Preschool playground

Just an ordinary playground by our house but the playground with cousins make it super fun! 

Oh, Margaret, I WISH your family lived in Provo. 

家の裏にある学校の庭園。いとこと一緒だと100倍楽しくなってしまう(^^)

義理姉の家族、ユタに住んでたら、もっと頻繁に遊べて楽しいのに〜(>_<)

Taking a walk at BYU

No, this is more of taking a rest at BYU. 

We went to the travel agency at BYU and bought a ticket to NYC. My first time to NY. I have a mix feeling of worry and excitement. Just like the one when I first came to America, the beautiful island Hawaii. Although my NY trip is just 4 days, I want to be well prepared to have a lot of fun!! My research for a fun NY trip begins now. 

Birthday Week

Our little Yuna turned 2 years old. That was a big mark for us. Even airlines recognize 2 years old as big boys/girls that they start charging them for full price. (Yes, we just paid another $900 for Yuna to fly back to the States with us this summer.) But there is more joy that she actually speaks sentences (in Japanese).

Starting on Sunday (her actual birthday was on Friday), Yuna had an amazing week.


On Sunday the 14th, a neighbor friend brought her a cake. He spelled "ユーナ(Yuna)" with strawberries. How sweet!

On Tuesday,  she had her friends over.

Presents from Aunt Ikuyo.

Birthday Sushi from Sushi teacher.

She also received "swim lessons" and "music lessons" for birthday presents. She had many many birthday wishes and was proud to be two years old.

And, of course, more cakes!

名古屋弁デビュー?! Debute for Nagoya dialect

My mom found two books for Yuna; a princess book and a pictorial book for dogs. We puickly learned she was not interested in princesses but dogs. She then picked up how to say "so cute" in Nagoya dialect in Japanese.

母が持って来た２つの本：お姫様の本と犬の図鑑。もちろん気に入ったのは犬の図鑑。そして、覚えたのは半名古屋弁「めちゃかわいいやん！」これで、「でら」を言うようになったら．．．

昨日は高校の友達が来てくれました。Friend from high school.

学んだ事：オーガニックナプキン。もちろんだけど、普通の使い捨てナプキンは薬が入っていて、それが、粘膜を通して体に吸収されちゃうから、生理痛をひどくしたりするらしい。生理痛がオーガニックナプキンに変えてから軽くなったという声も多々あるとか。。。試してみる価値ありかも♪

Things learned: Organic napkins. I knew about cloth diapers vs. disposable diapers. But this never came to my mind. My friend told me that the chemicals used for napkins as well as diapers can be absorbed through mucous membrane into our body, which will lead to painful menestral periods. She said hers became much lighter after changing napkins to organic ones. It will also create better environment for future babies as well. This motivated me not only try it for myself but also seriously start thinking about toilet training for Yuna.

The toilet training will probably start after coming back from Hokkaido trip next weekend. 

Sunday the 24th of Feb. 2013

Nothing was so special about today, yet I think that maybe is a special thing.

Things that were different today than regular Sunday were...

The manga writer, brother Akio Asuka, visited my home ward, Kasugai, and held a fireside. He calls himself a science entertainer. He has published more than 100 books and comic books. He picks topics that are world wonders and connect to church doctrines.
In order to see him and listen to him, about 70 people (most of them were not member of the church) came to church. They seemed to be accepting what brother Asuka was saying. I talked to one of the lady there and she told me, "it was my first time coming to a church but I heard that what's-so-called Baptism was needed for me to be saved." I was just astonished the power of fame. How it can work for good. I briefly explained to her about what getting baptized mean and why we need the church.

So today was a long day at church from 10 am to 6 pm.

When I got home, my neighbor friend gave my daughter a gift. Those are dolls for the girl's day, coming up March third. 

She was a one happy girl. She was excited to get the dolls but probably more for snacks that were in there.
Today, she did not cry to go to the nursery and played and played. She even told me what she did, which were "ju-ju (juice)," "cracker," "nurinuri (coloring)," and "anpanman (her favorite character)." She is a doll! 

節分

Setsubun, the day that demons come, was today the Feb. 3rd this year.

I had never seen Yuna got so scared.

Poor Yuna was so scared that she started to put all the beans into her mouth. We stopped her to avoid choking but she cried till the demon ran away.

We threw soy beans, shouting "Demons out! Luck in!"　How popular is this event? It is so popular that every pre-school in Japan would do it so as families with little kids.

As I grew up, my dad shouted aloud, throwing soy beans to unseen demons. So I never got scared with it. My discovery was that the kids at that young can still recognize what's scary.

After the event, she remembered the word of demon in Japanese, Oni. Unfortunately, it sounds similar to her favorite food, onigiri (rice ball), in which she calls "oni." So I got really confused this morning if she wanted a rice ball or was still scared of the demon.

She is recovered well and right now she says "oshimai" (I'm done with that talk) whenever we talked about the demon and shakes her hand.

Thanks, Mika, for getting the costume from your kindergarden, and being the demon of the day!

小正月 a little new year.

今日は小正月。元旦のが大正月。小正月が来ると「もうお正月シーズンは終わりですね」となるよう。

今年はせっかくお正月に実家にいた。夫と娘は初めての日本でのお正月。何かお正月らしいことしたかな？

In old days, people called today January 15th as a "little new year" compare to a "big new year" on January 1st. A little new year prepares people for normal days after a big holiday.
This year, we spent a new year in Japan. It was the first time for David and Yuna. Did we do something traditional?

初詣 visiting a shrine on a new year's day

おせち料理 Special New year dish

お年玉 We (adults) gave money to children, and Yuna received some money. On average, an elementary kid receives about $230 in total. 

出したけど、着なかった着物  Kimono, the traditional Japanese clothes. We took some out but haven't worn them till this day. They are still hanging and waiting to be worn. 

年賀状 New year's cards.

紅白歌合戦 Song festival

お餅つきMochi tuki, making mochi

新年会 New year's party

なーんだ、結構やったんじゃん。After listing them, I feel we have somewhat accomplished experiencing Japanese New Year.

Just like today was "a little new year," things are getting back to normal.