Sacramento's Festival of Trees and Lights

If any of the family in Sac are even thinking about going, GO! My friend is the festival director! I thought she was doing a school carnival or something like that. This is HUGE! She's amazingly creative, the mom of 3 small kids, her husband is in his second year of residency, and she's doing this amazing feat. I'm floored. GO JULIA!

Designmom giveaways

Ok, since I love you all and know that there's only about ten of you, go to Designmom this week and sign up for her awesome giveaways. She's giving away 4 things each day. Today was a necklace, $150 gift certificate to Zutano, and a whole lot of cool stuff. And if you win, you can maybe share it with me?

Give Thanks

Of course I forgot my camera, but the Americans in our ward managed a stuff your face Thanksgiving as good as home. Or better, since there was no football on tv. We got to hang out with the Otsujis, Porters, and Hutchings. The only people we haven't found a connection to is the Mylroies, so if I write their name, I suppose one of you will tell me how we know them. The food was awesome. I'm thoroughly enjoying the leftovers. I have to get Miss M's recipe for gingered pumpkin pie. Delish! The guys played video games (even our little J). The kids played for hours unsupervised. The moms watched a chick flik. How much more perfect can you get?

Mitake-san

Only one and half hours from our place by train is this little mountain with the gorgeous scenery. It's amazing how renewing it is to get out of the city. Jesse took this shot of the girls and I. It was quite cold, especially when the wind blew. M hiked all 11 kilometers. Jesse says it's too bad she says she doesn't like hiking because she's exceptionally good at it. G spent 10.8 km on Jesse's shoulders. Ouch. The one thing we wish we had brought, gloves.

2 moments last week

Where G did her first load of dishes. In true Bekah form, she's also sounding out words. She has yet to make herself her own pb & j sandwich, but she does have a whole year before she's 4.

And M dressed her self in this fabulous ensemble. She's been dressing herself for awhile, but this outfit has got to win some kind of award. G's was probably worse, but she refused to get her picture taken. Smart girl.

Bento III

I'm getting faster and more proficient at making Obento. I'm out of carrots, so the orange color is missing. The fried concoction is cheese filled chicken nuggets that I get from Co-op. They're frozen and you just have to fry them in the morning. It's an incredibly unhealthy shortcut, but I no longer wake up at 6 to make chicken katsu. My cucumber flowers are getting nicer. I also got some precut nori from Co-op. They're shaped like animals, flowers, cars, etc. I put one on each side for the girls. My friend Kara gave me the triangle shaped onigiri press. It's so tech. The inside is textured so that the finished onigiri doesn't stick to the press. Stay tuned...

10 Good Things on a Not So Good Day

Good Things

1. Sweetened condensed milk flavored popsicles. Yum. A definite score from Co-op (said ko-poo)
2. Autumn leaves, crispy air, blue skies, 60 degree weather. Perfect.
3. Cooler temperatures mean my fingers have lost the summer sausage look so I can wear my Wedding Ring!
4. Found the cutest Christmas dresses for the girls thanks to Designmom and Leila & Ben. Ordered them, and thank goodness they ship internationally for a reasonable rate!
5. Am getting my hair cut tomorrow. Last time was right before Sienna's wedding. Just in time for their 5 month anniversary. Yikes, been awhile.
6. Fab dinner tonight. Rosemary chicken, mashed potatoes, spinach, and chicken gravy.
7. USB phone WORKS!!!!!! So now you can Skype me! (Just remember the time difference, por favor)
8. Saw Jared's L's new twins from the webcam. I'm jealous. They are delicious.
9. Looked at Nohea's Etsy Store. I found these earrings which I think I adore. Is there a cousin discount? (these are on her timelessnohealaboy.etsy.com store)
10. It's almost bedtime!