Recent Kids Activities - 2009 December

Hi All, Just to let you know what kind of events you might have missed by not referring to my blog earlier, here is a variety of things that happenned in the last few weeks which we enjoyed with our son (at some of these events, we were accompanied by some of our friends, but as currently I do not have permission from any one of them to include references to their names, so I will better omit such information for now - but pls. leave me a comment if you are OK for me to include your/your kids names in this blog or later posts to this blog):

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2009
December
(Special month - All my Saggitarius friend's month & X'Mas)

• 21 - 26: FREE - Holiday Lighting:
  Where: Small tour in South Bay Area (Sana Clara, Campbell, San Jose, etc.
  

  
  
  • Lawrence & Saratoga (Campbell): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻
    
    Near Lawrence & Saratoga intersection, at 750 Harriet Ave., this is one of the best location to see holiday lights synchronized to FM radio music - here tune to 107.9 FM. Though this location does not have the maximum lights overall, but imo, has the maximum lights controlled through music. You will know what I mean after you see this and the location #2 towards the end of this blog which has perhaps one of the most lights, but less lights that are controlled by music.
    Plus, this place has a unique lighted "baby elephant" - atleast I saw this for the first time - I have seen many lighted snowmans, reindeers, and name what - but a baby elephant for the first time - my kid got very excited on seeing it.
    
  
  
  • 7733 Oak Meadow Ct. (Cupertino): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻
    
    This place was referred to me by my friend - turned out to be a nice one indeed.
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Glacier Dr. (San Jose): Rating: ☻☻☻☻☻
    On 1401 Glacier Dr., San Jose, this is another of those places with holiday lighting synchronized to FM radio - in this case 92.1FM. But please note that this place is lighted for viewing only from 5PM to 9PM. This is perhaps one of the best lights/decors to see - so I give this 5 star. This has the maximum lights (infact ALL lights) that are synchronized to the music - and the way its synchronized - amazing !! You got to see to believe it.
    
  
  
  • Lawrence & Prospect (Saratoga): Rating: ☺☺☺☻☻
    On 18960 Greenbrook Ct., this might not be the house with maximum lights, but a sure delight for the little ones fan of the Disney characters and Alvin the chipmunk. And, if you are lucky, you might be greeted by the "real" cat running around the lights some times.
    
  
  
  • Saratoga & Payne (San Jose): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻
    
    
    
    On 1370 Vallejo Dr., this location and the surrounding locations together provide a must see experience with the unique lighted gate across the road on Lamore Dr. (just next to this location). This also has perhaps one of the biggest natural tree nicely decorated with lights (though I could not get the picture of that tree).
    
  
  
  • Sloat Ave & Pruneridge (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☻☻☻☻
    On 345 Sloat Ct., this shall be the second to the last stop. With almost the maximum lights (>20,000) (than the last stop mentioned next), this location also features the lights synchronized to the X-mas music being continuously aired on radio on 104.1FM. Watch it atleast from the end of one song, through the next full song and till the start of next song to experience the synhronization fully.
    
  
  
  • Homestead & SanThomas (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻
    
    On Layton Court drive, this is a collection of many houses (but worth watching are 3 houses) which give the whole street the looks of the holiday celebrations.
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Los Padres Ave & Benton (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☻☻☻
    On the corner of Arlene & Madeline Ave, this is kind of hidden house but still a delight to see with its own uniquities to enthrall your kids (& adults alike). Of the unique things, the most fascinating ones he has is a "1/2 foot Santa" which used to climb up and down a 3 foot ladder attached next to a nice 4 foot Santa House (& this climbing dosn't seem to be working this year), a nativity scene with snow flakes effect on the back drop wall, and lots of "lollipop lights" growing from the grass.
    
  
  
  • Los Padres Ave & Homestead (Santa Clara): Rating: ☺☺☺☻☻
    
    Not too many lights here, but the reason I liked this place is because perhaps this is the "Most Secular" holiday lighting place as can be seen in the adjoining picture.
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Los Padres Ave & Saratoga (Santa Clara): Rating: ☻☻☻☻☻
    (NOTE: Somehow this house is very very minimally decorated this year)
    Next to Alvarez park on Los Padres & Rosita Ave. this household has perhaps won the maximum number of prizes for the best decorated house in Santa Clara every year (except one) since I think 1995.
    

19: LEGOLAND @Carlsbad (near San Diego)
Where: Legoland in Carlsbad (near San Diego), CA
Cost: Discounted tickets to LegoLand: Adults around $46 each / child around $35 + $10 parking.




















I was on an official trip to San Diego on 17-18 Dec. I decided to ask my wife (Bhavna) and Aakarsh to accompany me and to stay over 2 days extra in San Diego to enjoy over the 19-20 weekend. On 19th, we made a quick trip to Legoland - Aakarsh, as usual, enjoyed this kids fairyland very much - the biggest delight for him was "Bob - the Builder".

17-20: San Diego Trip
Where: San Diego, CA





Few pictures of San Diego trip other than the Legoland (mentioned separately above). The picture on the rickshaw is at Sea-port Village, San Diego.
The picture of Aakarsh standing in the sun-roof is outside the Woodfin Hotel near LaJolla in San Diego (I stayed in Woodfin Suites - very nice place) in the rental car.
The rest of the pictures are on the LaJolla Shores Drive with the LaJolla shores in the back-drop - our recent project at Toshiba was nick-named after these shores.

12: Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic: Christmas Ornaments
On this date, Aakarsh made Christman Ornaments at Sunnyvale location.

06: Annual Christmas Parade:





Where: Downtown, San Jose
Cost: Free (curb-side parking is also free on holidays in San Jose downtown).
We planned to go thee early morning around 9 AM, but as it was very chilly in the morning, we decided to go late. Seeing that the Sun is still not in the mood of showing up any soon, we gave up on the idea of watching the parade in live. Later when the Sun came out (and we had taken our second nap in the morning after the late night sleep (after attending Sonal's B'day on Sat)) we, reached San Jose downtown the parade was over (infact, we just decided to swing-by to see if we can get a glimpse of the huge balloon floats, etc.). Luckily, Aakarsh got a chance to get himself pictured with lots of super-heroes and characters including Hulk & Flash.
He could not get lots of free stuff though (which Coke, etc. stalls were giving away) because the lines were long and we had to hurry to attend Aaakarsh's other friend (Neha) B'day party in Santa Clara in the a'noon.

05: Aakarsh's friend Sonal's B'Day @Taj Palace, San Jose






Did he enjoy the B'day of one of his best friends ? Check-out for yourself in the pics. After the birthday girl herself, I believe Aakarsh was the one who enjoyed the most among the kids.

05: Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic: Ginger Bread House
Because of our cricket game, I picked up the kit from the San Jose Lowe's on Riddler st. and Aakarsh completed it later in the day.