Japan 2016: First Days in Tokyo

We made it to Japan, and the flight was fairly smooth - at least compared to our "adventures" (to put it as nicely as possible) last year. Despite goofy sleeping habits as expected, we've already had many exciting times! Our first leg of the trip has been staying with Grandma and Ji-chan in Tokyo. 

"That Silly Daddy"

I don't do enough of these write-down-the-silly-antics-now-or-you'll-forget-them posts, and I've been told there is no time like the present...

I've been working on packing for our big trip to Japan these last few days, and, as happens with packing, things keep getting moved around quite a bit.

As Scarlet and I were getting ready for dinner, I began looking for my iPad so I could play music (dinner without music?! no way).  I looked and looked, but just could not for the life of me find it -- which is, of course, extra annoying because I knew I had just been using it to access one of my many mildly OCD checklists.

As I was rummaging around the same scattered contents of my desk the third or fourth time, Scarlet started chiming in.

"Can't find it, Mommy?"

(about 10 seconds pass)

"Looking for iPad, Mommy?"

(another 10 seconds)

"Daddy lost it." (Note, Kei is in Chicago and hasn't been here all week...)

"Where Daddy put it?"

(At this point, I checked to see if I was understanding her correctly: namely, that she was totally blaming Daddy for this missing iPad. To my questions, she diligently repeated, "Where Daddy put it?")

Then, after another 10 seconds or so, she added, "That silly Daddy."

Gardening Kondos in Manitowoc

My parents asked us to come help out with their garden this year... which only exists because two seasons ago, I had convinced them to let me dig up a portion of their backyard to plant it in the first place (despite my mom's longstanding declaration of hating gardening). So of course, we agreed and the Kondo gang headed up to Manitowoc to get to work. 

We were blessed with perfect -- no, but seriously perfect -- weather all weekend, complete with rain right after we got everything planted. From the satisfaction of a tough job done, the loads of sunshine, drinks on a sunny driveway, a toddler (and her father) super excited about e.v.e.r.y. worm, and a celebratory trip to the famous Big Cow ice cream parlor -- this was a seriously great unofficial kick-off to summer!

#plumbercrack

#likefatherlikedaughter

(and some fun indoors, too!)

Madison Memories

As our Madison days are winding down, I want to memorialize some of our favorite things and people that we are going to miss dearly after we move!

Probably most of all - we'll miss our great friends, the McKays -- any day that includes Hazel (Scarlet's first "bestie") is a good day by Scarlet. Here are a few pics of the girls running madly around Capitol Square after visiting the farmers market.

Eagle Heights has been great to us (not counting the spontaneous turkey attacks), and we especially love the plethora of nearby playgrounds, sandboxes, and S-L-I-D-E-S!!

We'll also miss the gorgeous lakes, especially Lake Mendota, which is so close to our apartment!

And, we'll certainly miss our frequent visits to see our friends at Henry Vilas Zoo!! :)

Springtime Fun Fun Fun ~~!

Happy Spring!