Snapshots of October

Skyping with the grandparents

Someone started to touch their toes!

Mom's fabuloso birthday

Kai is getting to be such a big boy!  He is in his school PE clothes and carrying his own backpack. :)

Happy 1st birthday, Kory! It was so great to see my wilderness cousin from Colorado.

sweet moments with my guys

History of our Halloween

I love Halloween.  I love the idea of dressing up in costumes.  I love all of the candy!  I love creative jack-o-lanterns.  I love all of the cutesy, pinterest-y ideas for kids.  I'm not into horror or slasher films or the dark, evil things, but I love the kid-friendly version of Halloween.  I like trick-or-treating and seeing who lives behind all of those closed doors down our street. 
Every year, I have enjoyed doing some sort of  theme.  One year, Ryuta and I did a 20s theme. 

2005 (?): Chicago gangster & a flapper girl

Another year,we planned on being a doctor and a patient, but ironically, we both got SICK!
A really fun one was KISS! I will never forget the look on that sweet little trick-or-treater's face as we ran out the door...


2007 (?): party @ the Lopezs

 As 2 became 3, we did a family theme.  Kai was a tennis ball at his first Halloween (we were very, very tired tennis players! haha)
The next year, we did a family Halloween party at our house.  Kai was Spock and we were his vulcan parents.  We even did a Spock pumpkin!  Kai went trick-or-treating for the first time with his pals, Keila, Jacob, Avery, & Berkley.

Last year, Kai borrowed Andrew's costume from the year before and was Mickey Mouse.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was Kai's favorite TV show, so I thought he would be excited.  We were a Mickey Mouse family and I did a Winnie-the-Pooh pumpkin.  Kai did NOT want to wear the costume (especially the ears.)  He dressed as Clark Kent at school.  We went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with Jacob and Kai was a fireman.  It was funny seeing Jacob try to run into people's homes. :)

This year, I wanted to do a theme again.  At first, I was excited thinking about doing an UP theme since people used to say that Kai looked like Russell.  For some reason, we had bought a vampire costume for Kai on clearance last year the day after Halloween.  I wasn't too excited by the idea of a vampire, but didn't want to waste our purchase.  Too boring.  And then I remembered that we had a little monster outfit for the baby.  Twilight!  A vampire and a werewolf! 
Kai would have NOTHING to do with the cape or a costume.  We had gone to a birthday pumpkin party and when I asked Kai about wearing a costume to that or even to his class Halloween party, he said he wanted to wear a t-shirt.  I ended up buying him a Superman "shirt" from Target that had a cape attached. 
I was "Fear the Beard" Wilson in honor of our Giants World Series champions.  We went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with the Pons family.  Kai was pretty excited to get candy!

Our happy monster's first halloween

Next year, I will ask Kai what HE wants to be.  Hopefully, he will be willing to wear SOMETHING.  Happy Halloween!
Here are some theme ideas I like--
Village people, sushi, anpanman, star wars, wizard of oz, mary poppins, willy wonka, circus, zoo, the grinch, guns n roses, famous artists, toy story, ninja turtles, alice in wondrland, the incredibles, bums..

Personalities



"It's always better when we're together"--Jack Johnson

 I am in love.  Lukas is like his name.  He brings light into our home.  He is Kei, too.  He is our jewel of honor.  He is happiness.  He is bright and social.  He wants to be part of the action and to be with us.  He wants to be involved and wants to smile and bring happiness to us.  I hope that these are qualities that are not just part of being a 4 month-old, but will be qualities of him that will stick. 


Handsome Mr. Dimples

 Our "serious" kid, Kai-kai.  Kai is exploring and testing his world.  What does it mean to be a 3 year-old, to be a big kid?  What do I have control over?  There are so many changes happening in Kai's life right now, from being a big brother, to a new school, to a new school completely in Japanese, to starting potty training.  Kai's favorite word right now is "NO."  He needs to observe something and think about it for awhile before he decides that he's warmed up and ready to jump in.  He is cautious and careful.  The latest thing for him is "organizing."  I've been having a lot of conversations about this about how to deal with my son's "OCD."  How can I parent him and teach him that he needs to compromise and that he can't always have his way, but also respect who he is and love him for him?  I realized that I can put up with my mom's OCD because her way of "organizing" makes sense to me while Kai's way does not.  I'm trying to be patient with him and to teach him and to talk to him.  It is also a process for me, too, to let go of things (although on days he is in school, it does clear my head to clean and organize the house "my way"!)  I had a good talk with the kids' pediatrician about it and she gave me great advice.  She said that God is trying to teach me, too, and to really highlight Kai's strengths.  It is a GOOD thing that Kai is careful.  He is wise to use caution and restraint.  Another quality in him that I hope sticks with him throughout his life is his independence.  He is not easily persuaded and has his own mind, his own style, his own way.  I pray that he will hold onto good ideas like faith and love and be stubborn about those things, no matter what anyone says!  Ryuta's perspective, too, which was helpful is that Kai can be an artist and move to his own music.  I like that.  It reminds me of psalm 139.  God created each one of us special and unique.
For you created my inmost being;


you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

On another note, here is a funny recent conversation with Kai at the park: Do you like having a brother?
K: Yes.
Do you want a sister?
K: No.
What is a sister?
K: A girl.  Only boys.  Only me and Lukas. K, mommy?
Go tell your daddy, Kai-kai.

Another conversation today with my son:
Do you like cats?
K: No. Just dogs.
What do you think about getting a pet fish?
K: How about a dog?
What kind of dog do you like?
K: Dalmatians.
You might have to wait awhile for that one, but it is good to dream!

October 13th

This past Saturday was our 7 year "legal" anniversary.  We didn't really do anything at all to celebrate because I was helping out for my old college roommate's baby "non-shower" in SF.  Ryuta took Kai to hang out in Japantown.

Cindra's "non-shower"

My old roomie, Cindy, said she didn't want any gifts or to make any feel like they "had" to buy her any gifts.  Her cousin, Evelyn, and sister, Michelle and I did not feel it was right at all for her not to have a party (at least!) to celebrate the upcoming birth of her first baby.  So, Evelyn & Michelle hooked up the food and I hooked up the decorations and I think Cindy was glad that we forced, I mean encouraged, her to seriously reconsider a celebration!

I originally thought to make nutella cookies.  Fortunately, I wisely decided to do a test run a few days prior.  Thank goodness because they were a disaster!! I made these amazingly delicious mini-brownie cupcakes with strawberry frosting and rasberries.. oh. wow. my waters still just thinking about them.

a wonderful spread from "The Grove"

me & Cin with the view from her roof

7 years and counting...

Every time we have another anniversary (we have two anniversaries, the legal one and the wedding one) I am always amazed that I have been in a relationship as long as this! Wow! 5 years.. Wow...6 years.. WOW. 7 years. SEVEN.  Amazing.  Someone has been willling to try me out for that long.  Someone has been willing to love me and stick it out THAT long.  There is someone in this world that I've also been willing to put myself out there for.  My hope is that our love won't just stand the test of time, but that at the end of this journey, we can look back at our lives, at our children, at our home, at each other, and feel so blessed.  That we can look at one another and KNOW that our connection made a difference.  Every year I am more and more amazed.  It does get harder and harder and takes more and more effort.  At church they were making an announcement for an upcoming marriage retreat and a couple said that the longer you are married, the harder it gets.  Wow.  Why is that?  I guess in some ways it gets better, but it takes work to stay connected.  It takes work to make the other person feel loved, understood, cared for, special.  We were SO exhausted and wiped out after the city.  Ryuta picked up some take-out food and then we just went to bed.  Nothing special at all.  He brought home some roses last night and I made him some anniversary "coupons" to give to him today.  My friend Nadia told me that it isn't too late! 
For those of you who know Ryuta, do you think he'll like this...???

Happy 7 years, my sweets!

西山と学園

今週、海君は日本語学校始まります。私達、ちょっとわくわくしたり、excited and nervousでした。This week, Kai started Japanese preschool at Nishiyamato Gakuen in San Jose.  Monday was his first day.  We were all very nervous, but also excited, too.  This is all a new experience for me, too, taking my son to a VERY Japanese school.  I am familiar with some of the customs, but it doesn't feel natural to me at all.  For example, the children need to bring "indoor shoes" with a special shoe bag, a bento box with a little scarf, a hand towel, a change of clothes for PE and naptime plus a "uniform," and a toothbrush set. 
At first, my attitude has been skeptical of different things and a little resistant.  Why are they charging us for clothes? Why don't they have a building? Why do we have to pay these different entrance and interview and application fees?  Why do I need to pick up AND drop off on Mondays?  Do they have enough teachers? Will they tell me everything? Will Kai like it? Will he make friends?  Will he understand?
But, little by little, my mind and attitude is slowly changing.  I can see that the Japanese way is always above-and-beyond and they are very gentle and nurturing with small children.  I am grateful that we CAN send Kai and that he gets this amazing opportunity at such a young age.  I am more sure that God will develop this gift of bilingualism in our children for a special reason!
Proverbs 18:16
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.



Kai is in the panda class with Naoko-sensei.



first drop-off..Chie-sensei was comforting him.  Luckily, he didn't cry long.



:(



end of day 1

 While Kai was in school, Lukas and I met up with my cousin, Nicole, at Starbucks at Santana Row. It ends up that she lives very close to there, so we might meet up next week, too! I am seeing that Mondays may be a good day to connect with friends in the south bay or to even meet my dad for lunch.
After meeting with Nicole, it was lunchtime and I wasn't sure if I should drive home with my poor, sick Lukas.  We ended up picking up fast food and I dropped by the school to see how Kai was.  They said that he was very happy and ate a lot at lunch.  Then, Lukas and I went down the street to the book store to hang out.
Naoko-sensei, at pick-up, said that Kai spoke in both English and Japanese.  He sat on the potty and took a very short nap.  I asked Kai after what he thought.  He misses Miss Jynette and Miss Monique.  I told him we could visit to say hi, but this would  be his new school now.  It would take some time, but we think he will like it.  We will see how the rest of the week goes! がんばってね、海君！！

Other snapshots from September

Big shoes to fill! (Mommy's new jogging shoes)

Okay, so we are really enjoying the fancy camera that we got for our Christmas gift last year and also, c'mon.. you can't help but take ANOTHER picture of these stinkin' cute kids!



little angel



Kai is a great big brother.



Look at that face! Don't you just want to moosh it up and eat him up!?



round, squishy bumbo



the Sanui sleepy look



Brothers



Watching a little Shimajiro before bedtime



You say it's your birthday na na na na It's my birthday, too, Ya!

Lots of celebrations this month.  I don't know if it is just the time of our life or if we just know too many people?! But every weekend, there is at least one birthday party or baby shower or SOMETHING! 
Jacob's 3rd Birthday

King Jacob @ Pump It Up



Round TWO! (We are missing Emily & Rhys and Katie...)

 My 33rd Birthday


THANK YOU SO MUCH, Auntie & GG!! Dim sum was sooo much better than having to cook my own dinner. :)



Sushi with the Lopezs

 Kai's 3rd birthday



Chuck E Cheese: Baby pic!



Awwwww... Kai & his little buddy, Miss Erykah



Happy Birthday!!



Veronica's baby shower

Romans 4:18

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

A very, very dear friend of mine had a baby shower early this month.  Veronica is like a spiritual mom to me, always wise and nurturing and an inspiration to me.  Veronica and her husband, Todd, had been trying to have a baby since I met her 5 years ago.  They met with different kinds of doctors and tried all sorts of things.  They eventually filed for bankruptcy and gave up all of their properties so that they could have the immediate funds to go through with IVF.  It was all such a leap of faith.  But after years and years of effort and heartfelt prayers from all of us and vision from Vero of her son Judah, they were truly meant to have their hope fulfilled.  During IVF, Veronica only had one good egg and well.. one was all they needed!  They are due to have their son Judah any day now!


Boys Club!



art

kai's art

falling leaves

just paint and q-tips!

art

what happens when you leave a 2 year-old alone for a few minutes with markers!

painting of a creek and trees

Kiddo Land



1st Day: April 2012

 From the end of April to the end of September, Kai attended Kiddo Land in Warm Springs.  At first I had my reservations about dropping Kai off, but in the end, it was a great transition for Kai.  He got to have his own time to play away from home and hopefully, it will have been good practice for him since he will start Japanese school next week.  It took him awhile to warm up to the new environment and people, but gradually, he grew to love his teachers and felt very comfortable there.  This Monday, when I dropped him off, he just ran right in and started to play.  I'm grateful to the teachers there for caring for Kai and helping him to feel comfortable.



Last day: September 25, 2012 with Miss Jynette, Miss Alex, & Miss Yee