Soooo, since last post, we:
1. Enjoyed a playgroup adventure tour, Tours for Tots, in which we "toured" the Meiji Ice Cream Factory (which actually just consisted of going into a company auditorium and watching a vid on ice cream production, lol), the Kokeshi doll factory, and a lovely pastry shop. We had a great time--and Ha especially enjoyed sampling all the scrumptious foods!
Snacking on a popcorn cake on the bus:
Checking out the Meiji poster collection. Each year since the company first started out (don't remember the date!!), it sponsors a youth drama performance. It was lots of fun checking out all the signs and trying to guess what production they were for (Japanese versions of Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, something else entirely, etc.).:
Workers hard at work at the Kokeshi doll factory. 
If you google the term "kokeshi doll", you are likely to come up with a variety of rather ordinary histories. However, our [Japanese] tour guide informed us that that is because, when unfavorable, the Japanese like to twist/obscure/bury the facts so no one feels uncomfortable. On a side note, as an example, there is another tour ITT offers that visits a WWII era Japanese underground hospital. After Okinawa was won by the Marines, the hospital commander ordered all 2,000 [soldier] patients to commit suicide by ingesting poison. Several months ago, right before our arrival, Okinawan citizens staged street protests outcrying against the government's consideration to "seal" the hospital's history, as if it never happened. In response, for now, the history remains open. Our tour guide mentioned that she personally knows the one soldier from that hospital who refused the order--and still lives to this day--however, he is often met with disgrace because the general concensus is that he should have followed orders. Anyway, that is a tangent. The actual history (according to our guide, anyway) of the Kokeshi in Okinawa is that in the Ryukyu dynasty, impoverished women with no means of birth control, feeling unable to care for additional children, performed self-abortions and kept Kokeshi in rememberance of their lost ones. Anyway, now Kokeshi are popular sovenior items. The ones at the factory we visited were hand-carved by handicap persons. The entire factory, was established as a living/working area for folks that might have a difficult time operating in "regular" society and it seemed to be a very happy establishment where the workers had great pride in their products. Unfortunately, they sold out of Kokeshi before Ha and I reached the front of the line, but they also operated a pottery studio on premisis, so we picked up a cute pair of tea mugs instead. :O) 
The workshop boss (very nice man!!):
We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Jusco (a shopping mall-type chain throughout Japan) where I was very impressed by Ha's food-tasting audacity. While most of her pals chowed down on A&W, she enjoyed some more traditional Japanese fare, to include tempura-style whole fish! Might I add, that this was the first afternoon, ever, that Ha had foul breath, lol. And boy was she making up for lost time!! :O) 
At the bakery, we sampled some yummy sesame cakes, as well as the traditional Okinawan donut (which I do not like--too dry--but they are HUGE with the locals). We picked up some brown sugar pancakes & a sticky pound cake for Da. The pancakes were SOOO good. 
The pound cake was kind of weird because it was so sticky and also it started molding about an hour or two after I opened it... Not sure what to make of that.... 
2. Made a new friend. A couple of weeks back, Ha and I put an ad in the local paper for a Japanese friend looking to learn English in exchange for letting us practice Japanese. We got a HUGE response, but the lady we hit it off best with was Tomoko-san. She is a teacher nearby and has a 10-yr-old son (a little old for Ha, but her sister has a daughter Ha's age, one a bit older, and a third on the way). This pic is from Krishna, one of the best places I've eaten here (Indian food). Ha loved it too!
3. Embraced Ha's artistic side. As you can see, Haha has developed into quite the budding artist. Here is an original card she designed for her friend Austin's 3rd birthday.
She also designed a classy pink card for Braylen's 3rd bash...
...and this past week she had Gabby over for a Thanksgiving-card-making fest. Ha's favorite card embellishments are markers, stamp pads, and GLITTER! It's funny, because I have been trying over and over again to get a hand or footprint out of Ha for her scrapbook--but she is truly a free spirit--and wants no part of heavily-guided endeavors! LOL!4. Partied! Ha lived it up at Austin's 3rd birthday bash at Kenney Park (another great park just down the road), where bounce houses, balloons, and a pinata ruled the day. Bounce houses and pinatas seem to be "the thing" to have at youth parties out here these days!
The birthday boy:
I am starting to ponder what sort of festivities Ha's 2nd b-day will entail and am leaning towards hosting the event at Monakid Jungle (huge indoor playground, since it will probably be cold/rainy), at the house and hiring a clown, or possibly doing a Kindermusik theme (which, by the way, I will be a certified teacher for probably starting in February!!).Ha in the bounce house at Austin's...
BIG change from Ha in the bounce house at Natalie's (our last month in Cali)...
Braylen's big day was celebrated bar-b-q style at her house...
Hana loved the broccoli-cheese dip!
Birthday girl Braylen:
...and Gabby hosted a lovely Halloween cookie decorating/dress-up tea party last week.Decorating...
Tea (milk and cookies) time!
A bit of play...
And back for more frosting!!5. Went trick-or-treating. Halloween, as expected, was a blast! Ha's playgroup had a lovely party early in the day and in the evening, we all dressed up and hit the town. Petunia, due to neurosis/quarantine stayed home and watched over the fort, but she too was in the spirit. 'Tunia was cutely dressed as Ha in one of Haha's favorite dresses. Hana went as 'Tunia in a felt costume crafted by me, and Da and I went the cheap and punny route. He went as "Cereal Killer" and I went as a "Spice Girl". Lots of fun!! Ha was too shy to ring the doorbell at all the houses but ours, however she did enjoy many sticky tasty candy treats as fuel during the evening.
The party...
Out on the town...
6. Spent some quality time with Da.Ma is sleeping in during this flick. Martin made Haha a truly scrumptious egg b-fast.
Da instituted a "Monday Blues" day at work, where everyone gets dressed up in their formal attire to kick off the work week. Here he is, home on lunch break, cheesing it up with Haha.
Ha and Da, rocking the crab walk:7. Had a blast at Monakid Jungle! Ha loves this place! And really comes out of her safety shell to enjoy the adventures. Here are some great pix & vids from our recent trip there w/playgroup:
Ha ADORES this "DIY" kids popcorn machine!Ha and Nate, darling little musicians!
"I'm on the bus!"
Ha loved this video game! She is a big fan of boats and rocking rides!!
The girl is going to town!!
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