School's out for SUMMER!

The summer heat wave is finally coming. The sun is peeking out from the rain clouds FINALLY! This past week, Kai had his "last class" at the Hyman Center and when I enroll him in August, he'll probably move up into the 2-3 year-old class.  It was kind of funny to leave and tell all of the other kids and moms, "Bye! Have a great summer!" Gosh, my little boy is growing up too fast.
This morning, Kai and I went over to Graham for the 6th grade graduation.  My first class of students who I taught in 2nd and 3rd grade are now moving onto the junior high.  Kai did very well and sat during the whole 2 hour ceremony.  It was amazing how big they made a "graduation" for 6th graders! Some of the girls were wearing prom-like dresses and lots of families showed up.  It was so nice to see some of my old kids and their families.  I will miss seeing their faces and being a part of that community.  One little boy, Christian, the student council president and graham's student of the year, made an eloquent, interesting speech.  He started with "My fellow students and teachers..." He sounded like such a politician, but I pictured him in a Peanuts cartoon. It was very endearing to hear him talk about his memories of elementary school and how he appreciated his teachers helping them get ready for the next step of junior high. 
The past couple of months have been unusually cold and rainy and gray, except for our brief memorial day weekend roadtrip down to Irvine and Oceanside.  Now, the heat and sun and summer is here! I'm so excited for more trips to the park and to the county fair and to the swimming pool!!
Here are some recent pics--

we LOVE the dream park!!

@ Little Madfish happy hour with the Jerdees :)

Visiting with Kale'a, first days home from the hospital!

"Oh, Erkyah, you are too cute!"

"I like eating sushi with you, Kai."

"borrowing" a bike at the park

Look at how short Kai is next to the net!

future Grand Slam champ

taqueria lunch with my big cousin, Evan Kai

"Thanks, GG, for lunch!"

visitng the Fukuda home in Irvine

So happy being together again! :)

With my "sis" Katie :) Miss you guys!!

C'mon Kai & Keila.. getting a cavity is worse!

In San Diego on Josh's police bike.. It is neat because we have a black and white picture of Ryuta at the same age on his dad's police motor bike.

A rest stop at McDonald's on our first big family road trip

SPRING!

Currently as I look out the window it is gray, windy, cold, uninviting.  Thank God Kai finally decided to go to sleep.. there really isn't much else to do!
Other than the past few days of miserable weather, we've been enjoying really amazing warm, sunny weather this spring.  Almost every day we've been getting out of the house and usually head to the park.  Despite my efforts to keep Kai protected from the UV rays, he's still managed to get a tan on his face and hands.  A friend at church yesterday said she thought Kai looked filipino!
Here are few shots of our life this spring..

Kai & Keila reunion: Singing a duet of "Musunde Hiraite" at the piano

Kai with his long-distance girlfriend, Keila

I found an easter egg!

at Easter service with Valerie & Jacob

I wish I took more pictures on Easter. Kai had on the most adorable, old-man-style Easter outfit...

My first chocolate chip cookie

a little picnic with the Dang girls

Our fashion model

A couple of our friends have put their kids through modeling and a few people have told us that Kai should model or is such a handsome boy.  I can't really complain or disagree, so I finally decided to try it out.  We are going in tomorrow to JE Models to check it out.  I'm not so sure about whether it is worth the time, but it would be really cool if Kai got his picture on a big ad!  The extra money would be nice, too, to put aside for Kai's college fund.
Here are some more shots that my dad took on his fancy camera:

Hilarious Video and Auntie Miho

Kai finally warmed up to his Auntie Miho by the end of our trip. She brought him some toys.  We made him say thank you and he refused.  So, we told him that we were going to give them back.  He finally said thank you and I think made that connection that she brought them for HIM. She also had a really, really cool digital camera that he liked to play with..

Beautiful Japan in the Spring

So beautiful like the cherry blossoms :)

SAKURA
It was the most ideal time to be there. Warm, pleasant low 70s.  There is a 2-3 week window of time in Japan that is very magical and romantic.  The cherry blossoms bloom, are enjoyed, and fall down.  We were there for all of it!  The best was the park near Ryuta's house.  There is a small lake, surrounded by paths lined with sakura.  We went there once for a picnic with Toru's family at the very awesome playground.  The next day we went back with Otoosan for a walk around the lake.



With Toru's wife, Chikako, and their ADORABLE baby, Sousuke-kun



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Walking with Grandpa & Daddy

   OTHER SCENES FROM OUR TRIP:


Can I play soccer with you guys??



Kai discovered all the little rocks. He LOVED throwing them!



Japan ROCKS!



This way to Dazaifu Temple!



Kai's 1st shinkansen ride



Koi no bori for Boy's Day. Ryuta helped out the neighbors put up the Children's Day flags.



Good food and good people

Sure, there are some things in America that are bigger and better and physically more comfortable.  But, in Japan, it is all made up for with good food and good people. 
Good Food
We ate soooooo much good food every day.  Crab, sushi, yakitori x2, ramen x3, yakiniku x2, tempura, Mos Burger, McDonald's, Hokka Hokka bento, tako yaki x2, somen, lots of fish and rice and miso...In celebration of Okaasan's 60th birthday, we went to this really swanky, beautiful restaurant in this cathedral-like building which caters to weddings.  It was something out of a japanese tv drama about fictional rich people who sit around drinking tea.  Also, Miho's husband, Seigou, really gave his heart to a feast he prepared for her birthday-- tempura, chirashi, suimono, karaage, tamago yaki.  I think Kai gained a pound in 2 weeks. 



First stop. Nagahama Shogun ramen. Kai pounced on the onigir on the table.



Slurrrrrppppp... ahhhhh.... that's good stuff.



A little lunch with high school friend, Ban-ban, and his family



At kai-ten sushi.  This place was GOOD! It was cool, too. You buzz in your order at the table.  Above the sushi boats, a little shinkansen train drives up to your table and stops with your order on top!



Seigou's feast for Okaasan's 60th.. amazing!



Japan: Settling in..

So, I have equated traveling internationally for so long and so far with a toddler who doesn't want to sleep like child labor and giving birth again.  It is just something you have to do to get to your end result.  It is long and torturous, but once it is over, it is all good.
Once we got there, it really was all good. It was so good that the first week, I considered staying and not going back home. Ryuta would go home to his job and live with my parents.  Kai and I would stay in Japan with his parents.  It was so comfortable and we were spoiled rotten.  His family really took care of us in every way.


So sweet. Okaasan's flag says, Kai-kun's first time in Japan

 Ryuta's mom is such an amazing woman.  She is very nurturing and sweet.  Every single meal she prepares with love.  If we go out, she makes sure to pack Kai a little bento box with all his favorites, onigiri, veggies, and hasaku oranges.  I felt so taken care of. 



With Ai-chan, the dog.  The first few days, Kai was in heaven! Outside the sliding glass door is a little grass and patio and cute Ai-chan!

 VISITS TO THE CARE CENTER
Almost every day we'd go visit the care center which was a few minutes walk from the house.  Ryuta's dad's dad and the mom's mom were there and we'd take Kai to go visit them.  Part of the reason we went was to make sure that Kai got to meet his great-grandparents while they were still alive.  All of the old people there were so happy to see Kai and to see young faces there.


With the oldest Sanui man.  Ojiichan was so independant.  Some days we would go knock on his door and he'd tell us he was busy because he was watching TV! Most of the time, he'd be out for a walk or a Daie supermarket smoking on the front bench talking to people.



4 generations of Sanui men.



Obaachan.  The first few days she'd cry every time we'd visit her.  Every time we'd walk in, she look at us for a second and think about who we were. "Ryuta? Kai-chan! Sama!" By the end of our trip, she'd ask us when we were going home and she'd count the days.  We learned later that she was counting the days she could go home and get her 1st class care from Kinko (okaasan/my mother-in-law.)

 

One day, Kai played "high-5" with obaachan.  It was the only time he interacted with her and smiled.  Every visit after, she kept trying to play "high-5" with him, but he was not interested at all.  He just wanted to run up and down the hallways, open and close doors, push elevator buttons.



Every day, Ryuta would ask his grandma, "Who do you like better, Kinko or Toru?" Kinko! "Kinko or Kai?" Kinko! "Me or Kai?" That answer would change...