Happy Birthday!

Emi-chan turned 6 years-old!  I can't believe how time has flown.  It feels like she was just a baby, and now, I have a soon to be first grader.  

She's a lucky little girl.  We threw her not one, but TWO birthday parties.  The first one was on her actual birthday.  Since it was on a Tuesday, it was a little one with just Emi-chan and I (Rick was at work).  She had Cars cupcakes.  I don't think she was really impressed.

Here's my cheesy smile

Not bad...

A few days later, we had a party at SwaRay! with a ton of kids from school, playmates and friends from Sunday School.  She seemed a little overwhelmed but happy.  I know I was overwhelmed.  I think Rick was, too.  

Emi-chan really wanted a Ratatouille themed party.  I tried to talk her out of it, but she was dead set on it.  I wasn't thrilled about having to hunt down rat-themed party items from a 7-years-old movie, but I did it.  Here are a few photos from the party:

One of the play rooms

Popinata!

Go Jimmy!

POP!

(See me flinching in the background)

Blow out the candles, Emi-chan!

Snow Days

Last month, we decided it was time to adventure out and go on a snow trip.  Rick and I have never planned a snow trip on our own.  We've gone on snow trips, but other people planned them and we tagged along.  And we haven't been to the snow in, oh, about 20 years or so.  So, we had a lot of planning to do.

First, where to go.  We ended up in the Gold Country, in Angels Camp.  Why there?  I don't know.  It seemed like everybody and their uncle went to Tahoe, and the other side of the family they don't speak to went to Yosemite, and nobody ever went to to the Gold Country, so there.  We got a pretty good deal for a time-share condo and it was very nice.  It was weird to be treated, I don't know, so nicely by the staff.  The only draw back was we kept getting invited to time share seminars, but Rick shooed them away (my hero).

We went to a sno park about 50 minutes from Angels Camp and introduced Emi-chan to sledding, and getting re-introduced to snow and cold and wet boots.  It was a lot of fun!  Emi-chan kept yelling "again" to Rick each time they went down the hill.  I had fun watching.  I did go down a couple of times with Emi-chan, but the last time I nearly hit a big rock and a tree so I gave up.  

Would we go again?  Yes! 

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.  Hopefully,  I'll be able post here at least once a month.  I hope.  Here are a few things Emi-chan experienced the past couple of months:

 Special Report!

Emi-chan tried turkey, cranberry sauce

and creamed spinach!

 Trimming the tree:

A very detailed job

On Christmas day:

the kids receive a billion toys 

and what do they play with?

The iPad and SmartPhone 

I lost my first tooth!

Busy October

We had a busy October.  I don't remember September very well...maybe it was so busy I forgot to record it.  

First off, I had a bunch of dental work done.  I'm still in the middle of a root canal and I still need a cavity filled.  Hopefully, it'll be done soon and NO MORE DENTAL WORK, at least for a while.  

Emi-chan was invited to 3 birthday parites.  The first on was for a Sunday School classmate and it was held at Pump-It-Up.  Emi-chan usually has a great time there, but this time, maybe because it was in an unfamiliar party room, or different kids, it was noisy, she had a hard time.  She did like the little cars they had out.  

It's a wee tight, but I like it in here 

The second party was for 2 neighbor boys at a local party place.  Emi-chan didn't like it there, either, although we had her last birthday party there.  

The third one was for a school classmate.  She didn't even make it to getting a slice of pizza.  We didn't even have time to take pictures.  She had it with all the kids, adults, new noises, unfamiliar places, etc.  

 We took part in a walk-a-thon for school.  We weren't sure how she would do with all the people and the noise, but she did okay.  We walked around the track 4 times.  That seemed like the average for the kids in her class.  

Here we go a-walking

With Papa

They kept playing Gangnam Style LOUDLY while we walked.  

It was fun the first time...not after 3 times

Then, it was Halloween!  Emi-chan LOVED it.  She wanted to be first Kiki the witch, then Super Martian Robot Girl, then finally, Duchess the white cat from The Aristocats.  I had to make a white cat outfit because there were only black cat outfits at the stores.  I have to admit, this year's costume was pretty lame but Emi-chan was happy.  I guess that's what counts.  There was a parade at school.  At first, she had a hard time because of the loud music, but soon was able to take part in the parade.

I love a parade!

Later in the evening, we went Trick-Or-Treating.  It was funny.  Emi-chan practiced saying "Trick-Or-Treat" all day, but when it came to actually say it, she got stage fright and said, "Good Morning!"

Emi-chan's Summer Highlights

Time sure flies!  I didn't realize so much time had past since my last post.  We've had a busy summer and it's been busier since Emi-chan went back to school.  Here are some highlights:

Emi-chan learned how to tread water!

Emi-chan attended speech camp and

at the end, she took part in a "circus"

We went to Disneyland and met

Minnie Mouse...

...and Pluto!

Emi-chan started school at the end of August.

Fishing

Early last month, we went to a trout farm called Troutmere with our neighbors.  It was in the mountains in La Honda.  It was a pretty peaceful place, but packed with a Boy Scout troupe.  The fishing seemed to be good. It seemed like everyone had caught at least 3 fish, so we decided to try our hand at it.  Rick rented a pole and got some bait and we waited to see what would happen.

 We waited...

 ...and waited...

 Tried another spot and waited...

 Waited some more...

...and ended up with this,

NADA!

Those darn Boy Scouts!  They caught all the fish!

Strawberry, Yum!

A few weeks back, we got a call from Grandma that Grandpa had to be hospitalized.  We rushed down to visit him but it turned out he was okay after a bad scare.  He had lost a lot of blood after a procedure, but was recovering nicely.  


Since he was recovering, we decided to go strawberry picking at Gizdich Farm.  It was a little overcast, but comfortable.  There were a TON of families out strawberry picking, mostly Asian.  Since Rick had worked on a strawberry farm before, he had to teach me and Emi-chan how to pick the berries, not that Emi-chan cared.  


I was surprised at how great the strawberries looked and tasted.  These were the best berries I'd had in a long time.  Juicy, sweet.  I was sad at how much money and time I had wasted on the tasteless or tart, or dry berries I've purchased at the supermarket.


We also spent some time checking out their barn area.  Emi-chan was very disappointed that there were no animals in the barn.  Just people selling food. 

 This brings back (bad) memories...

 I like this one!

Emi-chan's favorite part of the visit

Hopefully, we can visit again before the strawberry season is over.  If not, there's apple picking in the fall!

LA Trip

Last month, we took a quick trip down south to visit the new addition to the Yoshida clan: Yu-chan!  We rented a minivan and packed up Grandma, Grandpa, Emi-chan, a bunch of toys, clothes, etc., etc. etc.  There was no room to move around in the minivan, but we did okay.  On the drive down, it was POURING rain and it was snowing on the Grapevine.  On the rest of the trip, we were blessed with hot weather.  Go figure

We had a low-key 3-day stay with Ted, Yumiko, Mi-chan and Yu-chan.  It was so nice to help take care of a little baby again (not that I'm longing for nausea, gestational diabetes, swollen feet, and eventually sleepless nights, demands of 2 little ones, etc.).  Yu-chan was such a good baby and Mi-chan a good big sister, at least while we were there.  Ted and Yumiko looked tired.  Em-chan and Mi-chan played really well together.  

On Monday, Rick and I took Emi-chan to Disneyland and she's still recovering from the visit.  She was very overwhelmed.  She's still shell shocked from the Finding Nemo Submarine ride.  She insisted on going on, but once on, she was terrified.  We also went on It's a Small World, the Monorail, Jungle Cruise, Dumbo ride, and just people watched. 

Hopefully we can visit again soon. 

Yu-chan and her daddy

Mi-chan and Emi-chan playing together

Trying to fly a kite

Emi-chan entertaining Yu-chan

 Hanging with Goofy

 Stormtroopers taking over 

the food court

 On the Dumbo ride,

Emi-chan's favorite ride

View from the submarine,

Emi-chan's least favorite ride

Happy Easter!

Have a blessed

Resurrection Sunday!

Hidden Villa

On a nice, sunny, lazy day, Emi-chan and I went to a farm called Hidden Villa.  I had a heck of a time finding it.  It wasn't because there were tons of roads and highways we had to take to get there.  It was mostly because I'm pretty lame with directions.  When we finally got there, it was almost an hour since we started out.  It should have taken us only 20 minutes or so to get there.  Oh, well.  


It's a organic farm and educational center in the Los Altos Hills.  They have a little garden, lots of animals in pens, and hiking trails.  Unfortunately, they don't have animals to pet, but it was fun to look around and chase the chickens.  Emi-chan found a friendly cat and make friends with it.  

Lots and lots of lambs 

Help...can't breathe... 

 "Hey, Bob.  How ya doin'?"

"Not much, Hank.  Just taking

it easy."

A real barn with a fake horse 

Here, kitty, kitty

As we left, we were stopped at the gate by a deer.  It was beautiful until it started walking towards the car and I then I got scared.  Don't worry, I didn't hit it.

Happy Birthday!

I can't believe that Emi-chan is now 5 years old!  A couple of weeks ago, we had a birthday party for her and we invited some friends and her classmates.  I explained to Emi-chan a few months back that she was going to have a birthday and asked if she wanted a little birthday party or a big birthday party.  She said she wanted a BIG birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese or Pump It Up.  I agreed to a BIG birthday party, but not at CEC or Pump It Up.  So, we had it at Swaray!, a big, no frills, low key indoor playground and party place.  


We got the whole place to ourselves and had a blast.  I haven't seen Emi-chan so charged up and hyper in a long time.  There were 2 jump houses, a spider web, rock climbing wall, a room with cars and rocking horses and trains, a food room and a quiet room (no one used that room).  We also had a balloon pinata at the end of the party.  Most of the kids that came have Autism or other mild disabilites, so a couple of parents later told me that it was nice not to constantly explain their child's actions and behaviors.  

Time for fun!

Shaun the Sheep Cupcakes By LJ

 Food!

 Trains

 Popinata (Baloon pinata)

 Aaah!  No more singing!

Take 2 on the candle blowing

It was a busy, and full day.  It took us a couple of days to recover (financially, a few more weeks) but it was worth celebrating Emi-chan's life in a big way.