February

After our trip to Japan Hiroko's maternity leave came to an end and it was back to life as usual.  Oren has taken to making "butter" almost daily. We're not sure where he got the idea from but the ceremony is pretty straightforward. Step 1. Announce that you're going to make butter with the most serious look possible. Step 2. Remove every measuring cup (all three sets), measuring spoon, and as many bowls as can fit on the counter. Step 3. Request necessary ingredients for butter making: water, flour, sugar, and if possible pink food dye, sometimes cinnamon. Step 4. Pour water from bowl to bowl, use every cup, stir with anything still clean.  Step 5. Once all bowls and spoons are exhausted and dirty, remove plates from drawer, add your butter, carry this to another room - after the first plate is moved, follow the trail (sometimes) and set up a picnic. He gets his blanket, play plates, cake, foods, tea, water, play utensils, all of his friends and makes a full picnic. 

We also transitioned Oren to the main floor guest room and moved Naoki into Oren's old room. Both kids were excited about it, but fortunately, Oren took it quite well.

butter time!

Making butter again!

Oren doing some light dusting in his sleepsack.

the boys!

Naoki in his own crib!

Oren helps Hiroko bathe Naoki

"You wanna come in the cave too?"

What we go through to take a photo in this house!

Oren learned about the mail system at school and they had their own school post office.  This is his first letter from Obaachama.

Oren singing to the crocuses to make them grow (something from pinkalicious . . .).

We spent a lot of time watching the Winter Olympics and Naoki got into the spirit of the games and cheered on team Japan!