Another quick update to keep up pace....
Summer has officially begun.
I dread to the scorching weather, but compared to the humid rainy season, the dry heat is still pleasant enough for me. Especially at night time, when the temperature becomes low, it is a becomes really pleasant.
Kids also enjot summer.... Especially, Mika. She gets to play in the puddle pool every day at the nursery.
I guess the only person who does not appreciate this weather, is Mommy. With the baby in her stomach growing, she can't get rid of the heat. Sorry Marilou, but just a little more patience...
Although this happened before some of the events for the previous article, I will post this. Just to keep my promise to update the blog more frequently...
In May, we celebrated Mika's 4th B-day by taking her to Tokyo Disney Sea.
We took several pictures with Disney characters, but like every child in the world, their favorite is always Mickey.
It is 2009. The year of the Ox. The characteristic of this year is dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, and demanding.
Though we are facing one of the worst economical crisis of the century, let us hope that who ever reads this blog would have a happy and properous year!!
I have again left my blog untouched for over two months. During such time, our family was very busy with various events. So, here are some of the few things we have done in the past months.
In November, we have purchased a new car. Our previous car, was already exceeeding its 14th year, so we decided that we purchase a new car-one that our whole family could enjoy!!
Here you see Kenji saying farewell to our old car, Lancer.
The new car, Voxy can be seen in the lower part of this article.
Another big event in November, was celebrating Mika's "Shichigosan".
"Shichigosan" which traslates to the numbers seven, five and three, is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys, held annually in November. It is said to have originated in the Heian Period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood.
The children dress in kimono (many for the first time) for visits to shrines. Three-year-old girls usually wear hifu (a type of padded vest) with their kimono.
In December, we welcomed my wife's father and sister (Tatay and Maricel) to our house. They stayed for one month until the end of year 2008. During their stay, we've visited various tourist attractions around in the Kanto area.
Tokyo Disney Resort is, of course, the one they liked the most. My wife was particularly happy to have her family enjoy one of the best amusement facility in the world.
Tokyo Tower is another popular place in Tokyo. It was celebrating its 50th year, and we were able to receive a souvenir badge. We also drove through Imperial Palace, Ginza district and Asakusa Sensoji Temple. (The Basic Tokyo Tour Route!!)
During their Tatay celebrated his 62nd birthday!!
We've visited some other local attractions both rich in culture and entertainment. All of which are within 30 minutes drive from our house.
The Enoshima Aquarium is an excellent attraction which we can enjoy and learn about our local sea life.
Visiting the temples and shrines of the ancient capital of Kamakura is another place we went for Tatay & Maricel to know and feel the Japanese culture. The great statue of Buddha is the highlight of the Kamakura visit.
We've also visited Hakone, where they dipped themselves in hotspring. And enjoyed numerous delicacies of Japan. When the time for them to depart back to the Philippines, it was already the end of 2008.
So, our family have spent an enormous time traveling and visiting place in December. And with the 9 day long holiday, all of us have rejuvenated ourselves for the start of 2009!!
November 3rd is a holiday in Japan called the "Culture Day". This national holiday commemorates the November 3, 1946 announcement of the Constitution. It is recognized as a day to celebrate peace and freedom and promote culture.
On this day, the city would hold various events to promote the local culture. One of which, is the exhibit of caligraphies from various local artists. Jiji has been exhibiting his work to this event for a long time now and our family have had the chance to visit the exhibit on such ocasion.
You can enjoy the change on how Mika has grown by standing in front of Jiji's work every year.
Here below is this year's work. (Mika is 3 years old)
This is the one from last year. (Mika is 2 years old)
And here is the one from 2005. (Mika is 5 months old)
Starting from this year, Kenji will also join this photo shoot.
After the visit to the gallery, the family went out on a stroll to the near by park.
This is the park where Mika comes and play with her nursery friends.
This was a quiet weekend before a big event. Mika will celebrate her Shichigosan this month.
