We agreed last year that a Christmas reunion in Washington DC would be most excellent, bought plane tickets in the summer, requested my days off from work in September, began counting down the days in November and then the three weeks with family at Aunt T and Uncle D's house flew by like Santa on his sleigh. It was the most magical time of the year!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
cousins and aunts
Hey! I am finally posting again.
Note to all my visitors: I have not yet perfected the art of posting multiple photos so that the one you should be seeing and reading first show up at the top. So, it might make more sense if you scroll down to "Cousins Party Redux" and read up.
With only a few days to go before Miss Ai and I jet off to DC (can't WAIT), our fabulous network of cousins and aunts in Tokyo got together at the Miyoshi's house for a Saturday afternoon get together.
Right to left: Miss Ai, Madoka, Chie, Sumiko obasan, Midori, Mari obasan and Kae. And Pepe there in the lower right corner.
Note to all my visitors: I have not yet perfected the art of posting multiple photos so that the one you should be seeing and reading first show up at the top. So, it might make more sense if you scroll down to "Cousins Party Redux" and read up.
With only a few days to go before Miss Ai and I jet off to DC (can't WAIT), our fabulous network of cousins and aunts in Tokyo got together at the Miyoshi's house for a Saturday afternoon get together.
Right to left: Miss Ai, Madoka, Chie, Sumiko obasan, Midori, Mari obasan and Kae. And Pepe there in the lower right corner.
the nigiri sushi feast
The Miyoshis prepared smoked salmon and duck, guacamole, fried chicken, sparkling wine, soup, roll-your-own sushi with these delectables, and the Takagakis brought sweet sweet strawberries and Mister Donuts for dessert.
We talked about Chie and Ai's music, Kae's work at the hospital, Madoka's recent work trip to Hong Kong, Midori's advice on relationships (she should write an advice column), and talked about plans for future get-togethers in the new year. Disneyland? 24-hour onsen? So many possibilities.
We talked about Chie and Ai's music, Kae's work at the hospital, Madoka's recent work trip to Hong Kong, Midori's advice on relationships (she should write an advice column), and talked about plans for future get-togethers in the new year. Disneyland? 24-hour onsen? So many possibilities.
how do these camera phone thingies work?
We had a good laugh as Mari and Sumiko obachans attempted to take photos of us cousins with our 21st century gadgets.
ai pepe me
Miss Ai and I are currently in the middle of an Alias addiction. Quick poll: Vaughn or Will?
Miss Ai would say "VAUGHN, duh," but they are both quite fetching, are they not?
Miss Ai would say "VAUGHN, duh," but they are both quite fetching, are they not?
kampai!!!
We gave cheers to 2005, which saw Madoka, Midori and later on Mari obachan moving into their amazing cozy home in Tokyo, as well as Chie, Kae and Sumiko obasan moving into their amazing cozy home in Tokyo, into which they welcomed us for the day's party.
2005 also saw yours truly finally having the guts to come to Tokyo. Thanks to all, especially Miss Ai and HK, who made me feel welcome.
2005 also saw yours truly finally having the guts to come to Tokyo. Thanks to all, especially Miss Ai and HK, who made me feel welcome.
chie pepe
Chie made all the delicious food for the party. Her dog Pepe, part French bulldog and part miniature shnawzer (or whatever), was very tempted by all the scrumptious offerings she put on the table and very nearly cleared off a few plates when none of us were looking.
Later, when Miss Ai was showing HK these pics, HK said he thought Pepe looks like "a newborn deer."
I agree.
Later, when Miss Ai was showing HK these pics, HK said he thought Pepe looks like "a newborn deer."
I agree.
lovely takagaki women
Madoka, Mari and Midori--hey, I just realized, take the first syllable of Madoka's and the last syllable of Midori's name, and you get Mari!
girl cousins rock
It was an all-girl party--girls outnumber the boys 8 to 3 among us cousins--and we are all close, and all photogenic, if I do say so myself.
Cousins party redux
Miss Ai is always telling me to update the blog more, so I will compensate for the absence with an update on this most fabulous of Saturdays. Last year, at just around this time, I was living in Seattle and came to Tokyo for a winter visit. Miss Ai, party planner extraordinaire that she is, organized a cousins party that brought nearly all of the Japanese cousins together for a night of nabe, drinking, talking, laughing, lots of photos and a gift exchange. Fabulous! Wonderful! I cried when the guests finally had to leave.
Due to busy schedules and such we didn't have a cousins party this year, but because our cousins Kae and Chie and their mom/our aunt Sumiko obachan invited Miss Ai and I as well as our other cousins Madoka and Midori and their mom/our aunt Mari obachan for a Saturday afternoon of sushi, drinking, talking, laughing and lots of photos, it was just as wonderful! Thanks Miyoshi fam!
Due to busy schedules and such we didn't have a cousins party this year, but because our cousins Kae and Chie and their mom/our aunt Sumiko obachan invited Miss Ai and I as well as our other cousins Madoka and Midori and their mom/our aunt Mari obachan for a Saturday afternoon of sushi, drinking, talking, laughing and lots of photos, it was just as wonderful! Thanks Miyoshi fam!
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