A New Year's Eve Tradition

Growing up New Year's Eve was always one of the traditions I looked forward to. We always tidied up the house from top to bottom, scrubbed ourselves in the tub from head to toe, and ate our long noodles (soba) for long life. This is a tribute to the noodle tradition that I hope will never die. The girls loved it!

Rachel also shared a tradition of hers growing up...making homemade cream sodas. On the flavor menu-chocolate and pomagranate! YUMMY!!! Cream and cherries, anyone? Leilani enjoying her pomagranate mixer!

Kuni(x2)-PI

New years eve, and new years day was a great time for me as I was with my family in Utah taking part of the traditions that I grew up with and sharing them with my own family. We were enjoying a regular, quiet evening, waiting for the countdown to ring in the new year when suddenly dad comes bursting in the house yelling,"Hiro, somebody just hit your car! Kuni, come!" So then out rush Kuni and Kuni, dad and son, side by side in an attempt to catch the car that hit my brother's van. Our quiet evening now became an evening of excitement as Kuni-PI was on a not so hot trail to find the perpetrators. Hiro was out by the van filling out a police report while Rachel and I were peeping through the blinds speculating that we would save an innocent life from the drunk drivers that did the hit and run. As luck would have it, the Kuni-PI's were able to find the truck that hit the van and they were pulled over by two police cars, cited for a hit and run, and yes, drunk driving, and their truck was impounded. As all of this was happening, we raised our glasses in a "compai" and rang in the new year via speaker phone as we were at home and dad and Kuni were with the police.

The heroes of the night, our own KUNI-PI's , holding a piece of the damaged van!

The Biggest & Best Snowman Ever!

The second best thing about visiting Utah in the winter is the SNOW!!! The girls have been having such a wonderful time being "cold". They've skiied/snowboarded in the backyard, had snowball fights, and have just hung out in that white stuff that we don't get in Texas! We spent the afternoon making the biggest and best snowman ever!
Then had a photoshoot with The Snowman. I don't think it ever got an official name. Here we have, from L-R, Mark, Grandma Takahashi, Leilani, Ollie, Aidyn, Mia, Grandpa Takahashi, and Uncle Russell (our favorite neighbor from across the street).Next we have our family. Do I look like I'm bigger than Mark or what!?!And lastly, of snowman photoshoot pictures, is Sachi and I...and um...my dad, too! We had no idea he was hiding behind the snowman so when we saw the pictures we laughed till we couldn't breathe!

Family

After the 26 hour drive from Cypress, TX to Orem, UT the girls were ecstatic to be at Grandpa and Grandma Takahashi's house. As always, the family and cousins were there to meet us. Before we could get unloaded and unpacked the kids were bundled up and outside enjoying the snow!

Then, as tradition has it, when family gets together the games come out! It was a 12:15 am bedtime for the girls, a 1:30 am bedtime for Mark and I, a 2:00 am fast food run and 6:00 am bedtime for Kuni and Sachi, and I'm not sure about Isa, Hiro and Rachel. Let's just say, it's always a good time when we get together! The boys are playing our new favorite board game...Blockus..get ready to play, Lawtons!

And a little later on...it's Rock Band time!!! Leilani was amazing at the bass, and Mia can keep a rythm on the drums that you cannot believe! Oh, yes, and Miss A can sing! Can you tell we are having fun? Rock on...

Christmas break...it's okay, I guess...

For all the exitement and anticipation for Christmas break, it really isn't what the girls had hoped for so far as it's been errand after errand after errand. But today, we decided to do something fun. The girls picked out some cute fleece fabric from Hobby Lobby and made scarves! Atleast today the whole day was not a bore!

Has it really been 10 years?

It has been a DECADE of marriage! Who would have thought it could pass by so quickly! It started out with a morning at the school, making gingerbread houses and attending class parties. Then, off for my surprise! Aunt Sabrina (thank you, btw) watched Aidyn for us during the day and Aunt Holly (a super huge thanks to you, too) watched the girls after school and over night until we returned the following afternoon. It started out with a little shopping...Mark wanted to get me something "special" to remind me of our 10 year anniversary. He has always been the romantic in our relationship. He took me jewelry shopping. For those of you who know me, I don't really wear jewelry. I rarely wear my wedding ring unless I go out. In fact, as I type this post I am ringless. Nonetheless, I was excited to see what they had in store and excited to see what I would like. After about six jewelry stores, I found the perfect band to match my wedding ring. Last year Leilani was Mark's partner in crime. He asked her to find out for him what kind style of jewelry I liked. After weeks of her bringing me jewelry advertisements and weeks of worrying that she was going to have an expensive taste for something I don't find practical, I told her,"Mom just isn't into that kind of stuff". But I have changed my mind as I have found the perfect ring. I love the ring Mark got me and am just disappointed that I will have to wait for it to be fitted before I can wear it!
After the shopping we headed to our surprise destination...Cleveland, Texas. Mark picked the most perfect place in Cleveland called The Resort at Artesian Lakes, previously known as Chain-O-Lakes.

He got a little one room cabin surrounded by water named "Dr. Anson Jones". It has a little picnic table and swing on the porch. Quaint and quiet, a perfect combination!

We had dinner at the Hilltop Herb Farm & Restraunt. I think we both enjoyed the waitress more than the food. Let's just say that they were very laid back!

We enjoyed the great outdoors watching a spider weave its web, observing the industrious life of ants, playing on a ropes course, finding the perfect little red mushroom, and seeing an alligator too up close and personal!

But mostly we enjoyed the time we had together celebrating our milestone, reminiscing upon each year of our marriage, the struggles and the success, the sadness and joy and the blessing of finding each other. Good does get better. Happy 10th Anniversary, Mark! I love you!

Gingerbread Houses

First grade is a great during the holidays. Why? Because it's gingerbread house making time, not to mention the holiday party and the last day of school before Christmas break!

Mark had an opportunity to accompany Ai and I this time. Mia was so pleased to see her daddy! Mark didn't realize what a big deal it was to attend these sort of school functions. He was amazed at how about 60% of the parents were in attendance and he made a comment on how he would like to be at more of them in the future. What a dad!

Mia made a beautiful gingerbread house...

And recieved a letter from Santa's Elf!

The class parties were next. Below is Leilani with an eaten plate of goodies playing M&M bingo. What a great time!

Destination: Wally-world

So tomorrow Mark and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary. What a long, strange trip it's been! Actually, it has only gotten better. This is not an ode to Mark, that will come later, rather it is a post to capture the comment Mia made in the car this afternoon. Mia and I were coming home from Olive Garden where we had the annual office Christmas lunch. We were discussing our Friday schedule and how mom and dad were going out of town to celebrate our anniversary. Mark, being the romantic that he is, has planned a surprise. As it is a surprise, I have no idea where we are going. I could tell Mia is a little concerned about our destination as she asked, "Mom, what if dad takes you someplace like Walmart? What will you do?" I laughed as I truly felt her father's pressure in trying to "please" me. So I replied,"I will just be happy spending time with your daddy." She said,"Oh, but hopefully it's not Walmart!" I love that girl!

How do you Ello?

This is how Leilani Ello's!

It's Saturday!

Leilani had a school program tonight entitled "IT'S SATURDAY!" The whole 3rd grade was involed and they did a fabulous job. Unfortunately for us we did not get any good pics of Leilani (she is standing behind the boy wearing the blue pj's), but for posterity, here is a general shot of part of Keith elementary's 3rd grade kids.