Ohanami-picnic under cherry blossoms.

お花見です。ポートランドのダウンタウンの川沿いのいつものスポット。街中、桜の木はチラホラあるのですが、桜並木はココしかなくて。

Cherry blossoms season. We had a picnic on the waterfront of downtown Portland. If you haven't seen it there, you should take a trip this week. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

お弁当は、焼き鳥、スタッフドマッシュルーム、ブロッコリーの胡麻和え、キャベツのラザニア、炊き込みご飯のおにぎり、そしてオレンジ。母からもらった漆のお重に詰めて。せっかくあるのだからお正月じゃなくても使わなきゃ。このお重、小学校の運動会を思い出す。

Our lunch in the lacquer box (which is a gift from my mom). It reminds me of family lunch at my elementary school for events. Today's menu is grilled teriyaki chicken with red onions, stuffed mushrooms, broccoli salad with sesame dressing, cabbage lasagna, seasoned rice balls and an orange.

でも、寒かった～！凍えながら「早くたべちゃいな！」を連発しながらのランチ。

But, it was freezing! I kept saying "Eat FAST!" to Amalie. We couldn't really enjoy the picnic.

ご飯の後は子供達おおはしゃぎ。やたらと岩に登る。そして、日本語発見。

「日米の文化が匂う　バラの町」って。日本の文化、とても薄い気がしますが？

After lunch, the kids were running like crazy again. Of course they need to climb up on rocks. This rock says "Fragrance of Japanese and American culture-Rose city". Not that I care much, but is there very much Japanese culture in Portland?