Merry X'mas

kyoto-ninnaji

cat on her head

sunny weekend

kristina's birthday

After complaining that we never do anything special for my birthday, Tetsushi worked extra hard this year to make sure I wouldn't be able to say that again.

We took the day off and went to a small store out in the countryside where they make natto. Natto is fermented soy beans. It is a really odd Japanese food, definitely an acquired taste. Most people hate it at first, I certainly did. It is stinky and sticky and slimy. It is a very strange food, but once you start liking it, it is wonderful. I have to say, I LOVE natto. And the best part is it's really good for you and cheap! We heard about this store where they make natto and have been wanting to visit for months so we made the trip out there. It was great. The family that runs the store was really sweet and we had a nice visit with them. We brought a bunch of natto home to eat. It was delicious!

After the natto store, we went to the aquarium in Beppu. It was lots of fun. Yukine was entertained. I think her favorite part was discovering a slide in the kids playground. We didn't get a picture of that, but it was her first slide experience and she couldn't get enough. All in all, it was a great day! I really enjoyed my birthday. Thanks Tetsushi!

new favorite

This is Yukine's new favorite or Tetsushi's....

inainai-baa

She has been playing Japanese peekaboo, "inainai-baa". It is funny that she used a clear folder to hide her face. Do you notice the big scab on her nose? She fell hard on the concrete face first.

cold fall day

playing with a ball

obsession

Yukine is totally obsessed with this video.

She asks to watch this over and over and over and over..............

1st birthday - day2

We celebrated Yukine's birthday with JiJi and BaBa today. At dinner Yukine ate Kabosu, (kind of like a lemon). It is so sour, we can't believe she likes to eat it, but she loves it. We had more cake and today she got presents! It think that wraps up the birthday celebrations.

1st birthday - day1

Yukine turned one on 10/10/10! She had a wonderful day...the weather was perfect so she played outside all day. She explored the garden, investigated all kinds of flowers and played hide and seek. She loves the outdoors and she is getting so fast. She is now running, not walking. After dinner we had cake and talked to Papa and Nana on skype. She ate a little cake, but she really loved her tea, soba-cha (toasted buckwheat tea), the girl can't get enough of it. It is hard to believe that Yukine is one! We had a great day celebrating.

orange