E has only had 2 b-day parties: at age 1 (when it snowed in March in TX!) and age 6 (when we first moved to SD). Both were a lot of work! We haven’t really planned anything since and we’re usually snowboarding around his b-day and celebrating on the mountain anyway. Also, we’re a bit 客气 about people having to get gifts. This year we ordered a snowboarder ice cream cake and some of E’s friends happened to be over so it was a semi b-day get-together. ;P

And then these packages arrived… “Birthday gifts” of a different kind — school acceptances! After visiting a list of schools and research, we settled on applying to just three schools for middle school and beyond: SFC, Bishop’s and Francis Parker. The application process was arduous for both parents and student alike with essays, testing, rec letters, INTERVIEWS, etc. but we have nothing but good things to say about the interactions with the admissions teams of all three schools. Congrats to E on 3 for 3! Very grateful and humbled.

The goodies inside!

Pretty impressed that Francis Parker made custom sugar cookies.

There definitely was a school we were all leaning towards but E did a campus day at all three before we made our final decision.

Drumroll — Elias will be a Knight next year at The Bishop’s School! We had our doubts of getting accepted given the number of competitive applications they receive so we were pretty surprised but pleasantly so. And then after spending a day there, he really felt at home with the authenticity of the students, the diversity of the kids and teachers and just the a joy of learning (and living!) he felt all around.

Such a sweet handwritten note!

Signing our acceptance letter and Daddy fake crying (or real) that his dreams of a Porsche might be put on hold. :D

So, so excited to call this place home for the next 7 years (hopefully!). All praise and honor to Him! Think we mentioned that Daddy loves the chapel here as it reminded him of his school in SG.

Kept this cookie for awhile as it was just too pretty to eat but E caved in one night. Also, it was difficult letting the other two schools know as they were excellent choices as well.

Happy 11th, Elias! Enjoy the final months of elementary…

Caught by SDPD. Again. :p

With the other “hooligans.” J/K.

Safety patrol officers were invited to a special outing at Sea World.

Fun but long day…

Someone got his first snowboard.

Night skiing @ Big Bear. Gotta love being able to go to the mountains back to the ocean same day. :)

White curls and period attire for the America Revolution re-enactment.

Don’t think our founding fathers were quite as silly. ;-)

In a different boat, lol.

Groundbreaking as the school takes on a huge renovation project. Sadly, we will no longer be here when it’s completed!

The Mayor spoke, press showed up and the students did a little presentation.

Daddy is training for Worlds with Team USA and they’ve been having some practices in Costa Mesa. One of his team mates has a plane and gave them a lift by air.

Made him want to re-certify his pilot’s license but of course he’s been saying that for years!

Then Y had to go back to HQ for meetings while we held down the fort w/ school and things…

New year, another jogathon!

Sporting their CNY shirts…

Hosted a little hot pot Lunar New Year party.

Post-dinner games.

Followed by a nerf war! :P

The cold air had us itching to go snowboarding so it was off to Mammoth! Stopped by a TW breakfast place on the drive up.

Back on our fave mt.

Trying out the halfpipe again — ‘dem walls are crazy high when you’re right by ’em!

Snow levels were high.

Just a boy shredding through the snow. :)

Apres-boarding sledding.

He rides down the cornice like a boss now.

Parents chase the kiddo these days.

Condo eats.

Snow angels in the flurry powder.

We love soaking in the mountains all around us at this spot every time we drive down.

Decided to go to Griffith Observatory in LA after Mammoth for one of their star parties.

City lights.

What horns are those? :D

This really makes you want to take these stairs.

Then we went to the Getty the next day.

Appreciating some of the greats.

Those horns again. :))

When art baffles them, haha.

Views of the city… Why does traffic not look so bad from here? ;-)

Sounds pretty dark but if you hated someone, you’d push them into this garden.

Parisian vibes.

Found a taro cafe otw home.

Fresh taro in everything.

Next door was hainan chicken.

Came back to see our neighbor bought a cybertruck — he had put in several holds on a few of them. Turns out he bought it to flip it! Someone in LA purchased and was having it towed to them.

CNY performance @ school.

Inside joke to this photo. :))

School activities.

The students also went to the downtown CNY parade/celebration to perform.

When your kiddo can find your camera in the sea of parents, haha.

Cute little boy feeding the lions a hong bao.

To ‘2024!