Sabina's Kris Kringle

Sabina has a Kris Kringle gift exchange with her college friends (Lucy, Madeliene, and Ericka) each year. This year they came to our place for the gift exchange.

Christmas Day 2008

Alyssa woke up to find that Santa left her an American Doll. She also received a few sets of clothes for the doll from Mom and Annie. She couldn't figure out how everyone knew what Santa would leave for her. Annie, choi and Olivia came over later in the morning - Alyssa played Jingle Bells and Olivia sang along (see the video). We also went to Mom's for Christmas dinner.








Christmas morning:


Christmas at Mom's:

Christmas Eve at Janine's

We had christmas Eve at Janine's house. Joining us were Annie & Choi, Sarah & JP and Vera & Jay.

Alyssa takes off the training wheels

Alyssa finally rode her bike on just 2 wheels today. We went to Dracena Park in Piedmont. The video starts with her riding just a few seconds, but she goes for about 25 seconds by the end of the video. Don't miss her first spill as well in the video.
UPDATE: I posted a new video of her on January 4 09 at Beach School Playground.






New video with her learning to turn and pretty much has it under control:

Jackson's 5th Birthday at Pump-it-Up

Havens Winter Concert

Alyssa's school held a winter concert in December. Alyssa is in the front row in the center. She was even published in the local newspaper.

Jaden and Lindsey Recker Sleepover

Jaden and Lindsey Recker had a short playdate/sleepover and here are a few shots during story time:

New Piano

Alyssa and I have been taking lessons for 9 months using a Yamaha keyboard which has worked pretty well. Our teacher has been pushing us to move up to a piano for the last few months. We've been looking at pianos for the last few months and happened to find this Kawai KG-3D from a private party at a very affordable price. We're very happy with it and it serves as an early Christmas present.



Video of the first song played:

Brooke Abess' 5th Birthday at The Jungle

Piedmont Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa

Alyssa and Lucy Nemeth visit the tree lighting and get to site with Santa:

Christmas lights go up

We finally put up Christmas lights this year. Alyssa has been begging me for 3 years to put them up.

2nd Thanksgiving Dinner at the Yoon's in LA

We had a second Thanksgiving dinner in LA with Richard and Sue Yoon and their family. Hunter Yoon and his daughters, Uncle Peter and Connie, Aunt Jean, and Annie & Choi attended. We have a great dinner and after dinner many in the group played piano, drums, violin, and the clarinet. See the videos below. David Yoon (and up and coming LA drummer) was nice enough to spend a few hours teaching me how to play the drums - Thanks David!



Nicholas Yoon:


Chris on the drums:


Hanna Yoon on the piano:


Alyssa on the piano:


Hanna on the violin:


Olivia on the piano:


Richard Yoon - piano:

Thanksgiving 2008 - At Chris & Sabina's Home

We had Thanksgiving dinner and a gingerbread house building competition at Chris and Sabina's house this year.



Video of Thanksgiving dinner:



Gingerbread House Competition:

Alyssa shows her Hula Hoop skills

Halloween

We carved a pumpkin and went to the Piedmont Ave parade in addition to collecting candy in Piedmont.



Additional photos from Tom Nemeth:
http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.nemeth/Halloween?authkey=ef-dNL7he7s#5263848002682647586

Alyssa's Class visits the Oakland Zoo

Alyssa's class went to the Oakland Zoo today. Here are some shots:

Apple Hill with the Abess Family

We went to Apple Hill again this year with Chris, Mary and Brooke Abess.

Lindsey and Jaden Recker Birthday Party at Pump It Up

Cal Homecoming Game

Alyssa and Chris went to the Cal homcoming game with Mitchel and Danny Harad:

Our First Piano Recital

Alyssa and Chris had their first piano recital held at the Wilson's home in Orinda.

Janine's 47th Birthday

Alyssa and Chris joined the Penrods to celebrate Janine's 47th birthday in Livermore.

Yosemite - Annual Visit

This was the 2nd annual Yosemite trip. We visited during the second week of September 2008. Joining us were the Harad's (Mitchel, Chris, Danny and their new baby girl), the Han's (Andy, Karen, Caroline, Matthew and their new baby girl), the Robert's (Rich, Michelle and Lucy).

We rented bikes and rode around the valley, hiked under Half Dome and visited the Mariposa Grove (some of the largest redwoods in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariposa_Grove



We basically hung out the rest of the time. I've included a few pictures & videos of the bike ride, hike and Mariposa Grove below.

Valley Bike Ride:


Kids Hike:




Mariposa Grove:


Mariposa Grove Pics:



Pinata:


At the hotel:


Last day under Yosemite falls:

Alyssa Performs A Piano Show for Mom and Dad

Alyssa performed some of the songs she's working on for a recital coming up in late September.

Gallop Pony:

Big Dog Boogie:

King of the Land:

Ice Cream Dog:

Link to previous blog

Here's a link to the first Moore-Yoon Blog

http://cmoore64.typepad.com/blog/

Alyssa composes her first song

Alyssa called me to come to the piano this morning and played me the
song she composed, no words yet, just notes.

Sent from my iPhone

Alyssa & Audrey at Dracena park

Climbing the rock wall.

Alyssa loves piano

She came home from camp today and went right to the piano and started
playing some of her lessons.

Sabina enjoying the end of the day