11.17.2013

七五三 Shichigosan ceremony in Seattle

 日本から帰ってきて、あっという間に冬という感じになってきました。日に日に寒くなってきているシアトルです。相変わらずこっちに帰ってくると目まぐるしく毎日が過ぎていき、ブログを書くことを後回しにしてしまう毎日。
喜音のクラスでの課題に自分について書くというものがあり、一緒に(焦りながら、怒りながら 苦笑い)手伝っていてブログを読み返してみて、改めて子供たちの成長日記をつけていることは大切だなーと実感。写真を見ていくだけでも見て取れる成長を改めて感じることができ、なんだか初心に帰って気分になりました。 
そんなわけで気を取り直して、ブログを書くことにしましょう。ちょうど今日は七五三のお参りに行ってきました。至れりつくせりのシアトルは日本の神社までもあります。しかも本当に本格的。日本の分家として、お伊勢さん系列の椿神社があります。ここはまさに日本でした。私たちも今回参ったのが初めて。宮司さんはアメリカ人で、合気道の先生でもあるそうです。しっかりお祓いしてもらって来ました。私は厄年なので、その分も祓われているといいのですが。私の分のご祈祷代払ってないし無理か?笑

After came back from Japan this summer, as usual, it returned to normal busy life and I have been ignoring the blog for long time. I got a chance to look at this page since Yukine got a writing assignment from her school, "Book on me". She needed to search when she was a baby so I showed her this blog. I felt once again I am so glad that I have been writing this page. In busy life, it is so hard to remember each moment, each stage of the kids growth. I am so excited when the kids get older and read this blog about them. They will definitely think my English is not correct but it's ok.
Anyway, so I am writing about shichigosan ceremony (七五三) It's for kids ages 3 and 7 for girls, 5 for boys to celebrate and thankful for their healthy growth. People visit a shinto shrine, and get prayer offered by shinto priest. Yukine is actually 8, will turn to9, but here in America, we didn't make it last year so did together with Kanata. I was pretty surprised that the shrine was really authentic!! It was indeed Japan in only that area! We are very lucky to have Japanese culture even in America. Seattle is the city for Japanese indeed.    





 ちなみにこの喜音の着物、実は私が現在着ている着物。本人の持っているのは3歳の時のものはもちろんつんつるてん。着物が着たいというし、私のものを試しに着せてみたらおはしょおりは長いもののなんとかなりそうということで、ま、アメリカだし!!!
Yukine got to wear Kimono. This is actually mine. It's not like when I was small, It is Mine. Her real kimono is too small for her and she doesn't have another one here. My mom has some kimono for her in Japan tho. So, I tried mine on her. It worked. It was a bit bigger, of course,but nobody realize it anyway! I wouldn't do it in Japan tho :p




もう本当に日本の神社とまったく変わりません。なんでも聞くところによると宮司さんが設計して、仲間内で作ったとか。アメリカ人のD.I.Y根性には本当に頭が下がります。
Apparently, This shrine is all made by the priest family. I can't believe it!!! It's just like real Japanese shinto shrine!! 

8.22.2013

日本 Japan 2013

日本に行ってきました。本当は今年はおとなしくシアトルで夏を過ごすつもりだったのだけど、
両親、兄が4月に遊びに来て、ホームシックに。ちょっといろいろ考えすぎた一年だったから、
疲れてしまって日本にどうしても帰りたくなったのです。
行ってよかった。

We visited Japan this summer again! It was a short decision since I got a homesick. My parents and brother  came visit us in April for only 5 days, that made me so homesick. I had been too worried everything last couple of years, too busy schedule, rough time for me. I really wanted to go back to Japan. And I and the kids did, and it was a great! I needed it.

子供たちは念願のディズニーランドへ。
The kids got go to Tokyo Disney land for first time. Thanks to my mom, she came with us even she doesn't care about Disney at all.
かなたって。。。こんな写真ばっかり。。。素敵なホテルだったのに。 Most of Pictures of Kanata look like this...The hotel was pretty nice hotel! (Except Kanata's nose hole.)
大学時代の友達、えりが遊びにきてくれて、学生時代のときみたいな大笑いして過ごしたり。My friend from a collage, Eri came visit us to Nagano.
おばあちゃんと公園にいったり。 We went to parks with Great grandma, who is 89 year -old.
喜音は、今年も西箕輪小学校、けやき組にお世話になりました。Yukine again went to Nishiminowa- elementary 3rd grade for about 3 weeks. She did great! She loved the class. She had a great experience in there.
マレットゴルフしたり。 This is called Mallet Golf. Kinda like golf in the forest. Actually, Nagano has most mallet Golf course in Japan according to Wikipidia.
最後の日は焼肉パーティを。Japanese BBQ on last day in Nagano.
またかなたの変顔シリーズ。最後の晩餐は、飛行機お子様ランチ。Again, silly Kanata with last meal in Japan. Kids dinner on airplane.
喜音の最後の日本の食事はきつねうどん。うどんがほしかった、喜音のためにママは行きたかったレストランを断念。。なんていい母親。(涙) Last supper in Japan for Yukine. Kitsune Udon.
6週間、あっという間でした。そうなると思っていたけど。今回は京都にはいけず。でもそのかわりに、家族との時間をゆっくり持てて、本当にゆっくりすることができて、今の私には必要でした。
家族の大切さ、ありがたさ、愛情をまた一層感じた、そんな今年の日本行きでした。
もちろん、会いに来てくれたお友達、地元で会えた友達、みんな会ったら変わってなくて、
それもとってもうれしかった。
また来年、いけますように。。。。

Six weeks went by so fast... I knew it before I went tho. We didn't go to Kyoto that we used live. It was too bad, but on the other hand, we could have a wonderful time with my family. I could spend lots of time with my mom, talking about family, went shopping, went to cafe for tea.... It was so great. I really needed it.
Of course, lots of our wonderful friends visited us, spent great time with them. I really appreciated.
I hope we can come back again next year....( Tho, I also want to enjoy such a short summer in Seattle.)

5.12.2013

Mother's day 2013



Happy mother's day!! I had a great mother's day today. We had a party yesterday at friend's house, and got home very late. So, all of us were so tired in this morning, so it could be a disaster mother's day :p I am glad we made it!! haha.
The kids and Brit were so sweet. I am so lucky mom! Thank you all.
Brit made a mother's day dinner. Southwest vegetarian paella and kale and feta cheese salad. Both of them were so good! Yukine made paper flowers, Kanata gave me his porcelain hand from preschool and the card (above the picture), which was so funny. I hardly go to target for shopping. I guess he couldn't think, so maybe heard friend's answer :p My favorite thing to do for my free time; read (His meaning was Manga). My favorite TV show; News. ( Sounds really smart but I don't watch TV at all...read news tho.)
I am glad that he knows I love him.

Yukine tried to make a breakfast for me but Brit was too tired to help her. So she was grumpy this morning. Poor girl. She is such a sweet girl.
I love you all so much!!!


  

Kanata T-ball かなた野球始める。



Kanata signed up for his first T-ball this year!!!! He was nervous at the first practice. But he is totally into it right now. I thought he prefer soccer to baseball, but he really loves it so far. So, he had had practice twice a week in April. Now he has a game every Tue and Thu. He can't wait next game day, so is always practicing at home. catching, hitting. I can see he is improving everyday! Such a hard worker, Kanata. Seriously, he could practice for straight two or three hours. Amazing, kiddo! I and Brit won't be complaining about he getting a scholarship for a collage someday :p

The kids T-ball games are hilarious! It's like a play. Not serious at all. Some kids do not care about T-ball at all. Just sit on the base, and spacing out. Nobody can't catch the ball, so Nobody wouldn't be out either :p So, Every kids can get the turn to hit a ball, and when the turn is finished, change innings. That's so cute if you don't care about winning :p I am maybe too much like Tiger mom, so I am trying not say anything :)

One day at home practice.

Me: Wow, Kanata, You are so good at T-ball. You will be able to be a baseball player like Ichiro someday!

K: Yeah, I think so too.

...It good to have a confidence.

かなたが遂に習い事。野球の一歩手前、Tボールです。ピッチャーがいなくて、Tの字の棒の上にボールを置いてそれから打つというもの。 練習初日はちょっとびびっていたかなた。「やっぱり来年からしようかな、僕。」とかいう始末。でもはじめてみたらやっぱり脳みそまで筋肉なのか?かなりはまった様子。4月中は練習。5月からは毎週2回のペースで練習試合をしている。週2の野球が待ちきれず、家でも毎日練習。付き合わされるお母さん、結構疲れます。バッティングに、キャッチの練習。それでも目に見えて上達するわが子。すでに気持ちはイチロー。
なんでもいい、このまま大学の奨学金でも取ってくれたら、母は文句はいわんよ。がんばってくれ、家計のために。笑

それにしても、T-ボールの試合はなんとも笑える。なんたって、まだみんな形にも、ルールさえもわかってないところから試合なんだから。
初めの試合は勝ち負けがあるのかと見ていていらいら。おい、せめてボールの方みてろや!!
とか親のこっちが言いたくなる。
子供によってはまーったく野球なんか興味のないような子もいる。ベースに座って、ポケーってしてたり。ボールがきたら逃げたり。。。笑

そんなんだからアウトを取るなんてくもの上のような話。一人一回ずつ順番で打って、みんなの順番が終われば、守り、攻めの交代。笑

でもなんともかわいい。

ある日の家での練習で。

母: かなた、うまいね。きっと大きくなったらイチローみたいになるね!

か:うん、たぶんね。(さらって)

。。。まぁ自信があることはいいことだ。 

Spring break


The kids had a spring break. Since this school year started, It's been just busy like crazy. My yoga, the kids activities, some errands.... Time, litarally, flies. It's almost end of this school year. Oh my....
However, I and the kids could spend some very meaningful time together in this spring break, which made me happy. One day of the break, we went to the zoo. It was first time since it's been for a long time for me to came back to the zoo. After Yukine got in school, we were just busy to go to the zoo, so we didn't have a membership. I love the zoo so much. It's huge, lot of space, lots of natures, of course, lots of animals. I was so happy to see the kids smile. I missed those days when Yukine was in preschool, we could spend all day together at a beach, zoo, parks.... we could go anywhere without thinking about time. It was such a precious time!!
I definitely want to come back to the zoo again WITH THE KIDS!!!

春休み。久々に動物園へ。本当に久しぶり。ゆきねがまだPreschoolにいたときは、メンバーだったのもあったし夏になったら本当、毎日か?のように来ていたな。ゆきねが学校に入って、かなたもPreschoolに行くようになって、私も仕事し始めたら、本当にいく時間がなくてメンバーもやめた。

一回だけで入るとけっこう高いからなかなか行く機会もなく。
今回たまたま春休みにいくことができて、やっぱりここ好きだなーって実感。
とっても広くって、自然もいっぱいで、動物が檻に入れられて退屈そうっていうのが少ない気がする。(それでもやっぱり動物にとったら野生が一番なのだろうけど。)

毎日、時間に追われて週末でさえなんだかんだで忙しくこんなにゆっくり子供と時間を過ごすのは本当に久しぶりな気がした。それがなによりもとってもうれしかった。
ゆきねもずっと動物園に行きたいって行っていたから、すごくうれしそうで、そんな子供たちのうれしそうな顔が私も幸せな気分にしてくれた。

小さかったころに時間も気にせず子供中心で、ただただ公園で過ごしたり、動物園だったり、ビーチだったり、そんな時間って本当に贅沢だなーって今心から思う。

また動物園一緒に行こうね。