Progressive Dinner

A few games of chess between the boys. 

Practicing and getting really good at control. I think he's ready to petal soon.

How cute, they're snuggled up on the couch taking turns reading books. 

Baba had to print some papers and NJ was checking out my office now that it's nearly done. 

Silly guy came to see me.

My new view from the daybed in my office. I love it. So much better than the huge pile of boxes that were all over the room. 

I signed us up for a progressive dinner with fellow HOPE members. I didn't think to ask if it was for adults only or with kids. It was so kind of the organizer to offer for us to either bring him along or to bring him over to their house. He'd spend the time with their girls and babysitter for the evening. I was nervous, what if something happened and we'd never be invited again. And he's usually watched by one of our moms or an Auntie or Uncle, not with other kids at someone else's house. Plus, aren't we intruding on what they have going on already? Now they have another kid to feed and watch at the last minute. But Baba reminded me that it'll be good for him to get to know more kids and it's nice for us to get to know more people too. This was an easy way to connect. We had a lot of chances to connect in one night. The dinner was so fun and all the people that we know and pass in church all the time, we actually got to talk to them and get to know them. At the first house we had appetizers, second was the main course, and the third was dessert. The food was good, the homes were cozy, cute, and beautiful, and we got to sit and chat with adults and have real conversations. Imagine that. NJ jumped right in with the girls. He brought out his loom set and started to teach them and making bracelets for each of them. They were all excited. As soon as he walked in the door he was greeted with a big hug. They know each other from being in the same sunday school class together. Too cute. When we picked him up, the girls were in bed already. NJ was in his pajama's and was cuddled up with his blanket between their beds. Oh my. When he heard us come in he was happy to see us, but wanted to go back to say goodbye and give hugs to the girls. We told him best not to if they were trying to sleep or sleeping already. We brought him a sleeping bag in case he was tired, but he just wanted his blanket. The whole way home he was sleepy, but talked all about how much fun he had and describing the girls' room to us and how their beds were positioned from the door. Gee, I guess he had a great time! 

After my morning with the ladies of HOPE going through Philippians, I met with my fellow Ishinomaki volunteer and HOPE sister. She introduced me to another Taiwanese place. When she mentioned Taiwanese, I was in! We both tried the Hokkaido cream with our teas. She got oolong, I got the green tea. We talked for over an hour and talked about a whole lot. It was nice spending time together and getting to know each other outside of passing each other in church. 

No homework today, but we still asked him to do a few pages of his workbook. They're getting easier for him and he's doing them faster and faster. 

He's getting a lot better already. He goes longer and steadier down the driveway. Baba taught him to turn fluidly so he wouldn't have to stop and back up and turn the bike around. 

I brought back the wind chime NJ made last year as his recycle project. It adds some color to the porch. 

It's a hundred degrees out (literally) and we're sweating while eating noodle soup. I bought the ingredients to make it because I was craving it. I had no idea at the time it would become so hot. We couldn't let the ingredients go bad, they were about to, so I just made it. It was painfully good. 

The sea salt coffee and tea were buy one get one half off. I miss being two minutes from this place. But I miss seeing my best friend even more! Being farther is hard... She was sick, then I was sick, and finally we meet again. It was so hot out, but we caught up sitting out on the patio. We talked and talked as it got hotter and hotter. It was funny. By the time we couldn't stand it anymore she needed to leave for work anyway. Hope our next time will be sooner than later. 

I went by to see Mom. She asked me how I look at the traffic on my phone. I downloaded to her iPad the app I have on mine to show her. On there I noticed that she had a text message and opened it. I tried texting her from my phone to her iPad and it worked! I had no idea you could text from an iPad. I don't have or use one myself. But I texted her for the first time and got her to text for the first time. I thought it was funny. We texted my brother together too. We sent each other photos. 

I got help with my office today. Now I have hooks and a place to hang my book and computer bags. It also makes the rest of my purse and bag stash less for my closet. I'm missing my domo messenger though. It must be in the car. I love how it's coming together. 

NJ's little lip pucker when he's concentrating on his homework or writing. 

Something to snack on after finishing homework.

NJ asked to ride his tricycle and then asked if he could try his bike. I told him we'd have to pump the tires so probably another time. I asked Baba if he could take his trike out for him to ride and close the gate. Well when NJ went out he was surprised by Baba that he had pumped the tires! 

He's so excited about trying it out! Baba took off the pedals so he could get used to just balancing first. 

Trying to slowly add color to our white on white house and porch. The chairs have been primed after getting rid of the rust (thanks to my mom). Now to find a pretty blue to paint them. 

Baba and Dot Dot hanging out, relaxing on the porch.

He still wanted to take his trike for a spin. He's going to need more practice with the bike. 

"There's a rice in my hair!"

I can't find the bird that fell off of this frame before the move! It's the first thing I see when I walk into my office, some sweet words from a friend. 

"Love sews a bond that time can never tear" 

I can't remember how many years it's been since my best friend made and gave this to me. She hand stitched the whole thing. I love it and think of her when I look at it. It's perfect in my office/workspace! More to hang up, just need to find or replace frames for some. 

Nate and Jimmy opened this as they were cleaning out the garage before moving. I knew it was in there, but I didn't know it was full. Full of my stuff no less! When we moved to our other house, there were quite a few art supplies I was missing. I couldn't find them no matter where I looked. I thought I was losing my mind and it was driving me so crazy. I thought that maybe we had mistakenly thrown them out. I found exactly everything I was missing and then some! My clear stamp sets, my missing x-acto knife cap, metal ruler, small cutting board... Then stuff I completely forgot about like my old work, my favorite nice brush markers, some old sketch books, a sweet card from one of my closest friends that made me cry, my craft caddy, Duck Fish Designs sign, and some stuff I used to have on my desk when we lived here last. All this stuff has not seen the light of day for over four years! How sad. It shows that if you don't know it's missing, you really don't need it. Ha, ha. Except for the stuff I thought had been thrown away! Glad I can put it all away again back at this house. 

Looking through my old work and sketch books full of old jobs I did, brought back a lot of memories. I miss doing jobs, they were fun. Maybe I can start again. But I always say that and nothing happens. 

I caught Dot Dot catching some sun. There's not as much of here at this house. 

NJ's pencil sharpener broke so I looked through my stuff for one to put in his box. I found one that was my brother's from college. It still has the sticker price on it. And I also found the brush that was his. It's very helpful in cleaning off all the eraser dust off the table after his homework. 

NJ is so asian. Where did he learn this? I asked him what he was doing and he says, "Four!"

Four what? You're doing the peace sign, silly!

"There's a rice in my hair!"
As long as you said rice and not lice!

Baba and NJ played about five games, I think. Baba says he's getting better and better. He has to think harder about his moves and loses his queen more. 

Reading some books before devotions and prayer at bedtime. 

Building his little pillow hide-out.

A couple games of chess before bedtime.
Stressful day with endless phone calls to my coordinator, mail order pharmacy, insurance, and calling every pharmacy possible in the area. Such annoying and frustrating things to deal with that are hard to explain when you're not in our shoes. I guess I should be used to it. I know my poor mom used to deal with it... insurance, bills, and runaround for all my medical issues. Now it's my poor husband. I thank God for the two of them to take care of me the way they do and love me that much!