THursday continued, March 2011

This was actually from today, more of a school day for Leo so- some of Nea's. I'm too lazy at the moment to put up too many words.The first two are from the last rainy week

 The concentration needed to do ones nails, aaaahhh...

As I was saying all into workbooks now, she could go on like this the whole day, it's ME who gives up. NO mummy, I WANT MORE!

 Some from Gymnastics with the new coach Geo, absolutely lovely teacher but really gets them in there training! She's the youngest but is catching up. TONS of really interesting and trying things to do!

 OK, yes, you can manage it...

 Walking the plank

 OK so lets now do the 10 chin-ups, I was quite amazed that she could manage it, probably 'cause she's so light- only 14kg! Wow, Leo was that before he reached two.

 My new Pokemon friend Dragonite- we got him yesterday at the school silent auction fundraiser!

 After a small rest at home play again with friends- that's Nora and Alexa, two of my BEST friends

       HAIR

 Oh YEAH I'm cool

 Careful your head doesn't come off

 It's a dang thing, life, ain't it, nobody gets you,
you can't jump rope....

Gorgeous kid Alexa's brother Vinnie (Vincent)
Always so full of ideas and fun- and such a good friend! Thanks Vinnie, you're a treasure!

Dear Maja who is as always our psychologist

Thursay March 24th 2011

.. Long time no write, or is it short?
It seems like a year has gone by. ALl the things in Japan, all the stuff in day to day business,
it was enough to send one crazy. But, all in all, I've discussed that so many times with so many people that I think it is best left for the moment. In any case, with talk and more talk nothing has really been accomplished except getting one over the sleepless nights. For all the friends and homeless people out there, what can one say that in the end the selfish feeling prevails of thank heavens above it wasn't us, and let good times come a quickly as possible.

March is almost over, it's been cold in LA and snow falling nearby, we're uncharacteristically all dressed up in fleeces and waddling around in pelting rain. Yesterday we saw a HUUUGE rainbow before we went out at night over the whole city, Leo who is all into my old edition of Noah's ark was NOW there's the promise that WE won't be swept away in a tsunami. Let's hope.

 TWo weeks of Spring break up ahead from Monday, Leo has been waiting for them for ages, always nearing the end of a semester (probably 3 months of nonstop pressure and working is as much as he can stand, more than I could) for things to taper down a bit, he's really looking forward to it as am I, at least for a couple of weeks no hurrying around the place like a maniac from 5 in the morning. Today's blog is Leo's day, since we want to put up his pictures and "Open House" day from last night, he was so very happy to show everything off and have his many works looked at by yours truly, as usual very moving and what can one say but, after all the trials and tribulations, for the moment we seem to be over a last rut of the 6 year oldishness and too sadly starting to be very BIG indeed, much more so than to my liking. Sob.

                                        Making projects Saturday times

  


Salty (made almost all from salt ) the Diplocodus! I worked really hard on my diorama!

 Top middle Leo, the one on the left bottom corner is excellent- no that kid isn't really dark but has an excellent sense of humor

 Open House day- I've done a lot of work this semester!

 At times I wish we didn't have to spend all the time on it, but they are SO happy (as am I as you see)
when it's finished and they can compare and feel extra proud

 You've lost me here

Story books- so cute, reminds me that he's still so small and innocent, poor guy in a family that is mine- love him to bits

Oh well, we have to take various angles, you know

 Imagine your own dinosaur

 This is the last project of the family tree, forgot to take that one before-

 Middle of course

 Nea getting bored during all the to-dos at school so went off outside and demanded one of the older girls to
"Play with me"

 Quick song for the parents

 OK SO WHO FARTED?

Not me....

 As usual Nea completely behaving as one of them, always pushing to the front of the line, HA HA HA

 ..... What was I saying.

 These aren't very good, all on the slideshow on the wall, past happenings at school

MY brother making a funny face again!!!

 Family tree oral report

 Mochitsuki (making rice cakes) at school... February?

 ... and eating them too!

 Of course have fun with friends....

 Recent oral report from Dinosaurs

And finally one with my dear teacher Ezaki, who has made such a difference this year, I work a LOT but it's fun, and she REALLY cares. I don't think this comes around that often. She told me I was really trying hard and had improved SO greatly. Mummy was very happy with this, but of course, she knows this already. But she doesn't count because she would say that anyway because she loves me so much.

Just some pics from Leo's field trip today-we've been to the NHM a thousand times but still

Monday March 7 2011

No kidding. You don't have to guess- a beach weekend. What novelty in Hirose household.

We've even got lazy enough to forgo exploring as we have done for the past two years- 

no more up trips to Malibu and the rest of the million miles of California beach- this one 5 minutes by car has been the staple recently, frankly, as good as any other and not so many people- which makes it even more attractive. Gasoline is getting too expensive.

Talk about expensive, I was just trying to contact the California Gas company with not too much success- you see I've given up for the moment- ludicrous, I know my daily routines and how much I use of this and that, how come that in a coldish winter all together (been using heating during the evening for quite some months now) November and December was 80 dollars each, January some 120 dollars (understandable) and today I got a bill for February- 380 dollars! And it's even been WARMER if anything, it's ridiculous. Or the meter guy was stone pissed. 

Been quite a normal time, kids kids kids, what can one say. Bit of a disappointment at gymnastics today, her teacher left to make a selling kids gymnastics DVD and the new one is behaving as if she's teaching 1 year olds. For Leo this would have been great but for Nea, it's really not worth the 240 dollars per 10 sessions. I'll try and flick her around a bit and see what happens. Apparently somewhere around the mass of Broadway gymnastics coaches there is a great one named Geo. sounds mind boggling.

Oh as you see we were lucky enough to get yet another package from Lisa of Twins out-growns clothes, Hannah Anderson at that, I'd never have the guts to plop the cash on those. I'm so grateful to everyone always that I hardly ever have to get anything for her- there is always a benefactor somewhere, when I do get a tad it's pure splurge. I know it won't go on for ever but am enjoying  it while it lasts!

.... water gun fight as usual ( Leo broke his as usual too) 

Weekend and one of Leo's block creations;

this one named the

"fantastic eco-powerplant with under
ground resources " 

(???? Where does he get these things from???!!)

... So much entertainment that they have together, these days Leo doesn't even want to be read to but enjoys reading to her more, or teaching stuff. Unfortunately gives me ample time on a Saturday night to get thoroughly pissed. 

.... and in the end I don't want to forget that I have quite a poser, tell her to stand on her head for a picture and she'll do it. Hi hi. This one by the way is her own pose, she told me how to take it. Very Japanese-gaarl looking.

That

That's one she took of yours truly, you can see all the freckles, chapped lips, crows feet and all. Good you don't see the teeth. 

Oh FRIDAY night was GREAT- we went to the faculty follies, which means a show that happens once in 3 years at Leo's school- teachers put on a two hour performance for the kids for fund-raising. I'm sorry I didn't take my camera- it was so FUN for the kids and me alike, even Nea stayed there till 9pm ( no and she doesn't nap anymore) kneeling and attentive the whole time.  It was also so much fun for Leo to see that his teachers were young and in school once, that they had to practice for a long time for all the shows and put themselves out there.... laughed almost the whole time, althogh I must say that the Spanish teachers were a bit more (even the principal) entertaining than the Japanese ones-predictable.

 Maddening thing end of last week though with teachers; his is altogether not too bad, strict as hell but not actually a hell-bender,  obviously got pissed off or was tired from practicing the faculty follies; namely I am talking about one of Leo's homework brainworks from English/science which went  something like " Imagine that you are a scientist working in the desert looking for fossils and clues of life long ago for one year. Describe whether you would like this or not and explain the reasons "-- approx.
IN any case Leo wrote a kids but honest view of the negative preference,
since he would get hot, it would take a long time, he had a feeling there would be flies around, ending that  he was rather clumsy so he would probably end up losing a piece of evidence and get kicked out anyway ( it was rather humorous actually)
all this was reviewed by teacher, there WAS admittedly one spelling mistake but still,
in any case at the end of the piece she put in Bold  red capitals "BUT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN HOW WOULD YOU KNOW".   And gave a " re-do" and bad mark.


???!!!!  Need I even explain. I was rather pissed off to say the least. WHAT???
In any case I wrote her an uncharacteristically firm email demanding justice or offering retribution, after which she calmed down a tad.


Gosh I haveta go. LOve all round