Plans, Trains and Automobiles

Thanks to the freeway disaster Sunday, Arnold declared all public transit to be free on Monday. So being the opportunistic dad that I am, I decided to take Colby out on a BART excursion and tour the bay. On Saturday, Dustin went to Bonfante Gardens with his friends. Colby was understandably upset he didn't get to go. It's hard to explain to a 4 year old why his older brother always gets invited to parties and playdates without him. So through God's perfect timing (and perfect weather), Monday was the day to start making up for all the unfairness and deprivation.

Our original plan was to just go to SFO and back because Colby has never riden BART nor seen an airplane up close. I figure he would get a kick taking a long scenic train ride since he loves trains so much. He thought the BART train was way cool, much faster than the "slow" V T A train and better view of the cars on the freeway. Regardless of how fast it was, it still took about an hour to get to SFO. Once there, he loved watching the planes pull in and out. After exploring for 45 minutes, we decided to leave.

Now of course those of you who know me, know that anytime I'm in the City, I must stop by Blondie's Pizza. So we got off at Powell St. and off to Blondie's we went. On the way we noticed that cable cars were free also. So since I myself have never been on a cable car, on we went. It was a fun ride, up and down the hills, sliding back and forth on those wooden benches. Those operators perform a pretty vigorous job getting that car to stop and go (as well as yelling at all the tourists). Going downhill can get pretty fast (see video below).

To my pleasant surprise, the cable car ended at Fisherman's Wharf. I haven't been there in 10 years! We spent most of our time at the small beach in front of Ghirardelli Square where Colby finally got to experience playing with real sand. Someday we'll take him to Santa Cruz to see some real waves. But for now, this was a great starter beach for him. We stayed until he got his shoes (and pants) wet.

We then started venturing toward Pier 39 and back. There were tons of fun stores we went into, but the favorite was the Ghirardelli candy store. If you've ever heard the expression, "Like a kid in a candy store..." well let me tell you, the expression on Colby's face when confronted with all that candy... Indescribable! I knew the longer we stayed in there, the more it will cost me. I quickly got him out of there! Besides, we still have tons of Easter candy I need to eat. :)

So we got back on the cable car, back to Union Square. Got our pizza and then some ice cream, and back on BART to go home. And to our surprise, Chrissy got on the same car when we got to her station. Perfect timing! Perfect everything! A great day indeed! I think the best part that Colby enjoyed was seeing Dustin's reaction when he saw the pictures and videos of all that we did. He was obviously bothered that we had so much fun without him. Hopefully now he'll have a better understanding of how it feels to be left out.

Trains, trains, and trains. Part 1

Part of my Superdad duties include entertaining my kids. To maintain peace, we look for activities that we all can enjoy together. Building train sets is one of them. Over the years, we've accumulated quite a large assortment of train sets. Often we would receive a small set as a gift. If I feel it's worth upgrading, then I would look on Craigslist or ebay for add-on pieces until it reaches a "sufficient" collection for maximum buildability.

We currently have four large sets. When I say large, I mean that it would completely cover our eight foot dining table. We also have at least two more smaller sets that gets lost along the side (because I have yet to upgrade them). I know many of my readers have young children that are just starting to get into trains. As a parent, there are so many choices. You want a set that is durable, easy to build and can expand without costing a fortune. So which set is right for your child? Seeing that we've experienced them all, let me share with you my thoughts and recommendations. Since we have so many sets, this will be a 3-part series.

Today I'll start with the standard wooden set. This was first made popular by Brio and Thomas the Tank Engine and only afforded by trendy parents with deep pockets. A small starter set costs around $40 and add-on trains cost about $10-$15 each! Today, these Thomas sets are losing it's popularity because there are many compatible sets that connect with the Thomas and Brio tracks that cost a third of the price. You can buy the cheap tracks and then "splurge" on a few authentic Thomas engines. The cheap tracks lack the decorative grooves/woodgrain and are a bit cruder, but for the price, who cares, as long as you don't get splinters. Dustin received a "big" Thomas set when he turned two. We returned it to Toys R Us for store credit of $175!! With that money, we bought an even larger "Made in China" set for about $65 and used the rest of the money for gifts for others (but don't tell him!). Because of that, Dustin was never "into" Thomas, and we saved a bunch of money. Colby though, is a totally different story...

Our boys love to play the wooden playsets at Toys R Us and Barnes and Noble. They're big, colorful, elevated, and have a bunch of buildings. It's no wonder kids get hooked after playing there. We don't have the space to have a permanent train table, so we make do on our coffee and dining tables. But at home you don't get the same "store display experience." That's because you realize that at the store, the tracks are glued down! Of course we would never glue or nail down our tracks, so therefore they keep coming apart or get knocked over by little hands that try to push the train through the bridges and tunnels. It can get downright frustrating! Furthermore, if you have colored buildings or Thomas character trains, they'll get beat up pretty quick. Wood easily dents. Paint easily chips. And before you know it, your happy Thomas face looks like a character from the Road Warrior. So the wooden sets are nice at first, but DO NOT hold up well in the hands of a 2 year-old.

So would I recommend a wooden set? Yes and no. Yes, they're simple, easy to build and a perfect starter train for the toddler, but they will quickly outgrow it by age 3. Ikea has a small set for around $10 or look on Craigslist for a used set for under $20 ($50 if it includes a table). While you're looking, you might notice a lot of wooden Thomas sets asking for several hundred dollars. Don't buy it. They're beat up and overpriced. Those are the over-loving parents trying to recoup their losses from spoiling their kids. If you really want Thomas trains, check back, I'll talk about other Thomas sets that are a much better value on a future post.

One Less Show to Watch

Ever since the Finale of the first season of American Idol, I've never missed a single episode. From the auditions to the eliminations, I found enjoyment in every episode. I watched, hoped and cheered, but never voted because I knew my one measly vote wouldn't matter.

This season is a lot different from previous years. This season I actually lost interest because none of the top 12 appealed to me. That is, until Sanjaya started making the headlines. I can't explain it but there's truly something magical about Sanjaya that makes you root for him regardless of how bad he sings, kinda like that movie Rudy. Or maybe that since no one else is likable, Sanjaya is the only excitement factor as he defies the odds week after week. I know a lot of people really hate him and wish he gets booted, but I think he's great for the show. I honestly thought he could go all the way.

Last week I voted for the first time ever. I voted for Sanjaya over and over again. Kept hitting that redial button like a hyped up teeny bopper for about an hour. Yeah, I have no shame. I got Sanjaya fever or as some may say, "Sanjaya is my papaya." It was pretty tiring hitting those buttons repeatedly. (I recommend using a speakerphone, to save that extra energy of having to put that phone to your ear.) A lot of work, and I only got about 20 votes in.

Tonight I watched with great sadness as Sanjaya was voted off. I can't believe he's gone! Aww man, what's to watch now? Actually, I've been secretly enjoying Dancing with the Stars, shhh. I might still watch Idol with Chrissy but whoever wins at this point doesn't matter to me anymore. So I guess I'll have a little more free time come Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

http://frommymindtoyoureyes.blogspot.com/
Do you remember Chris Sligh (he's the chubby one with curly hair) who was voted off two weeks ago? Anyway, he is a Christian and has a blog (that looks just like mine ;). If you're a big AI fan and want some insight from a Christian perspective, read his blog.

Spring Break is No Break

Spring Break for Dustin started at 1:35 Friday afternoon. From that moment on, he's had the enjoyment of having a friend with him practically every waking moment. Karen's family is in town and unlike other years where we only spend a few days with them, this year we've spent many many days with both them and the Chan family because of my time off. Friday he had two playdates, one in the afternoon (immediately after school) and one more in the evening. Then on Saturday we went to the Easter egg hunt at Valley Christian School where they had inflatable jumpers, pony rides, and 50,000 eggs. Lunch with the gang. Then dinner at the Chan's. Sunday after church we had lunch with grandma and then dinner at the other Chan's (Martin) with the same bunch of kids (6 of them). Then went nuts every night.

Monday we did the Oakland Zoo with even more kids: the Youngs and the Tangs (so now we have 10). We had dinner at Ono Hawaiian BBQ. And Tuesday (Dustin's 7th Birthday) we did Happy Hollow with the same kids again with the addition of Grace and her daughter Faith (11 kids). Four of our families crashed at Grace and Owen's house afterwards where we had a greasy Chinese dinner reminiscent of Oakland Chinatown. We got home by 9 and I was exhausted.

Wednesday was my only day of rest where I didn't have to watch any kids other than my own. Dustin and Colby were originally supposed to go to Six Flags Marine World with Chrissy's brother but the impending rain cancelled it. In hindsight I'm glad they didn't go. I think the boys need a break from 5 straight days of running around (not that they'll ever complain). So instead I sent Dustin off with a friend to see "Meet the Robinsons" in 3D.

Today we invited his friend Robert over. We made him run errands and go shopping with us. Then we had dinner at grandma's. I'm finally home now, exhausted. Tomorrow we'll be getting together with the Chans and Leongs again. No idea what's happening at this point. Man, I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to Monday when school starts again.

Recently, two of the moms mentioned to me that their husbands could never do what I'm doing. That is, staying at home, hosting playdates, coordinating carpools, and shuttling extra kids to parks/zoos. So they either admire my efforts, or think I'm becoming a girly man. I think I'm just trying to find creative ways to keep my kids occupied (and out of my hair). It's actually easier with extra kids. They can do things together and entertain themselves. All you do is to provide the place and some junk food. So far so good, I think all the kids have been getting along great this past week. But before you think about sending your kids over, here's a clip of one of our "organized activities."

4 Funerals and a Wedding

It sounds like a sequel to a movie, but sadly, it is not. It describes my month of March. I wish it was the other way around like the movie, but yes, we really attended 4 funerals and a wedding (March 3: Pastor Tong. March 11: Chrissy's aunt. March 17: Breanna Tang. March 19: Mrs. Chan). Actually there was a 5th funeral for a coworker of mine that died in a horrific car accident, but I did not attend. The only good thing is that we will be reunited with all of them in heaven (even my coworker was a Christian). A couple of friends mentioned to me that in this time of our lives, we'll definitely be attending more funerals than weddings. And if that wasn't bad enough, I caught the flu which I lovingly passed on to Dustin to make him miss school for 2 days (What a great dad I am!). A lousy month indeed. But the month wasn't totally gloomy, it ended on a positive note.

On March 31 my nephew Ken (XCI during his Cal years) married Irene, a fellow engineer coworker. There are big age gaps in my family. My oldest sister is 20 years older than me, so Ken is only 9 years younger than me. It's weird when the next generation gets married, it makes you feel real old. Yeah, someday I'll be that crazy uncle you'll all fear at weddings! Right now I'm still the paranoid dad.

Dustin got his first job as a ring bearer. It was a 45 minute ceremony and he stood amazingly still. He even made it up and down the aisle with one shoe untied! Of course in his mind were the rewards (toys/spoils) awaiting him if he did a good job. He was not disappointed.

The wedding was in Los Altos, and the banquet was at Dynasty Seafood Restaurant at the Vallco Fashion Park in San Jose. The restaurant was insanely big with multiple VIP rooms (sorry, no massage tables). The main banquet hall was way in the back, getting there from the front entrance was like walking a city block (no kidding). The food was pretty good, nothing spectacular. But then again I'm not the best person to rate these type of meals. Although Colby cleaned up all the squid.

They played a couple of games during the dinner that were real funny. The first they blindfolded Irene and had her feel the hands of 7 different guys. She had to guess which one was Ken's. She narrowed it down to 2: Ken, and his brother Nate. She eventually picked Ken. She's good.

Ken then had to feel the ankle (and feet?) of 7 girls. Some crazy guy snuck into the line to throw him off. He correctly picked Irene's foot, but before he took off his mask, the guy switched places with her--to his surprise. It was so funny I almost hurled my dinner. There was a third game but I'm not sharing that yet, in case I want to do it at Jimmy's wedding ;). Let's just say Ken had to eat a cookie out of some guy's mouth.

So now onto April, hopefully a happier month. Spring Break is next week, and we're planning to go to the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose. The second Tuesday of every month is free admission. Want to join us? So far we have 3 families.