and coming into an acceptance of the what I'd been observing in the world and people around me. Maybe it was politics, maybe the past colliding with the present, maybe perimenopause.😅 I'm human and draw erroneous conclusions all the time, but I'm in a sort of contemplative and reflective period in my life again. Thank God His Word, and His love, are always the same and true. I've been resting and trusting in that (though I get distracted or self-centered sometimes). I think it's Paul Tripp who says you're a believer all the time but an atheist some of the time. It means once we're children of God we will always be no matter what, but sometimes we forget we're His children and act like we are in control of everything and have everything under control. I've been thinking a lot about the book of James and what it means to have faith and the right worldview. I will say I think that marrying faith and politics is dangerous, whether you're on the left or right. Things start getting murky and priorities flip, or at least that is what I've seen.

Manny out for pizza with K. K. sent me this photo. I don't usually have photos of Manny's outings with other people to post.

Visiting with E. and her twin boy and girl. Also saw her mom, who actually remembered me from 20 years ago.

Fancy tea at Orchard City Kitchen and a crepe cake (in the background)

We came here for my 40th birthday (with our husbands) and now my 49th.

OCK always has new menu items for us to try

I love this Van Gogh umbrella my friend A. got me for Christmas.

Time to train--pushups, curlups, stretch tests, and a mile run

Simple foods for Lunar New Yera, half homemade, half store-bought

Out for Korean tofu with church friends

Manny and I having spicy noodle soup. He spotted Jay and Sharon, famous YouTubers with their kids. (I won't post their pic here, but Sharon is wearing white in the corner in the background).

New Year's gift fromt he neighbor, a jar in the shape of an orange with yummy orange gummy candies

M took me out for a Mediterranean meal. Some stuffed dates and mint tea.

Speaking of stuffed dates, Manny and I took Naomi out for Korean food after helping her move back.

I am trying to post less and less of Naomi on here.

Snoopy!

More food. This was a Taiwanese hot pot and spicy dish place I think called Home Eats.

Japanese AYCE sushi buffet at Sake Bomb. They actually don't do this anymore.

Manny wanted to try sashimi for the first time. Was a big surprise to me, since he never really eats sushi and definitely not the raw stuff. No little bites for him--he wanted the whole experience. We even had raw octopus and fish cheeks. He decided to big or go home, I guess!

Where the planets were on my app

Could sort of see the moon and the planetes, though I couldn't capture it well on my phone.

At Meet Fresh with A. after her volunteer work meeting

Out with Rebeka for lunch at Leichi

Housemade tofu was fantastic

November 2024 (Hiking, Manny's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Escape Room, Hiller Aviation Field Trip, Flag Football, Dinner Outings)

We had a rather mild November, not too much rain. So we were able to get some more hiking and walking in. It was also Manny's birthday and Thanksgiving of course. For Manny's birthday we had one of our best dinners ever at an Italian restaurant we just happened upon when we had to change our plans (the original restaurant closed, even after taking our reservations). We went to a Star Wars-themed bar afterward. I only get one drink anywhere I go. I don't go out of my way to drink, only if I'm there already. I'm rather meh about drinking, but sometimes I like the taste of it. Everything in moderation. I had a nice time out with some friends, too. One was a sort of reunion and the other was a belated celebration for my friend's birthday.

We had a Thanksgiving potluck at church and a dinner at home. We invitied the neighbors, but they already had other plans. I was actually a little worried they'd say yes. I just piled a bunch of food on the table, no real table setting. I think this coming November I'll try to make it a little more formal. Or not. Who knows? November can sometimes be a hard month for me, but I'm happy to say that I have not had symptoms of seasonal affective disorder the past two years. So things are looking up. I know Jesus is with me in all seasons of life. 

The day after Thanksgiving, Manny had planned for us to do an escape room. We did a room called Undercooked, where we had to complete puzzles and recipes to escape. It was really fun, but I seem to always take it more seriously, maybe too seriously. The person gave us more hints over the intercom than I think we were supposed to have, but that was very helpful.

Lucas had a field trip, the first one in many years, to an aviation museum. It was cool, and they got to do a flight simulation. The kids were supposed to partner up, and another mom of a special needs teen thought our boys could partner up, but the boy threw a fit, so I just ended up partnering with Lucas. We did all get together later on and hang out for a short time, but the boys went off again. It's hard when kids aren't inclusive, and I don't want to tell their parents to make them include my child, either. I feel like you can't really force that when they are older teens. 

I don't want to just feel sorry for Lucas. I've worked hard to find manageable but challenging socialization opportunities for him. We played flag football in the month of November. It's a challenge for me to coach it, to come up with practice drills, oversee games, etc., but it's worth it to see the kids have fun and play team sports. And of course I love to see Lucas getting in there and giving his best. 

Lucas also continued his Magic meetup. I used to hang out with the other parents, but one by one they started leaving to do errands, and I followed suit. One such errand was making a reaction video to my friend's then new song Manna. I am not sure I did what he was looking for. I sort of reviewed it as I listened to it for the first time. Check it out and his other songs as well.

Since Naomi was home for Thanksgiving, Manny and I took her out a couple of times. Manny was thoughtful to want to take her to see Wicked, since he's not usually into musicals (but this was okay for him). I didn't realize it was going to be a two-parter. We accidentally got tickets for the wrong showing, but we were able to exchange for tickets in the front row at the last minute. It did make it a little hard to watch, but the music was good.

Almaden Lake

I struggled getting up this hill at Oak Grove Park, and we lost each other for a minute.

Found each other again quickly. Loved the clouds that day.

Dumplings and Meet Fresh with my college girl

Now that she's in college, I don't get as many opportunities to make or eat Asian food since she eats more Asian food than the other two.

Filming a reaction video for my friend and former worship pastor's then new song.

Sanrio opening. I tried to swing by between Lucas's class and Isaac's pickup. The line was so long I never made it in, but I did get a cute Hello Kitty fan and headband.

I took this moment of silence and prayed. I don't want to get into politics on this post. I had to give the congregational prayer after the election, which was nervewracking, but I tried to keep the focus on the humility, love, and truth that God calls us to. I do not put my hope or faith in any manmade throne, and we ought to be careful not to blindly follow any person in power.

Enjoying a yummy meal at Luna. They had some decorations up for Día de Los Muertos.

Out for Japanese with my friends G and A.

Great dinner with great friends, though A. is half our age, so we probably are like two moms to her.

Prepping wristbands to practice different flag football plays

Love these kids!

Happy birthday to Manny. Amazing Italian meal at A Bellagio.

This pistachio panna cotta was so good and so memorable.

Making our way to the retro games center

So cool to see all these old consoles. Feels like yesterday and yet it's been almost two decades since I've sat down and made my way through a video game.

Star Wars themed bar

Carrot cake for Manny

Field trip

Class and instruction

Flight simulator. Lucas did well!

They've really upgraded the museum since we were last here!

In the cockpit

Making the Thanksgiving dishes we don't eat at home for the church potluck. First up is green bean casserole.

Roasted beets and fall veggies

Fall fruit salad

Church Thanksgiving potluck

Super fancy shabu shabu with Naomi

Now for our Thanksgiving at home. We got a Popeye's cajun turkey again. No turkey left after Day 2. Naomi made her delicious sweet potato casserole. I made the usual soup, ham, veggies, stuffing, gravy, and some puff pastries I got from Costco.

Thankful!

The cats got to have some turkey, too.

Even though Thanksgiving gives me some ptsd, I intentionally put aside the past every year and pour my heart into the food. Shortcuts help!

Manny cut the pumpkin pie (from Costco) with a round cookie cutter. Looks fancy!

Ready to escape!

Maybe we should escape from that tree in the back--looks like a hand! We had pizza after the escape room.

Ice cream

They said we escaped, but really we just got a bunch of hints.

Wicked with Naomi