Winter Holidays and lots of pictures

We had a great winter holiday this year. We stayed local and just did fun things around town. We flew a kite, made paper airplanes, read lots of books, ate lots of soup and spent every moment of it together. We went to one of our favorite onsens. It is located in Kesenuma. We hadn't been there since before the tsunami. It was great to visit it again. Mommy stayed in a little too long and ended up passing out on my way back to the dressing room. Thankfully there were some kind people in there to help me out. Violet was a little scared but she stayed pretty calm and helped me get back onto my feet.

Our days were spent playing in the snow or in the park. Nights were spent snuggled on the couch and then falling asleep early in our "bird bed" (loft bed) all together. Traditionally people in Japan do oosouji (heavy cleaning) before New Year's Day. We did that too. Although I don't have any pictures of it. :) Our house is much less cluttered now. We ate Toshi Koshi Soba and Ozoni. We ate Mochi with walnut paste. It was a great holiday!
Here are some pics from our adventures.

A trip to the park to fly paper airplanes.

someone really LOVES her daddy!

She often tells him, "I think I will marry you when I get bigger daddy! That way I can stay with you longer than I expected."

our first sled! It was so fun!

she couldn't get enough! Mama had to warm up in the car  because I couldn't feel my toes!

rolling in the snow!

snow angels

pushing mama

she did it!

more rolling

snow!!

making our snow mama

we have to stay warm

the sand and water table...

Violet loves to through herself down into the snow.

there she goes

splat!

she needs a hat

"She's ready for the beach mama!"

our stylish snowmama!

rosy cheeks! Time for some chai latte!

on our anniversary we went to the Miracle Pine Tree in Takata. It was our first time to visit the monument.

Violet wanted to know how and why it was still standing.

strength and hope

more Daddy love

super kisses

a visit to see the deer

this baby deer came right up to us and wanted to see Violet

tea break

Lance, Naomi and Ian came to visit

getting the kite ready

 It is an old tradition to fly a kite on New Years Day. The traditional New Year's Song goes like this...

"Oshogatsu."
Mou ikutsu neru to oshogatsu
Oshogatsu ni wa tako agete
Koma o mawashite asobimashou
Hayaku koi koi oshogatsu
もういくつ寝るとお正月
お正月には凧あげて
こまをまわして遊びましょう
早く来い来いお正月
How many more nights to sleep until New Year's Day
In the New Year's holidays, let's fly a kite
Let's play with a spinning top
Come, come quickly, New Year's Day

Violet and Ian