Undokai 2010

Aogu can still sprint

Good news, here I am again after an extended absence from this space. Bad news, I may not be able to summon the energy to describe Izumi's school Sports Day. It's been so long since I tried to post here that I can't figure out how to upload my photos into a certain order. So the below is a true random sample of the day. Not nearly as pleasing as the chronological flow I had in mind, but perhaps you can get some sense of what went on.

Izumi and her friend Ayaka wait for their turn with...

...the gigantic green ball, which they rolled down to a cone and back.  I'm not sure they understood that it was a race; they were careful and precise and nice with their ball-rolling, at the expense of speed.

In which I try to explain to Misaki that she needs to walk out to the middle of the field and pull a toy windmill out of the ground.  She was excited about it. 

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A temporary addition to the family: Koji's friend Yuma

In the past, the kids all got medals that were made of discarded CDs and plenty fancy for me.  This year there was a medal upgrade to the wooden, hand-stamped, dwarf-embellished prize you see here. 

This year these moms (in yellow) formed a coalition with the teachers (in blue) and did most of the work. 
Thanks, ladies!

Family picture.  But let's hope we can do better between now and Christmas.

At long last, Koji is old enough to participate in the grade school kids' event, which is a mini obstacle course.  This isn't the best picture of him or his finish, but I love it anyway because his friend Nobu, at the right side of the photo, is so delighted with the proceedings. 

I never would have predicted it, but Izumi claimed later that tug of war was her favorite event. 

This is the utterly triumphant and undefeated Red Mamas Team, showing the White Team how tug of war is done. 



Izumi's classmates in the first event, a 50ish meter foot race. 
The little guy in the front is called Gaku, and I love his expression!

You'll note an unfair division of labor here, with Aogu doing all of the ball holding and Izumi doing all of the clinging.  This event was a bit later in the day, and she was done!



Izumi and her friend Aya, on the right, could have perhaps run a bit faster if they weren't so intent on figuring out where we were cheering from...

Yes, the White Mamas Team was utterly cowed by my Red Bathrobe and our matching Red-Palmed Gloves.  They may look a bit murderous, but they were just the thing for tug of warring!

Misaki successfully grabbed her windmill.  Too bad it broke moments later!

Please try to imagine that this photo is at the very top of this page, where I long for it to be, if only I could figure out how to get it there.  It's the kids and teachers giving themselves a bit of a pep talk at the beginning of the Sports Day. 

This hat may seem a bit over the top for the beginning of October, but it really was very cold and windy, and Misaki is just getting over an ear infection.  Plus, it's RED, gotta go with the Team Color.

Koji's first year at Sports Day in the role of cheerleader, rather than main participant. 

I would rather have Los Robles

But if I can't, I am ever so slightly comforted by the return of vegetables to the dinner table:

Mini Me

My mom found this cute jumper embroidered with my name. Apparently I wore it when I was around this size. Or perhaps I was a bit smaller. When I glanced at the tag awhile back, I filed this garment mentally as "18 months". More recently, I was sorting out the kids' clothes, rediscovered this jumper and checked the size, which turned out to be "18 pounds". Huh. A weight that Misaki left behind long ago.

So I stuffed her into it today, wanting to at least get some kind of photographic reward to my mom for saving this through the years.

Was it worth saving, Mom?  I'm thinking Yes!

Too Bad, Andy's

Can't Walk Yet

Or even reach the pedals, but Misaki went on a tricycle ride today.
OK, I admit I was pushing from the back, but I was still impressed
that she hung on to the handlebars and never came close to falling off!

Sidelines of Nicolas' Soccer Game

He scored a breakaway goal that was so sweet to watch, Jan nearly
started crying!

Applesauce To Go

Right after she was heard singing,
"twinkle twinkle little star, how I number what you are"

Addendum

When I was in eighth grade, as now, I was concerned about being too fat.  At the end of that year, in my yearbook, a friend gave me the following sage advice:

"Don't eat too much.  But remember to drink a lot."

All these years later, these words still resonate with me.  It seems that for real weight control though, which I am still pursuing, another phrase needs to be added:

"And stand more than you sit". 

Seven

Unbelieveable...

Cherry Blossoms

Sighted in the front yard of a house on a random side street in
Niles?! Doesn't at all live up to the extravaganza that is "cherry
blossom viewing" in Japan, but then again, lots better than no viewing
at all...
聖マタイの近くの住宅街のある家の前でなぜかこの桜の木が満開です。な
ぜか満開なのかじゃなくなんで3本の桜の木がこんな所にある
の？！が不思議です。日本でよく行なわれる花見パーティほどこれを和が
むのは楽しくないが、ま〜満開の桜を全く見ないより良いでしょう?!

Happy 29th Birthday?!

4月8日にみほ、4月11日にみかが29歳に再びな
りました。祝いにGlenviewのSweet Dreams Cafeでちょっと
したブランチとこのケーキを食べました。私は子連れだったのに、お誕生
日の方とじゅんこG、とうこのおかげで楽しい一時過ごせました。
お誕生日おめでとうございます!! また近いうち一緒にブランチし
よう〜

Dragons

Recently we've had a string of important events, including but not limited to Koji's graduation from St. Matthew's Japanese Preschool, my parents coming to visit, Misaki's dedication, a trip to Galena, Misaki's 1st birthday and Koji's entrance ceremony to Futabakai Japanese Day School. 

This post is not about those things.

On April 7th, Koji's second to last day of extended spring break, Koji's good buddy N happened to get out of school at noon.  So we picked N up and had a little midday date of lunch and a movie.  The kids had lunch.  I was too cheap to pay $4 something for a hot dog, so I ate the chocolate raisins in my bag, and I ate their popcorn when they weren't looking.

The movie was How to Train Your Dragon (2D version, again, I was too cheap...frugal...to pay extra) and we all loved it!  I hadn't slept well the night before, so I was afraid it would be an expensive nap for me.  But no!  My attention was captivated and held; I recommend this movie, especially to smallish boys and their associates.

Fast forward two days to when, as mentioned above, Koji has his school entrance ceremony.  It was all over before noon, so we had some one on one time since Izumi was still at school and Misaki was in day care.  First, we had lunch at DQ, courtesy of Tom & Andrea (aka Easter Bunnies) who had given the kids some gift cards for Easter.  Thanks!

Next, Koji and I were off on a mission to get him a new bike, an early birthday present actually partially funded by Christmas money that GG gave us.*  We tried Target, but no go, not a good bike selection.  Second attempt was at Wally World, where we not only found a super cool bike but were also sucked in by a display of How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) stuff.

So Koji had to have these pajamas.  Let this record show the truth, which is that he advised me to buy some similar dragon pajamas for Izumi.  Foolishly, I declared that she didn't need/want any since they were all boyish colors, and furthermore, she didn't even go the movie with us.

I.WAS.SO.WRONG.  Cut to one of the biggest fits in her almost four year old life, at the moment when she realized that Koji was all decked for dragon duty and she wouldn't be able to join the party.  Oh my.  The only thing that got me out of my temporary status as the devil was my solemn vow that I would return to Wally's and buy them for her the next day. 

That trip would be sufficient punishment for my misdeed.  Wally's on Saturday?!  Ha!  What sane person with any leeway in their schedule would do that?

Sure enough, picking out the pajamas was quick.  But then, there was the line.  It looked short enough.  The longer we stood there, though, the more I realized that the family in front of us, with four small children, was in fact buying an entire new wardrobe for said children.  Breathe deeply.

At LONG last, all of the items were rung up.  Except the two with no bar codes or price tags.  Wait.  Wait. Wait.  Everyone, including the clerk, look around and wonder who is going to supply the missing price tag.  Wait.  Wait.  Phew, someone brought a price for that shirt.  How about those toddler shoes?  Wait.  Wait.  Wonder when/if the clerk is going to move or say anything to anyone.  Wait.  Wait. Wait.  Watch incredulously as the father pulls the exact same pair of shoes in another size out of his cart and asks if the clerk couldn't just scan that tag?  Oh, yes, no problem, that brings your total to $527.43.

So, 350,000 minutes later, the Deadly Nadder pajamas were ours.   

Now, with the above photographic evidence to support me, I can say this:  it was all worthwhile. 

Don't you agree?

  

My Baby is ELEVEN Months Old

today. Here is Misaki as we often see her; in her car seat, with her hood on, clutching her blankie.



Oops. One thing was missing from the last photo: the essential thumb.



What a precious gift! I never thought I would think/feel/say this, but I honestly wish that time would slow down so she could be a baby longer. These past eleven months have passed much too quickly, and I'm not just speaking from a place of sleep deprivation. I really want to savor each day with her.

Six Years and 10 Months is Close to Seven

Koji will be graduating from his school in about a month, so as last year, today we had a birthday party with his school friends for him and several other kids.







We went to the newish (don't know when it opened, it was new to me) Jump Zone in Niles. The kids had a super experience, and the only thing regrettable for me was I hadn't frosted the cupcakes and that took away from my play time!

Fast Forward

Someone has pushed a fast forward button on my life, and that's why it is January 25th already with nary a peep from me in this space. Don't even ask me what I've been doing for the last 25 days because it's a hyper driven blur. I really do want to catch up with my own life though, and I'm just presumptuous enough to think that there's maybe one or two of you out there who haven't given up on my blogging and would be so kind as to want to join in the process? Maybe? Any takers?

Will you pay more attention if I tell you that I now know how to make a "bacon mat"? See, I haven't wasted every minute of this new year! Talk to you soon, I am coming back here and you won't regret it if you do too!?!

Two Cute!

A very happy second birthday to my super sweet niece Aliyah Ruth! I'm sure I'll sound more like her great great grandmother than her aunt when I say this, but I can't help feeling like her life (my life?) is happening much too quickly. In any case, I hope this coming year is great for Aliyah, her brothers, my sister and brother-in-law...and Aliyah, no terrible twos, please!

Spells Like Cussing, But It's Not?!

Who knows why I'm having these almost-cussing encounters lately? Blame it on the fact that there's no proper "HU" or "HUH" sound in Japanese and "FU" must be substituted. Is that too much foreshadowing?

So I'm with my English conversation student today and we are talking in Japanese (oops...well, she's a beginner so everything is very meta so far). Specifically, we are talking about a hook. And she says earnestly, "Do you spell that 'eff you see kay'?"

How proud are you that I had ZERO reaction other than to say, "Why no, it's actually 'h o o k'?"

Me too. I'm hooking proud.

Accomplishment

Hey it's the last day and last minute of this month, and I did it! OK, I actually didn't do it, that is, I wasn't able to post to my blogs every single day. But I was competitively close, so I'm satisfied.

What I mean is, I've discovered I'm not a perfectionist. But I do have to feel like I met some arbitrary standard in most anything I do, or I'll be frustrated, upset, and generally feel like a loser. Really. For example, when I play Settlers with Jenny, I'm certain to lose, but if I get at least seven or eight points out of the ten required for vicory and therefore feel like I was somewhat in the running, then I don't mind so much. So though I didn't post every single day, because I came darn close, I'm proud of and satisfied with my effort. Bonus, it was unexpectedly fun! Furthermore, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that one or two friends/family are still out there reading this after all these years (Hi Mom!). Thank you!

I'm going to do my best to keep up daily posts, so please keep watching this space!

IMAX=Max Fear

We went out with friends to the Navy Pier Imax Theatre. We watched A Christmas Carol, the newest version which is in 3D. You already knew that the moment you saw this picture of us in the glasses.
OK, so the movie was kind of a misery sandwich for me. I was surrounded behind by people who were determined to squelch me with shushing and chastising, and before by a blaring, scaring multi dimensional Jim Carrey-fest.

Details are as follows: So I was excited to be out without kids and maybe I was chatting with my friend animatedly as I have occasionally been known to do. So? This is IMAX, people. The sound of one person chatting to a friend is not going to make you miss the point. Especially when said chatting is going on during the previews...!!

Further into the movie when I was shaking in my boots and therefore extremely curious about the movie's rating, can you blame me for wanting to use my phone to immediately answer the question of PG vs. PG-13? Not unreasonable to me, but the lady behind me who promptly hissed/whined "it's (that phone) so bright, it's shining in my eyes!!" apparently thought that was a bunch of crazyness.

Anyway, I had a really fabulous night, and I mean it, because I thoroughly enjoyed being out with a group of friends, some of whom I haven't spent time with in awhile. My fun didn't have anything to do with the movie incidents described above, this is kind of an "in spite of" situation.

God Answers Prayer

This year for Thanksgiving, we didn't have particular plans, yet I wanted to celebrate it with friends. I had invited my parents to come here, but that didn't work out (which also turned out to be an answer to prayer, they needed to be home to help my sister and her family as my latest nephew, Samuel Hector, was born a week ago. There he is with his big sister Aliyah and big brothers Eli and Oliver).

I decided that it would be great to spend Thanksgiving with Grant and Cheryl Lynn, yet I didn't want to call them and invite myself. So, imagine this, I decided to pray and ask God if He would arrange things for me. Remind me to make my prayers nice and specific like this from now on, because approximately two hours after I prayed this prayer, I got a phone call from Cheryl Lynn. She said, "What are you guys doing for Thanksgiving?" and I replied, "Nothing," to which she responded, "Want to come be with us at Tom & Andrea's place?". Whoa. I almost fell over! God cares about my details!

Skipping forward to the day, we had a lovely time with Grant & Cheryl Lynn and company. Thanks to them and Tom and Andrea for including us (and to Tom, for sending me these pictures so promptly), but most of all, thanks to God for answering my prayer!

Andrea not only prepared the quiz I referred to here, she also got these Mentos/Coke rockets for the kids!