Bed Time

毎晩、一人で彼らを寝かしつけるのは至難の業です。体力があり余っていて屁理屈ばっかりのアマリと格闘しつつ、授乳＆廊下ウォーキングの繰り返しのルーサー。疲れ果てて、夜中にお菓子を馬鹿食いしてしまう自分自身にも自己嫌悪。それでも、こうしてご本を読んであげると、それがつかの間のクオリティータイムなのかも。ルーサーも、本やテレビに興味深々です。

Every night, I wish it goes well and easy. It's really exhausting to put both of them down at the same time. Usually, Amalie still has tons of energy no matter how busy we were, and she is a little evil right now. She talks and sings to us through a baby monitor by holding it like a microphone. I had to threaten her to stop it tonight. On the other hand, Luther needs to be nursed and walked at least twice in a row right before he goes to a night sleep. After I put them down, I snack on a crazy amount of sweets, and then I regret it every night. However, we have a little quality time. Luther started to reacting to picture books and kid's TV.

High Bar

雨上がりの翌日午前。蒸し暑くて、ぐずぐずするルーサーを寝かしつけるために近所の公園へ。丁度木陰で、風も吹き抜けるので、気持良くお昼寝。アマリも久しぶりの公園。というか、外。

It was very humid and hot, so Luther couldn't sleep well. I took them to the closest park. It helped him with some trees and breeze.

Oh.....

It cracked me up. Here is Amalie's artwork right next to my aunts embroidery artworks.

I thought both Amalie and my mom were cute to put it up. By the way, I asked my mom to put 'hot and cold sheet' on my back last week. She peeled the cellophane, then tried to put the plastic on my skin...seriously. She asked me "Isn't this it? is it?", and still trying. After she figured out that the white pad needs to be on my skin, she said, "There are clear pads in Japan, now." Is it? She is unbelievable.

通り過ぎて「おやっ」。引き返してみると、叔母の刺繍の作品に並んでアマリの絵が。そこに張って欲しいと頼むアマリも可愛いけど、張ってしまった母も笑える。その母、先日背中に湿布を貼って欲しいと頼んだら、湿布に付いているセロハンを、「これ貼るの？エッ？！」と真剣にセロハンと格闘。ありえない！本人いわく「最近、こういう貼り薬もあるのよ。」とおっしゃっておりましたが、本当ですか？

Bath Fizzies

So, I found a recipe for bath Fizzies instead of buying a four dollar ball. I used cookie cutters instead of making balls. It works pretty well.

recipe
4 TBSP baking soda
2 TBSP citric acid
1 TBSP salt
essential oil
color

’セツヤク’バスボール作ってみました。アマリに卵のように、と言われて頑張ったのですがうまくいかず、クッキーの型で作ったら割と上手に固まりました。シュワワワワァが毎日のお楽しみです。

レシピ
重曹　大さじ４
クエン酸　大さじ２
塩　大さじ１
エッセンシャルオイル
色

私はエッセンシャルオイルと色の代わりに少しだけバスクリンを入れて見ました。

School Bus

They are on the 'school bus'. My dad is driving, and Amalie is on the way home. She whispered to us that she will sit next to her favorite boy in our neighborhood. I don't know what to think of her first crush on a boy, and I'm worried that she might annoy him. Isn't it a bit early? I didn't even realize there are boys in the world until high school.

学校ごっこ。おうちに帰るスクールバスをグランパが運転中。

突然、「アマリがここで、キャメロンがここ。」と照れながら囁くアマリ。好きな男の子の隣に座るのだそう。娘の早すぎる初恋に戸惑う母。私なんて、男子が存在することを中２くらいまで考えた事もなかったわ。それにしても、キャメロンとキャメロンのご家族に迷惑をかけそうで、心配。

Lunch Concert

Every 3rd Wednesday, there is a free concert at this building near my parent's house. We joined my mom and her friends for lunch. There were many good looking people in business suits. I wish I were one of them, and I had a great career with a great income to support my family. Music was okay, but Luther really loved it. According to my mom, he sang a song with her a while ago already. He really might have. He was talking and smiling throughout this concert. The only thing Amalie liked were the trees. She took this pictures.



近くにあるいすゞのビルで毎月第３水曜日にあるコンサート。たくさんの定年後とみられる方々、そして輝かしいキャリアをお持ちとみられるスーツのビジネスマンが微妙に入り混じった中、母＆お友達のランチにご一緒させていただきました。この界隈を歩くといつも、ああ、私もスーツを着てバリバリ働きたいなぁ。としみじみ思います。キャリアも手に職もなくて、雇ってくれる所はどこにもございませんが。

ところで、コンサート。サックスを吹いてれば、それなりだった演奏者が、大声で歌いだしたのには失敗感。「好きくない。」と言いだし、耳をふさぐアマリに、「失礼よ。ちゃんとお座りして。」とたしなめつつも、時間潰しに手渡したカメラ。木がお気に入りだったようで、きれいに撮ってくれました。対照的に、奏くんはノリノリ。何日か前に、母が「歌を一緒に歌いだした。」と言うので半信半疑だったのですが、本当に音楽が好きな様子。さすがは、奏。

Cooking

I heard

"Grandma, how did you cook the vegetables?"

from the kitchen when I was upstairs, and then I found my mom's steamer on the kitchen floor. Amalie had put in the paper fish and hand made vegetables.

「ぐらんま、お野菜どうやってクックしたの？」

と、キッチンからアマリの声。

しばらくして、キッチンに行くと、床に置きっぱなしのスチーマー。蓋を開けるとこんなものが入っていました。付録の鯉と紙のお野菜。

Medical for Kids

Since we are here for a while, I joined the government medical insurance plan for us. It is amazing. I took Amalie to a pediatrician twice so far. In my home town, all kids under 15 years old don't cost anything, including prescriptions. I didn't know, so I asked the pharmacist to use a generic medicine instead of the brand name, and people were looking at me like what the heck was I talking about. It was a little embarrassing when the pharmacist told me it won't cost us. If we were in the US, for sure I worry about the costs, and then I'd get depressed over how much we spend on medical, and then I'd give up stressing out because it's a necessary thing for lives. ah, I love this stress free / cost free system! For my 'mental health', I try not to compare things between Japan and the US, but this is wonderful. Can Lake Oswego learn how to spend money for younger lives instead of fixing already decent streets and building parks next to parks?

Bath Bombs

These are bath bombs. My cousin's wife gave them to Amalie. There are small toys when they melt away. There are so many cute things for kids. I'm leaning a lot of things from her.

こんなかわいいバスボールがあるのですねぇ。解けるとちっちゃなおもちゃが出てきて、子供は毎日欲しいんだろうな。お風呂文化の日本、さすがだわ。でも、一球３８０円。ちょっと、家の家計には厳し。アマリとルーサーのハトコのうーちゃんのママがくれました。うーちゃんママは可愛いものたくさん知っていて学ぶ事多し。

I wanted to take flowers, but

I wanted to take a picture of how big the lilies are in comparison to Luther's face, but here is Amalie in the very front and center. Luther is hanging out in the very back as usual.

母の日に、私が母のお金で買った？カサブランカが開いてすごい事に。見た事もないくらいの大輪。ユリ主役のはずが、なぜかこうなった写真。ものすごく前進した、まぶしいお方と、後ろでひっそりほほ笑む坊ちゃん。

Great Grand Parents

We visit my grandpa and grandma's cemetery. My cousins are resting there as well. My grand parents, my aunt's family and my parents bought the land next each other. It's about 5x5. Isn't it tiny? And, this storage unit is new. The temple owner built two of the additional sheds right in front of us, although we pay pretty good amount. It's ridiculous. By the way, I thank my grand parents for sending Luther here. I really wish they could see Amalie and Luther.

祖父母のお墓へ。神社の裏にあるお寺さんで、神社に面したちょっとした木陰に祖父母、叔父叔母、両親のお墓が連立。とても良い立地だったのに、この倉庫、どういうことよ。目の前に立ちはだかっております。これってあり？土地のない東京って事で仕方のない事なのでしょうか。かなり、びっくりでした。

ライアンによると、人は天国から生まれてきて天国に帰っていくそうなので、ルーサーはきっと祖父母に会ったはず。送り出してくれてありがとうのお祈りをしてきました。それはそうと、この間、アマリが「アマリが天国で・・・」と話していたら、それを聞いていた父が「天国なんて、縁起でもない。死んでもないのに。」と正したそう。私の母がライアン説を説明したそうですが、私はライアン説好きです。アマリもルーサーも私達を選んで来てくれたような気がします。

Why

どうしてこれが’売り’なのか全く皆目つかず。アマリには魅力的だったようだけど。

Limited time only donuts on stick from Mr. Donut. About a dollar. I don't get it.

Nnnn!

Every single thing she has and wearing is mismatched. She didn't let me see what's in her backpack and the huge bag, but she was ready for going to library!

Mother's Day

母の日。アマリがお庭の花を摘んできてくれました。グランマに、私に、そしてキッズに、と三種類のブーケ。祖父母のガーデニングを荒らしまくる孫です。

Amalie made bouquets for my mom, for me and for her and Luther for Mother's Day. My parents little garden has been destroyed by this sweet monster everyday. I couldn't do anything for my mom. The next day, we found the big lilies at the tiniest flower shop in the neighborhood while we were walking, so we bought them for us, except my mom paid for it. Besides, I was forgotten by my husband for my first mother of two day.

Bye Bye Papa

Ryan went back home. He took the Limousine bus from the hotel near my parents house as usual. Since we have skype, it's very easy to be apart, but when the bus left, Amalie wiped her tears, and my mom and I cried a little bit because of her. Amalie keeps asking why papa needs to go back to work, and she wants to live in Tokyo. Yeah, me too. Is there anyway that we can live here happily? It was a really fun and great vacation together. This trip was super special for us, because we haven't been able to celebrate any birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's day and father and mother's day for past several years. Anyhow, Ryan, thank you for taking us here, and letting us stay longer. Enjoy your own peaceful time! It won't happen for a year after we'll get back there.

ライアンが帰りました。品川からリムジンバスで成田へ。スカイプのおかげであまり悲壮感に暮れることもないのですが、バスが去った瞬間、アマリが涙をぬぐい、それを見ていた母と私がもらい泣き。

「どうしてパパ帰っちゃうの？どうしてお仕事？アマリは東京に住みたい。」

と繰り返す彼女。ママもそう思うよ。ライアンがキャリアを捨てないで東京に引っ越して来れる方法はないのだろうか。

Nikko-Ninja

We met Ninja.

Nikko-Toshogu

そして、締めは日光。朝５時前に起きて行ってきました。一言でいえば、往復７時間かけて行く必要は全くなし！東照宮は見る価値ありでしたが、江戸村はう～ん。食べ物もあまりなくて、駅の周りにも何もなくて、というか夕方早くに閉まってしまうので帰路は空腹のまま、あまりにも過酷な旅すぎて、いつ気を失うかなと思いつつ、苦行でございました。でも、山はとっても綺麗だった。授乳をしながら、新緑を目に焼き付け。ルーサーが健康でいてくれるから、どうにか頑張ればこんな旅もできてしまって本当に幸せです。

写真はライアンの目から見た東照宮。

This place is the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. It was built for the shogun that united Japan. It is really amazing, but one of the main buildings was being restored. We didn't have a lot of time to stay here, so we ran around and took pictures. We planned to go to Edo Wonderland later that day (thinking back, we wished we could have spent more time at this shrine than at Edo Wonderland.) We also had a stroller which might have been a mistake, since the walks are either stone or stairs. Other than that, it was incredible to see all the detailed wood carvings, gold leaf, lamps, and all the history. That 5 story pagoda is actually floating. There is a huge pole on the inside, and the pagoda is hanging from it, suspending it a few inches off the ground to keep it safe from earthquakes.

Asakusa

If you look at any guidebook for Tokyo, this temple would likely be on the first page. Senso-ji. It was packed with people. It was in golden week, which is about one week of national holidays around this time of the year. Luckily, Amalie sat on Ryan's shoulders most of the time while Luther and I were smashed by people. Sadly, someone called Ryan a 'Giant!'. I'm ashamed of those stupid Japanese idiots. Additionally, he was a grandpa holding hands with a boy who was same age with Amalie! Unbelievable!
そして、浅草寺。ライアンも何度目でしょう。ゴールデンウィーク中、ものすごい人、人、人でした。押し合い、へしあいの中、長々と御祈りするアマリ。何を願っているのやら。仲見世を見たかったらしいライアンはミニチュアの刀を購入。どうするの。それ。

帰り際、アマリを肩車しているライアンに「おい、巨人！」と後ろからどつく爺さんに遭遇。その人、アマリと同じぐらいの孫の手を繋いでいるのに、良くもまぁ。日本人というか、人間として恥ずかしい限り。

Sumida River

What is this boat house looking structure in the middle of the city? It doesn't look like we are in Japan. Anyway, we got on the boat to go up to Asakusa which is one of the old towns near the Sumida river. This time we are doing lots of sightseeing stuff, and it's pretty fun. Amalie and Luther need to know where they belong, too. Luther is always nursing everywhere though. Here is a view of the bottom of a bridge from our boat.

写真の川っぺりの建造物、大丈夫なのか？

半分江戸っ子でありながら、乗ってしまいました。隅田川上流の水上ボート。乗りもの＆橋好きのアマリにはピッタリなつぼ。子供たちには東京ってどんな所か知ってもらいたいので私達のべたな観光はしばらく続くでしょう。それにしても、どこでも授乳中の私とルーサー。

Decorated by Amalie

こどもの日のケーキ、アマリがデコレーションしてくれたみたいです。

イチゴがにっこりのお口。バナナが目とほっぺた。真ん中のイチゴがお鼻。オレンジが髪の毛。そこに埋まっているバナナが髪留め。イチゴがリボン。らしい。そして、最高にいい仕事をして誇らしげなアマリ。

I thought my mom made the cake for the kid's day. However Amalie took over the decoration. We were all surprised by her unique design. Strawberries are the smiley mouth. Bananas are the eyes and cheeks. Oranges for the hair, and three strawberries for a ribbon. The small bananas in the oranges are hairpins. And, Amalie's big smile shows who thinks she made the best cake in the world.

Boy's Day and Weaning Ceremony

May 5th is the National Holiday of Children Day. It's Boy's Day as well. We also had Luther's Weaning ceremony. He is almost 100 days old, and we celebrate with a ritual of giving him food for his future and wealth. So, the first solid food he tried (licked, actually) was red snapper. He loved it! It seems like he is ready for solid food. Of course, we need to wait another a few months for it.

Luther inherited a shogun helmet (Boy's Day's decoration) from my grandma who received it as a gift. It's over 7lb! Who would give a old lady a super heavy iron helmet. It was in her storage, then brought to my parent's storage, finally it will be in our garage. My mom was really happy that Ryan took it from here. Another thing is Koi fish decoration. We went shopping for it, but I didn't want the several hundred dollars one (even as my parent's gift) or the least expensive one. It's such a waste of money. So, we got this little toy one for ten dollars. Anyway, the sales guy for one of the expensive Koi stores had the most interesting hair style. He had very straight hair around his ears and in the back, but it was super curly hair on top. When Ryan and I were laughing about it at home, my mom said "It's a wig. WIG!" , but would he put curly wig on top of straight hair to hide his baldness? I don't think it is a wig. I think he is proud of his new age hairstyle.

一週間も前になってしまいましたが、こどもの日。
今年は、奏くんの初節句とお食い初めも兼ねてお祝いしました。母が鯛を塩釜で焼いてくれて、お口に運ぶとよだれをたらしてペロペロ、ペロペロ。食に関してとっても苦労したアマリとは真逆になんでも食べてくれそうな予感です。かぶとは祖母が生前お祝いのお返しに頂いたという南部鉄器の物を頂き、３キロ以上もする代物。ライアンが気合で持って帰ってくれました。とにかく重たくて、「なぜ、かぶと？いっそ、やかんの方が使えたわ。」とみんなが口をそろえて言っていた役立たずだった冑。出番でした。しかし、半がえしになぜ冑？南部鉄器、お台所で使えるものの方がうれしいのは私の感覚が変なのかしら。そして、母と気合を入れて浅草橋に買いに行った鯉のぼりも、目の当たりにして「この切れっぱしになぜウン万円？？？？？」と思ってしまった私。結局、これでいいと言い張っておもちゃの鯉のぼり。せめて普通の鯉のぼりを買ってくるだろうと思っていた父はきっと納得していないと思いますが。それより、駅前からついてきた」セールスのおっちゃんの髪型に笑いとまらず。耳から下はストレートでササーってな感じなのに、上だけパンチ。帰宅後、爆笑していた私とライアンに母は「カツラよ。カツラ！」と言い放つのですが、ストレートにパンチを乗っけたらバレバレだと思うんですけど。どうでしょう。

Grandpa Babysit

私の全く知らない行動範囲。こんな砂浜のある公園があるんだ。

I don't even know where this park is. My dad biked there with Amalie while Ryan and I went shopping for a few hours.

Shinkansen

アマリが新幹線に乗りたいと騒ぐので、ご入場してきました。

東京駅に行けば始発終点で少し見学もできたのに、何も考えず品川へ。ほんの２分ほどの停車時間に乗りこんで写真を撮ろうとしたけれど、みて、このアマリのビビり顔。来年は乗ってどこかへ行こう。

This is the super express bullet train. Ryan took kids on to the train for pictures while the train stops for less than two min. Look at Amalie's scared face. She knows if we ride them, it's not easy to come back. Especially this one. It would be two hours away from Tokyo, and cost hundreds of dollars.

Swan Boat

すごくベタに不忍池でピンクの白鳥に乗ってきました。静かに浮いているカップルばかりの中、アマリは

「ジェットボート！ジェットボート！」

と大声で騒ぐし、ライアンはシャカリキ漕ぐし、いい迷惑だったかも。

Panda

It was too bad there is no more Panda at Ueno Zoo. I still remember that the first time I saw the Panda there. It was a crazily busy day, so they separate the kids line from the adult line. Among those millions of people, I freaked out, and cried though the line, so I didn't even see a bit of Panda. And, my mom was super upset at me. Anyway, fake pandas are still here.

上野動物園にパンダがいないなんて。

約３０年前、初めてパンダを見に来た日、ものすごい大混雑で子供の列と大人の列が分けられていた上に、押し合いへしあいの中、もう二度と親に会えないんじゃないかと大泣きして微塵もパンダを見なかった私。見れなかった私も私、だけどプンプン怒っていた母も母だと今になって思います。