My Mommy turns 60

Mom turned 60 last Monday but we didn't get to celebrate it until today, Thursday mainly for 2 reasons: #1: Julie arrived back from Cambodia on Monday, #2: I am off tonight.

I put together a simple menu of fish dishes, and pancit for long life. A little cake here, a little singing there and it was a little party to celebrate the most influential and inspiring person in my life...my Mom.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Notice Rj's hand sign....he has inherited it from my Mom :)
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The Happy Party #2 Cake from TLJ on Sepulveda
had blueberries inside-Yummy!

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the little decorations after the kids were done with it....
it was hard to bite! But not too sweet.

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Celeste tried to or maybe did touch the cake....
hehehehe

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More food..

She's back

She's back

I am doing the happy dance because my sister is back. Wooohooo!!!! Now
I can breathe a sign of relief. Looking forward to hearing about her
adventures soon. I'll leave her be to get over whatever got her sick &
jetlag. Besides I've got work until Thursday
& the kids stayed home due to Celeste not feeling well - probably cuz
her molars are coming out. I saw 2 the other day. Poor thing can't get
comfy.

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Car Fire

While on our way to Glendale, on 110S by Adams St. we saw this. It's a Saturn. Hopefully the driver got out & no one was hurt. A few seconds later a fire truck was at the scene. Thank goodness we were going the opposite way....Scary!!!!





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The Americana @ Brand

Sunday morning started out late for us because we were still recovering from the food filled birthday party from Saturday (pics can found here: Camie's 18th Birthday )
We all wanted to go somewhere but didn't know where until I remembered this place that I've heard from my gal pals from the Nest...the Americana @ Brand. Its an open air mall. I missed the get together they had and was still curious. Lucky for me Ryan was game to drive that far. Its in Glendale.

Since we were in the neighborhood we visited this place finally...

And these are what we found at the Americana to keep us entertained:

The view of the train from the parking lot

Of course after a long car ride with kids where would be the first thing we would look for but the restrooms. Quickly looking at the directory we headed down to the said location in hopes that Rj makes it..and he did. After that we discovered this:

HOW COOL IS THIS ??? I would like one in our home :)

I couldn't resist not taking a pic of this ensemble...I can dream right?

The fountain that happens to have ...

a water show at 4pm

Waiting patiently to ride the train

The original plan was for Rj & I to ride the train to take us to the other side of the place where Ryan & Celeste would meet us. Well wouldn't you know it that no one got out of the stop we were at and the train was full...so we still had to walk to the other side to get on the train. It all worked out because the 4 of us got to ride it together. It was a 5 minute ride that basically goes through the whole mall. It was cute and the best part was that it was free.

The Americana has apartments for sale on top and the stores (high end ones too ie. Barney's, Tiffany's & Armani Exchange) are at the bottom. Gorgeous lay out with grass areas and a covered playground that happend to be a HUGE hit with my kids.


On summer nights during the week they have concerts on the grass area. Lucky for us there was a band singing Michel Buble-ey songs...kept me entertained and ...

got Celeste to dance.

A Pinkberry Family moment:
it may not look like the boys didn't enjoy it but trust me-they did.

Please pray for Julie

Dearest Family,
I just an email from Julie's pastor that she is sick. They mentioned that it might be food related. She is still in Cambodia.
Last I heard from her in FB was that she had a fever. Oh geesh I feel so helpless. I was dreading this kind of news because I can't help her - she is so far away.
She is suppose to be returning home sometime next week.
Please add her to your prayers that she is ok and will be home safe soon.
-Mahalia

Short notice family dinner

With the short visit of my Dad and Mama Lit to Los Angeles, I was able to squeeze in an impromptu dinner with my Santos family. I was so touched that most of them made it inspite of their busy schedules (ie. jobs and school). Thank you for taking the time to spend time with us. I feel so blessed and loved...just hoped they liked my "cooking" hehehehe.