Kokochi

Batteries at work

My mouse needed new batteries. I discovered this is where I drop them off and pick up new rechargable batteries at work. Made me smile.

Sent from my iPhone

First Ride

We spent the afternoon at a family celebration for Dav's cousin's graduation.  Super mama of 3 who just finished her degree in special ed. all before the age of 30. 

I can't describe how special it is for both Dav and I, who grew up in small families, to have Tesla, and now Aila, grow up with this giant, warm, and loving family clan in the Bay Area that we are a part of. Among the adults, there must have been 15 kids and babies (from family and friends). For Aila, this was pretty much her first experience being surounded by so many kids and babies. She thrived! 

And, she got to ride her first wheels.

  

   

Aila is still rather new to the Callaghan clan. She is close to Gran Marie, but is just getting to know everyone else (got held by quite a few smitten folks today). Telsa, on the other hand, is totally at home with the Callaghans. Here she is with her best bud cousins. I love that they truly are growing up together. Tonight, Maria-Rose is spending the night chez nous.

 

My happy spot

When I see this, I am happy and content.

Aila walking!

JBBP Rosa Parks at Sakura Festival

Today we marched in the Sakura Festival parade. Well, Tesla marched as a student of JBBP Rosa Parks, and Dav, me and Aila tagged along.

Now I get what parades are about. I genuinely was inspired by all who showed up to support Rosa Parks and be part of the spirit. I was proud too, to walk as a parent with a child in this amazing program that has a lot of history and is so integral to the Japantown community. During the festival, both Dav and I volunteered to pop popcorn and man the booth to sell popcorn. Although it was a lot of work, we were able to get to know parents more than before. I now feel more connected to the community, and am just incredibly proud of the hardwork and warmth I see.

Aila love love

I know I need to get back on track updating about Aila's progress. I treasure what I have recorded for Tesla, and want as much as I can for Aila. Must do, but overall, I am simply enjoying her every moment, every movement, every grin. 

She is very active now, constanty twisting out of my arms, or crawling/grabbing towards me. One happy energetic girl, I must say. Tesla plays with her, which is more like rough-housing, but Aila keeps up, giggling. I totally melt to see these 2 sisters roll around on the floor, clearly enjoying each other. So neat to watch, and I love that for Aila, Tesla has always been there for her. I love that they are sisters, but are so different not just because they are individuals, but because I see how different it is to be the older or younger one. I was the younger one, and had no clue what it was like to be an older sibling. I am watching it unfold.

The best way to capture little Ms. Wiggly Worm is by video. Aila's pride is climbing stairs. She loves sneaking away when she can to get to the top.

A moment I put her in the open dishwasher (clean) so I could get time to cook (then of course I ended up wanting to video her)

Miss Happy Walker

And this might make you a bit dizzy, but is the best. I copied her jumpy movements and got her belly laughing.

 And some portraits from a Sunday walk, thanks to the Regenbogens.

 

 I have a quirky family : )

And my current favs. I love love my smiley, giggly, squirmy, squeezy Aila. Enjoy the gummy smile while it lasts. 2 teeth are coming in!

TuTu the amazing white cat

        
I met Tutu on August 16, 2003. I found her in Tokyo, a few days before moving to San Francisco, on a rainy, miserable day. She was tiny. She was yelping under the cover of a bush, obviously alone and lost. I brought her home. 

I was desperate because I had 2 cats of my own, but more importantly, I was about to move internationally and could not possibly care for her. Back then blogging was just a budding thing and us Tokyo bloggers had a tight community. I posted about Tutu, and wonderfully, Tracy came to the rescue. And when I said it was meant to be, it really was. 

Tutu just passed away. Tracey wrote a beautiful post about her. My heart goes out to Tracey.

Tutu brings back so many lovely Tokyo memories. Now, I am a wife and mama. Tracey too. Katsuo, a huge part of my adult life, has died. Tutu, a symbol of my life in Tokyo just as Dav and I met, is now gone. Life keeps trudging on. It's certainly strange to notice how old I am getting...

De Haro Street gal pals

T with her gal pals. Yep, they dress like this pretty regularly on the weekends.

Pic and video says it all!

 

Via the pixiemakers. Love it!

San Francisco kids

Our roots in San Francisco are growing deeper and deeper. And I get a kick out of thinking that Tesla and Aila will grow up here, where the beauty, the amazing creative people, and the charm are all normal to them.

Here Dav and I had an hour to kill between dropping T off, and seeing her annual school performance. So we hung out, and I got this pic of Aila that is almost what a tourist might take. I didn't even notice the background for a while. Reminds me of this picture. All in a regular afternoon because we live here...

Part of our roots is tied to a wonderful community that started with Tesla's preschool (Nihonmachi Little Friends). Tesla now goes to Rosa Parks Elementary, which is close to her preschool and Japantown. She attends the after school program run by her preschool, and many kids go to N.L.F. and Rosa Parks. I am getting to know the parents, as well as alumni parents who still chip in to support the Japanese program at Rosa Parks years after their kids graduated. This program is 37 years old, and I am learning the history and incredible efforts it has taken to provide this wonderful program Tesla is thriving in. I feel proud to be the new generation.

To that end, we participated in a fundraiser for the 2 organic gardens and chicken coop by painting 2 tiles that will soon decorate the yard. We envision Aila going to NLF (hopefully with same teachers who saw me pregnant with Aila!) and continuing on to Rosa Parks. I love the idea that she will see these tiles that are from her family permanently up at Rosa Parks.

T painted a castle tree. Dav did the sutro tower. 

Here is T with her Star Student award. What caught my eye here is what a mom I am. This is the kind of picture I used to see as a girl, and how I saw my mom. And here I am now, a mother of 2. I look forward to when both girls are older, and I can show them some pre-kid pictures and share who I was before becoming a mama.

  

But for now, I am loving being immersed in mama stuff. Like this drive with the kids brings me smiles:

And now for some Aila pics. As baby 2, indeed, there is less time to take and post pictures of her every movement : (    However, I didn't have the iPhone before Aila so in many ways with technology, I am getting better everyday pictures. I am planning on doing a photography session to capture Aila in her incredibly cute stage professionally. That will be nice. 

What I can say is that she is the love of my life (well, I have 2 others too). Just sitting on the sofa with her babbling and giving me gummy (slobbery) kisses is bliss, and the fact that she constantly wants to be held by me even though it is tiring, warms me. She is very smiley, and I sense her humor through giggles and looks. I am looking forward to getting to know this gal!

At T's hiragana poster where T teaches her. Aila knows this is an important thing on the wall. Anything her sister touches is amazing to her.

I see how second kids have such a different experience. T had a lot of adult time. Aila gets more kid time which means being played with or being used to play ; )  It's a special kind of interaction that she clearly enjoys, and I can see her learning so much from it.

Lastly, now we have Aila joining the annual hinasama pics. My mom sent an addition to our set so now we have 2 rows. The prince and princess, and her 3 court ladies.

Rosa Parks field trip - Hidden Villa

Months ago I eagerly signed up to be a parent volunteer for T's class at Rosa Parks for visiting Hidden Villa. It just so happened it was the day after coming back from Tokyo, but what's more important? Sleep or being with kids on their special day? Surprisingly, jetleg didn't hit me, and I had a wonderful time.

We have been there before, actually, thanks to Niki, our friend who used to live on that farm. That was back in 2007 when Tesla was just a younger than Aila is now! Niki gave us an individual tour, and now that I have gone as a group, I realize what a treat that was. Thanks, Niki!!

T enjoying the chickens...

Then one got spooked, and I am pretty proud I got a snap of the flying mayhem.

T's class was divided into groups, and at the end, we took a group pic. I keep giggling to see T there, right in the middle, with her pose and side look! She is such a character that girl of mine!