Kira has been in Kindermusik these past few months and has really enjoyed it. Her favorites are to sing while spinning and jumping.

Kyle and Kira
He just started going to Kira's preschool, and will be in her class!

Pretending and singing about going up and down an elevator with Miss Kim

Spinning with scarves...another favorite!

May 2009

We've been having some nice weather this past week, and the kids have been out playing. Tim's new favorite...FRISBEE!

You can't see it too well, but Kiki is dirty from head to toe! So many of the smaller parks in Japan are all dirt!

And the highlight of the Showa Park trip, dirt sledding...yeah, the clothes were completely filthy by the end. Kiki didn't sled. She went down on her hands and knees. Sigh.

Kiki's first day to Fuji Yochien

Oops, posted the photos in the wrong order...Kiki getting on the bus to go to school. Her stop is the watermelon stop! Everyone wears the same hat, has a fruit attached to the hat to show which stop they are, and has the same backpack.

Kiki and Lisa (our next door neighbor)

Kiki is her school outfit. Her name tag is in Japanese.

Kiki has really been enjoying her Japanese preschool. When asked if she understands anything, she says no. But, somehow she still manages a whole day at school. She's been trying the school lunches, and for the most part she only eats the rice and fruit, and drinks the soup. But, she really really liked the curry rice! In the fall, she'll be attending 5 days a week.

Tim's first published art piece!

Being put in Sun (a PACAF art publication), and permanent Mendel Elementary art gallery piece!

Spring Break trip to Taiwan

Every morning, Kiki would get up (too early for me!) and watch the buses, scooters, motorcycles, cars, and people with her great-grandmother.

The kids with Annie and Candy, my cousin's daughters. Annie is just a day and a half older than Kiki.

Kira sharing her animals with Annie
My mom bought them matching dresses,

A tuckered out Kira being held by her grandfather.

With their great-grandfather, my dad's dad. Kiki says "He's really, really, really, really old!"

Our trip to Taiwan

At Ah Gong's old family house...well the rubble of what's left due to the upcoming construction of a bullet train station.

Up in Taipei 101. It was pretty cool up there!

Having fun at a Taiwan amusement park...before we got rained out!

At the Taipei Zoo with Sophie and Mei Mei. We saw the 2 pandas too!

4 generations: Tim, Debbie, Ah Po Tai (great-grandmother), Kiki, Ryan, Brenda Ahyi (aunt) (front)
Ah Po (grandmother), Yi Po(great-aunt)

More catching up...Basketball March 2009

Tim had a lot of fun playing basketball this season. He just wished it was longer!

Udon noodle making with the Japanese ladies

Kiki and I were fortunate to learn to make udon noodles. Midori-san's husband was kind enough to take the day off and teach us Americans to make the noodles from scratch. Even Kiki was given the opportunity to make some of her own! Kiki is kneading the dough in the photo above.

Kiki getting ready to cut the dough into udon noodle strips (above)

Midori-san's husband cooking the noodles in a special pot outside

Midori-san dressed Kiki up in a family kimono! What a special treat! Kiki absolutely loved it.