The funny thing is the ones we paid for are even worse. Maybe next year!

Speaking of food… the cupcake factory started up a few days ago and didn’t finish up until late this morning. Bonnie made red velvet, carrot cake, and chocolate cupcakes with either a chocolate frosting or a cream cheese frosting. All from scratch. With fondant flowers. And fancy sprinkles. They were a hit and now I can sort of appreciate how people get away with charging $4 for a cupcake.

Chocolate:

Carrot Cake:

Combined with the Red Velvet in the cupcake tower:

Bonnie also made sugar cookies with a “Happy Birthday Alissa” message imprinted on them.

Needless to say, the Kitchen Aid mixer got quite the workout the last few days. Speaking of working out, I’ll need to hit the gym to burn off all the butter, cream cheese, and sugar that I consumed while doing “quality control” along the way.

As for the party itself, we had almost 80 people between all the friends and family with kids around Alissa’s age. For entertainment, we hired a balloon-ist who played a few games with the kids and gave our prizes. And of course, we had to supply ice-cream to anyone who was interested in more sweets after partaking in the cookies and cupcakes bounty. Otherwise, we had bought the requisite Chinese fried chicken along with a few noodle and veggie dishes.

Of course, I can’t just leave the post with pictures of the cupcakes and cookies, so here are a few others from the festivities:

Next time, I’ll flex my bicep harder. Or wear a tighter shirt.

One of the games the kids played:

Ashley and Amanda enjoying the sweets:

Enjoying the balloons after opening presents:

Bulldog, Eeyore, Butterfly about ready to go trick-or-treat:

Ashley and Amanda looking at the newest addition to the family, Kate, the goldfish:

Amanda and Ashley love their nai-nai:

Walking back from the Chinese bakery:

Aidan’s birthday party
We went to “new to us” kiddie gymnastics place for Aidan’s birthday party. Kids had a blast running, rolling, sliding, swinging, balancing, and otherwise gymnastic-ing.

Bonnie is easily impressed.

Ashley chalking up for the high bar.

Alissa was pretty good at getting across the balance beam by the end of the session.

The birthday family.

Kung-Fu Alissa

Video montage:

2011 09 03 Aidan’s birthday from Jason Wang on Vimeo.

Benita’s Birthday
Bonnie made a cupcake cake.

Amazingly, they’re all smiling and looking at the camera at the same time. Even Alan!

Ashley saying, “Hi!”

Random photos:
We just go to Trader Joe’s for the stickers.

My trusty steed. 10 years old and still looks pretty good.

Alissa reading.

Ashley coloring.

Amanda smiling.

Sleeping beauties.

More fun with Instagram.

Gilroy Gardens

Pony Rides:

2011 08 28 Seattle Trailer from Jason Wang on Vimeo.

2011 08 28 Seattle vacation – director’s cut from Jason Wang on Vimeo.

A full post will follow shortly!

Amanda and Ashley will love preschool:

Gabe on the trike:

Nicholas keeping up:

Also, here are a few pictures of the girls in some dresses Bonnie made:

Ashley thinking something critical about the penguins:

This hippo was huge and kept showing off how big it could open it’s mouth. I wasn’t in position to capture it unfortunately.

Hanging out with grandma:

Kinda depressing chimp:

But super cute koalas:

And prarie dogs:

And meerkats:

Surprisingly, the kids were not scared to pet the animals in the Children’s Zoo:

I always like to watch the gorillas:

Ashley isn’t super impressed:

I was the obnoxious dad with the huge camera/lens combo but none of you should be surprised at that. How else would I get the mediocre photos below?

So far so good… Megan isn’t happy but Alissa seems to be ok with it.

“Why is Megan crying?”

Alissa sort of doing her own thing.

Lots of pink.

Not doing a great job listening to the teacher. Probably distracted by obnoxious dad pointing a huge camera at me.

Megan listening marginally better than Alissa.

That’s better.

No crying… yet.

Nice point Megan!

Skipping… not all that happily.

“Why is Megan crying?”

“Hmm, maybe I should be crying too?”

“Yes… I should.”

Megan fully recovered while Alissa sits on my lap.

And there you have it. I should probably preface this with the fact that I’m a total tiger dad and told Alissa she MUST be the best ballerina out there if she wanted to eat dinner tonight. Kidding!

First, Easter!
Deeann and Calvin had a get together at their place along with an easter egg hunt and the normal gastronomic trappings of one of their parties.

Hunters at the ready:

To varying degrees of excitement:

Got one!

A big one!

I think there’s candy in there:

Courtney on the prowl:

Showing off the bounty:

Not an egg, but just as good:

Eggs are over-rated:

With Grandma:

Cousins:

Cousins-redux:

Counting the loot at home:

Second, Gilroy Gardens with Morgan and Madi:
We went to Gilroy Gardens again with Morgan and Madi, Alissa’s friends from school. A grand time was had by all!

Not quite tall enough for… most of the rides:

Riding the Ferris wheel:

Caterpillar ride:

Strawberry ride:

Posing with the doggies they won:

Morgan, the ham:

Madi, big girl smile:

Alissa, snot nosed smile:

Misc shots:

Third, Bay Area Discovery Museum:

View of the GG Bridge from the parking lot:

Happy Camper:

Happy Camper(s):

Riding the fastest turtle in the west:

Art room activities:

Fourth, Birthday Parties:

Nicholas’ third birthday:

Critter Time:

And finally, some random photos:

Feeding each other oranges in the hallway:

First pig tails:

Sisters don’t shake hands… sisters gotta hhhhugggg.

I don’t know what’s going on here though: