Mina = 3

 

Ask her how old she is. She’ll tell you 5, maybe even 4, but our little sweetheart is 3… going on 12… maybe.

We celebrated Mina all day long. When she woke up, we let her unwrap a gift from G&G Youngberg and do a little Skype. They sent her 4 wrapped gifts. They looked so cute I made the mistake of displaying them on a bookshelf two days before her birthday, only to find her later in a pile of wrapping paper and two unwrapped presents. That's ok, she was happy. I would just tell her not to open the others.   ….hmmm yes, telling a 3 year old not to open presents…. I have a long way to go as how to clarify things to a 3 year-old.  Then later that day I saw she opened the Superhero undies G&G sent… so then I hid the last big present. Then came her birthday morning and I told her to go downstairs and we would Skype G&G and open her gift! I was only 10 seconds behind her  and apparently she thought it was go time and I found her in the last pile of wrapping paper with a big smile on her face about to play with the fire truck they sent. Oh well, we may not have witnessed those openings, but she sure liked every one of the gifts they sent.  Oh Mina, never stop being so cute.

Needless to say she loves the movie Frozen. This cake was a rare pleasure. I had a lot of fun making it. Some pastry to-dos are laborious chores that end with a cake-wreck and regret for not going with store bought. But when your client is easy to please as “Cheena-Chan” (or Mina Chan) everything is cherries.

Grandpa and Grandma Millburn sent the usual awesome gift. I recorded her opening but of course can’t get the movie to load. The only thing she said when opening it was “I’m gonna be so mad!” Hahaha it was so funny. It didn’t make any sense, but I think she meant she was “gonna be so excited.” I think, but she liked it and all was well.

Of course… until Mom told her to pose for the camera…. then not so happy…    well, until Marie made her smile…..

 

Thank Heaven for fun big sisters!

 

 

Marie was also the hero when she picked out a my little pony Memory game for Mina. I would not have let her get it, considering we already have a Memory game, but it was a hit for the whole family. I picked out a terrible game called “Pop the Pig” which I hope will make its silent way to the Thrift shop in the next month. But we got some Magnaformers  (magnet blocks) and of course- A BIG WHEEL! If my computer ever lets me load a video I would post that.

Until then,   let them eat cake- Frozen ice cream cake, that is.

Dear Mina,

I love you so much. You are my best little buddy. You are a great big sister to Grace and you have wonderful ideas. You and Marie have the best little imaginations together. You are smart and strong and wise for such a tiny gal. Never change!

Love,

Mommy.

Basketball Marie

Marie had a fantastic time with her basketball team.  Her coaches were great and she had a blast with her team.  The season just finished and we had to post a few highlights caught by the camera.

First, check out this dribbling exhibition she puts on.  Those little arms of hers know how to handle a basketball.

Next, check out her moves to the hole.

She had a blast even while on the bench.

And while this was the only shot she made this season….

Sooooo close!  Just a few more cheeseburgers and she’ll get it up there.

She has some serious skills.  Check these two out…first ones to get 10 in a row!

While she was really proud of herself to get the medal at the end of the year….

Nothing can beat the “good game” at the end.  Always her favorite part.

 

Toilet Park Madness! (aka Children’s Museum)

In January we visited the Children’s Museum. A free museum that is next to a cheap skiing hill. Brett was the hero of the day and let me and my good friend Whitney ski all day while he watched the kids at the museum. It was fabulous!

The museum has lots of different spaces to play and explore. Did I mention it’s free? Holy cow they love kids here. The girls had a fantastic time with their best friend Liliana.

Here is some of that sisterly play I count on so much. When we move I hope they still love each other!

We have a new fun camera, but taking self-pictures is not easy. Good job Brett.

 

Yep, that hat is exactly what you think it is.

“Marie, you’re too old to be playing in the toilet!” 

The kids had a great time and so did Whitney and I. It may be the only skiing I do this season, but it was a blast. Thanks Brett!

Playing House

 

Family life has been pretty chill lately. The holidays have winded down and Gracie is letting me leave her here and there for a few hours at a time. It’s a kung fu act trying to keep life manageable but it is being done.  The post after this will be out of order, but I couldn’t pass up posting these photos before I caught up.

Our girls are “all girl.” Mina likes to randomly declare to me, “I’m NOT a boy! I’m a girl!” She says it with hands on her hips jutted to the side, in a voice that makes me think I’ve threatened her.  No Mina, you are not a boy. You are certainly all lady. I don’t know if its the 6-10 dress changes per day or the 3 sets of high heels you own, but sometime tells me you really really like being a girl.

Marie got a new prescription for her progressives. Her sight is definitely getting worse and we need to patch more. Sometimes I forget she has a stronger prescription than me and I expect her to do more and do it quickly. I  shouldn’t be so hard on her, but she’s the oldest and I expect a lot from her. And she pretty much always delivers. Yet she still maintains her whimsical love of life and exudes pure joy. She reminds me to live in the moment. We even had a serious mom and daughter talk on how I can be a better mom. I don’t know what brought it on but one day I decided to sit her down and ask,

“Marie, what can I do better?”

Marie: “You clean TOO much. You need to stop cleaning and play with me.”

Me: “hmmm, yah I guess I do need to to not be so obsessed”  (now don’t let that statement fool you into thinking my house is always clean… it’s not, but I am definitely always cleaning). “Ok Marie, I promise to clean less and play more. Will you promise to be a little more obedient when I do need you to clean?”

Marie, in the sweetest-Mickey-Mouse voice possible, “Yes! Now lets play!!"

Since this simple conversation she’s had to remind me to keep my promise, but I am glad she keeps me in line.

Brett continues to be Dad-of-the-Year. I am so lucky. He fills the girls time up with books, board games, cute movies and lots of love. Getting gushy enough for you? There is no way around it, without this guy I would be toast.  As of now, we hope to never push to be deployed. We would rather be No-where-ville USA as long as we are together. (And of course visit our families at least twice a year!)

Marie makes Grace smile like none other!           Gracie thank you for being such an easy baby! You make my life so happy! I love playing mommy to my little doll!

That is about it for day-to-day life. Our conversations are full of questions about Virginia and how we hope to see our parents and siblings in between the move.  

The snow has come head on into Misawa now. We are bundling up for our last winter in Japan.

Christmas 2013!!!!

Guess what, Marie!

It’s time to put on your Christmas sweater and celebrate!

Wow, Christmas even got Grace’s attention….

Where’s Mina?  Is she celebrating Christmas?  Uh, I guess she decided to eat a cucumber instead.

We all ended up getting on the same page.  Christmas is pretty fun with these angels.

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Spring Throwback: Grandpa Visits!

 

Grandpa Youngberg crossed the ocean last March and we forgot to blog about it. (We also forgot about the blog completely). It was a wonderful spur of the moment visit. My dad decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing Ankor Wat in Cambodia. After a crazy maverick trip to southeast Asia we got him to come up to Misawa!

  

It was so nice! We did a ton of hanging around the house. Did a ton of puzzles and playing with blocks. I believe the lego set below was a belated Christmas gift from Aunt Stephanie. It was a delight.

A delight? Really? Your thinking I am romanticizing this. But nay, I tell you it’s true. A long winter is made good with a few puzzles, Legos, and relaxed and easy go lucky Grandpa.

Speaking of romantic though. There is no more special a place than Yoshino’s Steakhouse in Misawa. Brett wants to marry it. We took my dad and he really enjoyed this literal mom-pop-and-son joint.

It burned down 3 days later.           Seriously.         It was sad.  And weird.

Also what was weird is that we stood in a huge crowd of people to watch the Power Rangers at the fish market. I didn’t take any pictures of them because I was hoping it was a phase and since I am writing this 7 months later I can report I was right. Mom:1. Power Rangers:0 (Unless you count how many bad guys they have caught, then it would be like 100).

We also saw this tree. I think it was around when Christ was alive. I think….  I don’t know. I’m the worst tour guide of all time. Keep your tip money.

These are the princesses of Misawa.

Here we are at the Weasel’s den enjoying some mini golf.  (yah, I know, my dad is easy to please).

And this is Mina enjoying so really spicy ramen. This girl lives on the edge for being toddler!

This is our favorite Ramen house '”Thunder.” This was the first place we ate (off-base) in Japan. First and still my favorite!

I was so sad to say goodbye, but thankful for a dad willing to travel!