2013年7月31日水曜日

アメリカに帰って。

無事に、かえりました。おばあちゃんのうちを出てから、24時間。カナダトロント経由で。23キロ づつ6個荷物ですが。。飛行機 には遅れもなく晴奈も賢人もよく手伝ってくれて、助かりました。
寒い!!、20度しかありません。そして雨の土曜日。パパは、朝、6時半、赤十字が主催する、ランニングレースに出かけました。5kmを、去年と同じタイムで、走れて、満足気でした。荷物の片付けは、明日することに。とりあず、新しいMacBookPro を買いにモールオブアメリカへ、でかけました。そこで、もう一度、こわれたコンピューターをみてもらいましたが、やはり、ダメでした。: <  Mac新製品Time Capsule をバックアップのために、$300で、購入。賢人と晴奈を、長い時間、待たせてしまいました。退屈しのぎによったレストランに、かえるさんが、出没。。。
モールのあとは、REIによって、パパとママの寝袋を買いました。これで、初めて行く家族キャンピングの準備開始となります。来週の木曜日から、3泊4日の予定で、サウスダコタ州の国立公園を訪ねます。
日曜日、午後から天気がよくなりました。晴奈とママは、時差ぼけが、ひどく、賢人は、夜中に夢でうなされてます。。。パパは、昨日のランニングのつかれか、家族全員おきたのは10時前でした。それから、いつもの、朝ご飯。
月曜日、今日は、二人とも、早起きでした。とてもいい天気です。晴奈ちゃん、9歳の健康診断を病院で。それから、モールオブアメリカに、コンピューターをとりに行って、ハドソン市の図書館へ。なんと、月曜日図書館はお休み。晴奈は、英語の本をたくさん読まなくてはいけないのに。。。夕食は久しぶりに、お魚フライとホワイトソースパスタです。
火曜日、曇り空。部屋もだいぶ片付いてきました。お昼頃図書館によって、本を借りました。その後は、賢人の保育園を訪ねて、少し、一緒に遊びました。晴奈ちゃんもいれてもらって、楽しそうです!

水曜日、ママが歯茎移植の手術を午前中にしました。二人はきちんと、その間、お留守番もできて、えらかったです。昨日のうちに、旅行の買い物も終わっていたし、ママが、あまりにも、疲れていたので、のんびり過ごしました。

2013年7月26日金曜日

Japan 2013 last night

We had a great time 2013 Japan stay. Kids's favorite place is a little candy shop in neighborhood.
Usually they are allowed to spend $1. Each itime costs 10 cents to $1. Some candy has a lottery.Kent won 30 cents.^ ^
Last dinner! Thank you very much for a fun 7 weeks.! See you next year,
We are I'm Narita air port. Look this much of luggage !!!!!!


2013年7月24日水曜日

Karaoke and abacus lesson

Rainy Wednesday.  We had a fun Karaoke lunch.
lLunch was very reasonable. kent had a nice kid's meal, which costs $2,80. Hannah had a meat loaf with Japanese white radish sauce. Mommy had kimura.donbuei^_^

Afternoon Hannah had soroban(abacus) lesson for 2 hours for free.  Mommy found a great teacher! She also gave out her abacus and three practice workbooks. Hannah liked the lesson a lot. In American she wants to keep practicing abacus. Next summer Hannah will take abacusnlessons at least twice a week.  Hopefully, she can take the level 8 or 7 exam. Daddy do you want to try ?

It's still raining. Kento is excited to use his umbrella ! Mako came over for pizza supper adm stayed over night with us. They played the Japanese card game. A fun night!



2013年7月21日日曜日

Kawagoe

Our day trip :Kawagoe:  It wasn't hot nor humid, a nice day to exposure of the city.

Kawagoe (川越) is located about 30 minutes by train from central Tokyo and is suitable as a day trip destination. Its main street, lined with Kurazukuri (clay-walled warehouse-styled) buildings, retains an ambience reminiscent of an old town from the Edo Period (1603-1867) and allows us to imagine the streets from past centuries. Thereby, Kawagoe became known as "Little Edo".
At Warehouse District in front of famous Zen cuisine restaurant. This restaurant uses a lot of sweet pottos which is well known products in Kawagoe.This area provides a nostalgic scene from the Edo period.
At The Kawagoe City Museum:  We visit to the station which provides a glimpse of the experience. It houses a couple of the floats and puts on periodical shows to simulate the atmosphere of the festival.The Kawagoe Festival started more than 360 years ago and is celebrated annually for two days on the third weekend of October in the Warehouse District. 
At the kawagoe museum in front of an old Kwagoe model

Just a short distance from the main street stands the Bell Tower (時の鐘, Toki no Kane), a landmark and symbol of Kawagoe. It chimes four times a day (6:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00). The tower was rebuilt in 1894. We were very lucky to be at 12:00 chime! Hannah said that " this is my highlight I'd the day"

On our way to  the Candy Alley ,which is a wonderful place for trying some traditional Japanese sweets. Located on the I corner of the eel restaurant . The chameleon got on top of the big five yen coin.  This object is made of Styrofoam. It is well know object since it was featured in newspapers and television. 
At the candy store! He is so excited. They are allowed to spend $1 each. Most of the items is under the $1. Some candies come with the lottery. kent won one therefore he got another piece 
At Honmaru Goten (本丸御殿). It meaning "the palace in the inner-most circle of defense". This is the only surviving building of the former Kawagoe Castle. It used to serve as the lord's residence and offices.
At dinner table with grandparents! kent, you need to be smiled ????


2013年7月19日金曜日

Last day school

Hannah had a great time in her 3rd grade class. What  a wonderful 25 days in Japan 2013! 
Kimura Sensi commented that Hanah was't shy at all. She is always cheerful and outgoing.
During the class she present her views and asks questions. Also she contribute her study team and work together with others. She seems very comfortable to be in the class.   She said " I don't feel that today is last day, since eveything is so natural. I would go to school as usual tomorrow!"
We are very proud of her.A huge thanks to Nakano elementary schoo.

  Evenr though it is not too hot, they went to the pool with Mako's friends.
It was bit cool to be in water.
The supper wa Gyoza. It wa very nice evening, not humid at all.  After the supper,we all watched a special cooking show reported from Nagano mutation area.  A good day!







2013年7月18日木曜日

Kent's last day kindergarten


A big thank to Kobato kindergarten for having Kent for a month. Today was last day.  He got a nice memory book made by his classmates and teacher.
One of his classmates gave him the letter and picture .
School ends at moon. Hannah, Kent, and  
Mako all are having lunch together. Today's lunch was Yakisoba pan!
Since we have a few pictures with grandpa we are happy to have this shot.

2013年7月17日水曜日

A cool rainy day after school .....

After school, Kent is playing the game called " Gogao" at smile Showa.  Gogao is his favorite game lately.
Hannah is working on her homework with her friend "Kim-chan". Two more days to go to summer break. 

2013年7月15日月曜日

Play at park and udon restaurant

Today is an ocean day! No school !  But obachan mistakenly wake Hannah up at 6:30. :( 
We went to a park (内牧公園)in kasukabe
They are a lot of big trees so it wasn't humid at all, a nice breeze.
 Play together !
Hi daddy! I am here . Catch me!
Upon Hannah's request we went to udon shop (http://tabelog.com/chiba/A1203/A120305/12026555/) for lunch.
Afternoon at Smile showa Hannah had a good time to play with her classmates from her school.

2013年7月14日日曜日

Top class and Yoko family Party


 
Hannah learned how to spin the top quickly,while Mommy was struggling.
Kent learned easier version of spinning the top. Shortly after he and a couple of kids did top matching . He had a great time!
At 4:00 at Yokos' BBQ party start ! Yoko's mom is busy for preparing. Yoko's older brother and his wife just got to transfer from Fukuoka city (Kyushu) to  Fukaya City (the west side of  Santama prefecture .
From right Naoko (Yoko's brother's wife)
Kyoko,Kazu,Hannah, and Yoko.
Putting their feet in natural spring water To be cool down .
Koji also joins kid's fireworks.
Yes! We had a great time! Thank you for having us!
Girls picture taking by Kent Robert Zurn.

2013年7月13日土曜日

Kent Kindergarten festival

Today Hannah and mom went to running practice in the morning. Sine it wa too hot, the coaches decided to call off a hour earlier than it was the scheduled. 

Evening Kent had summer festival at his Yoochien.  He was looking forward this for a week.
 He got a new Ginbei from grandparents.


With his best friend , Yujiro. They are in the same swimming class at Tobu. Sport club.
Another friend...  After that three more  Moms asked Kento " Can you take a pho with my son?" He was very popular.


He is carrying  a portable shrine.  His class made the shrine. The theme was a green giant dinosaur . He was very proud to create this shrine.

With Mori sensei. All three had Mori sensei in their kindergarten life!
It was very humid and hot day. We had Japanese Popsicle to walk home.

2013年7月12日金曜日

絵本屋 「あんな」

6年ぶりに、友人の絵本屋さん「あんな」 訪ねました。お店 、前より、ぐーんっと素敵になっていて、感動でした。
みさちゃん特製の、自家製ジンジャーエールをいただきました。なんともおいしい^_^
口の中で、ハジけるような、ジンジャーの感触と味が、広がりました。
ランチは、サンドイッチと、スコーン。イギリスのアフタヌーンティーの話し(お皿3段重ね:サンドイッチから始まり、スコーン、そしてケーキを頂く)勉強になりました。

こんな絵本屋さんが、近くにあったら、どんなに幸せか。。。。本日購入した絵本は
「こおり」「狂言えほん: ぶす」です。
朝5時に家を出て、4時間半の鈍行列車甲府への旅。昔読み終えることができなかった、村上春樹の「ノルウェーの森」を読みながら、久しぶりに最高の自分だけの時間を、楽しみました。でも、帰りは「日本の電車システム最高だから。。。」「私でも、高尾までしか鈍行列車使ったことないよ」と、友人達より。「帰りはあずさに乗って」と、指定席を、とってくれた友人に、感謝です!
ありがとう。また、近いうちに、ここで。















2013年7月7日日曜日

Fireworks and beetles

Kent is excited to hold beetles at Mako's house. He loves to hang out with bugs.



After the nice sushi dinner we did fireworks



They had a lot of fun!

Next day they went to see the star festival story time at the Kasukabe library



It was a very hot day! We went to a shopping mall to cool down .