Anabelle's Secret Identity

"No one will ever guess that I'm secretly Energy Lass!"

May Birthdays

It was a quiet weekend, so here are some more pictures from Memorial Day. Everyone came over to Ba's house and we had a barbecue to celebrate the May birthdays.


More pictures from the party:

May Birthdays

Anabelle Meets Curious George

On Sunday, Anabelle went to the Children's Museum with Nonnie and Papa to see the Curious George exhibit. And while she was playing on the rocket ship, there was a surprise announcement: George himself was here! We raced down and waited in line (well, not really a line -- more an unorganized swarm of anxious kids and inconsiderate parents) for our chance to say hello to George. Finally, our time came!


"Hey! Who's that kid crowding into our shot?"


"George, I loved that time you tried to protect the field of flowers from the naughty cows!"


"Papa, for some reason I don't think this is the way to the zoo."

Thanks to Nonnie and Papa for taking these pictures! (More of their pictures here.) And here are the pictures Daddy took that day:

Anabelle Meets Curious George

Anabelle at Como Again

On Saturday Anabelle went back to one of her favorite places: Como Zoo! Only this time she discovered that they have rides. Luckily Uncle Dong was there to help!

Here's a short video of Anabelle's very first ride:

She loved it!

And more pictures from the day:

Anabelle at Como Zoo

Anabelle's Marathon Park Play Session

Continuing our look back at Anabelle's busy Memorial Day weekend, we haven't even made it through Friday yet. After a refreshing nap, Anabelle went to Eden Lake Park and played on the playground for an hour and a half! Sliding, swinging, climbing -- she did it all! (Especially climbing. She really likes to climb, and I'm always impressed by what a good climber she is.) Here are a couple videos and pictures. Enjoy!

Climbing!


Sliding!


Sliding on rollers!


Photo gallery!

Anabelle at Eden Lake Park

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

WOW! Anabelle had a very fun, very busy Memorial Day weekend. It started off on Friday (her school was closed) when she went to the Mall of America with Daddy and saw the Underwater Adventures Aquarium.


Anabelle loved the moving walkway!

Then we went out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Twin City Grill.


"Mmm! These buttered noodles are DELICIOUS!!!!"

Finally, we stopped at Build-A-Bear Workshop where Anabelle helped put together her very own Winnie the Pooh bear! (In a nice touch, the store was running a promotion where they donate a second Pooh bear to the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation when you buy one, so Anabelle got to take home Pooh and we got to feel good about helping out sick kids as well.)




"Stick with me, Pooh, and I'll make sure that you always have plenty of hunny."

After all that, Anabelle and Pooh were pooped:


(And, yes, she really did touch a shark!)

Dog-Tired

"I don't think I should have had that last beer, Basil."

Giraffes!

Anabelle says: "I love giraffes!!!"








"WOW! Look at the size of those giraffes! Can I ride them, too?"

Perfect Dismount!

Looks like someone's competing for Aaron's title of "Roughhousing Uncle."

Sympathetic Copycat

"I don't know, Mommy: this bed rest thing doesn't seem all bad."

Golfing!

Hopefully the weather stays nice this weekend so Anabelle can get some more golfing in.


"Maybe if I use two clubs... like chopsticks to pick up the ball and drop it in the hole...?"


"Now where did that ball go? I swear it was here just a second ago."


"You're not going to penalize me a stroke for moving this ball, are you?"


"FORE!!!"

School Pictures

Here are Anabelle's latest school portraits. I'll think we'll be ordering the last picture:

(I like how the pictures keep getting closer and CLOSER.)

And here's Anabelle's class picture. She doesn't look too happy that they made her sit way in the back.

Never Too Old

"I don't care how old I am -- these toys are still fun!"

Two Again!

On Monday Anabelle got to celebrate her birthday again! This time the party was at school and she brought cupcakes for all her friends and teachers. And she got to wear a special birthday hat!








Mmmm, cupcake with a spoon!

Two for Two

Today Anabelle turned two and she had two parties to celebrate!



More pictures here:

Anabelle's Second Birthday (Part One)

Anabelle's Second Birthday (Part Two)

(Oh, and Happy Mother's Day, Mommy, Nonnie, Ba, and everyone else!)

Beat the Heat

"Man, was it hot today! I had to sit on this vent for an hour just to cool off!"

Vietnamese Idol

Last weekend Anabelle got to meet international singing star Thu Phuong, who was in town for a local concert and who came over to Ba's house for brunch. (Now we know where Anabelle gets her social butterfly nature from.)







No word yet on whether Anabelle will be appearing on Thu Phuong's next album.

The (Grand)Mother Lode

Two super-cute pictures of Anabelle and Sophie hanging out at Nonnie and Papa's this past weekend:





And now that Nonnie has her cable connection back, she's been busy uploading pictures, pictures, pictures! Check 'em out!

Taking Matters Into Her Own Hands

"For some reason, this always looked easier when you did it, Dad."


"Why did they put the handles up so high?"


"It's actually not so bad once you build up some speed!"