Tag Archives: grandpa

December 2023

So much happens in December. We made crafts and knitted, made spiced nuts and carefully wrapped gifts. We ice skated and ate meals with friends and family and had so much fun that I did not take any pictures at all. Still, I am so glad that I continue to share a few photos here to help me remember. And I know this is true at the end of every month but somehow at the years end I really want to hold it all and not let it go. This blog has preserved the sweetest moments for me to look back on. It is my heart on the internet. Thank you for visiting.

We brought Hugo, our Norfolk Pine inside and decorated our apartment for Christmas.

We attended a concert at the Paramount called “Let Us Break Bread” that honored Tina Turner. It was a lot of fun and totally worth it even in our top floor balcony seats.

We flew to Los Angeles to visit family.

Emma and Grandpa. We stay in Grandpa’s living room and watch old movies with him every day.

There were many old photo albums to look at and I snapped so many photos of my Mom. I still wear her blue shirt. 🙂

We had a wonderful time with family, delivering and opening presents and sipping prosecco (me) at the huge Christmas Eve party. Lots of sweets, yummy food and good conversation.


Stocking treats for me.


Here is Emma sporting a new shirt and jewelry and eating blueberries on Christmas day. Such a lucky kid.

After Christmas we are eager to return home to maiki.

We walked around the lake and visited the library in Chinatown.

Spent the last day of the year in Dimond park by Sausal creek with friends.

visiting family

Emma and I flew to El Segundo to visit family. We stayed with my Dad (grandpa). It was very fun but so hot!

One afternoon we visited the Getty museum. It is free and so lovely. We only went in one building but saw paintings, photography and decorative arts.

We sat outside under the big umbrellas and sipped coffee. It was so nice there. I wish it was not so hot so we could have gone through the gardens.

One day we went to the Del Amo mall in Torrance. There was a new Mitsuwa marketplace. The Kinokuniya bookstore is our favorite.

We ate outside in the evenings on the patio at my Dad’s place. It would start to cool off and we would just chill out there.

Our beach day was so refreshing. The breeze off the ocean was cool and it was the first time I wasn’t sweating. Emma enjoyed playing on the shore and watching dolphins play out in the water.

We visited with lots of family. I had so much fun that I forgot to take more pictures. It was so great to hug my siblings after a long time apart.

maiki had been traveling as well and we were super happy to be reunited again.

trip to El Segundo

We travelled to Los Angeles to go to Disneyland, visit with family and celebrate Emma’s tenth birthday and Halloween. It was an epic trip!


Our evening flight was delayed but we still went to Disneyland the next morning. 🙂

Saturday we slept in and went to the Halloween frolic on Main Street. Emma dressed up and collected candy. We shared churro balls and they were so good!

Elayne hosted a birthday party for Emma. It was so much fun! Emma requested bbq ribs and chocolate brownies. She probably ate most of that fruit plate. 🙂

I drank frozen margaritas and chatted all night. Emma opened some presents and loved all the attention.

Sunday morning we went to breakfast and then brought flowers to where my Mom is buried. We were happy to see her stone was recently installed.

She is next to my brother Joey. It was nice to visit and there were lots of people bringing flowers to their loved ones.

Emma found sweet pictures in my parents album like this one when she was a baby!

That night we celebrated Halloween.

Emma trick or treated a little bit and also gave out candy at aunt Elayne’s house.

We had so much fun and I think Emma will always remember these days filled with love.