Pointe!!!!!

 Way to go, Yukine! Finally, finally she’s gotten her very first pointe shoes on 11/10/18! Since she started ballet at the age of 4, she has been dreaming about this day. Her dance studio is very considerate about the students’ bodies, safety, and the parents’ financial burden, they give a first pointe shoes later than many other studios. I really appreciate after I found out that those shoes get damaged pretty quickly and normally wear out in a month! Those are not cheap!Anyway, regardless the fact, I am happy for Yukine and very proud of her. It was not always happy, fun experience. Sometime it was rocky road and she had very hard time. I thought she would quit some point. I am so glad that she found that something she loves and wants to be better, even though sometime she has to sacrifice stuff like ggtime with her school friends, or just spacing out, watching TV on the couch.
There will be another challenge for her. Pointe shoes are not easy to learn, like we see dancers in a show, making steps as if they are flying in the air with those shoes. Yukine had a couple of classes after she earned them. She keeps saying it hurts so badly, but in her face, there is smile. I hope she will overcome the pain soon and I can watch her dancing in those beautiful shoes! I love you!!

 喜音が遂に遂に！トウシューズを貰いました！4歳から始めたバレエ。トウシューズを夢見て、頑張ってきたのを知っているから、時には、上のクラスにあげてもらえなかったり、辛い時もあったことを知ってるからこそ、私も本当に心から嬉しくて、喜音の事を誇りにに思う。私が子供の時にやっていた時は小学校2年生でもうトウシューズを貰ってたけれど、今考えればちょっと恐ろしい…喜音のバレエ教室は、生徒達の足の事を考え、安全面わ考え、そして、親の経済的負担も考えて、シアトルあたりの教室でも遅めにトウシューズの許可が出る。大体、12-13歳。経済的といえば、考えていなかったけど、このトウシューズ、なかなかこわれやすく、もっても1ヶ月とか…安い買い物ではない…恐ろし…笑
でも、喜音が心から好きで、夢中になって、少し犠牲を払っても(友達との時間が減る。, 勉強に追われ、だらだらあまり、できない、とか。)続けたいものを見つけた事は親として嬉しいし、応援してあげたい。
これからが本当の勝負。がんばれー！！

母は疲れる…

2018になって、まだ一度もブログを書いてないらしい。ブログのアップ率に反映するように、私生活も忙しくて忙しくて、実際、追いついてない状態…何年まえからかな？毎日小走りしながら送っている気がする…
主婦から10年ぶりに会社員として4年前からフルで働き始め、なんとか自分をだまし、だまし、励まし、向上心を持って母業も精一杯頑張ってきたつもり。どこの世界でも、よく聞く話、正直、全てをやりくりするのは辛い…今晩は、そんな必死になんとかピンっと張っていた糸がプチッと切れた。
心のどっか奥の奥の方では、実際、どの国だって同じ状況になってるんだってわかってもいるけど、こうやって、てんぱると、アメリカだから、自分の生まれ育った、言葉の不自由のない国だったら、こんなに苦労しなくてよかったのに！とか、今の状況を責めたくなる。
まぁ、言語は、こちらに来て10年目だが、まだ全く自信がない。ブリトンはうまくやってる、って言ってくれるけど、そんなのただのおべんちゃらやん！とか思ってしまう。仕事は、どうしても性格上、中途半端にできないタチだし、残業もそれなりにある。それでも、仕事を残したまま帰ってくるのが現状…

子育ては、もう、喜音13才、中学二年生、奏大10才、小学校5年生、そこまで、手がかからないといいたいが、アメリカだからなのか、結構まだまだ手が離せない。たとえば、習い事。喜音のバレエは今年から週6回になる。近所の人と運転を交代しているが、それでもほぼ毎日の送り迎え、プラス、ボランティアやら、会議やら、なんだかんが金も時間もかかる。電車やバスの便がまだまだ悪すぎて自分では行けないし…
奏大は今年からサッカー、野球のセレクトチームなるクラブチームに入った。ブリトンがスポーツは担当なのだけど、ほぼこれから週末は家にいる日がない。それに加え、日本語。もう、諦めちゃったらいいのかな…日本語のクラスに2人とも週1で通っているけど、宿題は隣で座って、逐一手伝ってあげないと、自分からはやらないし、「ママのお手伝いがいるー。」などとほざく…そんなもんなのか？正直、かなり疲れて私の限界を超えている…
しかも、アメリカは中古の家を買うのが主流。うちも然り。うちは1960年代に建てられた家で、表面的にはなんとなくリフォームしてくれているが、まだまだやらなくてはいけない事が盛りだくさん。お金をセーブするため、自分たちどできる事はしようとしてるけど、全く時間がない…家の中の普通の掃除すら、ままならないのに…

無理！もうやめる、と言って全てを投げ出せたらいいのに、と思ってしまう…が出来るわけがない…

働いても働いても、ポジティブで毎日を楽しめるような母になりたいのにな…ああー疲れた。

Since I started working full time, I feel like I have been running all day 24 hrs 7 days....I’ve been trying to be positive, optimistic, and always be better...But today is not a good day to have those attitude...I know that I don’t have self-confidence in general. I don’t have a confidence on my English, my skill, my parenting.
I think that’s partially because from the typical Japanese disciplines that I’ve been getting from my parents since the young age. In the culture, parents, especially in my generation (it has been changed I think.), don’t really give you compliments. I’d always been told that I was not good enough. I don’t blame on my parents now but just it is very hard for me to overcome the habit that I blame on myself every time things don’t go well. Other thing is my nature; I am having hard time just shut off my brain full of my worries.... about the kids, my job, money, health, future, retirement, house, my family in Japan, Brit’s family.... go on and on...I am trying and trying to ignore those negative thoughts about those topics but those are alway in my head and spinning around in my head. Our life is ridiculously busy... wonder if that’s normal for most of families out there... Japanese classes, Yukine’s Ballet, Kanata’s soccer, baseball, piano (Yukine decided to stop piano this year.), schools...a lot of taxi, volunteers....We are not home at all. It’s way over my capacity but how can we just stop??? I want to go to vacations. I want to work on my house projects, I want to go hiking, I just want to stay home doing nothing, worried nothing. There is no time and money...and energy.. I just need a break but there is not enough PTOs and free day for me. I know many parents are in the same situations and people are doing somehow.. I just don’t have confidence and energy if I can keep doing this until the kids will be  graduated from the collage. It’s probaly one of those days... Well, I guess I should go back to sleep. Tomorrow is coming again.

Summer 2017

Lots lots things happened in this summer in 2017. It was busy but fun summer. Now, the wind is getting cooler, it is getting darker sooner every day, already in October.

I am going to summarize what we did in this summer.

Camping! We could go to camping more than last year. The kids stayed in Seattle this year not going to Japan, so we had more weekends to do camping. Here the places we went to camping in 2017.
- Alta Lake on Memorial day
- Mt. Saint Helens
- Jarrell Cove
- Somewhere in Montana on the way home from Idaho after the total solar eclipse.

There are so many things that I wanna talk about each camping trip, but highlights are we could finally go to Mt. St. Helens, where first, Yukine told that she wanted to go after she studied about the Mountain in the elementary school. We didn't hike to the mountain but went to one of the observatories, Johnston Ridge Observatories. It was very informative and I enjoyed learning about the eruptions.
That was second time to re-visit Jarrell Cove States Park. The last time we went to there, we fell in love with the camp site. They have a glassy area and there are many apples trees. Therefore, many animals are coming out to eat the apples in later Aug, early Sep. One of animals we encountered last time we went was deer. That was one of reasons we loved there. This time, we couldn't see deer in the campsite, maybe because it was in early August. There were a big group in the campsite so it was more crowded and noisy than last time... That was a bit disappointing. Yet, we had still a lot of fun. We went to the dock and Kanata fished, a lots of small minnows. It was not really real fishing but he was happy, so all good. Yukine is not really a outdoor girl but I think she had fun too, especially, when we could down to the shore when it was very low tide. We could see a tide pool. It was interesting.
The camp site in Montana was where we just slept on the way to get home from Idaho. BUT the main reason we went o Idaho was the totol sun eclipse. The total sun eclipse was amazing, literary, phenomenal, marvelous experience you could have in your life. It was just breathtaking. I will never ever forget the experience. The moment that the world around you got slightly dark and cooler. The moment that the sun was completely covered and you even see the total sun shape with your bare eyes. The moment the sun came back, seeing the one sharply bright, strong beam of light. It was just like a biggest most beautiful diamond ring. And we could see many Brittain's family members there in Idaho, that was so nice.

Another big event we did for this summer was... going to Maui Hawaii! In addition, we spent time with Kirino family, My mom, bother and one of my aunts (My mom's oldest sister.) and Brittain's mom in Maui! I was a bit worried how it would go with so many people with different opinions but it went well. I think everyone had fun. Maui is absolutely beautiful place. Just being at the beaches and seeing many fish, sea turtles and other creatures is worth to visit there. But we did more that that, eating good seafood, land food, seeing traditional dancing, shopping, seeing sunset from the tallest volcano.....and more and more.

My mom came again to Seattle to stay with Kanata and Yukine for the the last summer break. We went to Portland during the labor day weekend with her. Port land has very fashionable stores and vintage clothes and stuff. I feel Portland is more sensitive to those kinds of culture than Seattle but not sure... I realized that I really didn't have a chance to explore those small shops in Seattle so..Anyway, we had fun there. She had stayed for 2 weeks. It's pretty long for her, compared to the past she came, but it was still short for us..but she couldn't abandon her dog and her garden...I get it but always very sad and hard to say good bye at the airport on the last day. I hate it.

Oh wait! And Yukine did summer dance intensive program this year. 5 weeks from 8AM - 3 PM everyday 5 days. It was a big for her. She doesn't like wake up early in the morning, but she had to, because of the logistics. ( Thanks to the another family who lives close to us, we could car pool but the mom had to pick up Yukine at 6:40 AM.) She did it! She completed the whole 5 weeks. On the last day, they had a small show that showing the choreography by the girls and boys. She had 3-4 pieces with her peers. I saw her growth and passion for the dance. I am very proud of her.

2017年のバーバ家の夏も相変わらず忙しく過ぎていきました。
今年の夏をちょっとまとめてみようかと思います。
キャンプ
今年は、夏に日本に行かなかったので、週末に結構キャンプに行けました。どのキャンプも楽しかったけど、今年は毎年行きたいねと話していた２か所に行けた事、それから、アイダホで、完全日食を見に行ったことは忘れられない経験でした。
完全日食が、たまたま、ブリ豚の実家で見れるという事で、行くことにしました。完全日食を見たのは人生初めて。シアトル付近でも９５％くらい見れると言っていて、それならそこまで変わらないんじゃないの？と侮っていたけれど、完全日食は全く違った体験でした。写真をうまくとることはできなかったけれど、あの一瞬の薄暗くなって、寒くなっていく大変、そして、日食用の眼鏡をつけなくてもその間だけ、完全に太陽が黒くなっている瞬間、それから、日食が終わり、少しずつ日が戻ってくるときの、一点から差し込むすさまじい強さの光。太陽って本当に偉大な存在であり、宇宙の神秘を感じた瞬間でした。この体験は一生忘れないと思います。

この夏の他のハイライト、ハワイ、マウイへの旅。しかも、うちの母、兄、そして、叔母が日本から、アイダホからブリ豚のお母さんも、団体旅行となりました。みんな色々違く旅の仕方をするのを知っていただけにどうなるか、かなり心配でしたが、なんとか、楽しく、マウイを満喫しました。マウイはもう一つのお気に入りに追加。ハワイにそこまであこがれのある私ではないのだけど、マウイは本乙に綺麗だ。大自然、青い海、ウミガメ、熱帯魚、ほかのいろんな生き物たち、もう本当に息をのむほどのきれいな場所。私は、ただただ、ビーチでスノーケルしてるだけで幸せだったかも。でも、ハレアカラ火山からの夕日、ワイナリー、ルアウ（晩餐）、食べ物、もちろん買い物もとりあえず全部、死ぬ気でやってきた感じ。今度はもっとゆーーったり海を楽しみに行きたいな。

夏の最後は母がもう一度私たちの家まで来てくれました。子供たちの最後の夏休みの２週間、一緒に過ごしてくれて、ご飯作ってくれて、庭きれいにしてくれて．．．もう感謝しきれない。仕事で疲れっちゃって不機嫌だった私、ごめんなさい。でも本当に感謝してるし、来てくれて一緒に居られて本当にうれしかったのだよ。これに懲りず、また来てほしいな。子供たちも中ばあがくるのはいつもすごく楽しみ。ありがとう、ありがとう、お母さん。

おお！忘れてはいけない！今年の夏、喜音はバレエの集中レッスンをとりました。５週間、週５日、朝８時から３時まで。送り迎えの関係で朝６時半には家を出なかった喜音。朝がこれでもかってくらい苦手な彼女がこの５週間、ほとんど文句も言わず、ちゃんと自分でスケジュールを管理した。本当に偉いなと、大人になってきたなと感じた、そんな夏でもありました。

もうこちらは風も冷たく、日も短くなって、秋になっております。バーバーへ相変わらず忙しい新学期をなんとか生き延びております。

Mother's Day 母の日 2017

Breakfast in bed made by Yukine. I felt so loved :) Her cooking skill is getting better for sure!

喜音がベッドまで持ってきてくれた朝ごはん。こっちでは、こうやって子供が母の日の朝に朝ごはんを作って、ベッドまで運んでくれるのが伝統です。

Mother's Day Present from Kanata. He said it's not my face. I am glad that. LOL He wrote a poem too.  He also wrote a poem. He didn't want me to read it tho,  奏大からの母の日のプレゼント。少なく私の似顔絵ではないらしい。よかった。笑 そして、よく意味が分からなかったけど（笑）詩も（学校で書かされた。）書いてくれました。

 

 

 

 

 

 

そして、これを機に、Barber Pile(Barber 積み重ね)をもう一度再現してみましたー！上が今日、で、下が９年前。子供たちは重くて、もう乗れない。。。こうやって重ねてみると二人とも大きくなったんだねー。

 And since it was Mother's day and we all had time to spend time together at home today, we took Barber pile picture first time since 2008. The first picture was from today, and the picture below of it was from 2008! I can't believe that the kids grew so much! They are now too big and heavy to sit top on us anymore... Time indeed flied...

  May 2017

 May 2008

母の日は、私もこんなにお祝いしてもらえるけど、私は私の母にそして、ブリ豚のお母さんにも心から感謝しています。いつも、私達のことを気にかけ、手伝ってくれて、アドバイスをくれるお母さんたち、そして、こうやって私たちが幸せな家族でいられること、ブリ豚に会わせてくれたこと、それはお母さんたちがいかなったらなかったから。本当にありがとう。これからもどうぞよろしくお願いします。

I have a great Mother's day. My family treated me well and I felt so much love. I also want to celebrate for my mom and Brittain's mom! They both always think about us, help us, so many things they have been done for us. Since moms had us, and they raised us, Brit and I could meet and got married and have such wonderful beautiful kids!! I thank them from bottom of my heart. Thank you and love you, the moms!

Happy Mother's day!!

Lastly.... Kanata's funny (or normal) faces :)

そして最後は、奏大の変な（いや、普通か？）顔特集（笑）

Christmas Tree 2016

子供たち大はしゃぎ！初の生クリスマスツリー。しかもかなりのディスカウントをゲット！

 The kids are so excited to have a real Christmas tree!

Thanksgiving is over, now officially Christmas season has come. We bought a real tree for a Christmas tree this year. This is the first time for us to have a real tree for Christmas. I have been wanting to have one but never done. So here we are! More than anything, it smells sooooo good!! a divine scent! I can just sit next to the tree for all night smelling the scent. This was Yukine's call to get one on last Tuesday. I was too tired on that day and almost gave up on having a tree this year again but she convinced us to go to a store to get one. And, we got a huge discount on the tree! Christmas tree can be very expensive. We didn't want to spend so much money on it so that was a good call! Thanks, Yukine!

It's always fun to decorate a tree. Our trandition for Christmas is that each kids can get one new ornament and one Christmas village house for everyone after Christmas (since they are on sale!) for next year. So it's fun to see the ornaments that they got last year. It's kinda like seeing your old best friend once a year :)

サンクスギビングも終わり、またもやクリスマスの時期がやってきました。今年は初のリアルクリスマスツリー。ブリ豚が匂いがいいよとは言っていたけど、本当に本当の木はいい匂い。もうなんとも言えないこの匂い。ツリーの隣に座っているだけでちょっと瞑想できる。かなりリラックス。
先週末に忙しくて買えなかったからもう、まためんどくさくなって本当はなかば、どっちでもいいかなと思っていた生木。でも喜音がどうしてもほしいというから、なんとなく店に見に行ったら、なんとセール！プラス、クーポンもついてかなりお得に仕入れることができました！ナイス、喜音！
クリスマスツリーはかなりお高くつくこともあるし、かなりラッキー。この匂いとやっぱり本物はなんか雰囲気いいから価値があるな。本当はちゃんとクリスマス農園でクリスマスツリー狩りをしたほうが質のいいものがあるのだろうけど。でも近所のお店で十分です。

クリスマスツリーを飾るのも毎年の楽しみ。うちは恒例として、クリスマスが終わった後のセールで好きなオーナメントを子供たち、ひとりにつき一個ずつ増やしていきます。だから毎年、次の年に去年買ったオーナメントを見て、「ああ、これ買ったねー！これは２年前かなー？」って言いながら、飾るのがとっても楽しい。ちょっと昔からのお友達に一年ぶりに再会するような気分？

November - 11月

１１月は、父をよく思い出す月です。

父の誕生日が１１月９日。私の誕生日が１１月２０日。
２年前、父が癌だとわかった時、１１月に日本に帰ることにしました。できる限り直接会いたかったから。そのあと何度会うことができるのかわからなかったから。
１１月２０日に日本に着き、一日目から、近所の「とよばら」「みはらし」そば屋、よく色んなところに一緒に行きました。なんだ、元気なんじゃないかとちょっと安心した矢先の２４日、父は突然帰らぬ人となってしまいました。癌でなくて心筋梗塞で。だれも予想だにしない別れでした。

２年経って、もう２年も経つのかと思う気持ちと、まだ２年だけなのか、もう何年もお父さんと話してないとも思ったり。不思議な気分です。

一生こんな感じで１１月を過ごすんだろうな。

話せなくて寂しいな、今、お父さんがここにいて、子供たちと一緒に話して、笑い声を聞きたいなと思う。 また会いたいなと思う。

誕生日当日、ちょっと今年は、気分が沈んでいました。お父さんのこともあったし、大統領選挙のこともあったし、ブリ豚の仕事のこと（また１２月末でＭＳのコントラクトが無くなることが言い渡されて…これで３回目...）、私の仕事が忙しくて疲れていたこともあったからかな。なんだか楽しく過ごせる気分では全然なかったのです。前の日は喜音も奏大もお友達の家にお泊り会、当日も喜音は友達と遊びたいと言って連れてきたり、日曜日だったのもあって、掃除、次の週のごはんづくりと、なんだか普通の週末になってしまったのもちょっと悲しかったり。いつもは誕生日の人がレストランを決めて外食するのだけど、それもそんな気分になれませんでした。こんな年かなーとあきらめてたけど、今週になっていろんなことがいい方向に動き始めた。ブリ豚の仕事も希望が見えてきたことは大きいな。正直、またどうなっちゃうんだろうと心配してたから。
それと同時に、私の仕事もちょっと落ち着いたり、頑張っていることが認められたこと、あとは、国民の休日がかなり少ないアメリカでのやっとの連休、Thanksgiving Holiday 休暇に入って、身体的、精神的にちょっと余裕ができたこともあるんだと思います。今やっと、誕生日に沢山の人から素敵なメッセージをもらった事、喜音からのすてきなメッセージをもらった事、かなたが、（多分、自分のほしいものだけど…）このところ毎日、ママのプレゼントはこれがいいと思うってブリ豚と喜音と相談してること、ブリ豚がPortlandの旅行を計画してくれていること、とってもいい誕生日（月）だなーっと改めて感じています。

今年も素敵に年をとれました。ありがとう、みなさん。そしてありがとう、ブリ豚、喜音、奏大。
今はとってもPortland 旅行が楽しみ♪

When my dad came visit us in Seattle the last time. It was so much fun. I love you, Dad. I miss you so much..

お父さんがシアトルに最後に遊びに来てくれた時。楽しかったなー

November is the month I remember my dad a lot. That's because his birthday is November 9th,  he passed away on November 24th, 2014. We went to visit Japan to see my dad in November 2 years ago. We went to many favorite places together in the 4 days before he passed away more than we did in the past.
It's been already 2 years since he was gone, on the other hand, I feel like it's been only 2 years? I feel that I haven't talked to him for ages. In November every year, I miss him more than any other month, I guess. I wish he was here and listened to my stories and the kids' stories and smiled. I still feel weird that he is not here anymore.The 4days were miracles that we spent together in Japan before we lost him so suddenly and unexpectedly. Not sure if he was waiting for us before he had to go but the days we were together were so special to me and my kids. I miss him a lot. I miss him so much....

My birthday is also in November. I didn't feel pretty good on my birthday. That may be because I was thinking about my dad and missed him. That may be because the presidential election, Brittain's job situation (his MS contract got shorter than the original period and he was just told before Thanksgiving.), I had been working a lot of over time lately... Yukine wanted to have a play date with her friend on my birthday. Kanata didn't seem like he cares about my birthday....And it was Sunday, so we needed to finish clean the house, cook next week dinners, laundry, homeworks, piano practices...etc...

I couldn't feel that it was my birthday at all even though Yukine and her friend were making a fruits tart for me, Brit was asking me where I wanted for birthday dinner, and Kanata was thinking about my birthday present...

However, we had a good news for Brit's job and my job in the following week and Thanksgiving Holiday vacation has started. Now I feel relax and rest, so I finally have a room to feel I am thankful for the birthday wishes from many friends and families and I feel many wonderful people care about me and feel being loved. I am very grateful that, especially at this time...Thank you very much, everyone!! I love you!

Anyway, Brit plans my birthday adventure to Portland this weekend. Yukine sent me a warmest birthday wish. Kanata has decided my birthday present, which Brit and Yukine has been questioning if it's for me or actually he just wants to buy for him. lol. I don't know what it is yet. I kinda want Kanata to get it since I am curious and wanna see it. :P

I am, now, very looking forward to my birthday trip to Portland!

ゆきねからの誕生日メッセージ。嬉しかったなー！「Happy birthday mom. You are such an amazing mother better than I would ask for. We have had some really great times like when we went to the u-village every Tuesday and I would get my hair braided, then the people should put glitter in my hair, and we would get hot coco and one time you even did yoga there. You give such sage advise (hard word. Means good advise) and have helpers end so many fights with my friends. You are always there for me. Like with ballet helping me get my splits and for Japanese you are always there to answer my question. Anyways happy birthday mommy. ママ大好き」

Yukine and her friend made a fruits tart on my birthday. I was delicious :)

喜音とお友達がフルーツタルトを作ってくれました。

Happy 12th Anniversary

１２年前の９月２１日、日本、京都で婚姻届けを出しました。
そして、なんと！今年は驚く事に、私が結婚記念日を覚えていました！！・・・もしかしたら、１２年間で初めてかもしれない・・・笑　結婚一周年からすっかり忘れて全く違う友達との予定を入れた私。
そんな私が覚えているなんて奇跡に近い　ので！　今年は当日になにかぶり豚を驚かせたかった。

仕事帰りにちょっと有名なドーナツやさんで６個のドーナツと６個のマカロンを買って（１２年にちなんで。本当はドーナツ１２個にしようと思ったけど、それは死ぬだろうと断念。）それを急いで家に帰ってごみ袋に入れてブリトンに渡した。

なんで、ドーナツをごみ袋かっていうと・・・

ぶり豚に出会ったばっかりの時、まだ全然仲良くなくて、ちょっとメール交換するくらいの仲だったとき、ある日、夜中に、メールしてきた。なにかっていうと、「ドーナツあるから食べにくる？」って。今まで何回か色々に誘われたけど、夜中に男の家にいくのはさすがに。と思って断ってたこともあり、今回は、行ってみようかなーと思って行った。
ぶり豚のアパートに着いて、初めて、中に入って、キッチン通り抜けていっても、ドーナツの箱らしいものがなかった。だから、ぶり豚に「で、ドーナツは？」って聞いたら、「そこ。」って指さされたのは、大きなごみ袋。一瞬わけわからなかったけど、ごみ袋を覗くと、中には、袋いっぱいのドーナツ・・・・

もう目が点。
ドーナツって・・・拾ってきたのかい！！！

正直、かなり引いたけど、あまり国際的でなかった私は「そうか、アメリカ人は食べ物を大切にするんだ」とか、とっさになんか必死に頭の中でこの状況を肯定しようとしたのか変に納得・・・今考えれば完全におかしな奴なんだけど・・・笑

それからというもの、「ごみ袋の中のドーナツ」は、私たちの中でのうちわネタになっているわけで、今年は、１４年ぶりに私がし返したわけ。といっても私のドーナツは真剣、おいしいのを買ったんだけど。ｗｗｗ

ぶり豚はごみ袋を目の前にした後も、全くわかってなくて、その前にいた喜音のがはじめに気づいた。「Ｉ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｉｔ　Ｉ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｗｈａｔ’ｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅｒｅ！！！」って。笑　（この話、子供らにしたことあるからねー。）

まぁそんな１３年目がスタートです。
これからもどうぞよろしく！

I and Brit submitted our marriage license in Kyoto, Japan 12 years ago. Surprisingly I remembered our anniversary this year! I have kept forgetting our anniversary every year since the first one, thus most of the past years, we haven't done anything really special. (probably have been to dinner 3 or 4 times.) BUT! this year, somehow I managed to remember the day! This was a miracle. So, I decided to do something special to Brittain. It's a weekday and the one of the super busy days with work and the kids' activities so I couldn't make something or go somewhere. But I came up with a really cool idea that probably only I and Brit would get it.
It was 12 donuts (actually 6 donuts and 6 macaroons since we would die if we ate a dozen donuts with 4 of us.) in a garbage bag! I hid the donuts in a big garbage bag and gave it to him after dinner. First, he couldn't get it at all but Yukine got it right away before him, said " I know it, I know what's in there!!!" That's because we have told the kids about the donuts in a garbage story before.

I might not have talked about the story here about when I went to Brit's place in Kyoto the first time ever.
Here we go.

We were not really friends that time and we were just texting each other occasionally. That night, he texted me and said "I have tons of donuts, would you like to come over?" I had never been to his place before but I thought it was nice of him so I decided to go. Once I get there and entered inside of his apartment, I couldn't find the donuts. I assumed there was a box of donuts but there was no box around there. So I asked him where the donuts were. Then He pointed the 2 big garbage bags sitting in the kitchen. I couldn't understand what he was talking about but I went to the kitchen and opened the garbage bag. There were, literally, tons of donuts crumbing in the bag. I thought he was crazy and a bit creep me out but then I reconsider that's because he was an American and hate to waste food since I didn't have any friends from other countries. Since the night, we started seeing more and more. If he was a Japanese guy and invited me for free donuts picked from the dumpster, I might not see him again. It might a judgement though....

Anyway, now we are a happiest couple ever :) :)

Happy 12th Anniversary, more to go!


  

Summer 2016

Hello from Barbers in Seattle.

Again, it's been more than a half year since the last post. The summer 2016 is already over, now I certainly feel a fall breeze comes outside here. Since last Christmas, our life again has changed dramatically. Brit has changed his job in Feb 2016, and I also has changed a job in March. I was working at Amazon in  2015, now I am in Aero space!!! The kids have been doing fine with the new schedule and they have been doing great at the school and their activities. Yukine has made a one level up for her ballet class from the summer ballet classes. She is excited to be in the new class! I knew she has been working so hard for the last 2 years remaining in the same level even though the rest of her peers leveled up already. I am really proud of her. Kanata is doing Kanata. Lol He has been in highly-capable class (advanced class) since the 2nd grade and doing well at the school. BUT he has been in trouble in Japanese school... How many times I have got emails from the teacher.....I couldn't understand him at all why he's been worst in only the Japanese class... He knew he got in a trouble and would loose his privileges. I am hoping he will be better this year... 

The kids summer break ended. More pictures will come soon.

またもや、前回のアップデートから半年以上が経ってしまった。。。
もうすでに、クリスマスに近いし。。。恐ろしい。
前回のアップデートから、さらにバーバー家は色々変化がございました。
ぶ り豚は転職し、私も一年間働いたアマゾンを退職、なんと！ぶり豚の後釜として、ぶり豚の使っていたデスクで航空関係の仕事をしております。Ｙｏｇａはどう した？とお思いのお方がいれば、ご心配は無用、しっかりそれも、個人の生徒さんを受け持ち、続けております。おかげさまで、長年のお付き合いの方はそのま ま、私の予定を考慮していただき、クラスにひきつづき来ていただいております。
さてさて、そんな中、子供たちはめまぐるしく変わる生活にもめげず、なかなか頑張っております。親がこんな感じで落ち着かないから、子どもも慣れてくるんだろうか？笑
ゆ きねはここ２年間で習い事への真剣さが増した気がする。とくにバレエは、色々な事情でクラスを上のレベルにしてもらえないことが続いたにめげず、一生懸命 頑張りました。ついにこの夏のクラスからレベルがあがり、ほかの子たちに追いついたところ。精神的にもかなり成長した一年だったんじゃないかな。母はこの ことに関してはとっても誇りに思っています。
かなたは、。。。相変わらずかなたです。やんちゃで、ゲーム好きで、おちゃらけてばっかり。で も、２年生からはゆきねと同じアドバンスのクラスに行っていて、学校ではちゃんとしている様子。現地校の先生からは受けがいいんだよね、うちの子ら。。。 しかしながら。。。日本語の塾では相当の問題児。。母は何度、お叱りのメールをもらったことか。これには、真剣に私も困り果てました。どうしていいもの か、何度も注意し、何度も色々な特権をお預けにされたり。。。それでも懲りないかなた。。。今年はどうなることか。。。　

子供たちの学校も始まり、あっという間に夏休みは終わりです。。。またさむーい、くらーい、雨ばっかりのシアトルの冬が来る。（涙）

Here is a summer 2016 re-cap!

Camping with cousins. it was so much fun! They are the best buddies. We need to do it again!
従妹たちとキャンプ。楽しかったー！また来年も絶対したいね！

Our old neighbor street in Kyoto! This was first time to visit there in 4 or 5 years. I can't even remember when the last time I went back to Kyoto.

Our old house in Kyoto. the neighbor hasn't changed much but the house next door was now gone... I can't believe we all 4 people lived  ( only for a month for Kanata tho.) in such a tiny house.

４，５年ぶりに京都に行きました！昔の家や近所を見たり、沢山のお友達に会ったり、寺見たり、夏床行ったり。。。やっぱり京都いいよ！！

Kawa yuka - Kamogawa River side terrace dining. Very famous for summer in Kyoto. I have been wanting to eat there for a long time. My dream came true. I feel very VIP. You could even call Geisha or Maiko at some of restaurants.

Kinkaku-ji

Christmas 2015

Hi, this is Yukine. I'm the kobuta mom has been talking about for so many years. Now I'm old enough to write so here I am writing. Today is Christmas which means it is about a little more than a week away from Kanata's birthday and about 1 mouths away from my birthday.  Me and my brother woke up at three in the morning, trying not to wake up our mom and dad, we went through our stockings. After about 45 minutes dad came up because he had to go to the bathroom. We stayed up till about 4 trying to figure out what presents we got. I got some right like my new jeans, Toms, and chrome book laptop. Kanata guessed he got a Nerf gun, and a Styrofoam head which he did not get but it was a foam football. Mom got leg warmers, gloves and pair of earrings from me and Kanata. Dad got Mom a hotel room we are going as a family in February and mom got dad a Seattle synonyms gift card. Me and Kanata got dad slippers and put a potato picture on the slippers. Somethings Kanata got is a nerf gun, a shark sleeping bag, Jalapeno sauce, and shoes. Somethings I got is jeans, a laptop, books, baby lips lip balm, Toms, fuggs (AKA fake uggs) and Battleship.  Now I'm writing on my new  laptop. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Happy holidays everyone and a good new year.

こんにちは、喜音です。ママがいつもこのBlogで話しているこぶただよ。私はもう１０歳でもうすぐ１１歳だから、自分でBlogが書けるようになりました。今日はクリスマス。あと１０日くらいでかなたのたんじょうびだよ。あと１ヶ月で、私のたんじょうびだよ。わたしとかなたくんは今日、朝の３時に起きて、ストッキングの中を見た。そのあと、４５分くらいたったら、だどが、トイレ行かなくちゃいけなくて起きた。わたしとかなたくんは朝４時くらいまで起きていて、つつんであるプレゼントの中はなにかGuessしてた。わたしは、まぁまぁ合ってた。わたしとかなたくんはママのために、レッグウォーマー、手ぶくろとピアスを買ってあげた。だどには、スリッパを買ってあげて、ポテトの写真をつけた。わたしがひとつもらったものはパソコンでした。今、そのパソコンで書いている。メリークリスマス、よいお年を！

Christmas Season in Barbers.

 日本に一時帰国したのが１１月２０日ー１２月７日。そのあとはバタバタのままクリスマスとなりました。今年は日本行があったので、喜音はくるみ割り人形に出ず。バレエを始めてから初めて出ませんでした。残念だったけど、日本に行って本当によかった。
日本から帰って、疲れと日常生活へのアジャストとでやる気がしなかったけど、子供たちは今年もジンジャーブレッドハウスが作りたいと。てことで、作った今年のもの。⇈　てきとーにした割にはなかなかかな。
We came back from Japan trip 2-14 on 7th of December. Yukine missed the Nutcracker show this year since we went to Japan, which is a bit sad but all of us very appreciated we went to Japan. After we came back from Japan, the kids went back to school, It's a Christmas mood all over around us but took a while to adjust to it and get back to normal life. I was not planning to make a ginger bread house this year, however the kids begged me so we did it. I am glad that we did it again this year. Smells good, suddenly felt like a Christmas was also coming to our house. I and the kids enjoyed making it. I am going to work as full time from 2015, I cannot imagine how it goes, so glad we had a great time at home doing Christmas stuff together. Hopefully, I can do next year too.
 

 クリスマスが近づいてきて、家にもデコレーションを。これは、キリストが生まれたときを表している飾りでＮａｔｉｖｉｔｙというのだけど、本来はキリスト、マリア様、ジョゼフ、キング、羊飼いなど。でも奏大が作るとこういうことに。いろんな種族が混じっています。これが理想的な世界！？

Kanata invited many people to the nativity. I love it :) 

 子供が学校が休みになってから三人でプロのジンジャーブレッドハウス展を見に行ってみました。７年間シアトルにいて初めて。クリスマスイブってこともあったけど、すごい人。。。途中であきらめようかと思ったけど、ここまで来たからと１時間弱待ち。意味あったかな、これが全部お菓子でできていると思うと本当にすごい！

At the Shelton Hotel in Seattle had an annual ginger bread house exhibition. I and the kids went to on Christmas Eve, which was a little bit stupid. Sooooo many people there!!! We were about to give up but finally lined in for about an hour, we got see them. That was spectacular indeed though. Amazing if you think everything were made of sweets! 

 クリスマスは、家族で。今年、こどもは初タブレット。それからバスローブなどをもらい、ブリトンは子供と一緒に作ったポテトトレーナー、じゃがいも一袋、ジャガイモの時計とジャガイモなクリスマス。
A part of Christmas presents opening. 

 ウェストシアトルにある有名なクリスマスライト。普通の家の住人が趣味でやっています。夜なのにちゃんと写真が撮れるくらい明るいって本当にすごい！
On Christmas day, we went to see the light in West Seattle. Two very famous families are decorating every year. It was worth to go some long drive to see them. Our light were way way dark after these two.  Sadly enough I had to think about it, but I was wondering how much the bill cost??? :p