Under the Tree

Finally on CAMERA!!

2009-08-03T15:58:00.004-04:00

I got it I got it!!

Finally I could take pictures of Hummingbird!!!

Usually, they come while I am washing dishes...
The day, he/she came while I was washing dishes... go figure!!
so I asked my husband to get a camera and take the picture!!

First... he asked me

Where is the camera?
How turn it on?
How zoom up?
...........

The bird was staying long!!
so we could take a picture!!!

Where are you bird??!! (￣▽￣;)

This long staying hummingbird has visited almost everyday!!
so I got another chance to take a picture!!!

He was not hovering but I could take a picture!!!

hmmmm..... I need SLR camera... hey!! we have a wed anniversary comes up soon!!
oops... no money ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´(00)`ﾟ)ﾟ｡

About a year...?

2009-07-09T11:03:00.006-04:00

Hello All!!

It has been .... lots of months went by!!!
Since last post which was on September 2008!!!
My daughter powered up much more!!!!!

We much often need to go out side to play with Hana... and have had a chance to get right relationship between them.
I have been working on and fixing and training together!!
So far.... both of them are building good relationship.

She became 2 years old in June, do you know what does that mean?????
She is in "Terrible 2!!!"

2008 Winter (Left) 2009 Spring(right)

She starts practicing Chopsticks!!

Forgetful or aging?

2008-09-30T13:53:00.003-04:00

People often said that You will have a memory problem.
YES I WAS!!!
but true is, at least my case, will get much forgetful even after had a baby!!!!!

My memory is terrible !! not only my computer!!!　(￣Д￣;;

1. I could not find my watch!! and I could not keep in mind to look for the watch either!!!!!!
It took me about a month to find the watch!
I found under a bed..... λ........

2. I lost both of my nail clippers!!!!!!!
I knew I would loose if I put a nail clipper here!!! that I was thinking but my wild animal.. oh... my wild daughter was crying and screaming... so I put it somewhere.

Guess what?!!! I forgot where I put on(￣￣￣∇￣￣￣;
I was looking for my nail clipper!!and I found it!!!!!!! that was different one. I lost one and found another.
Uhmm..... nice job!!ヾ(￣o￣;)

3. I lost Nina's bottle!!!!!! well... that was not only my fault!! because she holds anything and walking around and then drop somewhere...

I found the same day!! Yippie!!!! but I lost her folk yesterday (￣Д￣;;
I have no idea where it is... did I mistaken throw into a trash can with something? or as usual... she was holding it and just dropped somewhere I could find....

4. I was talking to Hana( our dog) and.... " NIna!! (daughter's name) sit!!"（ーー；）

when I was a kid, I often told my mom about don't call me my sister's name... but THE HISTORY WILL BE REPEATED.
(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆

Recently I am aware of .... "Why I am coming here???? I come to pick up something?? or Am I going to other room???"　(￣◇￣;)
I sometimes can't remember what I did morning!!!!!! I remember what I ate for breakfast!!!!! because most of time it is cereal.

well.... I may need a good long refresh and relax time(￣▽￣;)
or do I need upgrade my memories??
but at least... I still have a better memory than DADDY!!(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆

Check up ! catch UP!

2008-09-20T20:33:00.002-04:00

ヽ(＝￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣∇￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣＝)ﾉ <- try to give you smile!!

How long I have not posted here?????
That was why I gave you smile......

Last time was on March!!!! well... I am sorry about such a long absent.
well... let see....
Nina became 1 year old in June.
We had so great birthday party for her.
She is already walking all over and dancing with music and climbing up on everything.
She has 4 &4 teeth and bites me many times （ーー；）

well.... I have been working on Daddy's computer.
I don't know how many times I re-installed OS in these days.
I though it was fixed!!!!
but next day,,,, did it again.

Finally, I found TOOL for checking up DISK and so many files which were a part of Operation system were missing or bad.
AND it was fine!!!!!!! Yipppyyyyyyy!!!!

On next day, CHECKING DISK ...... BAD!! msg was appeared.
that was yesterday.
It repeated every times I restarted computer.

AND TODAY!!!!
I took one of my HDD and now what???!!!!!!!
The computer said "NT ... something something is missing"

λ........................................

I searched on the Internet.... they said that the error message is not common!!!
Barely can see it!!!!!!
Is that like a "SAD MAC" ?

I did not know how many times I wanted to scream " I DO NOT LIKE BILL G@TES!!!!!"
yes.. I am a Mac person... I have used Mac for more than 15 years.
well.. actually I screamed a couple times (￣▽￣;)

Anyway, I had to change BIOS( what's the heck is that???) setting to start up with CD-ROM( I don't know why the BIOS setting was changed)

FINALLY!!!!! WINDOWS SET UP!!! was starting!!!!!!!!!
and...
again....

again.....

I don't need so many.....

well.. I just missed the screen to hit ENTER to continue

now..... I finally finally finally finished to install Windows and applications.
my old 10G HDD is reborn as Bill g@tes machine. ( HDD has an apple mark on it(￣ｍ￣〃)
The HDD is so old... close to 10 years... so it will be temporary until Daddy gets a new JOB!!!!!

etc.....etc...... many things have happened us right now.
I hope the bright light shines for us tomorrow and tomorrow.

9 month check up!!

2008-03-28T14:37:00.006-04:00

Nina went to her 9 month check up this morning!!
We couldn't go to her second flu shot(￣▽￣;) and almost couldn't make an appointment for her check-up.

We are going to see Doctor!!

This time, Car was a kind of FINE!!
Before we hit an interstate, Daddy said " oh no... the car engine is going off" with his small voice... but his small voice is NORMAL voice for others（￣∀￣）
Of course, I could hear what he said.... (￣Д￣；；WHAT DID YOU SAY ?????
"no....nothing"
┃wall┃ω￣=) ｼﾞｨｰ‥‥‥really???

Nothing happened... we got the Dr's office.
She was almost sleeping though.... she talked and talked and talked.... while we were waiting.
then... she was tired to sitting on a car seat.
We waited about 30 minutes.

Finally her turn!!!
She was 18 lbs 4 oz(about 8300g) and 26 in( about 67cm)
Every time she visited her Dr.... she torn up paper on the exam bed!!!
She enjoyed it so much..... well... we had to hold her and wait.
This time, we had a BIIIIIGGGGGGG helper!!!

FINGER FOOD!!!!!
We have given Japanese baby finger foods... but they are gone!!
We picked up at a grocery store yesterday and she loved it!!!!

Finally, Doctor and medical student(this time) came in.
She has been smiling the YONG NICE STUDENT!! so have I(￣m￣* )

After checking up by Dr.
She needed to get 2 shots(Polio and Hep B) and also ... what is called?? checking blood of iron.
She was crying for a shot... but I was lightly holding her shoulder.
and then I held her she stopped!!
The MOMMY'S POWER!!!
she was usually crying 5-10 minutes when Daddy held.

A way back home, she was sleeping and didn't know when she came home and slept on a floor.

First Easter

2008-03-24T15:56:00.006-04:00

She had her first Easter last Sunday(actually that was yesterday!!!)
BUT! we did not do anything(￣▽￣;)

Only I took pictures of her with her new clothes which her grandpa and grandma brought on other day.
On Saturday, Daddy was working... so I had a plenty of time!!!!

The rabbit was an Easter gift from grandpa and grandma!!
There was 2 rabbits with munchies!! ( well... Daddy and I enjoyed them)

This one was like a sailor!! There was a hat with the two pieces of clothes.
(well she is a Retiree Army brat though)
When I was taking pictures... I remembered she had a rabbit ear!!
so I put it on!!

At the same night, Grandpa and Grandma were supposed to come over and take pictures... but they changed to Tuesday or Wednesday because of grandpa's work schedule.

I was going to take pictures with her lace-socks and shoes... and eggs(toy) with her easter bag...
well.... we will take pictures then.

During the day... she was SOOOOO cranky.
She finally fell sleep at 5pm!!!
I clipped Hana's nails and hair on the paws while she was sleeping.
Daddy was touching( holding) Hana while I was working on Hana because she doesn't like it!!
I almost finished 2 more nails !! she woke up... and about 5 minutes later, she fell and stack between a barricade( cardboard box and bookshelf) She was OK!! but she cried!!

Daddy took care of her because I had to clean up all hairs on me( Like a I was covered 100% wool*Hana is not sheep) and changed clothes and washed hands.... then I could go.

It was already 6pm or so... and I was tired to cook something special.
I cooked Gyoza(Chinese dumplings) and heated up cans of peas and corn and NATTO with rice.
Nothing Easter for the night's supper!!!(￣▽￣;)

Please leave your comment that encourages me to keep on!!!
日本語でもコメントできます。

Hina Matsuri Party

2008-03-10T10:50:00.004-04:00

It was already a week ago!!!! I have been busy and lazy after finishing the party(￣▽￣;)

I started cooking from Saturday night!!!!
I baked a roll cake and cooked spam and eggs for next day.

My friend came earlier to help me.

That is FutoMaki I made at the morning.

Place a laver and then laid rice on it.
Front need 1cm space(no rice) and back 3cm space)

eggs, SPAM( I used LITE, and soaked with sugar and soy sauce for a while and flied) Avocado and Denbu( mashed fish boiled with sugar and soy sauce or salt: I asked my mom to send me a package)

and roll roll roll!!

Around the time, 15:00, they arrived.
Before start! Picture time!!

I cleaned up a living room, so people could sit and enjoy the party.... but most of his relatives went to a Den because Nina(Daughter) was there!! Go figure(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆
others stayed at a kitchen!!!!

From top(right) to clockwise;
Inari sushi, Chirashi sushi, Potato salad, (to bottom right) Nagoya style chicken and Futomaki

Daddy(my husband) went to a store to get a back of ice earlier and he bought a couple of shrimps packs!!

He boiled and served.... but he held the bowl and ate most of them!!!!
He used to be over 300 of Cholesterol and his doctor did warning!!

When they ate.... they ate at kitchen... and back to the Den to play with NINA (T▽T)
The population of Den was increased!!! and so as kitchen!!

And.... CAKE TIME!!!!┌| ∵|┘└| ∵|┐┌| ∵|┘└| ∵|┐yeah!yeah!!
The cake was from my new friend who is a Japanese and lives close to us.
She made a beautiful Hinamatsuri cake!!

She made a pair of Hina dolls(Emperor and Empress) on the top.
And color is Hishi mochi!!

AND

Brought Nina in a kitchen and Daddy was holding her.
I cut a cake!! like a birthday!

Inside was Hishi mochi color,too!!!!!

I was soooo busy but I enjoyed the party!!!!
All guests enjoyed and loved the party and foods!!
His relatives have never lived out of country, nor this state!! so they had a chance to know other culture and foods.
We gave our daughter her first greatest Hina Matsuri in the world because of all guests and especially my new friend who made the cake and her husband. I wanted to add one person, My friend, who came earlier to help me.

Oh! about the roll cake I made..... my Japanese friend and I enjoyed it!!(￣m￣* )

♪Hina Matsuri Song♪

Akari o tsukemashou bonbori ni

あかりをつけましょ　ぼんぼりに

Ohana o agemashou momo no hana
おはなをあげましょ　もものはな

Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko
ごにんばやしのふえだいこ

kyo wa tanoshii hinamatsuri
きょうはたのしいひなまつり

Boom

2008-02-27T20:58:00.013-05:00

I have recently started to bake a cake!!!

I was shocked colorful cakes in Los Angeles when I first saw them!!
That was shocking!!(￣Д￣；；
What I missed was Not so colorful, not too sweet Japanese Cakes!
well... I ate a couple of times though.

Why should it be so colorful???

Orange, green... yellow.. blue... very primary colors!!

Lots of artificial coloring... is it good for your health??
Many people were shocked cakes when they first saw!!
because.......

They are strawberry short cakes.( Christmas cakes though..)
Simple, not too sweet.. just right!!! (for most of us at least)

Now I have a daughter.... I do not want to give her cakes with too much artificial color.
so... I started to try own cake (*￣∇￣*)
I used to be a manager of Crepe store in Japan.
but.... baking a cake??? that is different!!! I am not Antie Julia!!!
so.. I started to bake for a beginner!!!!

That is Roll cake!!! simple... easy.. I guessed!!

I got a recipe from website !!

I used manual whisk!!!! yes... I DID beat EGGS by manually!
I thought I would get a muscleache
Thanks to my daughter!!! I hold her everyday !!
My First ATTEMPT!!!

Uhmm.... too heavy ... not enough whip cream.....
It was good!! for first time. I ate all!!　6((((≧▽≦))))6

AND... a week later... I tried it second time!!
Because... I got HAND MIXER!!!┏|￣＾￣* |┛

Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!! LOOKS NICE!!!!!
THEN.....

（￣∀￣） Wonderful!!!!!

This time, I put a little banana in it!!!

One more thing, this is not only my boom... also his...

Ms. Pacman
When we went to a Wal-mart... we found this.
We can play pac-man, race game... etc... total 5 games in it.
Every games, we both remember when we were kids... it does not matter in US or Japan.

He was good !! but I NOW KEEP the TOP on Pac-man!!!(￣∇￣)v
He has not beaten me yet!!
I got a Top score of a racing game... ( he was crazy to get top score for that!! because he did race and also pit crew at NASCAR before) but he did!!! He got a TOP SCORE!!!!

I had not been able to play for a while... we played with the game on last Monday.
I DID beat him again!! I got THE TOP now┌| ∵|┘└| ∵|┐┌| ∵|┘└| ∵|┐

Our Daughter, Nina, plays ,too!! well she just WANTS to play, so she tries to get a console!!

Preparation!!

2008-02-21T22:35:00.003-05:00

It has been a while (￣▽￣;)

I have been busy for taking care of Nina( our Daughter)
She is now a crawling champion!! She could not crawl perfectly.. she just jumped with her knees to go forward just a week ago.
But now!! she could move anywhere she wants!!
Of course, she can't up steps yet.
When she was on her walker and in kitchen with me... She opened cabinet door!!
She tried to reach a trash bin, too(￣_￣ i) that is no..no!

She will be a 8 months old about a week.. and her first Girl's Festival is coming soon!!!

＼(◎o◎)／！ I must clean up!!!

Before cleaning up our house.... I tried to bake a roll cake!!(*￣∇￣*)
My new friend will bring her original cake on the party... but I want to have my cake for her, too.(well.. We EAT)
First time, I tried to cake!!!! ( I used to be a manager of Crepe shop in Japan... though)

Let see.... too yellow.. that means I did not whisk enough egg yolk.
I thought I put enough whip cream... but not enough!!! so I just added cream with it(￣m￣* )

I NEED Auto Mixer!!!!!!! Too hard to whisk by a hand(￣_￣ i)
but it taste good!!!! I will try it again soon!!

Manma!? or Mommy?

2008-02-07T21:56:00.000-05:00

She woke up 3:30am last night....
I hoped she was back to sleep herself.... but it was just my HOPE!!(￣▽￣;)

After I came back from a bath room, and turned on a room light.
She did very bitter face.. like a "Why did you turn the light!!!!"
Finally, 1 hour later.... she was back to sleep.
well... someone told everybody that he would feed her and change her diaper middle of night and early morning.... before and after she was born.... where the promise went???

I hoped she woke up later... but it was just my hope AGAIN!!
She woke up as usual!!!!
but I could not wake up(￣▽￣;)
She grabbed my hair and pulled...
She touched my face.. and grabbed(￣_￣ i)
She was having fun!! I think... and it hurts to me!!

I finally woke up... and hoped she fell sleep earlier naps... it was just my hope again and again!!
It passed lunch time when she finally slept.
I cooked Ramen Noodle... and enjoyed my noodle in a half.
She woke up in 10 minutes!!
Finishing my noodle.. and lied down beside her and sang Japanese lullaby.
Most of time I sing the song, she smiled at me(*￣∇￣*) however... she does not sleep(￣_￣ i)

Finally... she fell sleep!!┏|￣＾￣* |┛Yeah!
but.. I could not fall sleep for a while. I finally started dozing off.
soon after I started dozing off... she woke up and played toys.
She screamed and she was under a table(she did 180 degree turn!!) and bumped her head on a table(￣▽￣;)

We went to a bed and took a nap together!!

After we took our good nap( I was still sleepy though)
She said.... Mommy!!!!!! ( I guessed)
She usually said Ma-n-ma(まんま=food for Baby word in Japanese)
She has not been able to say clearly yet... but usually scream for Food(Formula or baby food)
It sounds close to Mama.. but there is "N" between "Ma"
but today!! She said it a little different!
She said ma----mi-----
I brought her bottle.. but she was not look hungry.. she just smiled at me.. so I guessed and I hoped She called ME(*￣∇￣*)

She has not said any word close to Daddy or Dada.. （￣∀￣）I won again!

I HOPE.... she sleep long tonight(￣m￣* )I HOPE

I have tried to speak in Japanese as much as I could.
Because, she is a Japanese,too... I want her to speak and know my side of root which I also want her to be proud of.
She has never been Japan... I don't know if she has any chance to live over there in future.
When she go to school... she will forget about Japanese language.
so... I must speak and give her opportunity to know and learn anything Japan and Japanese things as much as I can.
I used to say Mixed sentences... but I started not to use them except Daddy, Mommy, or some words.
Manma means food in Japanese Baby word. I have said since she was born.
By the way.... Front of her... Daddy is daddy. I am Mommy(Daddy and her grandma called me Mama for her..though) His dad is Grand pa and his mom is grand ma.
My mom is Bahba(ばぁばit may sound bahba.. but there is long stroke sound between BA) and my dad is Jihji(じぃじsame as Bahba.. there is long stroke sound between Ji)

Hand Made

2008-02-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

As I wrote on last post, we received REAL Hina Doll yesterday.
It was early to decorate.... but I made my own hand made Hina Doll for her today.

It was a little rough though... but I made this while I was taking care of her and cooking her rice.
And this was my first time to make it!!
I will decorate them front of Real dolls and will take a picture!

Oh! When I received the box... there were something we needed every day life!!
Most of you may be surprised !!

Hello Kitty's Toilet Rolls!!!! with strawberry scent!!!

Not a ONE!!

That many!!

When we got the box, Daddy was already at home( I don't know why??? he behave very weird, so I asked him to sleep for a while)
so he did not know when the box came.
When he woke up... 6 Hello Kitty toilet rolls were on his couch with strawberry scent(￣▽￣;)
He was going to put them in a box.... in The BOX!! There were more Hello KITTY!!!

Does anyone see good toilet rolls with nice scent in the States???
I found there was so many character toilet rolls in Japan, such as Pokemon, Doraemon!!
Hey! in Japan, we could buy about $4 for 12 rolls!! and the roll lasts longer than American one!!
5 boxes tissue are about $2!!!

If you have a chance to travel Japan... check them out!!

ヽ（￣￣∇￣￣）ノ♪

2008-02-01T23:02:00.000-05:00

We received a package today!!
BIG Surprise!!!!!!
I opened the box..... and saw something!!!!!

Another box...(￣▽￣;)
1...2...3 boxes... but I remembered what are inside!!
They were parts of Hina Ningyo(ひなにんぎょう: Girl's Festival Doll)
I was going to make Paper hina ningyo... I just told them how much I need her to see real one and I wished the doll set could be shipped.
The doll set is shared with my older sister.
There are 7 steps traditional one.
The top is for a prince and a princess... second.. third.. last two were furnitures.
well... Whole set will be so heavy and big... it was not whole set.. but that is enough.

It is early to open and set up... so I will put those boxes somewhere until I decorate them!!
Of course, I am going to make my paper Hina Ningyo and put them on next or front of them.

About Hina Matsuri, Check last post!! there are some links to know about it!!

Please leave your comment that make me HAPPY!!
Just click ↓ # comment, then pop up other window to leave your comment!!

Hina matsuri

2008-01-31T18:55:00.000-05:00

I thought it has been warmer and warmer... but it was COLD and windy today!!

I have been searching recipes for Hina Matsuri(ひなまつり：Girl's Festival in Japan)
About Hina Matsuri
and here

I have been trying to show her Japanese festivals, tradition and custom as much as possible.
Because she is an American and also a Japanese.
One of her roots that she knows about will be important for herself, myself and my family and relatives.

BUT!!!! it is difficult to do completely... so I just want her to know about those...
Menu will be....
Inari Sushi
Chirashi Sushi (without Fish)
Futo Maki
Fried chicken(Japanese tastes)
Salad
Mochi Cake(made by rice... and my friends said it tastes like a browny)
Roll cake

I don't know what else I need to cook!!!
uhm...... I wonder.... if I can cook all by myself.... (￣▽￣;)

7 Months Old!!!

2008-01-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

Our daughter became 7 months old!!!
祝☆7ヶ月

She discovered how to move where she wants to go now!!
It is not perfect crawling yet... but she moves like a frog with knees and very fast, especially there is something she wants to get!!

She has started solid food once or twice a day... she has been pretty good.
Tonight, Daddy first tried to feed her solid food!!!
She started crying.... he though she finished.
I held her and tried to give her food....（￣∀￣） she still wanted to eat (￣m￣* )

Daddy.... you are still BEGINNER!!!!　(｀▽´メ) hehehe~~

She also wants to do whatever I am doing.

When I am reading a newspaper..... she wants to read it to check the latest NEWS!(￣▽￣;)
When I am checking ads... she wants to check which is cheaper!!
When I am eating.... she wants to eat,too!!

When I am talking on a phone... she wants to hold a phone!!
I was talking on my parents with speaker phone... and.... she pushed OFF button(￣_￣ i)

She HANG UP THE PHONE!!!!!　(￣Д￣；；

She was fussy today because her tooth is coming out... we can't see any yet though.
but... every day and every night she is growing, knowing, learning, discover a lot of things.

(￣_￣ i)really??

2008-01-19T21:37:00.000-05:00

A forecast says we will have snow tonight!!!
I miss SNOW!!! I want Hana to play with snow...
It looks around my hometown will be snowing,too!!!

Anyway, on 17th we were going to go shopping after her 6mo check-up to get a couple of cans of formula as it was almost out.
but Daddy said " Is it OK to go shopping tomorrow?? because I need to take a nap and study for tonight's test"
"no way!!! she may not have enough until you come back home!"
After we left her clinic... we got in our car

and....

"・・・・・・・(￣￣) ?
・・・・・・・(￣￣) ?
・・・・・・・(￣￣) ?
He is going toward our house....."

and then....

ARRIVED!!!!! at a home(￣_￣ i)

well... the test looked very difficult so... it might be OK

After we came into a house.... I asked him "You must come home early tomorrow!!"
"WHY???"
(￣_￣ i) he already forgot about formula.... you lost your memories too fast...

well.... we went shopping next day!
Why my husband took so much time to be ready ?????
I know.. he does not have to comb his hair....(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆
Is anyone who has a husband take so much time than a wife to go somewhere??

After he is all set, he was just watching on TV.....
so I need to do for myself ready... and our daughter.
She did not wear shoes... but I was just lazy to put her shoes on.

He likes looking TOY Aisle .... mainly GI JOE or HOT WHEEL... now he goes baby's toy section and Girl's toy section... so we need much time to see TOY SECTIONS!!

I do not know why... but every time we went to Target... he wants PIZZA(￣_￣ i)
He said " Let's Pizza tonight!"
It was a little different from usual.... this time!! He wanted to choose from Frozen one!!

He realized when we were almost done.... "Where is her sock?"
(￣△￣；）えっ･･?(what?)
She lost one sock somewhere!!!!!!!
He went back where we came... he found her sock.
I took her blanket and tried to put it on.... one more sock was gone(￣Д￣；；
well.. the sock was under the blanket.

anyway..... I checked baking things... because I want to try to have her first Girl's festival party!!!!!
She was getting cranky ... we had to speed up!!
We got Oreo's litter and food.... and DONE!! oh.. we had to pay.
I asked him"do you think how much we spend?"
(￣_￣ i) I had to pay from my saving.....
He needs to STOP spending too much!!!!!!!!!!!!

I paid all.....（T^T）

After we came home... he applied a second job through online.
I was with our daughter(Nina)
He called my name.... so I went to a computer room.
He asked me....
"What was the name of my school?"
Why you ask me??
"ummm.... maryland?"
"how is the spell??"
(￣_￣ i)
" m-a-r-y-l-a-n-d"
"...... that does not right"
(￣_￣ i)
"how is the spell university?"
・・・・・・・(￣￣)
He typed all small letters... so I told him to type capital letters for U and M.
and he typed Maryland University... so I corrected.

" how is the spell BUSINESS?"
・・・・・・・(￣￣)
"B-U-S-I-N-E-S-S"
"no!! it is not!!!"
(-゛-ﾒ) "yes... it is!!"
"business.... a d m e n e n s "
(￣▽￣;) "it is not right already.... Capital B and usiness and A d m i n i s t r a t i o n!!"

are you really an American??? and you are a college student?????
I only went to Jr. High!!! of course in Japan.

well.... that happens often at our house.... I hope Nina can learn CORRECT English....

I have not ever had comments .... Please give me a comment（T^T）
Your comment encourage me to keep on !!!

It's a BOY!! and OUR GIRL!

2008-01-18T13:50:00.000-05:00

Finally!!! my sister has a BOY!!

A contraction was started... and they could see a baby's head!!
I had started to tell her "If you don't start delivery, it will be torn up!!"
but .... before tears up or anything... he was too big to come out(￣▽￣;)
My sister's blood pressure was getting high... so they decided to do C-section.

January 16th 2008. about 18:40(Japan Time)
The boy arrived this world!!
Now my daughter has her first cousin.
Now we have my first nephew.

He was 8 lbs 8 1/2 oz(3870g)
It will be in average for Americans... but! The baby is huge for Japanese!!!!!
and his height was 22 1/2 in(57cm).
First I heard his size... I only could say ... was....."HUGE!!!!"

His name is Kiyoshiro(清志郎） which named after .... a famous Japanese musician(￣▽￣;)

First I heard his name... I only could say... was...."no way!!!"
Uhmmm..... it is hard to say the name....remember, too....
Kenshiro?? Koshiro?? Kyoshiro??? ummmmm OH! Kiyoshiro!!(￣▽￣;)
Daddy(my husband) will not be able to say it!!!

I talked my mom and dad last night on a phone because my daughter had her 6mo check-up.
My sister has not had anything to eat yet!!!!
That was her second day!! She has not been said OK to eat!!
Bless your heart!!!
She had to be STARVING!!!!
Even I chose the induce labor and Epidural .... I was starving before I delivered!!!
And First thing I wanted to do was... I wanted to drink and eat!!!
She is only available to take .... IV!! both of arms!!!

well... 11 days late from Due date... and He was in an incubator over night, Just in case.
I guess both of them have been well...
In Japan, New mom and newborn baby stay in a hospital for a week.
They can rest plenty and read for survival for the NEW WORLD!!!

Congratulations!!!
but... I wanted to say the most... is.... お疲れ様でした(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆

I forgot to write about MY DAUGHTER!!!! ！Σ(￣□￣|||)
She had 6 month check-up on 17th. We had her appointment on Jan 3rd... but our car was broken on the way!!!!!
We canceled and re-scheduled.
This time.... our car was FINE　ε=(￣｡￣;)

Her height was.... 25 in (63.5cm)
・・・・・・・(￣￣) Our nephew... her cousin.. who was just born... 22in(￣▽￣;)
only.... 3 inches??
well.. weight was... 16 lbs 7 oz!!!!!!
(Yiiipppppyyy!! we do not have to give or throw away "Step 2" diaper)
She got 4 shots and 1 from mouth.
HepB（B型肝炎）
DTaP（3種混合ワクチン＊ジフテリアDiphteria・破傷風Tetanus・百日咳 Pertussis）
HIB　（インフルエンザ菌ｂ型ワクチン）
PCV7　（肺炎球菌）
Flu Shot（インフルエンザ予防接種）
経口ワクチン（シロップ式）：Rota Virus（ロタウィルス）

She started crying second shoto(TﾍTo) however... she stopped crying... within 5 minutes(￣▽￣;)
I was waiting at a waiting room while Daddy(Husband) made a next appointment.
I carried her car seat... and was swinging ... I thought she was fine!!
She started crying right after I sat on a chair...(￣Д￣；；
I was holding her while we were waiting for Doctor came(￣_￣ i)

She slept sooooo good last night!!
I wanted to change her diaper... but she was sleeping well.... I just let her sleep.
She slept from about 7 pm to 5:40 am!!!!
I realized.... she had a little fever. 99.8F
I changed her clothes and fed her... she fell sleep while I was feeding her second one.
well... I fell sleep,too... so I don't know how long she stayed awake.

She was fine after passing noon!!

mmmmmmhhhhh Happy!!

2008-01-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

My sister is not delivery yet(￣▽￣;)
Not about my nephew or niece....
We had a BATH TIME tonight!
with who??? with my daughter!!!!!(*￣∇￣*)

I had been using a baby tab always... but I have had a bath with her once a while since this year!!
I am a Japanese... for Japanese, Taking a bath is important!
Taking a bath ... and relax.... refresh for tomorrow.... warm from in center of body!!!
I used to not taking a bath so often because my heart raced so fast when I took a bath.
and I had not had any chance to take a bath since we moved this house.
BUT... while I was doing ready a bath for her... and I felt Soooo gooood!!! and I thought I wanted to take a bath like a her!!

I used to take a bath every new year's eve and listened Joya no Kane(除夜の鐘: the tolling of temple bells at midnight on New Year's Eve)
That was my most relaxing time of year!!!!

Unfortunately, I can not hear Joya no kane here.... but I did take a bath on New year's eve at first time after we moved in US)
Since then, I took a bath once a while with my daughter.

I am surely A JAPANESE....

Not yet???

2008-01-14T21:06:00.000-05:00

I will be an AUNT soon... but how soon??
My sister is going to have a baby on Jan 5th... let see...
Today is.... Jan 14th Over there(Japan) it is already 15th!!!

I called my parents today... first I said was "Not YET???"
This is my first nephew or niece, so as my husband.
We have been waiting for 10 days more!!!

She went to her check up on last friday.
but she is still in Pregnancy!!! and not change anything!!
well... she will see Dr. today.. and if it is not changing at all... She may need a medicine to get in labor early(EARLY???)
well... if it is not changed so much.. she may need an induce labor or C-section.

No one knows the baby is boy or girl... I guess only my sister knows about it, oh and her Doctors.(she has two OB-GYN doctor, one is close to her house and the other is close to our parents' house which she will deliver the baby. )
Her husband does not want to know... so she is in secret.
My parents said the baby will come to see us in a couple days...

People around her(like a ME!! and even Daddy's parents,too!) are so exited and looking forward it too much...
but... my sister is.... not exited so much( of course she is happy)

My parents have already told me they would call us when a baby is born...
but I could not wait .. I know the baby is not yet.... I called (￣▽￣;)

Magic!!

2008-01-11T22:03:00.000-05:00

Our daughter recently learned to enjoy rollover.
She still can't rolling.. and the other side...
so she rolled over once, she is DONE!
BUT! she learned how to move a little bit... I do not know how?? but she knows.

I was in kitchen and heard something sounds came from a den.
I went there to check her... she moved and played with ad papers!!!
Oreo was there,too!! and she loves playing paper,too... so I bet Oreo taught her about it.

what were they talking???
I guess they were talking about how to play with them much nasty!!

Oreo likes being in a box, even box is so small!!!

She enjoys touching papers and tearing them!!
She grabbed plastic bag once... I took away from her.
That is NO!NO!!

After she enjoyed playing papers... now she was hungry!!
Her favorite position of drinking formula is..... you will be surprised!!
She may be able to join in Cirque du Soleil.
Hello???? Can you drink?
She IS drinking.....(〃￣∇￣)ﾉ彡☆
I had to hold her bottle, so the picture's angle is no good.
She is the SOMETHING!!

She has been in the season which waking up middle of night. so She and I moved to another bed room from last night.
Last night was our first night, She woke up often...

When Daddy came back from work, he said " I woke up 10 to 5am!!! I was surprised how much I slept so well!!!"
(￣_￣ i)....... I bet you did....

New year's eve and New year's day!

2008-01-07T15:22:00.000-05:00

It's already 2nd week!!
but.....

Happy New Year!
あけましておめでとうございます！

I wanted to show my daughter how we spent on New Year's day in Japan.
so.. first of all! I cleaned up whole house in December!!
That is called "Oh So-ji大掃除" and clean up house inside and out.
That means ( I think) thankful to this whole year and clean up dust during a year, then we welcome to fresh clean new yeaer.
Actually, I could not finish whole house.... while I was taking care of baby.
but... I cleaned up most of rooms, windows, blinds... etc!!!

I put our Japanese new year decoration on front door and side door.
I cooked Toshikoshi-udon( usually, toshikoshi- soba年越しそば, buckwheat noodles customarily eaten on New Year's Eve. )

on New year's day, we invited daddy's parents.
I cooked Japanese new year meal for us.

From right top: Potato salad( mother-in-law asked me what else I wanted her to buy... so I requested it, just in case two of them did not like at all)

in middle(top): Chirashi zushi(ちらし寿司) that is a kind of Sushi.
rice with vinegar, some vegetables... and cooked very thin flied eggs and Nori(seaweed) and sesame.

right bottom:in Japanese box
3 types of beans(taste sweet), Chikuwa, Kamaboko, thick flied eggs.
Very traditonal one is different. we call Osechi and all foods have meaning why we have.

center (bottom): that is daddy's(husband) plate
Natto mochi(rice cake with natto) and Natto- gohan(rice with natto)
He said he did not want to eat Mochi... but I insisted "That is New year!! eat!"
he just eat one mochi!!

left bottom: Inari- zushi(稲荷寿司) this is also one kind of sushi. I put Chirashi-zushi in soy beans bags with sweet soy souce.

His parents loved and enjoyed our Japanese new year's meal!!
I hope our daughter learn and have one soon!!

Hope everyone have a wonderful new year!!!
Best wishes all!

A new family member

2007-09-29T21:34:00.000-04:00

I have not been here for awhile.
Because we got a new family member in June.

She was born on June 28.

She is now 3 months old and growing so fast!!

Our another daugters, Hana and Oreo, are fine!!
They accepted the new sister so soon.
I hope I can take a picture of three... well... it is so diffcult to take a picture of Hana and Oreo together.

Whose homework?

2007-06-27T17:12:00.000-04:00

I helped Daddy's Homework yesterday.
I had a frequent pain on Saturday... so, I needed him to do homework while we still had a time.
But! as usual... He did not do.
This was his final homework for a current class, so he had to make it with PowerPoint.
Unfortunately, He does not have one..well... he can not use it either.
So, He needed my help to finish his homework... as usual ^ ^;

I had asked him to do homework in the Tuesday morning!!
But.. of course... as usual... he did not do T_T
MIRACLE!!!when I woke up from afternoon nap, he was doing his homework!!!!!!!!!
He finished and printed out 2 pages...
I started PowerPoint... - -; Very annoying... he typed all capital letters!
I do not know why.. but he likes using capital letters.
It is hard to follow the lines.
No title each pages... so I did not know which one was still under the same title.
AND.... I had to correct his misspell,too - -;
I AM GOING TO TELL YOU!!! ENGLISH IS NOT MY MOTHER LANGUAGE!!!

well... while I was doing homework(HIS) I had to cook a dinner,too... and started hearing thunder...
I finally finished both of his homework and cook!!!!
I saved onto USB memory and checked the file onto my other computer.
GRAPH... was gone T_T
well.. we did not have a time.. he asked me to print out all pages(ask me earlier!!)
while my printer was working out, I ate my dinner.. and gave hana food..
THEN... he went to a school!!

After he came back from school, he showed me how it was going.
" They liked this part.... and that part,too!!... but we had many misspell!!"
"....... WE???? I corrected most of your misspell!! you had more!!! "
I gave lines for misspell on his papers....and he said...
"well.. I do not care about spelling. but she said she would give me [A]!!!"

- -; yeah... you do not care... but I care.. I will have hard to time to correct for you......

He got his FINAL EXAM!!
He will have to write 4 types of question( like a essay style)by July 2nd or something.
BUT... he has not gone for work this week so far...
He is still sleeping on a couch... right now... T_T

well... we will not have a time to do tomorrow.. the day after tomorrow..so on ...
I do not know when he can do his final exam!!!!!
Good Luck DADDY!!! ^ ^

Storm!!!

2007-06-24T19:52:00.000-04:00

We had a very strong storm today!!!
I was taking a nap that time... I heard thunder, so I got up and unplugged outlet.
When I saw through a window... it started hails!!
I told daddy and he decided to move our car under the garage.
When he opened a door, strong gusty wind and rain and large hails!!!
He repeated to open and close the door.
He put our laundry basked on his head... and went to move the car.
It seemed that even he was scared this storm.

After he came back, Storm was getting strong.. we saw some almost quarter size ones!!!!
Just in case, I closed a curtain at Hana's place (Daddy opened soon after though ^ ^; )
Finally, we thought the storm was gone..... but hail again!!
About more than 10 minutes, we had hail and after Thant, we had very strong Thunder!!
Real Finally!! more than an house later, The storm was gone!!

Click to enlarge

"I picked up one was close to me"
"Hail... looks an eyeball!!! ^ ^ "
"It started melting... but I measured it!!! "

AND.. I shop a movie on my digital camera,too!
Hana used to be scared of thunder, but she gets used it!!!
She wagged her tail with her favorite toy(named Piggy)
Oreo was meowing background.

THE STORM!!!!
Click to view
sorry.. I forgot that I could not rotate the picture for a movie...
I hope your neck will not hurt!!

Blueberry

2007-06-22T12:47:00.000-04:00

We have a blueberry tree(Tree?? or Bush??) in our back yard.
A previous owner of this house planted years ago.
First year, I just picked and eat them. They were so good!! ^_^V

Last year...
We had many blueberries!!!
YEAH!ヽ(▽￣　)乂(　￣▽)ノ YEAH!!
(sorry if you do not have Japanese fonts... I am going to use Japanese Face marks)

See?? We got so many!!!

THEN... I wanted to try to make Jam... and a pie.
I used to work at a Crepes (like a French pancake) restaurant years ago( I was a manager!)
BUT!!! I was not good at dessert... so I found a simple recipe!!

I though it would be easier to buy a pie crust.
What was I thinking??? I tried to make one (￣￣￣∇￣￣￣;

Ladies and gentleman... My First time Bluebery Jam and PIE!!!!

Looks good!!!!!!!
I did not add so much sugar on it.. but very sweet and GOOD!!!!!
Pie looks good Right?
BUUUUUUUTTTTTTT!!!!
I did not have a kichen scale that time - -;
I used a postal scale which was only measured by 16oz.
On the recipe, ALL MEASUREMENT was... GRAM!!!!!!!!

but looks good right?
Taste was good!!
except... Pie crust was... like a rock T_T
My father-in-law came over and wanted to try... but I said"sorry, you couldn't eat"..

Because... he does no have teeth!!!! (￣▽￣; )

This year, The blueberry tree is not so much good... but I saw them!!!
They are still small and green...

Umm....... I have not decided if I try both of jam and a pie this year...
(I got a kichen scale now,though)

Daddy's Going my way

2007-06-21T18:26:00.000-04:00

Daddy came back around lunch time today and asked me...

D(daddy): Did you have any sign today?!! #for Labor
H(Hana mama*me*): Umm.... yeah.. kind of...( at least I guessed)
D: Really??!! We have a measure right?
H: Yeah....
D: Where?? I'll measure!!
H: ....?????
D: Our measure is centimeter right?
H: Yeah....
D: Where is it?
H: What will you measure ??
D: I will measure for you!!

He kept saying!!

D: I will measure for you,so we will know how close!!
H: We will not know how close even measure belly!
D: We will know!!
H: ??????????
D: because ..................

He was thinking that he could see and measure how many centimeter my cervix open (- -;)

H: You can not see it..... it is not opening outside!!
D: ????? so .... where???

I explained to him.....
If you could see how much open... that means... I am in a LAST PART OF LABOR!!! ^ ^;

D: I did not know... because this is my first time.

Excuse me... this is my first,too ^ ^;

We got a book of pregnancy from a hospital when we went to a briefing. (that was October)
His bookmark has not moved " 7 months Pregnancy chapter"
Hello!!!!! the baby is almost coming!!!!

Please.. read a booklet from a hospital and a documents of insurance AT LEAST .... T_T

setting

2007-06-19T11:46:00.001-04:00

Technorati Profile

Tags???

2007-06-19T11:32:00.000-04:00

I had not used Internet for a while when I came over here.
My in-law house does not have any computer nor internet.
so... I had to go to a library to check my website and e-mails.

While I was away from the net... Internet world was going so faster than before.
I first know "BLOG" and " SNS" was from a newspaper!!!
WHAT IS THE BLOG????!!!!!

I have many friends who mainly have a pet, because we got know each other through the websites.
BUT!!! whille I was away... I didn't know how many people use THE BLOG.
Building website is not easy even if using a software... so.... many people might not feel to build a website.

I have had some blog for learning new things.
I joined a couple SNS(Social Network Service).
NOW....... what?!!
TAGS???? RSS????

I think I must learn and study much hard to know and use them and new stuff in these days ^ ^;

I was a BABY

2007-06-17T18:18:00.001-04:00

I got a package from my parents recently.
Lots of Japanese foods and pictures with books.

One of book was Pregnancy Book when I was in her.
The book was for record and memory of how the pregnancy and the baby's growing went.
That has been the law in Japan to have 1 book for 1 baby for years and years.

The other book was for after I was born with my pictures ^ ^
That was my record for many things , such as when I started walking... talking... etc..etc..

Most of my pictures are in Japan.
I asked her to send me some of them with those two books, so I may get some ideas for knowing our baby will go through.

I chose a couple of pictures!!

I was born 10 days late from due date.
My grand-ma had been staying and helping her a couple weeks before due date.
However!!!! even passed due date, I was still in my mom's belly!
My grand-ma was thinking about going back to home once....
Then... I was born!!!

Left: I am looked sleepy?? may be after taking a bath or something....

Right: I worn a little knit.... that was my mom's hand made^_^
She had made so many clothes and blankets for us.

Bottom:I think the picture was taken when I was a kindergarten.
That might be a summer festival(Bon Odori-Summer Dancing).
We worn Summer Kimonos( called YUKATA, 浴衣)

I want to tell and teach our baby about Japanese stuff,also I want the baby to wear Japanese traditional clothes.
I was born and grew up as a Japanese.. and I am still a Japanese.
I would like our baby to know bad things and good things about Japan as much as US.
Because our baby will have many precious chances to know both of countries.
I must know and understand about Japan much more though ^ ^;
so... that will be a good chance to me,too !!!!

Father's Day

2007-06-17T15:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day!!

I made 2 father's day cards this year.

One was for father-in-law.
He is a fan of John Wayne so I used SPECIAL EFFECT(as I called) on my computer.
well... it was a kind of same one as last year though....

I found a picture with some people on it, I guess one cut from a movie that I do not know what title is.
I used a body from one of them "Sorry.. the someone!!" ( basically next to John Wayne though) , changed to my father-in-law face.

I asked Daddy about something caption on the card.
then.... he said " Type [All Bets are on for the #1 Dad] !!"
ok..... Do I need 2 pre-position????
I don't think they don't need both of "on" and"For"....
well... he is an american... English is his mother language... ^_^;
so.... I just type whatever he said!!

I have not had any chance to talk/use in English so often... so my English has been worse ^_^;

AND... one more cards was for Daddy(my Husband)
This was very first time father's day card for him.
I made it yesterday without telling him.
well... my big belly was in middle of card... so I do not want to show in public ^_^;
He will be very first dad in a couple weeks, I hope.

I put the card between pants and belly(because the baby is there, right?) and asked him to get it.
The card was for the baby and Oreo(Cat) and Hana(Dog)

How about my dad??
I sent him E-card last night... but he called me this morning.
AND..... I first know... he did not know how to open and see the card T_T
I have sent him E-cards sometimes!!!!
well... I guess he had not seen any cards until today.

my Parents will visit us next month. so.... I think he needs a little lesson about PC, too

Refresh

2007-06-14T13:05:00.000-04:00

Hello!! I am Hana-mama.
This is second my English Blog here!!
well... accidentally, I deleted my account... whole my Blog was deleted!!!! T_T
so Fresh Start now!!

I am 100% Japanese who live in Midland area in South Carolina, USA.
I moved from Japan to here with My husband(HN:Daddy) who is originally from here, a golden Retriever(Hana, Girl) and a cat(Oreo,Girl) in 2004, because of Daddy's retirement from military.

This is my first time live in East Coast!!
I used to live in Los Angeles about 10 years ago for study.
It has been so different LA and here.

About my HN is from my main website " Hana's Flower"
The Website is about our dog Hana and Oreo... well and etc....
Hana means Flower in Japanese.
Her real name(on her pedigree) is with Rose... that was coincidence.