コネチカット生活2021-04-21T04:30:49+09:00harumski海外生活、養子縁組、料理,Excite Blog宗教 religionhttp://stewfamily.exblog.jp/32098631/2021-04-20T11:55:00+09:002021-04-21T04:30:49+09:002021-04-21T04:30:49+09:00harumski家族 Family
先週1週間はキコの春休み。
でもその前の週にクラスメートがコロナ陽性になりクラスが隔離。今日は春休み明けですが明日までリモート授業です。早く学校に戻りたい~って言ってる(私も早く戻ってほしい)
ピーターとサムも大学は平常運転なのでどこにも出かけずじまい。ペットにとってはずっと家族が家にいていいよね!?
Last week was Spring break for Kiko.
Unfortunately there was a covid positive case in her class the prior week, so her class went remote....she is doing remote until tomorrow....
she can't wait to go back to school (and so can I😂!)!!
Peter and Sam had college so we couldn't go away either(with Kiko's quarantine requirement)...it is great for pets that family are always home, isn't it?
でもちょっと可哀想だね、キコちゃん。
でも文句も言わずいい子です
I feel bad for Kiko for staying home....
She is such a good spirit that she does not complain....what a nice girl!
And she started pallet expander! Can you believe that a big metal like this in your mouth all the time?? It must be super uncomfortable but it doesn't seem to bother her... She is excited to have her teeth corrected I think!
We had to turn the key in the middle to expand her upper gum....I am too scared to do this so Bob is the guy who does it!
I started thinking about religion after my brother's passing.
His funeral was done Buddhist method - so I read up on what the Buddhism think of after death.
兄が仏教を信仰してたかどうかは今となっては分からない。兄の葬式は社葬も兼ねたので大勢の弔問者が来てくださった。兄はそんなお葬式望んでいたのか。
アメリカで何度かお葬式に参列したけれど、宗教の違いはあるにせよ亡くなった人を弔う気持ち、そしてお葬式がそのための儀式であるというは変わらないようにおもう。
I am not sure if Kenji believed in any religions...his funeral was big as he was the president of the company - a lot of people came. I wonder if he wanted to have a big funeral....
I happened to attend funerals here in US, and though the religions are different, I find the feeling of mourning and doing rituals are the same...
Kenji loved parties and meeting with people so I bet he liked having a lot of people come to his funeral.
Many people told us that he just went too soon and why he had to go....we feel the same and tears just kept coming down - but it was actually nice to hear that and it helped me sort my feelings...I know he wanted to live longer.
Funerals are not only for the dead, but more for the ones who are left to accept one's death. I know it was a tough time with corona virus, and I am really grateful that we had an opportunity to do this 'normal' farewell to him and gave a chance to many who know him to come and say the last good byes.
In Buddhism it takes 49 days for the dead to arrive in the land of happiness(paradise). I wonder if that is true....I want him to have gotten there already!
I wonder if it's similar in Christian and Islam....
Anyhow - I hope him peace...
もう一度会って笑わせて欲しいよ!
]]>兄 my brotherhttp://stewfamily.exblog.jp/32091093/2021-04-14T06:38:00+09:002021-04-16T07:20:10+09:002021-04-16T06:05:51+09:00harumski家族 Family
兄が逝って3週間と4日。
58歳。若すぎる死でした。
It’s been 3 weeks and 4 days since my brother passed away. 58 years old and too young to die to say the least.
I remember that we used to go to a nearby playground together- he played with his buddies and I did with my friends- but when the sun was going down and it was time to go home, he’s always there for me
一緒に歩いて帰れるようにと。
そういう兄の役割を無言でするのが上手かったな、とか
So I wouldn’t walk home alone
He was good at ‘older brothery’ role - looking after me without saying it at all.
子供が好きでHe loved children
サムもピーターも, ずっと後から生まれたキコも
Sam, Peter and Kiki who joined us much later
This year we celebrated just as a family due to pandemic... Kiko wasn’t happy that she can’t invite her friends over - but eventually understood... the number is the cases are increasing and we need to be careful - we are not worried about getting sick, but if one gets positive, not only they have to quarantine for 14 days but letting people that we had contact with ( we are family of 5) and those people may not only have to quarantine themselves but also have to notify people who they contacted... it just seems irresponsible....
今年は家族だけでのお祝いです。コロナ下ですからね。お友達にお祝いしてもらいたかったキコも最初はガッカリしてましたが渋々でしたが承知できました。
Kiko is in 4th grade... time really flies
キコは現地校の4年生。ほんと、あっという間に大きくなっちゃいますね〜
Grandma in Japan bought this Hoverboard- thank you Cha Chan!!
日本のチャーちゃんからのプレゼント!
ホバーボード!
Kiko had no trouble riding it but you know this is very hard and scary ?
キコはスイスイ乗ってるけどこれかなり難しいです〜
And here is presents of Lego ...
Kiko is getting better with them!
それからレゴのプレゼント。
説明書見ながらほぼ一人で作れるようになってる
Maddie is keeping her company here...
ネコは当然のように陣取って、、
Birthday dinner- sushi and chicken karate...
何故か写真がよこですが😅
バースデーディナーはちらし寿司と唐揚げ
Then a surprise came at the door!
Kiko’s friends came to wish her a happy birthday and dropped a gift!!
突然玄関のベルがなって開けてみるとキコのお友達が!お祝いをしにわざわざきてくれたです!
それも別々に(でも何故か同じ時間に。。以心伝心?)
I asked them to pull the mask down for a quick photo- how cute are they!!
もう一枚、マスク下げてごらん、って言って撮ったしゃすんがこちら。
可愛いね!
This year’s Thanksgiving is a little different... no gathering no guests just 5 of us.
I’m thankful that we are healthy and staying safe!!
今年の感謝祭はいつもとちょっと違ってますね。この頃は飲み会なんかも多いのにそれもなし。お客さんもなし。家族だけ。。でも悪くなかったです。ゆっくりできて。
家族が健康で安全でいられることに感謝!
I curved Turkey before taking the photo- again!!
I was looking for a small bird but the smallest I could find was 15 lbs!!
Took all day cooking but eating time was ... short!
一日中お料理したのに食べるのは一瞬ですね〜
Bob made a chocolate putting pie- delicious!
デザートはボブがチョコレートパイを作ってくれました♪おいしかった
Jasper enjoys having us around all the time
みんな家にいるのでジャスパーも安心みたい
Maddie- Maddie Maddie... cats are very different from dogs aren’t they...
まーたん。ネコって不思議。当たり前だけどイヌと違う。。でもね
Always peeking in..
いっつもこっそり見られてる🤣
]]>Box lovers 箱好きhttp://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31769326/2020-11-08T14:23:00+09:002020-11-09T01:04:55+09:002020-11-09T01:04:08+09:00harumskiマー子- Maddie猫が箱が好きだとは聞いていたけど、、、確かにマー子も箱が好きなようだ。
I knew cats like boxes....but it is funny to see Maddie liking them so much!
何がいいのかわからないけど、荷物が届いて箱を開け始めるとどこからともなくやってくる。
What are the charm? Anyhow - when a delivery comes, she RUNS to find it and wait for us to open it....
決して楽しそうではないのだけど、入らずにはいられないのか。。。
She doesn't look particularly enjoying it. Maybe it's something cats are hard wired for?
小さいのは気にならないようだが、あまり深いものは好きではないよう。
Size seems matter as well...she likes small ones but doesn't like ones that are too deep.
ジャスパー「何がそんなにいいのかわからん」マー子「入ってみたことない人(犬)にはわからないわよ」
Jasper is like 'what's fun about it?'
Maddie is like 'you never got into one'
これはちょっと浅すぎ。。。?
I think this is too shallow....?
箱以外にもプラステックのバッグもオッケー
I'm ok with plastic bags if you can remember!
このくらいが好み。もうずっと住めそうな感じ。
Perfect size...I could live here
あれ?何かいる?
(これはスーパーでもらう(10セントとられるけど)紙袋)
Hellooo....anyone there?
(this is a bag you get from a supermarket(you have to pay for it these days....)
Halloween part 2. Kiko and I tried curving pumpkins.
We tried 2 years ago....but I had to do most of the curving - took me until midnight to finish it...
The blog entry is here★
Kiko was so cute...
今年はなんとほぼ自分ひとりでできた。2年の成長ってすごいね。
She finished almost all by herself...what a difference in 2 years
左のこわーいのがキコ作。右がわたくし。
The scary one on the left is Kiko's. I did the one on right
毎年学校で夜ハロウィンパーティがあるのですが、やはり今年は中止。その代わりドライブスルーのジャックオランタン鑑賞?をPTAが企画してくれた。
The school had to cancel their Halloween party....instead PTA came up with a drive-thru Jack O'Lanterns! It was actually cool to see them in person(from the car of course)
いつもと違うことで子供も大人もストレス貯めてるはず。ちょっとでも普通に近いことをして、気分を盛り上げていかないとね。
Kids and adults too are all stressed under this pandemic....keeping things as normal as possible is a key for this crazy life....
ジャスパーにマー子のライオンの帽子をかぶせてみました。
Jasper the lion - borrowed the hat from Maddie - she says it's too small for him!
Apple picking was a perfect outdoor activity!
We looked for Asian pears but the season was almost over....
カボチャもでかい。
Pumpkin patch!
もう季節が変わりつつあります。もう11月だなんて早いものですね。
The season is changing....can't believe it's already November....
]]>Halloween 2020ハロウィン2020http://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31760428/2020-11-03T13:54:00+09:002020-11-05T10:12:22+09:002020-11-04T08:07:12+09:00harumskiCT life
キコは今年は吸血鬼!🧛♀️
Kiko is a vampire this year!
ネコはライオンになってるのが分かりますか?
Do you see the cat? She hates her hat!!
Despite a lot of concerns, we kept some normalcy for the children which was fabulous!
We put a table in front of the house, candy in a separate bags so there is no cross touching ...
そして4時にスタートして、来るわ来るわ。。。
We started around 4 pm which is rather early compared to a ‘regular’ year...
Kids kept coming and coming....
キコと近所の仲良し
4年生のもなるともうプリンセスとか可愛いのはやりたがらないよう。。。
With one of her good friends in the neighborhood!
They are over princesses and cute costumes... that makes me a little sad...
学校のお友達と
With friends from school
ワンサカワンサカ
みんなキコのお友達
Look at them!!
恐竜も登場
すごく歩きにくそう
A dinosaur came by... she had trouble walking🤣
1年生は可愛いな〜〜
These are1st graders...very cute
ボブはパティオでソーシャルディスタンス守りつつ乾杯中🍻
Bob was enjoying a social distance cocktail hours with neighbors in our patio!
ハロウィンデビューのまー子。
ライオンです🦁🤣
First Halloween for Maddie... she’s dressed up as a (cute) lion!!
]]>新学年-4年生‼️new school year -4th grade!!http://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31660091/2020-09-13T11:22:56+09:002020-09-13T11:56:28+09:002020-09-13T11:56:28+09:00harumski未分類
キコちゃん、今日から待ちに待った初登校日〜なんともう4年生!!
Kiko couldn’t wait any longer- the first day of 4th grade!
なんか〜〜いつのまにか大きくなっちゃったな〜〜
How did she get so big...? What happened to my baby??
This year is so different obviously- wearing mask the whole day, lunch table being separate, no orchestra.... so many restrictions...
we got to choose either going in person school or remote learning - surprisingly about 80% chose in person....
半年ぶりの学校はとても楽しかったらしく、ニコニコで帰ってきました。
School was so much fun - Kiko came home with big smile!!
We did zoom, face time and google meet with friends but nothing is better than meeting in person!
Hope we are able to continue the in person schooling!!
まー子も元気
まーちゃん、1歳になっちゃったにゃ。
Our Maddie is doing alright...
She turned 1 already...
いつもつれないのに、何故か私がトイレに行くとトイレの外でこうやって待ってることが多いのは何故?
She’s solitary but for some reason she waits for me outside the bathroom ... I’m always surprised to see her waiting for me...why?
]]>peter is off to college!http://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31612095/2020-08-25T03:33:00+09:002020-08-27T00:52:05+09:002020-08-27T00:52:05+09:00harumski未分類
At last....the day is here....
Peter is packing up to go to his college!
遂にこの日が来てしまいました。
ピーターが大学の寮に入寮する日です。
This year has been so challenging - and this moving in to his dorm is no exception.
今年はほんとに思いがけないことばかり。。。この大学入寮に関しても然り。。。
The College is about 2.5 hours away from home- It’s not too close but at least it’s driving distance.
This is my first time to see the college - it looks nice - the town is small but it does not matter right....?I bet it gets very cold when it hits October though!!
There were a couple of hiccups and unfortunately Peter could not move in to his assigned dorm room this day - he had to stay in a temporary place for the night....Bob and I were annoyed with their procedure and bad communication but Peter did not seem to mind much - which is good!
And he moved in to his dorm next day and this is his room - he has his own room with bathroom, and sharing a living room(with kitchenette and washer/dryer) with a roommate. I hear it is quite a 'luxury' for a freshman to have this kind of apartment....I think he got this room due to 50% capacity(and maybe he was an early decision student...?) It definitely needs a little more personal touch though...!!
He is still in quarantine so he is staying his own room for the most part - hopefully we can move to the next phase quickly....
Maddie came to us last November... she was only 2 and half months old... she was super cute, wasn’t she?
Madeline, Maddie, Maako( ‘ok’ ending name is traditional girl’s name in Japan), Maa-tan...
Bob calls her ‘Kitty Cat.”
We call her all those names, and she doesn’t seem to mind the variations!!
本当に小さくて小型犬のジャスパーが巨人(巨犬?〕にみえるほどだった。
She was so tiny that made Jasper look like a Giant dog!!
See Mama? I don't think Maddie hates my cuddling her...
I've heard that a lot of families welcomed a pet during Corona.
You can't tell if anyone has a new cat but around our neighborhood 3 families have a puppy!
Is that the same thing going in Japan and around the world....
while we can't travel or go out easily, having Maddie is definitely Kiko's mental health.
But - I didn't think a cat sheds SO MUCH....vacuuming everyday does not seem to catch up her shedding....
I may not be able to wear black clothes anymore.......
]]>TWENTY ONE にじゅういちhttp://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31434328/2020-07-04T02:36:00+09:002020-07-04T02:52:30+09:002020-07-04T02:52:30+09:00harumskiSam サム
Sam turned 21!!
サムが21歳になりました。じゃーーん。
He had been super excited for turning 21(he loves birthdays in general!)!!
お誕生日好きなサムはこの日をとても楽しみにしていたのです。
じゃんじゃーーん!
We had special cookies ordered....
お誕生日クッキーもオーダーして。。。
They were made by one of my Japanese friends, she is soo talented!! They taste as well as they look!! Yum!
日本人お友達に頼んだんですが。すごーく上手。見た目と同じくらい美味しいクッキーでした!!
And they are all different - we thought they were too pretty to eat - but the thought didn't last lol...
一個一個デザインが違うし。。食べるのもったいないよね、って思ったのは一瞬だったけど、あは;
Kiko loved it too!
希子も抜け目なく。。。。
We went to a birthday dinner first
最初ご飯に行って、
21 means.....Sam is finally legal!He said he wanted to drink champagne so....how is it Sam???
It's unfortunate that we did not have a regular graduation....it was 'drive by' style but graduates were able to get out 3 at a time, and actually were handed the certificate.
Peter is off to college in August!!! Good luck Peter!!
8月には大学です。がんばれ、ピーター!!
]]>How is everyone? お元気ですか?http://stewfamily.exblog.jp/31467003/2020-04-27T09:16:00+09:002020-07-12T00:53:00+09:002020-07-12T00:53:00+09:00harumski未分類This is from mid-March I think... it was my birthday and we did not go out to eat or do a take out but we were still hopeful that things go back to normal soon....
Supermarket in March - toilet paper and kitchen paper are all gone. It was weird to see it that way. Now we get most of the things we need- though some cleaning supply such as Clorox is tough to find still.
Masks are required to enter the stores. Arrows are on the floors to show it’s one way direction but this varies in the stores...police was at the door checking to see if everyone was following the rule!
Home school/distant learning was hard...especially when the weather was bad, and we did have many cold days. Kiko missed interaction with friends so badly. Some days were easier and some days were harder...5 people in the house created a tension and chaos at times but we survived!! We are told that the schools are going to open from the fall but we don't know how it's going to be like....we will see....
Tried to be creative - outside chalk drawing was fun, but we ran out of chalk and could not buy them.....
とにかく「刺激」がすくないので、なんとか楽しいことしようとするけど、限界があるよね~
外でチョークお絵かきしてたけどチョークもなくなり、しかも売ってない。。。
Kiko's neighborhood friend drew with her - made her day!
たまたま近所の同級生に会ったりすると、もうキコちゃんのご機嫌がアップ!!
At home, Kiko did some dancing or we used our old Wii Sports - but doing it by herself is not that fun.....
家でダンスゲームしたり、久しぶりWiiスポーツしたりしたけど、やっぱり一人じゃつまんないんだって。。
Watching a movie with friends through Zoom....it was fun at first but soon to realize it is not the same...
ズームでお友達と映画鑑賞とかもありました。ないよりはいいけど、やっぱり「普通」のと違う、って
そりゃそうだ。
Then I got sick at the first week of April...stayed in my bedroom for 10 days - until 3 days after my low grade fever went down to be sure.
I had no other symptom other than low grade fever - I had appetite, sense of smell and no cough!! I binge watched "Tiger King" on Netflix!!
Jasper and Maddie - Jasper would not leave me when I'm sick as usual but I was surprised that Maddie stayed with me in my bedroom during my 'quarantine.'...ジャスパーとマー子。マーちゃんはジャスパーが怖くてベッドには上がってこないのですが、私のこと心配してくれてたのかな?
私が寝室にこもっている間彼女もほとんど一緒でした。。。アハ
大人しそうに見えて結構やんちゃかも
M looks quiet but already we are seeing her true colors...!
今晩は寝てくれますように。。
Hope she sleeps through the night tonight!!
]]>Halloween 2019-2 ハロウィン2019-2http://stewfamily.exblog.jp/30579182/2019-11-20T11:30:48+09:002019-11-21T11:55:49+09:002019-11-21T11:55:49+09:00harumski未分類
ハロウィンのお楽しみ🎃
それはジャスパーの衣装を考えること😆
One of my favorite things to do for Halloween
is to find a costume for Jasper!😆
This year Jasper is dressed up as “MomoTaro” the peach boy- a character from an old story( who was born from a peach and grew up a strong young man to beat an ogre/demon)
I thought he looked great in it, but I think people here didn’t appreciate how funny Jasper looks... too bad
こちらは「ドクタージャスパー」
日本にも巡業、じゃなかった、往診も考える、かもね😆
Here is Dr. Jasper!
He may consider touring Japan... not “touring”-
“Home visit” Japan!
The day has come!
Kiko’s friend T is super cute
Every year she and her parents have matching costumes - this year she is the Queen of Heart!
ハロウィン当日
親友のTちゃん毎年こってます
「ハートの女王」毎年家族でテーマがあるのよ
3年生になって大人っぽくなったなあ
They look so mature now!!
ジャスパーの衣装は正面だけ😆
落ち葉の絨毯がきれい
Jasper is wearing his MomoTaro costume but it’s only the front😆
He’s walking on the carpet of leaves
近所のトリックオアトリートのスタート地点で
We gather at the starting place- a generous family host there- there are pizza, snacks and drinks for adults too!
3rd graders all gathered!
同級生集まれ〜〜
今年は大雨の予定だったけど雨にならなくて良かった
Forecast of rain and wind gave us parents a lot of concerns but turned out to be an ok day for a trick or treating- and it was warm too!
Got dark quickly but it didn’t stop the kids!
After trick or treating, Kiko’s friends and their family stopped by at our house- but at our house there were a dad and son who were battling to finish college application at the last minute...( deadline was 11/1!!)😱😱
Hope to have an entry about it sometime....
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