Bonsai

Keeping to my resolutions already....

So the first luncheon of year was this past Wednesday (remember, I'm in charge of that and have to be nice to lots of women when they make me mad!). The speaker was a bonsai master. I was skeptical about the whole thing, but it turned out to be a really great program.

The bonsai master, Mr. Kobayashi, not only talked about bonsai, but did a live demonstration for us. It was really cool to see it change so drastically in so little time. Anywho, I also learnded some stuff about bonsai.
So first the facts and then the pictures
Bonsai is super, super old, but we all knew that. There are apparently 20 different kinds of designs you can choose from, each one highlighting something special. There are also 3, only 3, types of pots to plant them in, and their is a hierarchy of pot, as the square one is the best! Once a tree is trimmed, it does not need to be trimmed again for 3 years, imagine that. You just let it sit there and grow. One cool thing, was how they make the branches grow out to the side. Apparently you can cut out the inside of the bark, making it hollow and then breaking the branch to whichever side you like. Next you tape and wait for it to grow back and get healhty. Sounds simple right, but definitely looks like it hurts.
Ok, enough knowlege, here is the demonstration

Getting started

cutting away

some more working...so bare

The finished product...this style is Mr. Kobayashi's favorite, upright with little leaves. He didn't explain why its his favorite, so don't ask.

And just to show us a great bonsai, he brought along this guy, a 500yr old bonsai (not sure if I believe it, but who am I)

Definitely an interesting luncheon and better than I thought it would be. Bonsai can now be checked off my list of things to see/learn.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

And happy year of the Dragon...Let's hope it is a fiery and fabulous year for everyone!

Mike and I are back in Tokyo and ready to enjoy most of the year here before our move. Keep checking back to read about our adventures before its time to go

So resolutions...we should all make them right? Well, we have the usual ones that most people have:
- eat healthier
- exercise more/get in shape

except we have actually kept to them for more than a week! I got a great, healthy cookbook for Christmas and have been using it regularly

We each have our own personal resolutions, so let's hope we keep to those as well. One of mine is to blog more regularly and not like once a month or once every 2 months b/c then you are bombarded with 10 posts to read, if you actual read them.
So one thing, not so much a resolution, I am going to stick to is enjoying our time here in Tokyo and making the most of it.

Wishing you all joy, health, love, and happiness in this new year.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

We spent New Years in ELP, so we had to celebrate my birthday. Mike and I went out to dinner with my sister and Gabe on the 30th. We went to "Thyme," a restaurant that has great cutinis as Audrey calls them and drinks them!
At dinner

Well on my actual birthday, we went to the Sun Bowl game since Mike really wanted to go and mom always gets tickets. Turns out we picked a good year as it was the first time the game went into overtime!
We started the day early, 8am to tailgate with my Mom's friends. It was quite a spread, but all very delicious

Mom and Sister

Sister and I

The boys

Some highlights from the game:
The Sunbowl with the sun shining bright

And a final picture depicting how excited and how much fun Mike had while at the game

After a very long day at the game, we finally made it home and it was time to eat some cake. Time to blow out the candles with a little help from the little guy

The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful but with some cutinis. We stayed up until midnight to ring the new year and then I was in bed by 12:10. Should be a good year!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Merry Christmas in ELP

66 and extreme sunshine all day, which was great. We arrived and it was time to have another Christmas dinner and presents. Nothing like some Mexican food to start off the 2nd half of our vacation!
Here are some favorites of the kiddos:
Ella climbing on her name chair

Little man opening up his remote control car...

We had a great time in ELP mainly relaxing and watching alot of football. Needless to say Mike had a great time!!!

Merry Christmas in STL

Ah, the holidays are upon us and we are back in the states to see the family. Our first stop was to STL, to see Mike's family. Oh what fun we had, minus the last minute shopping we had to do.

Mike and I celebrated our Christmas on Christmas eve morning, since was the only time we would have. Mike said I was getting a joint Christmas/Birthday present, but only had 1 gift for me on the eve and said "once you get this you will know what your birthday present is" So I open up my gift to find an I-pad cover. Mike found quite enjoyment in this. I had to wait until my birthday to open the I-pad, can you believe it. I decided on a new rule, joint gifts come on Christmas!

We had a lovely Christmas day with the family and here a few favorites of Owen as he opened his gifts...The jumping balloon, he wants to sit on

Checking out the trumpet

Now its his turn to play...

While in STL, Mike started enjoying his vacation by reading, resting, and getting scruffy!

Off to ELP for more Christmas time

Holiday Sewing project

In addition to the party, I needed some holiday decorations. This year I decided to make Mike and I stockings as last years, were, well, cheap, and rough looking. I think I bought them at the 100yen store just to have something.

My tutorial book had excellent instructions, so to the sewing machine I went. here are the finished products, along with the finished snowmen. I had to add scarves to the snowmen to make it more festive.



happy decorating to you!

Ladies Christmas Cheer

I love the holidays, just don't love the extra poundage that comes with it. Mike had to leave for a business trip, so I figured it would be a good time to throw a ladies holiday party.

Saturday afternoon was the perfect time, unfortunately, I was battling some sort of sickness, so I had to make sure I didn't cough on any of the goodies.

Here's a serious a pictures from the party:
The table of goodies


The wonderful ladies, whom are my friends here in Tokyo




It was a nice party and a great way to start off the holiday season. As an added treat, I sent home each lady with a ribboned pictured frame with hanging bells and acorns, for them to hang on their doors. yay for holidays.