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!