Fukuda Family

Ryden is an expert on the up-hill grade. The challenge is to keep up with him before he gets out of reach. This picture taken at Shakuji-koen. Story time is always a hit. Sharing lunch in Omotesando. (First Sunday) Leia and Ryden had fun together. Ken and Papa got the quiet table. Monday we went to Inokashira Park and had a nice walk around the pond. Tuesday was all planned out by Norie. A birthday celebration for Leia at Sharks in Mejiro. Ichi and his lovely bride, Mrs. Matsushima, Obachan, and the whole family in attendance. After that we walked through the Mejiro Tokugawa Village, over to the Mejiro Gardens, down to the Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan, then to the gardens at Chinzan-so. Wednesday we went to the Oi bird park. Zia has some great pictures of those events. Papa borrowed my camera to download the pictures upon our return and deleted them from my camera before I could add them to my albums. Thursday and Friday outings were planned...

 I thought I'd share the final layout and drawings I did for Leia's former kindergarten. They haven't found anyone else to take over the newsletter, so I'm continuing to do it for them. It's a fun little project - only 2 a year, so it's a nice way to try to improve my graphic skills. No matter how hard I try, I can't get this to turn sideways!!  Leia's gyoza making has reached perfection!! Gyoza days are nice, since all I have to do is mix up the ingredients and Hiro and Leia take care of the rest! :)

Julie's birthday present is coming along. Maybe it will be done before Christmas ... Today I finished sewing the three snowflakes Leia cut. Now I am wondering if there is anyone else who will contribute. All you have to do is fold and cut the paper pattern and then sent that paper to me still folded in an envelope. Naomi? Irene? Maile or Kai? Other people? Let me know if I should save a space. These are the three that Leia cut. I have to admit they are not as easy to sew as Hawaiian applique and I have new respect for those quilters who make lovely Mola. The flakes Leia cut were from origami paper. After I had cut them out, I thought it might have been nice to make them in the pastel colors of the paper ... pink, blue, and lavender. Too late ... but they are nice in white too.

 Here's Leia in our COLD(!!!) genkan with Hiro's mother's embroidered hina wall hanging...(and hina ningyo tops that Hiro bought as a gift for her). She never wears that chan-chan-ko that I "reupholstered" by sewing new fabric over the old faded original fabric, but it was a very cold night!  And one of Leia with her best friend and neighbor, Yoko, who came to see the 5 step display and enjoy some hina arare after school! (See Leia wearing the nice knit dress sent for Christmas from Aunt Marie and Uncle Tim!) Hope you all have a nice hina matsuri!!

Happy Doll Festival Day! We couldn't find the steps, so we winged it, but were able to display them as of yesterday. Julie, these the dolls/display items on the bottom 5 tiers are yours for Naomi, and once I fix up the small broken parts, they'll be going to the storage for shipment. Hopefully you can display them next year (maybe in Naomi's bedroom?!)!! Kimie, we have to find a way to maybe fix up Baba's old ones (they are a bit more destroyed - the bonbori are completely torn and broken) which may need professional repair to have for Irene. After these are put away, I'll assess the damage, take photos and let you know the condition. I think we have the full set, but it's just a matter of repair. Hiro's mom tells me that you can go by the kyureki (Chinese) calendar, and leave them up until March 3 in the new calendar (in April sometime) and your daughters will still be able to find marriage partners when they grow up : ) Enjoy!!

OK, now we can celebrate that big  five-O! After a very cold and blustery night, the plum has decided to bloom. (In fact, it was waving in the wind so much I could hardly get a picture framed in my finder). Norie's Sweet Daphne is not too far behind. The garden is a little behind with the sun cut off by the tall building across the street, but as spring nears and the sun gets a bit higher each day, things are beginning to wake up. Since the plum was pruned in the fall, there are fewer blooms this year. I am hoping with the taller branches pruned. I will be able to keep it better under control this summer. Here is another shot with the house behind. And this Great Tit was flitting around  saying ... "When are you going to get out of here and let me at the feeder!?*!" The restaurant was rather dark for pictures at Norie's party. We got a few shots on the train going home. Note the princess practicing her...