Kokochi

Simply heart warming

Today was a sweet normal family day. Tesla had a riding lesson. I love watching her, and the Pacifica ranch is a beautiful place to be at.

  

Then I got handmade cards from Aila for Mama's Day. They are blank cards I can send out, but these are so precious. Maybe one each to grandma, and I keep one :)

 

Aila is still very much in her imaginary world that I so enjoy observing. She has a cardboard "car" Dav made for her that has a trunk full of stuff, and a cardboard steering wheel. We thought she'd be over it long ago, but every once in a while she'll drive it around the house so it still lives. Today, she put pillows around the house for speed bumps (we have those on our street), created a gas station with a stuffy snake as the pump hose, and decided our sofa was where the homeless live. Yeah, that's an observant city gal. I have tried but have yet to figure a good way to explain the homeless camps. It's just not right so how can I explain it?

But back to the cardboard car, she drove it around after bath time with special keys, and sold to Dav and me her geometric shapes she made. She assured me pretend money was ok. Really, she was quite the traveling sales lady.

Then Tesla surprised me (she waited til end of day) with flowers and an art piece. 

Good day!
 

 

 

 

Productive day

Tesla left at 6am for a day ski trip with her friends. Between multiple trips like this last year and this year, thanks to her friend's awesome dad, Tesla is really getting skiing. 

Aila dressed up and ate a big muffin. It was chilly today, so we stopped by a kid used clothes shop where I have credit and got a sweater with a cat face on it with that credit.

Dav and Eric, who has tree cutting skills and gear, cleared out a tree for better views and a big swing we will install. 

And in an hour or so, a new washer and dryer should be delivered. :)

The simple things

Laundry, there is a lot of it. And while it's a pain in the butt chore, I'm also quite aware of the pleasure of washing my kids' clothes. I loved when Tesla's tiny onesies and teeny socks started mixing with our adult clothes. And 5 years later with the appreciation of how quickly kids grow, I was rather in awe of Aila's tiny onesies that also started mixing in our family of 4 laundry. 

With a nod to both kids that help put away their clean clothes now, today, I took a moment to love Aila's Anpanman socks. They are toddler size but she still wears them. When in Japan, I found these cuties at the Anpanman Museum and couldn't resist getting them. I love that Aila gets the quintessential kid Japanese icon.

They are getting small. I will not see these for much longer. This post is a love note to being able to wash and sort such cute socks. It's these simple things that hit me about how grateful I am to raise my little rascal gals.

 

A rainy Sakura Festival

Tesla and Aila's school, Rosa Parks Elementary, participates in the Sakura Festival parade that marches from SF's Civic Center to Japantown. Over time, I've grown to appreciate the meaning of this 2 weekend show of Japanese culture, food, music, and gathering. I enjoy being part of it through preschool and elementary school participation. The parade is the culmination. Rosa Parks joins amongst many to celebrate the history of our community. We all wear bright red happi coats so we're a visible sea of red dancing kids and parents. I can't help but feel happy when us parents, who are delegated to the back of the group since kids are the showcase, whoop and cheer for our school. It is a community building event.

It was rainy, at times a downpour. Nothing changed other than a lot of plastic ponchos, cold kids waiting to march, and gratefulness that kids held it together. It's a wonderful feeling to arrive near the end where the crowds are most packed, hearing them cheering.

This year is Tesla's last (she can still participate as an alum tho). Dav walked with her, meaning starting from Civic Center. I waited with Aila to join near the end b/c the full walk would be too much for kinders. Both groups dealt with cold rain. Kinder consolation is we got to watch about 20 groups/performances go by as we waited, including some that handed out police stickers (huge hit) and candy (made kids perk up and smile). 

Here are pics of the day:

It was miserable for a while...

Lining up to wait; then off to join the rest.  

  

We were so happy to see the head truck representing the start of our group. Yay! Our friends! 

    

Tesla & friend.

  


 

 

Middle School!

Today I registered Tesla for middle school!!! We are thrilled we got our 1st choice (for those outside of SF, school is a lottery system so nerve-wracking). In fall, Tesla will be a 6th grader at Roosevelt. It's not our "feeder" school so I was a bit worried to venture to what I felt was a better fit. Whew.

 

She is so ready and excited. It's more mama who is in disbelief that this stage has come already. Tesla is very independent; mama needs to catch up : )

 

Rosa Parks has been a perfect cocoon for us, and I feel like Tesla will be flying from a nest. I'm SO grateful Aila is a kinder at Rosa Parks...meaning I still have a kid for more time in an elementary school I love.

 

I'm savoring Aila's kinder experience. At the same time, I am enjoying Tesla blooming. But still, wow, how quickly they grow!

Our Sunday

Dav has been away this weekend to Vegas to watch rugby games. I didn't know he had it in him, but he's gaga over rugby. He's going to Vancouver next weekend for rugby too. Kids and I miss weekend time with him, but I'm happy he pursues his passion. And I don't mind just me & kid weekends.

Today I announced to the kids we were going hiking. Then it started hailing! It's a rare experience in S.F. as you can see from Aila's wonderment. Once cleared, kids and I drove off to Mt. Davidson. It was chilly, and we had to backtrack on one trail where a fallen tree completely blocked our way. When we finally made it to the top, we discovered a giant cross and fantastic views. I had no idea.

  

See Tesla by the cross to show size?

       

Soon a giant dark cloud loomed over, and while we scurried back, gusts of wind hit us, the trees made eerie sounds as they swayed, and hail started again! Luckily Aila had her umbrella, but she was a bit afraid, and Tesla without an umbrella had hail hitting her face. Both kids were such troopers. I love stormy weather, and was proud they braved it

Then we had hot chocolate. When we got home, we saw a rainbow. Later Aila made a gift for daddy for when he gets home. It was a nice day : )

    

 

 

Hinasama 2017

It's nice to have markers during the year to pinpoint where you are in the 12 months. But geez...those markers come quicker and quicker. We have this year's Hinasama up. Just for fun, here is a link to 2010 that has a further link to our first one. With Tesla, my mom gifted the prince and princess. When Aila was born, she gifted the next row, ladies in waiting. So happy she did that. They are beautiful, and the kids love it when they are out.

This year, my mom's friend sent a lovely origami version to us. So sweet. Aila immediately decided it was for her, and placed it ever so perfectly on her desk:

  

Aila also drew the princess:

Yosemite after a drought

We went to Yosemite the other weekend, staying at Tenaya Lodge with my dear high school (Japan) friend Patti and family. It's been a long drought. So much that Aila was born during it, and when we got a bit of water, she was over the moon. Last time we were at Yosemite, it was dry as bone, no waterfalls to be found, and there was a forest fire we could smell as we drove back. 

This time the waterfalls were glorious but in reality 2017 is giving us a bit too much water at once. We missed the major snow by a weekend, but found decent patches for fun. Driving around, I was sad about the orange dying trees that didn't survive this drought. Tons of water now, but the climate impact is visable. Still, Yosemite is magnificent:

  

A bit of snow by our lodge. Kids had fun anywhere!
     

We went sledding a mile away to a bigger hill. It rained at the end, but we had fun!

 The lodge had a pool which was a highlight.

 In a bit of rain, we still found a way to do smores at the lodge we stayed at. 

  

We've all hung out a lot so kids know everyone, but this time, Aila fell in love with Patti. Aila asked me during our stay, "Can I kiss them?" I told her they are "framily...friends that are like family so you can kiss as long as you ask." What a snuggle bug. So special to share with an old friend.

  

The kitchen...

This came up in my Facebook memory from 2 years ago. We started a kitchen remodel right after the new year, and this 2/10 post was when things were taking form after complete gutting. I remember so clearly how excited I was. After each day of construction, I'd stand in the kitchen imaging what was next.

I realize I never posted the finished kitchen. I had it as draft in my blog so I'm finally finishing it up. 

Let me first share the professional pics Fireclay took of our backsplash because those tiles from Fireclay are still one of my fav things that I'm happy we splurged on. The tiles are from recycled computer and TV screens which is perfect because we use lots of screens. I originally thought of Heath tiles but was turned off by zero customer service I got while Fireclay was very friendly. I thought I wanted a simple green backsplash, but when I saw the CRT tiles in the showroom and touched them (handmade so each is unique and bumpy), that was that.

We used Ikea cabinets that were a big discount because Ikea was ending all cabinet lines for a new concept back then. I splurged on appliances and the backsplash. Although...when I thought I'd pick up cabinet handles at Lowe's, I ended up at a handle showroom, and discovered that handles are a thing that required thought.  Handles ended up being a splurge too. I learned a lot during this process.

Thank you to Tall Glass Architecture. And Dan who built it. The pic below shows a teapot I got from Michelle. First pro pic shows the Heath plates I got from dear Rachel. I love being able to display dishes that I use regularly.

Below is the original (1958) view. We have a lovely view of the bay, but cooking in the original kitchen was dark and isolating. Knocking the wall down solved that quickly.

 

   

2 of my fav details below: garbage tucked way with compost. If chopping on the counter, I can just swipe stuff into the drawer. And the "drop zone" where papers, keys, odd stuff that used to clutter my counter can go. Plus there's a gadget charging drawer, and the cats' bowls have a designated place.

  

Bingo in our neighborhood

Last night was Drag Queen Bingo night a few minutes from our house. It was a fundraiser for a garden area in Portola, and was kid friendly so after bath time, we headed over. Very first bingo round, Dav won (coupon to our fav brunch spot Tiffany's).

I told Aila that people will be dressed up, so Aila got out her special dress, her cheetah tail, a necklace, and her fancy purse. She wasn't disappointed to see folks in sparkles and big dresses. The Bingo numbers were a bit much for her, but she liked the party. I left early to get Aila to bed, but Tesla & Dav later came home with another bingo prize and a raffle prize that Aila wanted (golden dinosaur with a plant stuck to it). We scored!

I was happy that I got to meet a neighborhood leader whom I've only known via Nextdoor.com. I now know he's friends with 2 members of our Friends of Palou Phelps group. He was dressed up fabulously, leading the show. It's nights like this that make me really happy to live in our neighborhood, with people coming together for a cause. And with my organizing around the Palou Phelps hill, it's rewarding to hear people know about our cause : )