eva's marathon 5th birthday

We celebrated Eva's birthday three day. The actual day, the day of a friend party, and the day of the family party.

Lucky girl.

So lucky that the first day started off with a trip to the dentist.

Then we played with friends. Eva and Julie have the same birthday. Kami brought cupcakes to celebrate. January 31st must make great people.

The kids love love love Chuck E Cheese. So, why not? Right?

I love this picture.

Grandma and Grandpa and the cousins joined us. Ended up being an impromptu party.

Prize of the day? Cotton candy. Sugary, sticky and most importantly... big.

the food we eat

Sunday dinner is my favorite. Because I don't have to make it. My mom does. And she is such a great cook.

She is always studying recipe books and magazines and trying new recipes. She also brings out old favorites. So comforting, so healthy, so beautiful.

Onabe (hot pot) and chicken karage.

Shrimp and cucumber in vinegar. This is one of my favorites. So refreshing.

Shrimp salad. I have memories of this from my childhood.

Miso soup is always a staple.

Edamame is a kid pleaser. Actually, we all love it.

Ika shoyu yaki (grilled squid). So foreign for some, but we love foreign. The best was at the Japanese summer festivals and they would have this on a stick.

This is one of the spreads. Just for us. Just because it is Sunday. Amazing. I am so grateful.

skating along

We are lucky to live so close to the ice skating rink.

This is the same one that I used to go to when I was a little girl.

Good thing for Samuel, someone thought of putting helmets on these kids.

He spend a lot of time on the ice. Like, ON the ice.

He was determined to get a drink. I did help him, but not until I got a picture of his struggle.

little gym

This was the last day of Little Gym. Samuel was very comfortable running and climbing on everything. We say it all the time, but he is a monkey.

Since it was the last day, he got a medal.

The Little Gym was right by the grocery store so we usually stopped by after class. And Samuel loved it there, too.

favorite little friends

I love this picture of the kids at the library.

Not posed. Just them enjoying their books in their giant chairs.

Cute cousin is in the middle. For whatever reason, when there is one more, it seems to always be a party.

Sara is another friend that gets along with both the kids. And, well, I like to hang out with her mom, so it all works out.

Ballet. The kids are doing "Bella Dancerella." So sad that Samuel has learned to be more self conscious. I guess those days couldn't last forever. And I guess I loved it so much because I probably knew that they wouldn't last forever.

snow bird and a tunnel

I'd have to say this was my first time riding a snowboard uphill.

It was also my first time riding in a long long tunnel in the mountain.

Karl and Cyd-o-nee

crafty

We all like to get a little crafty. Ingenuity is valued here.

1 blanket and a couple of kids makes for hours of fun.

A chair, a cookbook, a few (ok, a lot of) dishes and cups, and we have our own cooking show.

Two cups and we have binoculars (or bUnaculars as Samuel would say).

Two faces some Scotch tape and we have instant pig noses.

A blanket, some dishes, and some cookies make a tea party.

A kid can be a chair.

Rip up pieces of paper and a little bit of tape and we have clowns.

Two dolls and a few animal friends make a Nativity Scene.

And the creativity doesn't end there...

Take a perfectly good Island Princess Barbie doll and some scissors and you get Makeover Barbie. Front view, side view.

One boy alone with one jumbo jar of Eucerin and you have well moisturized lips, fingers, and couch.

One little boy plus a entire jar of bathtub tablets and you get a photo friendly tub, hides the parts, no bubbles needed.