Mami's Last Day of School in America

We really enjoyed having Mami stay with us for 2 months! We learned some Japanese and she learned some English and American.

The night before these were taken they had a Farewell Party. They sang, did skits, talked about things that surprised them in America (like how BIG everything is), and did the Bushi Soran or Japanese Fishing Dance. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. My friend took some 35mm pictures, but I haven't scanned them in yet.

Here's Mami on her last day of school:

Mami in the Morning.

Eating homemade apple butter on homemade toast. She ate this for breakfast almost every day. We are out of apple butter now.

She loves Doritos. She loves junk food. When asked what was different from her expectations of America, she said she thought Americans ate a lot more junk food. Not in MY house. These chips were left over from Kyla's party.

Ryann and her Japanese sister.

In the van.

At school (Utah State Univ) for the last day.

Eating Chicken Fettucini Alfredo. She loves noodles.

How American is that?

More Misc

I think these pictures are fine on their own.

Kyla is 10!! Egads!

My oldest girl just turned 10! We of course had a big birthday bash. We had it at our church, it was a lot of fun, even though it was one of the hottest days of the Summer.

These sweet girls came over and frosted the cupcakes (that they made at their house). They are so good, they came with their older sister to clean for me twice before this. I am so grateful for all they did.

So this one got some frosting on her arm, I forgive her.

Here's some pictures from the party. Brendan helped me decorate. Steve grilled hamburgers and hotdogs (and himself, it was soooo hot). Different families brought salads and sides. Jen made the ice-cream cake and you already know about the cupcakes.

Moms INSIDE.

Sit down croquet anyone?

Brendan playing Ladder Ball.

One of the K-girls being beautiful (like she can help it).

The shoe-check girl.

The yummy ice-cream cake. The butterflies are white chocolate, the ice-cream was vanilla and there was a second cake of chocolate ice-cream. They were delicious. Jen even made extra butterflies for the cupcakes, but I forgot to take pictures.

Haaaappppyyyy Birrrrrthdaaaaayyyy toooooooo YYoooouuuuu!

Look at ALL those candles.

Yea, right!

The UNwrapping committee.

The cooling ourselves off committee.

FIFTY origami swans from Mami. She strung them together. Mami says that this is good luck or something in Japan. We don't buy into "luck" so we'll just admire her hard work.

Ryann has adopted all of the K-girls, but I think this is her favorite.

The last and biggest. A boom-box/stereo from Mama & Daddy.

That was fun!!

Tara was in-charge of clean up.

At last!!

Well, it has been a while. I'm sorry, but I have good reasons. I am healthy & the baby is healthy. Brendan and Kyla have been here for almost 2 weeks. We've been re-adjusting. Here are some pictures.

Mama & Ryann putting our feet up after church.

She's still my little girl.

Cleaning up! She loves doing this.

This is what happens when the changing table is too close to the crib of little girls who do not want to go to sleep...yet. (those are Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers)

A Day in the Parks

July 4th on the 3rd

Random Pictures

Tara's too cute for her tutu!

Nightgown ballerina.

Daddy's new exercise.

Pregnancy Update

Well, the doctor and I were discussing the delivery and he was surpirsed that he had said August 14th because he was going hiking with the scouts that day. Sooooooo, the delivery has been moved to August 11th! I changed the ticker, so there you have it.

New Favorite Pastime

How do you keep a toddler busy?


Add a roll of paper towels...


she'll be busy for atleast 5 or 10 minutes.

Wake Up, Ryann!!