Fall-O-Ween event was at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest. A free event. The scavenger hunt requires 6 stamps, then you’ll get a small bag of goodies. William enjoyed this place very much, he walked around with us without running around. We took quite a few pictures because their decorations are very nice. On the way to dinner, I asked if he liked that event, he said yes. I said, “It’s nice that you got a bag of candies”.
– “Not much” – he replied. And he was right, there was only about 4 candies in the big brown paper bag. I explained to him that there’s lots of kids coming so we have to share the candies, 4 is good enough. He enjoyed eating the candies while looking out the car window: we were driving to a Japanese restaurant near there: the Ajisen Ramen at Diamond Jamboree shopping center in Irvine.
We ordered 2 special bowls, I asked for an empty small bowl so that I could share with William. It turned out he wanted to have a big bowl and let me use the small bowl! I told him he could have the big bowl only if he ate noodle with meat, he said “OK”. And he did, he actually liked the meat in this ramen bowl. It’s been more than a year since we’re back to this place. I remember that time he did not like this ramen as much as he did today: he has changed and knows how to enjoy good foods, which is a good thing.
It’s been raining few days a week for the last 2 months here in Southern California which is very rare to happen; which is pretty good because we were so lack of water last year. This also helps the wild flowers to bloom so much that everyone is calling it’s a Super Bloom year. Of course with our love for wild flowers, it’s hard to pass this opportunity so we we went to Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore last weekend, and this weekend too.
We love Poppies Flowers
Luckily for us the weather was nice, no wind so it was not cold; and the city provide a huge parking space right off the freeway exist (Exit Lake St., make a right turn, the parking lot is right on the left. It closes at 4 PM so make sure to move your car out before that time). From there, walk under the bridge then you’ll reach the mountains, 3 minutes walking.
With Grandma Tuyet and Aunt Eliza who also love flowers.
First time we went here, William mostly sat in his stroller and refused to get out. But this time he refused to sit in the stroller; he enjoyed walking on the dirt road while eating his M&M chocolate. That’s what we want to see from him: enjoy the nature. The only thing we wish is that he’d listen and would walk with us, not running ahead or around without asking us so we ended up running after him because we don’t want to loose him in this huge crowd (I’ve never seen so many people coming to see the flowers like this before, way so crowded). Because we had to always pay close attention to him we did not have much time to take pictures but Tim managed to take some good pictures of us.
Whenever he’s in the open or huge space, he has the tendency to run off without waiting for us, and refuses to hold our hands; and our only choice at that time is to run after him. Telling him to stop doesn’t work!
He loves to run around in open space
We were taking pictures, and he just decided to run back to the yellow gate. Tim followed him. Then he continued his way to the ice cream truck. He did not ask for ice cream but he said Yes when Tim asked if he wanted one.
So Tim bought 2 ice cream: 1 minion lemon ice cream bar and 1 shave ice cup. William was so happy licking his Minion ice cream and followed us to to back to the flowers field.
Eating ice cream is the best in a sunny day
We came up to the yellow gate and he decided to sit on it to enjoy his ice cream. I thought he’d sit fine but as soon as I take my hands off him, he felt off as well as the ice cream bar. I guess I should have told him so that he’d hold on to the gate better. He cried but not because he was hurt: “I want my ice cream!”. We promised him we’d get a new ice cream on the way back. He stopped crying but did not look happy. Now he wanted to sit on the stroller, drinking coke and eating M&M chocolates.
The yellow gate. Going down is to the parking lot where the ice cream trucks are. Going up hills are to see the flowers.
So on our way back to the car, we stopped by the Ice Cream truck to get him another Minion bar as promised. As we were waiting in line, he tried to stand up from the stroller, and then the stroller lifted backward, and he felt again! This time he did not cry but he was shocked! so I held him in my hands and comfort him.
I felt so bad that my negligence caused him to fall 2 times. Both of these incidents can be totally avoided if I always have him next to me. Being active kid, he’d never sit still so I should have pay more attention even when he’s sitting down.
But overall the trip was fun, this time we went with Grandma Tuyet and aunt Eliza. The weather was nice, flowers were beautiful and most importantly we got to spend quality time with our loved ones.
Lake Elsinore
Walker Canyon, Lake Elsinore“I want to Scratch” – some flowers got into his shirt and he wanted me to scratch for him.
About 2 hours driving to the Railroad Museum from our house. It was a beautiful sunny day. We bought tickets for train ride at 11:00 AM but we were 5 minutes late so we had to wait for the next train; which means we have about 1 hour to spend in this area before riding the Thomas train.
William loved the traffic signs area with lights and sounds; he also liked to climb up the old trains.
But 1 thing he did not like is to ride the Thomas train! He kicked and cried while we were walking to our train car; so I had to pick him up and carry him to find the car. Finally we got in, he did not want to stay; and it got worse when the captain started to talk: he covered his ears! Obviously he is not a big fan of Thomas The Train! But overall it was a fun day.
Everyone rides the train will get a certificate.
Other activities that he liked was petting and riding the shuttle around.
Tim loves to Selfie!
On the way out, we bought him the Thomas balloon; he loved it so much that he kept smiling when holding on to the balloon. Later at night he used the balloon as his pillow.
Saturday @12:30 PM. It was so hot. Our session was from 1 – 2 PM. William jumped for about 20 minutes and wanted to get out. It was just too hot and made you feel tired so easily. I think he likes the bounce house but the hot weather made him feel tired too much that he lost interest. We got off early; and while waiting for Tim to go to the bathroom, he climbed off the stroller and ran off; he wanted to run to the car because he wanted to go home. Ticket was $17.00/pp and it was about 1 hour driving to the Silverlakes Sports Complex (Riverside / Norco, CA). Parking was $10.00. They set up a big tent with chairs for everyone to use, another tent next to the Big Bounce for shoes, strollers. There was 1 food truck selling foods.
Sunday Morning. We joined our sister and her groups of friends for a picnic at Mile Square Park. They had 1 big bounce house and 1 small bounce house but William only played in the small one for a few minutes. Then he played at the playground for most of the time.
