Just Me & the Guys: 2014 Christmas newsletter

Happy holidays from the Sanui family!

Here is a snapshot of 2014 of our family:

Ryuta

Ryuta started on his new journey towards becoming an “o-sha-rey” (stylin’) hair stylist. He started night and weekend classes at Fremont Beauty School while transitioning into a day-time stay-at-home dad routine. The days were filled with trips to the park, to Happy Hallow, laundry, and cooking the family meals. We’ve gotten into a better meal routine and Ryuta has expanded his recipe choices. With childcare and school, Ryuta hasn’t been able to spend as much time playing tennis, but gets out whenever he can. He still enjoys SLEEPING(!!!) and manga. The boys are so lucky to spend a lot of time with their dad! We are all getting used to the new schedule and Dad’s new hair styles!

"High Maintenance.. You say it like it's a bad thing."

Somer

I finished my first year back to teaching at Weibel and am still there, happily, teaching 2^nd grade. It was a huge adjustment getting back into the working world full-time AND having 2 little boys running around at home. Fortunately, I got hired back for the new school year before the summer and was able to store all of my teaching things at school (rather than our garage.) However, I changed classrooms and it was crazy getting settled into my new room in August. But, I love it! It has been such a fantastic new school year with a really sweet group of students. My days are so happy and I’m so grateful. Other than allowing Ryuta to color my hair, highlight it, chop it, not much has changed for me. I still love going out to eat sushi, rooting for the SF Giants, hanging with my family & friends, going out if I can (to shop or watch movies), and staying involved at church.

Kai

Kai turned 5 in September. We pulled him out of preschool last year and spent the last months of his 4 year-old life doing what 4 year-old kids should do—a lot of playing, imagining, a lot of nothing (it’s pretty important!), reading. Over the summer, Kai went on his first roller coaster at Happy Hallow and loved it! Kai started TK (Transitional Kindergarten) in August at Gomes. Every morning, he rides his bike to school with his dad and his brother. This fall, he learned how to ride his 2-wheeler. He’s such a big boy now!

He really transitioned well into the daily routines of school and is currently transforming his bedroom into a classroom. He really loves school—learning how to spell, learning about the calendar, how to sing different songs (especially the “color songs”.) It’s amazing how much he is learning at school and even just on his own at home. He is so curious to learn. Although with Kai, he is very specific and particular about what he likes. Over the summer, the boys grew VERY attached to the Ice Age movies series. Kai developed a big interest in maps, globes, and soon, we started to discuss earth history. Why don’t mammoths and dinosaurs still live on the earth? This led to talks about a possible asteroid that hit the earth and then, he became very obsessed with outer space and the solar system. We got a family membership to the Chabot Space & Science Center for his birthday. Kai has drawn multiple maps and built freeways with the exact directions to Chabot. It’s amazing how he knows the roads, the freeways, the speed limits. Kai has become such a little expert about the solar system that he has created lots of solar system art and has taught his 2 year-old brother the names of the planets. The kid continues to amaze me.

Kai changed his color interest from green and yellow to red and blue. He still really likes popsicles and chocolate chip cookies. He has yet to try ice cream and has decided that he no longer likes cheese, spaghetti, or hot dogs. But, we are so lucky that he is still a healthy eater and actually requests to eat broccoli!

For Halloween this year, I thought I’d get the easy way out this time and that Kai would want the astronaut costume at Costco. My unique kid wanted to be a woolly mammoth! Thank goodness my mom knows how to sew and was willing to help! He was the cutest woolly mammoth ever. During the fall, Kai wore an eye patch to bed, to parties, and around the house, to be “Buck the Weasel” (from Ice Age 3.) I thought I could get away with him being Buck for Halloween. He insisted that he was Buck every day, but that he’d be a mammoth on Halloween. That kid!

On Kai’s letter to Santa, he requested “solar system toys” and a “number line” (like in his classroom.)

"Dear Santa, I was a good boy. I would like solar system toys and a number line. Thank you. From, Kai."

Lukas

Lukas is still our affectionate, physical, active little monster. Lukas turned 2 in June. The kid thinks that his big brother is his personal punching bag and the little angel with the doll eyes shouts with this husky monster voice, runs, stomps, throws, kicks, climbs wherever he goes. We had “sleep wars” most of the year. I lost count, but currently, we are still on the losing end. Lukas learned how to climb out of his crib and sneak into our room every night. My goal over the summer was to sleep train him, but I think he tired me out and ending up winning the war. We always start the night in separate rooms and I wake up to a foot in my face. My students know that Lukas is a tiny ninja who moves quietly and quickly in the dark. Lukas started gymnastics this summer and it’s been nice to let him have his own activity where he can be physical. I’m thinking to eventually sign him up for a sport like soccer or martial arts. Lukas loves being with people and can’t stay by himself. He loves his big brother and likes what he likes—dinosaurs, planets, cars.

Lukas is still the destroyer while Kai is the builder. Kai is order and Lukas is chaos. That’s just part of being the little brother. He is still our junk food baby and it has been a challenge to get him to eat healthy food, especially at dinner. The boy will just eat carbs, fruit, yogurt, and if we let him, junk food (anything with high amounts of sugar!)

For Halloween, to stick with the Ice Age 3 theme, Lukas was a dinosaur (since big brother was a mammoth.)

On his letter to Santa, Lukas asked for “Santa clothes”, dinosaur, dinosaur clothes, dinosaur toys, and candy.

Trips, Changes, & Fun Stuff

We started the new year in San Diego visiting family and friends. The boys had a blast with their cousins, Tay, Risa, and Brooke! We even considered whether we could move down because it was so great to see all the kids out in the street together. In April, Ryuta courageously flew with the boys to Japan to visit family. I traveled 2 weeks later to meet up with them and we got to eat really well, relax, and spend time with Ryuta’s parents. In July, Ryuta and I got to get away for a weekend and explore Seattle. We had a really wonderful time exploring the city by bicycle and getting some alone time away from the kids. Over the summer, I got to take it easy with the kids and we were so lucky. My parents got us all a membership to the Aqua Adventure water park. We were there at least once a week! In October, our family got to get away for a weekend to the cute beach town called Avila Beach.

The boys loved playing at the pool and digging holes in the sand in the beach. In November, my mom and I did our annual mother-daughter weekend and relaxed at the spa. The timing was perfect! I actually got to sleep in for daylight savings! Happy birthday to me! J The BIG change in our house was the kitchen remodel. My mom has been anxious to remodel the kitchen for years and this year was her big break. During September and October, we camped out in the garage and the backyard for all of our meals. Remodeling is no joke, but we couldn’t be happier with the end result. It is soooo nice to have such a beautiful kitchen with an open floor plan. If we haven’t invited you over yet, we are taking advantage of such a nice space to be hospitable and to entertain. So, please come on over and we’ll cook you something!