I Must Be Old 'Cause My Dad is 60

Dad's 60th birthday party went really well tonight. It must have, because we took so few pictures...and the ones we did take are on a camera that's not in my possession. If I get ahold of them, I'll post them here.

Anyway, it was an open house, and when it was all said and done, we decided that something like 56 people had been through, which really was only a small sample of those that know and love Dad. Our chili bar with rice and/or baked potato option seemed to be a hit, as was the chocolate cake (note to self, don't make ganache and try to put it on a cake immediately after, that just doesn't work).

Most important thing, I think Dad had fun. He didn't think he would, but I know that he did. Which he well deserved! Dad, you are a great guy--you probably don't want to live for 60 more years, but I wish you could, because you are doing well at getting a lot out of life. Keep it up...we love you!

Spiderman Invades Oregon!

Though Aogu's recently logged enough air miles to regain his American Airlines Platinum status, the kids and I haven't flown for almost five months. In June, when we went out to LA, Izumi was hardly walking and hardly talking. These days, she'd rather run--or at least attempt to--and though she still doesn't say many words, she's learned the communicative power of a shriek. Between these developments and the nasty cold that I caught from the kids two days ago (after holding it at bay for weeks!), I boarded our flight to Oregon today with much trepidation.

An hour into it, when we had already eaten our $11 worth of plane snacks, quaffed our free (but not for long? it's only a matter of time before we're charged for these too, I think?!) beverages and pretty much run through all the toys in the trusty Superman suitcase, I was ready to lean on the DVD crutch. Except that somehow, Aogu's laptop DVD adaptor didn't make it on board with us...this was quite a tragedy for me since I was super sleepy and I couldn't breathe through my nose, either, meaning I certainly wasn't feeling up for keeping the kids busy.

So thank God for the kindness of strangers! Koji decided to put on a little toy show, in which he displayed and explained every item from The Suitcase, for the ladies seated behind us. Miraculously, they were interested, or good at pretending to be so, for some little while. Once the show was over for them, Koji got the attention of Anika, a high-schooler from New York that was sitting across the aisle from him. She talked and played with him for more than an hour, until we were safely on the ground (with my eardrums intact! it's a miracle!) and into the Portland airport. Phew!

We went down to baggage claim, gathered our luggage, including our new suitcases and started out to the curb to wait for Dad. Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was one of the ladies from the row behind us. In her outstretched hand was a "muscle Spiderman" costume that looked just Koji's size. Saying something like, "it was my grandson's and I was going to give it to my neighbor kid, but I think your son would enjoy it more", she gave it to us!

As soon as we got outside, Koji put it on. Now I wonder why I bothered bringing any changes of clothes for him; I have a feeling he's not going to need them!