Shimoda

In October we did a family trip to Shimoda.  

The highlight was feeding the dolphins at Shimoda aquarium.  Thanks to Ma-chan for these photos.

We stayed at a lovely hotel at Yumigahama near the beach.

Ni-chan and Hannah playing in the sea.

Tourist ship at Shimoda harbour

Clever Rika managed to book us seats at the front of the Romance Car.  Hannah was very excited to have a train-driver's view.

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Or rather 'hara-peko ao-mushi'.

These videos are Hannah singing the japanese song-version of 'Very Hungry Caterpillar'.   We think she is copying the Miss Kuriyama from school. 

And a real Ao-mushi ('green insect') from earlier in the summer.

 

At home Sep - Oct '10

Some random photos and videos from last year 

Hannah on the trampoline at the sports center

Hannah loves playing with Photo Booth on Rika's Mac

Hannah took this photo of Rika

Hannah and Moyo-chan

Hannah and Moyo-chan

Its not always sweetness and light at our household.   Here is Hannah complaining to her exhausted parents.   I don't remember what this was about.

Curious George stories have been Hannah's favorites at bed-time  for about a year now.   I know 'First Day of School' by heart.   

Hannah helping Rika with cooking

Craft Fair

In september Rika's collective has a spot at the craft fair at Yoyogi Hachiman.   As usual I looked after Hannah for most of the day then came along at the end to help pack-up.

Noriko-san and Kyoko with Hannah and Moyo-chan.

Hannah and Moyo-chan

Afterwards we went for dinner with Ajay, Chiz & Maya-chan,  and Noriko-san & Moyo-chan

The three girls were quite excited and a bit noisy for the other customers at the restaurant...   ...until we gave them our I-Phones to play with.

And then they were quiet as door-mice

January 2010

Its Thursday but I've taken the day off and am blogging at home.



On Tuesday night Hannah surprised herself and us by suddenly vomiting in the bed (twice). She was then tired and vomiting through Wednesday, so Rika took her to the doctor. The diagnosis was that Hannah has caught a Noro virus that is going around.

I couldn't come home to help on Wednesday but Ive taken today off to help. Hannah isn't vomiting now but she wants to be cuddled all the time.




Although Hannah is sick and doesn't want to do much other than sleep, she is still pretty assertive.

Rule 1 - Hannah must be cuddled by Daddy today


Rule 2 - Hannah will not share the ice-cream.


Earlier in January.

Daddy explaining to Hannah where beer-guts come from. When we have a bath Hannah likes to tell me that my tummy is made of beer while hers is made of 'Baby-Dannone'


Hannah helping Dad learn a Japanese action song.


Singing a song together after work. I'm dresed casually because I've just cycled home.


Hannah feeding the cats.


Hannah and Minimi wth Dad.

Weekend in the park 2

On Saturday we went to Inokashira-park which is about 40min away by train but has a petting zoo and a small amusement park.



I enjoyed the zoo. We petted guinnei-pigs, walked through a big cage with lots of squirrels hunting for nuts, and watched the monkeys.


Hannah was less interested in the zoo and keen to get to the amusement park. She enjoyed riding on the carosel again (although she seemed slightly disappointed -perhaps because
it seemed to have 'shrunk' since last year).




The big highlight was driving go-kart.



Hannah at the wheel!


Hannah riding solo on a motorbike!


After we had lunch, Hannah got tired had a nap a sling on my back. Unfortunately she dropped her 'minimi' doll and I only realised this on the way home so we had to retrace our steps through the park to find it. Then we took the train to Shinjuku to buy some more 'Curious George' books for Hannah, and got home late at around 6pm.

Here are some Hiroshige prints of Inokashira park (although it looks a little different these days). Benten Shrine, Inokashira Pond, No. 87 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo



Benzaiten Shrine at Inokashira Pond in snow:

On Sunday we went out to the 'Haru no Ogawa' playpark. This is the opposite of the super-safe playground at Gaien. Here children can play with making things with wood, lighting fires, digging holes in the ground or making mud.



Hannah in the lookout (looking out for health-and-safety officers).






We bumped into Honoko-chan from 107 with her mum and baby sister Nanoha-chan. (Needless to say I had no idea who they were until I showed Rika the photos). This is Hannah playing with Honoko-chan



Once again Hannah wanted to play in the dirt.


She also found a family who were plying with blowing bubbles and confidently muscled in on the action.

Weekend at the Park

This month I've continued with the plan of taking Hannah out on Saturdays and Sundays to try to give Rika some time to herself. Luckily the weather has been sunny - if a little cold - and we have been able to have a nice days outside.

On Saturday we got out early and went by bike to the new playground at Gaien. We were the first to arrive at 10am.




So Hannah could have the big slide to herself.


When other children arrived we had to have a little chat about sharing.



Later we went on the big-kids slide which is wide enough for us both to slide down together. At first Hannah wanted to slide down with me, then she wanted me to sit at the top and push me down, and finally she slid down on her own.


Hannah took this video of me at the top of the slide.


The park has a food-stall with tables and chairs laid out in a sunny spot. So we could enjoy a nice junky lunch of cheesed nachos, 'nikuman' (pork buns), and corn soup.



On Sunday I took Hannah to the cycle track at Yoyogi Park. It was a big milestone for me because Hannah rode a bike by herself for the first time.


Hannah was less excited and after a few minutes wanted to stop, take her shoes off and play in the mud.



For now Hannah is more interested in playing with the bushes at the side of the track, than riding her bike around the track. (Hannah is saying she doesn't want to have a nap or go to school so she is still a bit traumtised)



So we left the bicycles and went up to the Tokyo Riding Club in Sangubashi to look at the horses. Hannah took this photo.