Hanna's 6th Birthday

Hanna turned 6 on January 8th, 2012. It is crazy to me that my baby is 6 years old already! When we moved to Japan, she was almost 4- small, whiny, cute, funny and much more dependent on me. Taking the train was a daily pain, walking (which you do a LOT of in Tokyo) was difficult (had to borrow an umbrella stroller for her from a neighbor). She would get tired so fast and then spend the rest of whatever we were doing exhausted. She was in 3 year old preschool, had short blond hair, a pudgy baby face, and insisted, for the first 8 months we lived here, that her home was really in Michigan and she was just being made to live in Japan. Now, she is 6, taller than most 2nd graders, has long blond hair, is reading, whip smart, hilarious and knows exactly what she wants and doesn't stop until she gets it. She claims Japan will ALWAYS be her home, and we are making her move back to Michigan! What a difference a few years makes!! She is a wonderful little girl who we are so blessed to have in our family! Happy Birthday Hanna Banana, Charlie, Chuck, HG and all the other silly names we call you! We love you!

The Birthday Party!

This year I gave the girls the option of a Birthday party with friends or a day trip to Disney with one friend. Hanna chose to have a birthday party with 8 friends on January 14th. I hired our two wonderful babysitters, sisters Rianna and Erina Kami to help out with nail painting, bead stringing and cupcake decorating. It was much cheaper than hiring a magician, taking them bowling or any other external activity here in Tokyo, and the kids had a blast. Both girls then had friends sleep over that night. What a fun weekend!!

With her friend Addison

Maya with her friend Ainsley

We celebrated the actual day of Hanna's birthday by going ice skating at Tokyo Midtown (an outdoor rink in the middle of the tall buildings in Roppongi), and then headed to the Korean BBQ (Hanna's new favorite restaurant, at which she thinks everything she eats is different colored chicken- it is actually chicken, beef, pork and venison).

Christmas in Thailand

Sea Canoeing

This year we celebrated Christmas in Phuket, Thailand. We stayed at the Laguna Beach Resort, on recommendation of our friends Bill and Karen Pond. We had a fantastic time. The resort had a baby elephant named Meena that roamed the resort all day- the girls got hugs and kisses from her, got to ride her, high five her and swim with her in the ocean. Santa even rode in on Meena on Christmas day! This year, we went on one tour to Phang-Na, which is a set of Islands, that include the "James Bond" island (that was actually in a James Bond movie), a hike into sea caves, sea canoeing and a trip to the Floating Village (for those Amazing Race fans, it was the same floating village that was the "pit stop" for the Amazing Race this season)!

Girls at Sunset

With Meena on the beach

We did a lot of swimming, the girls went to Quest and attended a Little Chef's cooking afternoon, enjoyed the kids club, and made friends with a few expat families from the States living in China, as well as one from England. The weather was beautiful everyday we were there and we enjoyed it as much as possible. We celebrated Christmas Eve with dinner at Tom Yang Goon's, and came home to a Christmas Stocking hanging from our door, filled with candy and treats- the girls were thrilled! What a wonderful "last" trip in Asia. We have been so fortunate to visit Phuket and all of the other countries/cities that we have seen over the past two years!

Christmas Eve

Hanna's Kindergarten Gingerbread party

On Wednesday, the 14th, I was invited to go help Hanna's class make Gingerbread cookies. 

Korean Town

Tami and I in our Bibs!!

My Friend Tamie took me out to lunch in Korean Town. The food was great, and the company even better!

Maya's 3R Christmas Party!

Maya had her Christmas Party on Friday, December 9th! PJ's. Gingerbread, Secret Santa and Elf- what more could a third grade class ask for??

Maya's Class- Mr. Rolls 

With her Gingerbread

Blue and White Yukata Quilt

This fall I signed up, with my friend Kim, for a Blue and White Yukata Quilting class. I had no concept of what it would be. I naively though we would go to class each week, so some quilting, and at the end, I would walk out with a marvelous quilt! I didn't have any idea that I would have weekly homework (and LOTS of it!), and that this quilt would consume every spare minute of my life! I am so glad that I took the class- I have finally finished and am very happy with the results!!

Christmas Cookie Exchange with a Holiday twist!

On Monday, December 5th, Karen Pond and I hosted a Christmas cookie/gift exchange, with a Washi Egg class to start, for our friends at LaTour as well as some of our neighborhood friends. The day started with 5 of us meeting with Karen for a Washi Egg lesson. Washi eggs are something I have been wanting to learn since we moved here, and Karen has done several classes, all of which I missed.  I asked her if she could do one more, so I could learn before I left and she graciously agreed! Washi Eggs are a process-you first have to poke a hole in the egg and drain all the yolk and inside "stuff". They need to dry for 4-5 days prior to putting the washi paper on them. Washi paper is a traditional Japanese paper that is thin and used to cover boxes, eggs and a lot of other things, and it is beautiful!

Some of our Washi Eggs!

We had 14 ladies show up with delicious cookies and wonderful gifts to exchange! A truly fantastic day!!

Katie, Megumi, Colleen, Jenny, Denise, Daisy, Karen, Signe
Yuko, Kim, Miyuki, Linda, Teresa and I