Christmas 2009 (Sakura's first)

今年のクリスマスはジョシュの実家には行かずネブラスカで過ごしました。ネブラスカは２４日から雪が降り続いておりかなり積もってますが。２４日のご飯は恒例のポテトチャウダー、その後、プレゼントのオープン。
２５日はストッキングの中の確認、さくらにはサンタクロースからの手紙やプレゼントが届いてました。
皆様、遅くなりましたがメリークリスマス！！！

It started snowing yesterday, Christmas Eve and is still snowing. So far, some snow drifts are close to 3 feet! That is in addition to the snow & ice that we have gotten already at the beginning of December. It is hard to believe that we are near the end of 2009. We spent our Christmas at home in Bellevue, Nebraska. We wanted Sakura's first Christmas to be at home. We ate potato chowder about 1 PM and began opening presents at 2 PM (kind of early but, oh well). Sakura had a great time opening the presents as mom helped. Now as we head towards 2010, wondering what the new year has in store for our friends & family! Love you all and we will see you in the new year!

Sakura's Lemonade Stand?

最近のさくらは、とてもパワフル。ハイハイもつかまり立ちも更に上手になり、ハイチェアで遊ぶのが日課。
来月からはジム、プールに通う予定。

Sakura has been busy. She loves pulling herself up on things, especially her high-chair. It looks like she has a small lemonade stand on the back of it. As she is getting more & more mobile, we thought that we should enroll her in a class at Gymboree. We brought her there for a trial and she loved it. She will be starting her first class, January 2nd! We are also planning on enrolling her in swimming lessons. Oh, and almost forgot to mention, her first teeth are starting to come through. (Middle, bottom.)

Getting ready for Christmas & the first blizzard in Omaha (for us)

１２月１日にクリスマスツリーをだしました。小さめなクリスマスツリーだけど私達にとってはちょうど良いサイズ。
そして５日は私の母親から荷物が届きました。沢山の食べ物や洋服、ありがとう。
６日の夜は、初めてさくらに雪を見せました。
８日、９日はジョシュの仕事はおやすみでした。雪が大量に降ったため、家で待機の事。
３０〜４５センチの雪がこの２日間で積もりました。雪かきも大変でした。そしてとにかく寒い。

We have begun a family tradition. We will set up our Christmas tree on the 1st of December from now on. Sakura wanted to help and she made sure that everything was out of the box. (It is our small Christmas tree but it is perfect for us.) Maybe in the future we will cut our own or just buy a larger one. Times will change. On the 5th of December we received a 'goodie' package from Hideko in Japan. Some food & more clothes for Sakura. The following day, Sunday night was the first snow that Sakura experienced. We had to take some pictures even though it was dark. With the snowfall, Josh had both Tuesday & Wednesday off from work as the base was closed for snow removal. We ended up shoveling our 12-18" of snow both days. (Wednesday was primarily a lot of wind and blowing snow.) We have a lot to look forward to with Sakura growing up and playing in the snow!