E has been taking golf for a few months with a friend. In addition to lessons, they are playing 9 holes on a real golf course a few times a month. Guess who gets to be his caddy? ;-P

And hitting balls at the driving range are required by Coach…

Daddy hitting a few with E’s (too short for him) club.

Carry your own clubs!

But mini golf is still always fun. :)

Lol, apres-golf Pokemon card trading.

Scoping out a place for our fall photo shoot at the “secret” swings!

Sometimes you just need to be like a kid and swwwwiiiing… Helps that the view is pretty sweet, too!

Apparently the swings were put up by kind citizens who just want to spread some love all around. :)

Short hike up to a nice woodsy area.

Little peeks of the ocean.

King of the logs.

Boy will always take stick!

Didn’t plan to kinda match. ;-)

Daddy saw a co-worker (from LA) off on a fishing trip departing from SD.

Contortionist.

E’s been drawing various comics… Who gets his humor?

Long weekend trip kicked off with hot drinks on the way up to LA. Fun branding (that only one member of our household would notice)!

Dessert! ‘Cuz priorities, right?

E’s grass jelly w/ green tea ice cream.

And guess whose DURIAN infused (ice cream et al) grass jelly?

Straight to Nathan Sawaya’s Lego exhibit at the California Science Center, which we’ve been quite a few times. His works were SO GOOD — many recreations of notable works of art: brought back fond memories of art history for Mommy. And can you imagine over 100 million bricks were used to create more than 100 sculptures?!

So many profound quotes sprinkled throughout… He really is not only an artist but a thinker, poet, writer.

His endangered species section was in collaboration with a photographer who then placed his Lego animals in actual habitats and took photos of them — what a marriage of social issues, the environment, art and life.

His mimicry of each one was a hoot. :)

Overlooking Gong Gong’s former MBA alma mater: USC! (And some regret/FOMO from G about turning down a full ride there after h.s. graduation… for a not-so-validating reason.) Don’t we all sometimes wonder about what might have been’s?

Strolled through the lovely rose garden.

Daddy had to charge up the car so we stopped in this neat warehouse district and browsed some shops with lots of independent makers.

Takeout from Pine and Crane. Sorta Americanized TW fare but so very popular…

The next day, we went for a WB Studios tour. They were running a SoCal residents special and E seemed a bit interested in film making after several weeks of film camp.

Anyone can guess the sets of these?

Name that talk show!

Does Ellen not get crazy hot with all these cams on her???

The iconic orange couch in front of the fountain!

THE coffee shop. :)

Who remembers this?

Follow me flossing. :))

Daddy trying to dub in Singlish, lah. :P

Caved in and let him “act” in a little Batman clip… He knows all about green screens from camp!

Interesting CRA fashion exhibit.

Maybe the safest room in the building? Haha.

Wizardry lessons.

He loves comic books so seeing all these covers was cool.

I’d like to thank my amazing parents… ;-P

We really enjoyed the tour!

Avo toast and acai bowls (not pictured — cinnamon rolls) before hitting the road.

Stopped in Irvine for drinks (fresh taro milk!) and takeout before heading home.

Still not really doing any dining in @ restos… so “fine dining” ’tis on our kitchen counter.

Just a quiet Sunday afternoon when Daddy had a league game… explored a lesser known path with stellar views.

Oldest archaeological site in SoCal.

Still ever grateful to reside in such a lovely city!

Back to school boogie bash with the boys. :) It also works out that the parents all get along so well and are friends, too.

One last Legoland afternoon trip before school starts… Getting too old for this ride?

First day photo — at home, by our doorway for a change. Everyone is happy to be fully back (masks and all)!

Why, oh why does Mommy spend an unnecessary amount of time on these back-to-school signs that are flashed for like a few seconds? :) The disturbing life of a designer… :P

They go to school for a week and then 3-day weekend for Labor Day — we’re off to LA for a sort of b-day trip for Mommy… except planned activities mostly for E: Lego art exhibit, WB Studios tour, foooood. :) Happy son, happy life? :))