More Trains

Grandma and Pops got Kit started with trains. Today, thanks to Craigs list, Kit has even more trains. This is her combined railroad empire!
Kit shopping at the dollar store for a basket. We're trying to set up a store and kitchen for her to play with at home.
Big shoes.

Father - Daughter Dinner

Last night while Tuk went to a parenting class Kit and I enjoyed dinner at home. We used our best place mats, plastic plates and plastic cups as this was a special occasion.

Sure, Kit deliberately spilled her water on the floor, twice, but that's OK. I am very happy that she tried my spaghetti squash with meat sauce and liked it.

After watching America's Test Kitchen review Dutch ovens, I discovered that I do not need one since I can place my stockpot into the oven. Tuk purchased a 10 pound bag of onions for me (I used about half) to make onion soup. The process took about three hours, was very easy, and the soup was excellent.

Big Day with Friends

Kit had several friends over from the neighborhood today. It was a big day for her to share her house and take turns playing with her toys. (photos to come)
Here she is wearing my sunglasses.

Play Tent

When Kit awoke from her nap there was a new toy in the house.
She checked out the tee-pee.
And discovered a tunnel!
It lead to another tent.
Emily and Kitty were waiting for her.
She loves it. Looks like fun. May I come in?
No, dad.
No boys are allowed!

She said I was too big.

At bedtime we have a list for Kit to follow. Put on a night-time diaper and sleeping clothes. Brush teeth. She can pick two calm activities: do a puzzle together, read a book together, or play with the train for five minutes. She can pick the same activity twice if she likes.

Michelle

We had dim sum with Michelle in San Francisco then went to Golden Gate Park to feed the squirrels.


Michelle is a squirrel-feeding expert.
She showed Kit where to place the peanuts to attract the squirrels.

This squirrel ate a lot of peanuts.

New Bike

Brushing Teeth

Kit, it is time to brush your teeth. What do we do first?

First, we have to get the toothbrush and toothpaste out of the drawer.

Then we brush, brush, brush.

And don't forget to brush your cheeks and tongue too.

You did a great job, Kit!

Then we get out of the jogging suit and into PJs for bed.

Birds

Kit wanted to feed the birds in the backyard. I promised her that we would do it this weekend. Well, it rained but we can't let that get in the way.
She put on her rain jacket Grandma gave her. We went to OSH where she picked out a nice bird feeder.
We added some foil to help protect the birds from the rain.
She also picked out a humming bird feeder. We will move it to a better spot once the rain stops.

Kit loves to watch the little birds.

Valentine's Day Dress

Kit received a package in the mail from P'Auan and Coleman. It came all the way from Korat, Thailand, for Valentine's Day.
When she opened it she found a beautiful dress!
Lovely! Little Miss Kit likes to dress up. She put on her little heart ring and a bracelet too.

Princess Bai Thong

Party

Yesterday Kit went to a party at Brian's house with several other kids in the neighborhood. Kit and Brian get along extremely well. Kit is 4 days older than Brian and they share a lot of personality traits, especially their temperament.

Brian allowed Kit to give him a hug! It was his first hug from a kid. The moms went running for their cameras but didn't capture the image. Anyway, it was very sweet.

Gombei

Last night we went to Gombei, a Japanese restaurant in San Jose's Japan Town serving home-style dishes. Friday and Saturday nights there is usually a line of young people out the door but on an off-night it is quiet with mostly elderly Japanese couples.

Kit enjoyed the specials off the white board, including a stuffed & fried tofu dish, stir-fried lotus root, grilled yellow-tail tuna and other items. I liked their Hawaiian-style poki tuna. Kit pointed to things that she wanted to try. She insisted on trying wasabi so Tuk gave her a tiny taste. "Pet!" she said in Thai, meaning spicy.

Magha Puja Day

On Sunday we went to Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont for Magha Puja Day, a Buddhist celebration. Kit was happy to see her friend Kaley.
Kit enjoyed the music, dancing and food. She ate lots of sticky rice and grilled pork.

Library and Cupcakes

Today's blog is brought to you by the number two.
Tuk takes Kit to a class at the Mountain View library. Today they had different stations set up to explore.

Kit has two nets!
They also had boxes out for kids to enjoy.
Kit really liked this box.

It has two flaps.
Today was the first time we made cupcakes. Kit is a great helper. That means there were two cooks in the kitchen.

While the cup cakes were baking we worked on the frosting.
She wasn't sure about the frosting since I left out two-thirds of the sugar called for in the recipe.
Not bad!
Let's see that again, up close.

Little finger...
Chocolate frosting...
YUM!
We baked two trays of cupcakes.

Kit thought the frosting was quite nice yet her little finger can't hold very much. There must be a better way to eat frosting.
So, Dad offered her a beater.
And then another.

That's two beaters!
Seems cupcakes make nice holders for licking off the frosting.
And when the frosting is all gone you can eat the cake. Yum.