Texas

In my heart and on my mind…

I’ll be home soon!

Movie marathon

The past 9 days have consisted of me and Cora watching a lot of tv and movies…. we are sooooo bored! I think we have permanent booty prints in the couch!

3 more days to go. I wonder how many more movies we can watch!

Baby Einstein

To people that created Baby Einstein you are a genius and I thank you! From the opening credits  you captivate Cora’s attention and keep it! You give me some free time to do the things I need to do around the house, time to just breath, time to blog. I like to do my own parenting. I try not to let objects and the television raise my kid. Sometime though you need a little outside help. It is hard to do the dishes while holding a baby. You get the point. But that is a whole other post! I highly suggest Baby Einstein to all parents. We have quite a few of them. Cora hasn’t always enjoyed them but now that she is a bit older she really sits there and watches them intently. She is currently learning sign language from Baby’s First Signs. I get to learn as well! It is a good investment parents! And you are welcome Disney! I expect my check in the mail soon! I know your stock will go through the roof now that I’ve endorsed on your product!

 

Also, a very happy birthday to the greatest mom in the world. You are beautiful inside and out! So very loving, giving and compassionate. I love you!!!

Christmas cards

Every year Peter and I have been married we’ve sent out a Christmas card with a picture of us. It’s what we do. The Christmas card seems to be a thing of the past. I know we just moved and all but we only got 6 Christmas cards this year and my mom said she only got 2! TWO???? Well, we ordered Christmas cards and they never came. We found out after it was too late that the cards had been returned to the company. Not so long story, but a silly mistake on my part and the computerized system of the company. Anyways, we didn’t get to send Christmas cards…but we ordered more and are sending out New Years cards. A little late as well. But hey, I’m thinking as long as friends and family get the card within the first month or two of the new year…it is still considered the “new year”! So, if you were looking for a Christmas card from us, I’m sorry! But have no fear there is still a card coming soon to a mailbox near you! Corny! Until then here is one from 2006 I believe.

Our first Christmas card. And it was from Japan as well. Who knew we’d be back here again and this time with our angel, Cora

The little things

Found in a Japanese bathroom. Just in case you weren’t sure what to do! I love illustrations!

Bringing in the new year

Cora stayed up to bring in the new year with us. Not that there was anyway she could sleep with all the folks partying at our place! Here is to 2011!

             

Something new

Every now and then a person just needs something new in my life. Hair is one of the easiest things to change. When I have long hair, I want short hair. When I have short hair, I want long hair. It’s that whole greener grass thing. Well. I didn’t chop my hair off but I did decide to color it darker. It’s taken a while for me to get my hair long and my natural color. But I got bored…so dark it is! I’m excited about it.

Happy Birthday To Me!

My birthday was pretty lovely. It was our last day on a wonderful vacation. We started off with Starbucks then drove on home. It was  a beautiful day out so the drive was actually enjoyable. Then we spent the day relaxing. That night we got a babysitter and went to Bistro Trois. (I blogged about it once before but I had forgot to bring my camera so there were no pictures). My mom had sent my birthday present. She bought me a pretty scarf and a necklace/earring set that is just fabulous. Peter spoiled me. Maybe it was because we didn’t exchange Christmas presents he felt he should go over board with the birthday gifts. Or maybe he’s buttering me up for something big he wants on his birthday. Either way, I got a bottle of wine, a digital photographer book (since I’m into this blog thing), an hour massage certificate, a pretty Japanese change purse and organizer thing for my diaper bag, and a $250 certificate to Fountain of Beauty so while I’m back home I can pamper myself. See….lots of goodies. What a good girl I must have been!

Getting my day started right with some Starbucks. I think everything is better with a Starbucks cup in your hand!

Bistro Trois. So cute.

Inside and our waiter.

Some celebratory wine.

 

 

 

 

 

Appetizers. Pork, tomato/mozzarella/basil, a quiche

Cheese plate

Salad

Pizza. Basil/cheese/tomato

Pasta. Chicken and potato

Lotus leaf brulee and ice cream. Yummy.

Happy birthday to me! It hit me 6 days later that I’m 24 now. Wow.

Kyoto part four

Day four: We started off day four with an almost empty tank of gas. We’ve never gone to a gas station out in town. We knew this would be a little bit of an adventure. A lot of gas stations have service people there to pump your gas and clean your windshield and such. Of course the station we find is a self serve. So here’s Peter standing in front of the gas pump wondering which one is regular. I would have gone with green…but turns out it was red we needed!

While Peter was figuring out which gas to put in our car I snapped a picture of this lady. Notice the skirt and leopard print pumps. This is very normal for bike riders here. You would rarely see an American on a bike in high heels!  

The next stop was the Nijo-jo castle which was originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu. In 1867 after the reign of the fifteenth Shogun, the castle was became the property of the Imperial family.

Cora all sweet and bundled up.

The Kyoto Tower

One of the many sights from the 365 degree view from the observation deck in the Kyoto Tower.

This is the Kyoto Tower mascot. Cora liked her.

A geisha statue.

The Ryozen Kannon is a giant statue of Bodhisattva Ekādaśamukha. This is a memorial for all the Japanese that were killed during World War II.

After capturing the picture of the above statue we got to watch the sun go down with this beautiful view!

Then we finally headed back to the Kyoto Handicraft Center. If you will remember we went there on our first day but Cora had other plans for us. So we made it back and did some Japanese crafts. I made a necklace using the art of cloisonné. I painted a colored sand type stuff onto a metal owl and then it was baked and cooled.

The final result.

Peter made a spinning top. Cora won’t be able to play with until she is older but what a neat little toy to give her one day. A reminder of our time in Kyoto when she was just a wee one! :)

This is our Japanese art teacher! She was very sweet and patient.

A little bit of holiday cheer while getting some chicken on the stick! Mmm…