Christmas was great, now onto New Years!

私達はとても楽しいクリスマスを過ごしました。ジョシュは約2.2キロのチキンの丸焼きに挑戦。貴子は寿司、サラダ、マッシュポテト、クリスマスケーキを作りました。さくらはクリスマスプレゼントを開けるのが大好き。さくらが寝た後、ジョシュと貴子はさくらにプレゼントしたキッチンの組み立てをしました。約２時間かかりました。
日曜日は、皆して体調を崩してしまいました。原因は不明。月曜日は皆でリラックス。
さくらはジョシュの両親にクリスマスプレゼントでもらったブロックを積み上げては倒すのが大好き。そして貴子の母親からクリスマスプレゼントでもらった小さなピアノで遊ぶのが大好き。私たちからのクリスマスプレゼント、サングラスをするのが大好き。
メリークリスマス！

We had a wonderful time at home on Christmas. We bought Sakura a pre-Christmas gift of sunglasses. She got to pick them out. She made a great choice! Josh made a 5 lb. chicken with a recipe from Food Network. Takako made sushi rolls, mashed potatoes, salad & Christmas cake. Sakura loved opening her gifts or asking mom to help. Day-bis & Kuro were also there by her side to offer help. Once Sakura's bedtime came, Josh & Takako started to put her small kitchen together so she could play with it the following day. It took a little over 2 hours to assemble but it came together nicely. She has already gotten a lot of use out of it. Yesterday we just slept in as we were sick the entire day. We don't know why, maybe too many activities all together. Today we just relaxed at home with the family. I love these days. Sakura loves stacking blocks and then knocking them down. She also loves learning to play the piano with her book that she received from Hideko.

Christmas time is almost here...

ジョシュが帰国してから毎日忙しい？日々を送ってますが、
本日、アメリカ在住の方にクリスマスカードを送りました。日本の友達には１月初旬にカードが届く予定です。
クリスマスイブは明後日、さくらにとって２回目のクリスマス、最近、色々な表情をするのでプレゼントを開けた瞬間のさくらの表情が楽しみ。
今年のクリスマスは初めて丸鳥を焼く予定。
皆さんも良いクリスマスを。

The family is all back together and eagerly awaiting Christmas. We have been busy since my return from the deployment. We went to the zoo, visited with our MN family & Sakura even helped with some leaves before received some snow. We just sent out our 'Holiday Greeting Cards' today as we missed the Christmas deadline. The tree is up (our small one). Presents are all wrapped and under it. We can't wait to see Sakura's face when she opens some presents. This will be her 2nd Christmas but we don't believe she remembers much about last Christmas. Takako is going to try a new recipe for roast chicken. Josh is just glad to be home with the family.

A Reunited Family...

１２月６日、無事にジョシュが帰国しました。

Josh just got back from his deployment this past Monday, the 6th of December. Takako & Sakura met him at the airport. What a joyous reunion. We are now a reunited family.

Our 2010 Surprises

ブログの更新が止まってしまいましたが、私とさくらは５週間日本で楽しい時間を母親と過ごしました。日本にいる間にいきなりジョシュが中東への長期出張が決まり、さらに出張の前に一ヶ月間（３月下旬から４月下旬まで）シアトルにトレーニングに行く事になり、３月中旬にジョシュの両親がオマハにきてくれデービスと黒をミネソタに連れて帰ってくれました（私とさくらは日本にいた為）５週間日本で過ごした私とさくらはオマハに戻らずジョシュの実家で２週間程、過ごしました（丁度乗り換え空港がミネソタだったのとデービスと黒も実家でお世話になっているのと、私とさくらも実家で過ごすのが一番いいだろうという事になったので）
ジョシュはシアトルでのトレーニング中、ヘイダン君とメメさんが何度もベースにご飯を持ってきてくれたりと、ジョシュは毎日のトレーニングで辛かった部分もあると思うんだけど、そんな時、二人がベースにきてくれて一緒に時間を過ごしてくれてジョシュも本当に楽しかったそうです。本当にありがとう。
（実は４月の中旬からヘイダン君とメメさんが住んでるシアトルに一週間程遊びに行く予定でした、年末にチケットも手配済み、すっごい楽しみにしてました。でもジョシュの出張が決まり、その旅行はなくなってしまったの。でもジョシュのトレーニング先がシアトルだったので、ジョシュはヘイダン君とメメさんに会えました）
ジョシュがシアトルでのトレーニングが終わった後、一旦オマハに戻ってくるというので両親、私とさくら、デービスと黒でオマハに戻りました（両親は数日滞在してミネソタに戻りました）ジョシュの出発がいつになるのか決まらずでしがた、先日、５月１９日に出発する事になりました。私とさくら、デービスと黒はジョシュが出発した後、ミネソタの実家で一ヶ月半過ごす予定、その後、私とさくらは４ヶ月程日本に里帰りし、またミネソタに戻り数週間程度過ごした後、ジョシュが戻ってくる数日前にオマハに戻ってくる予定です。
４月２８日はさくらの１歳の誕生日でした。出産してから１年、この１年は本当に早かった。５月３日はデービスの４歳の誕生日でした。
ジョシュが戻ってきてからの一ヶ月は本当に毎日が早かった。
そして、ジョシュのいない６ヶ月間ジョシュの両親や兄弟、私の母親のサポートに本当に感謝。ありがとう。

Long time no see...err...write. Sorry it has been so long but our 2010 has taken quite a turn. As you may have read from our last post, Takako & Sakura traveled to Japan at the beginning of March and stayed for 5 weeks. During that time is when everything happened. Sakura learned a lot of how to walk, with some help from Takako, in the park just behind Grandma Hideko’s. They video-chatted frequently with Josh who was holding down the fort in Omaha with the boys. Josh was amazed at the strides that Sakura was taking, growing up so fast.

And...if you didn’t already know, about the middle of March, Josh was notified that he needed to fill a spot for an upcoming deployment. The individual that was supposed to go was medically disqualified. He had about 9 days notice before he needed to be out at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, WA to start training with the Army. Even though he is in the Air Force, it is something known as a JET tasking. We are merging not only career fields but many facets of the military are becoming more & more joint operations. While I was out in WA, I was able to meet up with Haydon & Megumi (our friends from Omaha that live in Tacoma now.) Right place at the right time. (We already had purchased tickets to visit them in WA after Takako & Sakura’s Japan trip but that became canceled.)

Quite the logistical nightmare with coordinating the care of our Pugs (with my parents), scheduling lawn care for the entire summer, not to mention Takako & Sakura’s return flight & what they would like to do for the following 6 months. Contact with Takako that same night via video-chat in Japan he broke the news to her about the deployment. The following week, he was medically cleared and boarded the plane for WA. CST was a one-month long, ‘this is the way the Army does it’ class/hand-on instruction. Then as Takako & Sakura were due back in Omaha, they deplaned in Minneapolis where they stayed with Josh’s parents until his possible return at the end of April, before the deployment.

Josh returned back to Omaha at the end of April. His parents met him at the airport & they headed for home to meet the rest of the family. Now it was just a matter of time on how long they will be together before the deployment. We were able to celebrate Sakura’s 1st Birthday & Day-bis’ 4th Birthday. We could spend a lot of quality time together at home. We also just found out that the 19th of May is the day to head to the airport.

We have such gracious families that my parents will welcome Takako, Sakura, Day-bis & Kuro from the end of May. Then in July, Takako & Sakura will once again return to Japan to visit with Grandma Hideko for about 4 months prior to returning to MN awaiting my return. Day-bis & Kuro will wait upon their return in November at which time they will all come down to Omaha. That reunion will be quite a special one. I already can’t wait.

Sakura & Takako are in Japan - Kuro's 3rd Birthday

３月２日、私とさくらは日本に向けて出発しました。乗り継ぎ空港のミネソタではジョシュのご両親とご対面、ご両親も２日にカルフォルニアに旅行に行くので、空港で会いました。荷物が多かったので持ってもらったりと本当に助かりました。
機内でもさくらはぐずる事なく本当に楽でした。これから５週間、実家で過ごします。
３月４日はクロの３歳のお誕生日、ビデオチャットでクロのお誕生日をお祝いしました。

This past Tuesday morning Takako & Sakura left for Japan. We will miss them very much. Takako stated that Sakura was very good on the flight over. Wes & Vicky even met them in Minneapolis to escort/help them to the International departures. Wes & Vicky were heading out to California for a short vacation the same day. Takako stated they were a 'very big help!' She wishes to thank them once again! Takako & Sakura will be visiting Hideko for the next 5 weeks. Back in Omaha, we celebrated Kuro's 3rd Birthday over a video chat with Takako & Sakura in Tokyo. We sang Happy Birthday to him then he was able to eat a large treat.

Sakura is 10 months old

早いもので2月も終わり。
久々に先日、ジョシュとデービスとクロはパグミィーテイングに行ってきました。私とさくらは風邪の為、お家でお留守番。
ジョシュもデービスもクロも楽しい時間を過ごしたようです。
先週の土曜日は、さくらのジムでした。３月と４月はお休みしてまた５月からジムに通います。
さくらも日に日に歩く歩数も増えてきて、ますます目が離せなくなってます。

Already the end of February. Either time has flown by this year or we have stayed busy. Ever since the beginning of the year we have had Sakura enrolled in both swimming lessons at the YMCA & Level 1/2 at Gymboree. This past Saturday was her last Gymboree class until May. She will be up to level 3 class by then as today she is 10 months old. She surprises us daily with little things that she is learning/exploring. She is getting much better at walking around the house (living room thru the kitchen to the computer room). We really need to watch her as she quickly leaves the room to explore. This past week Josh brought Day-bis & Kuro to a Pug meeting/birthday party at Dogtopia. Very busy pictures with about 20 Pugs in attendance. Takako & Sakura stayed at home for some girl time.

Valentine's Day

今日はバレンタインデー。午前中は、さくらと一緒に小麦粉粘度で遊び、お昼はハート型のピザを食べ（お店で売ってるのを買って家で焼きました。）その後は、皆でプールに遊びに行きました。夜は今朝作ったチョコレートケーキを食べました。
さくらはここ最近、数歩、歩けるようになりました。明日はアメリカは祝日、大統領の日。明日も皆でプールに行く予定。

Today, Valentine's Day. I am very lucky because I have two girls to spoil today. The pictures above look like Sakura made the pizza dough but we cheated and bought a heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's. We just wanted to introduce her to flour & then water mixed in as seen in the below video. In Japan they call it, "flour clay". After the pizza lunch, we headed for swimming at the Sarpy County YMCA then back home to relax the rest of the night away. Takako had also made a 'triple' chocolate cake. (One layer of smashed Oreo's, one layer of chocolate cream cheese & topped with chocolate syrup.) It sure was a Valentine's Day to remember.

Nearing the end of January

今日から２月。早いものです。１月から初めたさくらのジムとプール。まだまだ人見知りと恥ずかしがりやな部分があるもののジムもプールにも慣れてきた様子。
そしてアメリカにきて初めて焼き肉をお家でしました。アメリカは焼き肉用のお肉が売ってないので大きな肉の固まりを買ってそれを薄く切って焼き肉として食べました。やはり焼き肉は美味しい！

We can't believe that it is already the end of January! This month has flown by. We have been keeping busy with Sakura's Gymboree classes on the weekends and YMCA swimming classes on Tuesday nights. So far she is getting over her 'shyness' with others at Gymboree and becoming much more comfortable with the water at swim lessons. This past weekend we brought out the Yakiniku grill so we could grill some meat at home. (Takako even sliced all of the meat from one large brisket. There are no 'Yakiniku variety trays' in the states, only in Japan.) Now as we head into February, more adventures await for our family.

Omaha Zoo & Cheerios

今日、１８日はアメリカの祝日でジョシュが仕事お休みだったので皆で動物園に行ってきました。寒くて人が少ないかなって思ったけど結構、人がいました。
さくらにとって初めての動物園、色々な動物を見たり、動物の泣き声を聞いたりととっても楽しそうでした。
私達も１年ぶりの動物園、楽しかった。
そして先日、ハイチで大地震がありました。連日ニュースでハイチの様子を映し出してます。今の私達に出来る事、それは募金。少しでも役に立てたらという事で、帰りに募金してきました。一日でも早い復興、そして亡くなられた方のご冥福をお祈り致します。

Today we brought Sakura to the Omaha Zoo for her first time! (Actually she has been there before but in Mom's tummy, the beginning of last April.) Sakura loved looking at the animals at the multiple indoor exhibits however she passed out once we arrived at the orangutan's. She did however see monkey's, penguins, big cats, gorilla's and aquarium life. We visited the zoo for about 2-3 hours then headed to our neighborhood grocery store, Bakers to donate towards the Haiti Relief Fund. If anyone hasn't donated yet, to help after the 7.0 earthquake less than a week ago, what are you waiting for, donate. Then once we arrived home, Sakura & the boys tried Cheerios for their first time! So far, mixed reactions.

Gymboree & YMCA Swimming Lessons

先週の土曜日からさくらはジムに通い始めました。０ヶ月から１０ヶ月のクラスで他に生徒は7ヶ月の男の子がいました。
毎週火曜日はプールに。６ヶ月から３歳のクラスでさくらが一番下の生徒でした。
最近はつかまり立ち、伝え歩きも上手になり、手を離して１、２歩歩けるようになりました。

This past weekend Sakura started a Gymboree Play & Learn class in west Omaha. It is a great way for her to exercise & play somewhere outside of the house. The class is for any babies 0-10 months old. She will only be in the class for a couple of months as she will then move up to level 3. There is only one other boy in the class with her, Cole is at 7 months. She is already beginning to 'test' gravity by pulling herself up on things, then letting go. She can usually balance for about 5-8 seconds before slumping down. She also enjoys playing with Day-bis & Kuro.

Just last night, we started her in a YMCA Swimming Class. She is in the 'Shrimp' class which is 6 months to 3 years old. She is the youngest but it will be an introduction for her to the aquatics environment. So far, she loves it!

New Years 2009-2010

大晦日は日本食レストランで日本食の食べ放題に行ってきました。その後は、紅白歌合戦をみて新年を迎えました。
元旦は毎年恒例の初日の出を見に。今年も寒くマイナス１２度、太陽がでてくるまで待っていたけどあいにくの曇り空でした。
さくらも８ヶ月を過ぎ、ますます活発に、ハイハイもつかまり立ちも上手になり最近はつかまらないで立とうとしてます。後、上下２本ずつ歯が生えてきました。そして明日の土曜日からジム、来週の火曜日からプールに通います。
今夜からさくらは一人でお部屋で寝る事になります。今までは私達の間で寝てたんだけど今日から朝まで一人でお部屋で寝る事にさせます。
先日、母親から着物とちゃんちゃんこを送ってもらったので早速着せました。デービスと黒にも洋服を（これも母親から）ありがとう。
皆様、今年も宜しくお願い致します。

We keep wondering where 2009 went! It flew by and now that we are into 2010 (read twenty-ten), more adventures await us. New Years Eve we headed out to Sushi Japan - Yakiniku Boy for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Delicious, we might add, then it was back home to watch the Japanese year-end NHK music special until after midnight. This morning we woke up, then headed out to the base lake to take a family picture with the first-sun of 2010 (~9°F). The only bad part was the clouds and we didn't see the sun until afternoon. Sakura is just over 8 months old and we are starting her in the Gymboree classes tomorrow and swim lessons at the YMCA start next Tuesday. She is getting her first teeth in (2 bottom then 2 top). Until now, she has slept between us in our bed, but tonight she is a big girl. We just hope that she doesn't sleep sitting up, her face on her crib side. We almost forgot to mention that Sakura also got a kimono from Grandma Hideko, Day-bis & Kuro received new t-shirts. It has been a great start to 2010!