News Paper Hats!

We got another package from Japan. When my mom sent a package, she also put Japanese newspaper in the package -- mom want me to read those things in the news paper! Those topics are usually about children, health and other things that she enjoys reading.

After I read all the news, Paul made news paper hat for Luke! They were so cute together (^-^)
Paul is such a sweet dad!

Let's go to the Pool!

Today is Luke's pool debut! We went to Appalachian State University pool with Kendra and her three kids (Sage, Gabe and Maggie). When Luke first stepped in the pool, he start screaming... He was scared of the big pool. I almost took Luke home, but thanks to Sage, Gabe and Maggie! They entertaining Luke in the water, they came up a lot of fun games that Luke was so interested and enjoyed. He start enjoying the water and we spend almost hour in the pool. We are planning to go to the Blowing Rock outdoor pool next week with them. It's going to be fun!

Room Curtain Project

Finally, I finished Luke's room curtain. When we were visited Paul's parents in Virginia Beach sometime ago, Mom and I went to Joann's to get few fabrics for this project. Thanks to mom for helping me out to find good fabrics!

Here is the curtain in Luke's room (^-^)

Mugicha

Mugicha (something like roasted barley water) is a Japanese traditional summer drink. We have to have this in our refrigerator all summer long! I remember I got mugicha tea bags from my mom last year, so I searched all the cabinet and I found them (^-^)

We are enjoying this summer drink, and now I feel summer is here!

Koinobori and Gaga

We got a package from Japan. My mom sent Koinobori for Luke and my aunt sent him for toys. It was arrived when we was taking a nap. I wanted to open it right away, but I was very patience! I waited until Luke woke up and we open it together.

He opened it, and immediately start played with toys!
This is a toy he calls "gaga" (for no reason). He was enjoying moving different handles and bars. This is an age 3 toy, so he still gets frustrated sometimes when he can get is right. Hahaha

Luke also got a koinobori. In Japan, we have Boy's Day (and Children's 's Day on May 5th. If you have a boy in your family, They will decorated with koinobori from April to early May, in honor of sons and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. And my mom sent Luke a little koinobori to decorate for this celebration.
Luke swings around the koinobori everywhere, and he even carried this little when we took walk around our neighborhood this afternoon.

Here is the picture after I decorated on our porch.
And this is the real koinobori in Japan!

Girls, don't worry! We have a Girl's Day on March 3rd, and then display beautiful sets of ornamental dolls, just like this one!

Maggie and Luke

Here we are! We went to Todd Lots again--yes, we are going there almost everyday. But today, we had nice companies, Maggie and her mom Kendra! We had such fun time together. Especially me, talking to Kendra is always so much fun (^0^). And Maggie is always loving, caring about Luke so much, I'm sure Luke had great time, too!

Todd Lots

We have been going to "Todd Lots" park (and playground) almost everyday, if the weather is nice. I like to come here in the morning, because it is much cooler and not so busy. Usually in the afternoon it will get little bit crowded -- sometime two or three school buses bring kids over here! It's fun to see a lot of kids, but at the same time, it's difficult for the small kids to then play around freely.

Luke loves the sandbox the most. If I let him, he might stay and play there all day long. I also loved playing with sand (well, more dirt...) when I was kid, so I can't blame him--hahaha
This sandbox has always has a public shovel, bucket and all other fun things that you can play with sand, so it is nice! I don't have to pack anything before we come here! And Luke can learn how to share with other children.
Another one of Luke's favorite is the slide. He is getting much better going up the steps and sliding by himself. This playground has both a baby section and an older kids section.

Here is the baby section slide and other fun things:

And this is the older kids section:
Luke prefers to go to the older kids section and do the slide, because it's much higher and a lot of fun shape slides there! Also there is fun tube or steps to climb up the slide.
But sometimes, Luke gets scared in the tube, and says "mama... mama..." asks me to come with him. So I had to get in the tube with him, and I wish I won't stuck in the tube... this tube (in picture), you have to climb a pretty steep tube to go up -- like little rock climbing inside. It is very good exercise! I always enjoying myself when I play with Luke after a while (^v^)

He has so much energy and enjoys being outside every minute.
Also Luke love to go and check out baseball field cross from the park. We usually go there before we leave the park, and end up playing in the baseball field for long time.
Always our shoes get dirty with red sand all over! Hahaha

And after the park, a nice nap time is waiting for Luke and relaxing time for Mama (^V^)

Planting day

I got few flowers this morning, and was so excited to planting! This is my first time planting experience and don't know how to do. but it shouldn't be too complicated, isn't it?--just move the flower to a bigger pot.

It was fun, and I hope I can plant a few more different flowers on our balcony and window sill.
Luke was excited as much as I was. And he tried to help me, but of course he made a lot of mess. And we discovered that he loves to water the plants--maybe too much! hahaha It's going to be his job (^-^)

How do you like my little plants?

Here is a video, how good he is giving water to those plants!

Good Buddies!

While I'm making dinner, Luke and Paul are always doing something fun together--without me!
Today, they were taking pictures on the balcony.
They are good buddies (^-^)

Spring is here!

It was such a gorgeous day. We took walk on the Appalachian State campus this morning. I really felt spring is here
(^-^)

There is a little park on campus. You can see a lot of students hanging out there during the day time. But today it was very quiet, only one family taking family pictures and one guy was sleeping on the grass and enjoying his suntan. It was the end of Spring Break, so nearly all students were out of town.
Luke seems very interested in the tennis court. He touched everything. His Nana will be so happy to teach Luke tennis in the near future!

I took this video and I was surprised to see how quickly Luke has grow! I remember when we got back from Japan, he still couldn't walk smoothly.

This is 7 months ago.

And this is now.

He is no more "my little baby"...