Tiny Iron Fists

Super-Imagination-Hero

Having never seen anything Iron Man-related other than her preschool cubby mate's backpack, Lulu put on my bike helmet tonight and proclaimed, "I. Am. Iron Man!" and she was!

Mission 26: The Big Endeavour

I took off work on Friday, October 12th so I could take my daughter, a budding Princess Scientist to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour travel through LA's streets starting at Los Angeles International Airport, ending at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.

It was a surreal experience. Exhilarating. And full of wonder and dreams. Please, The Force, let me live long enough to enjoy more days like this one. The rest of what we witnessed in 146 photos:

Waiting for the Catbus!

Tonight during dinner, Lulu asked if we could go outside and wait for the Catbus. It wasn't raining, but it was nighttime and I thought, sure, why not? So when we were done eating, we went outside to wait for the Catbus. If you know, you know.

Our conversation:

Lulu: [Maybe] Totoro comes and think I'm beautiful. I think so... Totoro will roar at me. Maybe I will be scared at him.

Me: I don't think so. Totoro's really nice, Lulu.

Lulu: Maybe... Satsuki cried for her sister, but Totoro helped her.

Me: Lulu what are you waiting for?

Lulu: I see the Catbus arrived. That's not the Catbus, that's the car. We have to wait much longer. It's taking a long time. That is taking a long time for the Catbus to arrive. What is it? What is it? Do you hear something?

Me: Was that the Catbus?

Lulu: No. It's taking a long time.

A Toy Train in Space

It's impossible not to love this video of a dad and his son sending the boy's favorite toy train (and buddy) into space. Awesome dad @RonFugelseth is awesome! More about the project:

On Aug 24th 2012 we sent my son's favorite train "Stanley" to space in a weather balloon with a HD camera and an old cell phone for GPS. He was recovered 27 miles away in a corn field and we got some great footage of the trip. This video documents the journey from liftoff to landing.

My 4 year old and Stanley are inseparable like Calvin and Hobbes. He's been attached to him since he was two, and they play, sleep and do everything together. I animated Stanley's face with After Effects and Photoshop to bring him to life how I imagine my son sees him.

Here's the first video I made of my son and Stanley when he was 2 years old, documenting the beginning of their friendship. I shot it over 5 months: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_1lnkUPUkI

As Seen By Lulu: Giant Robot "Biennale 3"

See what Lulu saw at Giant Robot's "Biennale 3" on view at the Japanese American National Museum from September 23, 2012 - January 20, 2012.

Beach Day With Cousin Ava

Eggcellent Snack Tip/Trick

My friend Wendy gave us these insanely adorable Kotobuki Plastic Egg Molds as birthday swag a few years ago. I asked a Japanese friend to read the packaging for me because I had no idea what they were. Good thing too because I would've guessed wrong.

The cutesy egg molds turn boring hard boiled eggs into something fun to eat. All you have to do is boil eggs, peel the shell, insert the eggs into the plastic molds and snap shut. Then place the molds in a bowl of cold water. After 10 minutes, remove the molds from the water and slowly open to reveal edible bear or rabbit-faced treats.

Lulu loves eating the molded eggs. And I love how absolutely kawaii they are. Fish and car and heart and star molds are also available.

Sunset Bike Ride

 

We are grateful to live where we do, so we try to visit the beach every weekend. Today, Lulu rode her bike at sunset. It was marvelous.

LA - Jamie Lee Curtis Book Event (09.15.12)

Jamie Lee Curtis
Saturday, September 15, 10:30 a.m.
Ages 3 & up

Join best-selling author and actress Jamie Lee Curtis for a reading and signing of her new book, My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs, and High Fives. The tenth collaboration between Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrator Laura Cornell celebrates the everyday bravery of trying new things for the very first time. While our spunky heroine, Frankie, learns to ride a bike, tie her shoes, make new friends, love her first dog, borrow a book from the library, say when she's wrong, try yucky food and work with her dad, she also learns that trying new things is how she grows - and that being brave enough to do so is what growing up is all about.

CHILDREN'S BOOK WORLD
10580 1/2 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90064
(310) 559-BOOK

HOURS: MON-FRI 10-5:30 | SAT 10-5

Recipe: Julia Child's Gratin Dauphinois

My French husband often needs a dose of the butter and cream diet he was raised on. For simple and straightforward recipes, I turn to my favorite kitchen helper, Julia Child. Her Gratin Dauphinois recipe is easy to make and delicious to eat.

Ingredients:

2 pounds starchy potatoes
1/2 clove unpeeled garlic
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Swiss cheese (NOTE: I use Gruyere)
1 cup boiling milk or cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Peel the potatoes and slice them 1/8 inch thick. Place in cold water. Drain when ready to use.

2. Rub the baking dish with cut garlic (NOTE: I chop up the garlic and sprinkle it on the first layer of potatoes for extra zing). Smear the dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.

3. Drain the potatoes and dry them in a towel. Spread half of them in the bottom of the dish. Divide over them half the salt, pepper, cheese, and butter.

4. Arrange the remaining potatoes over the first layer and season. Spread on the rest of the cheese and divide the butter over it. Pour on the boiling milk.

5. Set the baking dish in upper third of preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender, the milk is absorbed, and the top is a golden brown.

Recipe: That's The Best Frosting I Ever Had

For our neighborhood's 12th annual block party, we made vanilla cupcakes with a vanilla icing. Low on time, I used a readymade cake mix for the cupcake and for the icing, whipped up this fantastic, easy, and delicious recipe:

That's the Best Frosting I Ever Had:

Ingredients:

5 Tablespoons Flour
1 cup Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar

Instructions:

1. Bake your favorite cake and let it cool.

2. In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.) It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.

3. While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

4. Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If there is any left after your taste test, spread it on a cooled cake.

The cupcakes were a hit at the party, disappearing soon after we put them out.

Eye on The Sky

Lulu loves watching the planes take off from Santa Monica Airport.  On the east side of Clover Park, there are benches for resting and telescopes for close up viewing. They're hardly ever occupied and great fun for the little ones.

The Orange Balloon

Leaving Christian's second birthday party, Lulu's special (chosen) orange balloon got caught in a tree. She was worried, but not for long.

Photos by Lulu: Shepard Fairey's "Americana"

We attended Shepard Fairey's "Americana" opening at Perry Rubenstein gallery and Lulu took it upon herself to document the evening. I hope you enjoy her photos of the artwork, people, and environment.

For the most part, her photos still need a lot of work. But I feel she really did catch the vibe of the night.

Lulu's Cardboard Box House

We recently bought Lulu a new carseat and instead of throwing the big box it arrived in, away, we decided to build a cardboard house with it. Complete with cut out windows, a chimney, and indoor/outdoor living space, Lulu is loving her little piece of private space. She's filled it up with her own art, pillows, blankets, and other comfy items. She loves relaxing in it, alone or with a guest.

Building a cardboard box home is super easy. Pinterest is a great resource for visual inspiration. eHow has simple instructions for the DIY-set.

Milestone: Lulu's First (Real) Dentist Appointment

Every parent and doctor will have a different opinion about when to take your child to a dentist, but we felt confident with Lulu's regular dental hygiene routine, that it would be okay to wait until she was three years old. At two, after one of my own appointments, my dentist Dr. Brett Lent peered inside Lulu's mouth and while he would've loved to have inspected her teeth more thoroughly, Lulu was definitely too squirmy to sit still for more than a few minutes. Lulu's Pediatrician from Tenth Street Pediatrics felt her teeth looked healthy and that it would be okay to wait until then too. 

I learned that our friends were taking their daughter, M, for a routine check up and since Lulu adores M, I thought that maybe after watching her friend go first, Lulu wouldn't feel as scared. This seemed like a sound idea.

We made an appointment at Sawtelle Family Dental with Dr. Emily Kwong to immediately follow M's appointment. And for weeks I explained to Lulu that she would be going to visit the dentist soon to have her teeth examined. The days leading up to the appointment, I reminded Lulu of her pending visit. She was excited to hang with her friend and to show M what a big kid she was too.

Morning of the appointment, Lulu had breakfast and we had a chill morning. Since the complex is familiar to us, we were able to arrive without sweating where to go or park. For a Saturday morning, there were plenty of spaces available.

Dr. Kwong's brother, Ernie greeted us upon arrival. He was extremely friendly and welcomed us to the waiting room, which was spacious with clean with comfy furniture. There was also a table with snacks for the hungry and warm beverages for the caffeine-needy.

When it was M's turn, she climbed into the children's chair and while she watched "Cars" on a small monitor, all four parents and Lulu watched M get her teeth cleaned. Lulu sat on my lap and stared intently at M, as M intently watched the movie, while Dr. Emily intently cleaned her teeth. We were all welcomed in the room together.

Next up, Lulu! I could tell Lulu was feeling a little nervous. It took her a minute to warm up to the chair. Dr. Emily suggested Lulu sit on my lap with her blanket and then moved the chair up and down and back and forth and Lulu thought it was a really fun ride. She asked for a few more rides and Dr. Emily obliged.

Then came the introduction to the dental equipment and the noises that even scare adults. Dr. Emily quickly squashed Lulu's fears by explaining what the tools were: a very shiny light, vacuum for her mouth, an air pick that also sprayed water, and tools for fighting Sugar Monsters. 

By then Lulu was pretty comfortable so Dr. Emily turned on an age appropriate children's program and before Lulu could change her mind, she had her mouth open, getting her teeth cleaned! Silvio snapped photos and Lulu oddly enough, really seemed to be enjoying her appointment. She wasn't even watching the program, instead she was focused on Dr. Emily and what she was doing.

At the end of the appointment, Dr. Emily checked Lulu's gums and gave us a few oral health tips. She also suggested we move Lulu to the big kid's toothpaste but insisted that we only smear a small amount on her toothbrush daily. We were also advised to have her start flossing. I can barely get myself to floss but with the pressure of having to be a good role model, it's something I will do.

Check out was painless. Dr. Emily's mom (it's a family affair) was in charge of this process. We filled out all of Lulu's information and paid for the appointment. We received several discounts because we did not include Lulu on our dental insurance (we will next year though) and I was grateful for that.

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first dental check up. My little girl was never scared and walked out happy with a bag of dental hygiene goodies (and a rubber toy lizard). Lulu is already looking forward to her next visit!

Sawtelle Family Dental is well equipped for children. It is located on the second floor of the same complex as Beard Papa and Nijiya Market in West Los Angeles. There is ample parking in the lot and on the streets and it is very accessible to the 405 and 10 Freeways.

2130 Sawtelle Blvd., #210A

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 479-8833

sawtellefamilydental.com‎

Milestone: First Day of Preschool

First day of preschool. Say hello to the class clown!

Holiday Glow

 

Lulu loves running in the meadow at Glen Oaks. The open field is practically ours alone; we've hardly seen anyone else the whole time we've bunked in the Sycamore cabin. At night we lay in the grass and look up at the sky, searching for shooting stars. It's absolutely enchanting!

Milestone: You Have Mail!

We sent postcards from Big Sur to a few lucky family members. Lulu was less interested in writing the cards (the few of you receiving mail from us are in for a nice surprise) and more interested in dropping the cards into the mailbox. I explained to Lulu how a few words could make it across the globe by her actions (from writing the card, to attaching the stamp, and slipping it into the mailbox). Lulu was very excited to learn about how our postal service works.

My 40th Birthday Family Portrait

Happy 40th Birthday to me! Keep it silly!

 

NASA's Curiosity and the Princess Scientist

Lulu is very interested in space. She calls herself a Princess Scientist and loves to talk about other planets and outerspace. I let her stay up way past her bedtime to watch NASA's Curiosity rover land on Mars. She saw people who were excited by science and although she didn't quite understand what was going on, she was thrilled to watch.

Lulu's generation may be the first to visit Mars. What an exciting day for our planet!

Lulu: They will find aliens?
Me: Maybe.
Lulu: To eat me?!
Me: I don't think so.
Lulu: Maybe they will play!

Snack-Sleep Attack!

No big... I often fall asleep eating my food!

Milestone: Lulu's First Bicycle!

Two out of three Team HP family members got new wheels this week.

Lulu's a peanut, standing small at 35". She's already got a couple of skateboards and a scooter and has been wanting a bike for some time now. For at least six months she's been asking for a pink or blue bicycle with flowers. Every bike shop we'd pass by, she'd make us swing through to survey the selection. Lulu's test driven Skuuts and other balance bikes, however she wasn't pleased with the pedaless options. She's "too big" for a trike and Lulu's never found a ride that fit her properly, until now!

Thanks to R.E.I. and my mom, we bought Lulu the 2012 Raleigh MXR Micro 12" Kids' Bike (Lulu's pick) and a hot pink Mirrycle Incredibell Jellibell Bicycle Bell for her belated birthday present. Although a little shaky and nervous, the kid had fun breaking it in. Lulu quickly picked up the skills needed to pedal forward and to stop on a dime although the reverse break-thing makes her stop and go a lot.

It's a wonderful milestone that Lulu got a new bike today. She's nervous and excited. Me too!

Three Generations of Loud!

My 71 year old mom (she's proud of her age), my nearly 40 year old self, and newly minted 3-year-old Lulu age according to the Asian calendar. Love this family portrait-strip!

Native Style

Lulu shot this self portrait at Laurie Lipton's art opening for "L.A. Sous-Real". It's no secret Lulu likes to rock different colored shoes. It's nice she wanted to capture her style for posterity. And I definitely get a kick out of this!

Outfit: Jefferson shoes by Native Shoes and Mikarobe dress by DPAM.