I Do.

Have you seen Adam's new wedding photo gallery? Makes me want to get married again (same guy, just new pictures.)

Don't you wish you had such cool in-laws?

Musica

For me, Christmas is about the music. It's the Messiah sing-a-longs, the "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart" in the stores (even here), and the Mo-Tab. Last time we were abroad, I found myself hungering for the music of the season and not quite willing to buy ALL of it. But I found it for FREE on NPR. Bless Public Radio and its dedication to beautiful music. NPR even has its own media player that pops up and then disappears when you're done. Much nicer than the glitches with Realplayer and Windows Media.

This year I found their Christmas Around the Country concert and The 2007 Carol Contest winners.

I'm going to try A Holiday Mix from All Songs Considered if not today, tomorrow.

I can't wait to find more! I really want to find the Messiah. So if you find it, send me a link.

Baaaa

At the ward Christmas party, we had a LARGE flock of sheep. The primary president's main direction to them "Remember to be SILENT sheep!" There was the array of histrionics, attention seekers, wandering babies (bottom right corner). This was the best shot with my 3 favorite sheep: G, M, and neighbor Miya. G, who isn't officially a member of primary until next year, proved to be a perfect sheep. I have a feeling she is going to LOVE primary. The best part about the primary party is that the kids were already in their jammies!

Orange You Glad Part 2

Nihon Minka-en

When we were here 5 years ago and M was a wee tot, we visited the Nihon Minka-en. We've been looking for an excuse to visit it again, and Amy was IT! It was better than ever since the kids enjoyed it as much as we did. This is THE BEST museum for kids because it's a huge park. 23 old farmhouses were taken from their original sites and brought here. In some of the houses, docents hang out by the fire pit waiting to talk to visitors. Perfect on a drizzly day. So beautiful.J loves the curved and crooked crossbeams in the houses.


The white window above the door (hard to see) is also the winter door when the snow is 10 feet deep. Um...COLDIE.


The straw around the house is to keep the snow off the house during the winter.

Mochi Party

After dragging M to school today, and then realizing I had pretty much forgotten EVERYTHING I was supposed to bring (cups, chopsticks, empty bento boxes, etc), I went home, cried my frustration out, then trooped back with a desperate note to Jesse to save me ASAP. He, Amy, and Ez went to watch am sumo practice. He did come. In time to pound some mochi, hold G, make small talk, and pretty much save me. We all had mochi for lunch. Salty with nori, sweet with peanut powder, and sweet with azuki beans. And pickled vegetables. I think that winter would be VERY LONG for me back in the day. The mochi was good, but it just sits like a sticky stone in your gut.

Jesse saved me again in the afternoon, letting me nap away my exhaustion. And of course he cleaned while I slept. LOVE HIM!

Seeing Red

At the Ghibli, Inokashira Park,and Shibuya with Ez ("He's fun to play with" says G) and Amy. No shots of Enoch, though. But we did see him.