New Years Pictures

On New Year's Day we took Violet to the shrine by our house so that she could see what people do on New Year's Day here. The morning started out with drums and flutes being played throughout our neighborhood. She loved it and continues to talk about it to this day.

There is a bell that people ring when they say their prayers.

Violet saw a plane and to this day she will randomly talk about this day saying "big nose" (referring to the mask inside the shrine) "airplane" "fun".

The next day we went to an onsen nearby with Mark and his two boys Conan and Leif. Violet really loved playing with the boys.

After the onsen we went to a shark museum.

Getting ready to walk in.

Violet is touching shark skin.

Here is a little Blow Fish that fell in love with Violet.

Sharks!

Look Daddy!

Touching baby Cat Sharks.

The next day was our 7th wedding anniversary and we went to an onsen over night with Violet. On our way there we stopped at ToysRUs.....We bought Violet this little kitchen set and she LOVES it!!! She cooks all the time for us!

Wearing mommy's slippers.

Christmas and the New Year

Well it is January 16th and I am finally going to post some pics of Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas with our dear Japanese family. Violet was so interested in everything. When advent started I began reading to her from her storybook Bible and explaining what the reason for Christmas was. She immediately fell in love with the story and every night since then has wanted to read the Christmas story before bed. She also learned about the lights and trees and angels and candy canes. We have some candy cane decorations and while we were putting them up I told her that mommy loved candy canes and that they were my favorite. Now whenever she sees the candy cane she says "canny cane...favorite...mama"  and she touches her heart. It is adorable. She also learned how to use the word favorite and uses it to tell us when she likes something. She says "coloring favorite" "purple favorite" "cooking favorite" "soup favorite" "piano favorite". I love how to see her learn to express herself.
After Christmas we got her a little kitchen toy during the New Year sales. She LOVES it!!! I thought it might help me get some more done around the house and boy was I right! She will play at it for hours and say "busy" while washing her dishes. She also "makes coffee" for daddy and takes him the cup and says "coffee daddy".
Violet also has a best friend now. She met her at the play group that we go to during the week. Her name is Chihiro but Violet calls her "Chi Chan". If I ask her who is your friend she says "Chi Chan". She asks for her every day and tries to call her on her toy phone all the time. When we do see her she gets so excited and talks about it for the rest of the day. Today she said "friend amigo Chi Chan".
Violet has also really developed a love for reading. She brings me books all throughout the day and say "read" and then climbs into my lap. She loves Zippity Zebra and the Windy Day and Skippyjon Jones the best.
Yesterday we took her to see the swans that fly though here every year on their migration south. She loved it! Last night when I was nursing her to sleep she kept stopping and saying "yellow beak" "duck" "swan" "singing" she called the noise they were making singing.
And last night she said her first unprovoked I love you.....to her Daddy. We read her story and then she said "prayers" so we prayed and then she said amen. Next she looked right at her Daddy and said " I syew".
I guess I will try to upload some pics now. Sorry for the jumbled post. I haven't had time to record these memories and I was just trying to catch up.
14 month photo with Mahatma.

 This was on a Christmas train ride we took together. Violet loved riding the train.

 Violet has been coloring everyday. She loves to draw with her crayons.

 Our Christmas tree.

 Sumire's stocking from the train ride.

 My Ruby Slipper from Victoria.

 Christmas Eve with Jiji and Baba. We spent the night at their house and had a private Christmas Eve service in their living room. It was so peaceful and perfect. Here is Jiji lighting the fire.

 Gingerbread house that Baba's friend made.

 Jiji made a special chair for Violet to sit in.

 My little clown.

 It snowed so much that night. It was definitely a white Christmas!

 Christmas morning

 Violet loves books. She got the Japanese version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar from the Yoshida's daughters.

 Santa Baby

 Christmas morning kisses

 Back at home on Christmas morning. We skyped with family and opened presents.

 more snow!

 Our snow bunny

 Her hair is getting curly.

Here is Violet in her Christmas dress before church.

When Violet is tired she lays down on her pillow and says "down swreepy". Of course she doesn't go to sleep though. She still needs mommy to help her. :)

 Wearing her hara maki to keep her warm. Baba made it. Violet loves it and when she wears it she walks around saying "Baba made Baba made".

 Violet's best friend "Chi chan" (Chihiro) and her mommy.

Since Violet is so interested in letters, we bought a chart to hang on the wall. She already knows quite a few of them. :)

 Violet likes to wear daddy's tie.

 and mommy's glove too. She put both on by herself.

 Our Christmas cookies.