家庭科 Home economics

最近、理輝は家庭科の授業で色んなことを学んできます。先日は洗濯の仕方、今回は縫い物。この可愛い手縫いのネズミを持って帰ってきました。とても上手にできています。こういう授業も大切ですよね。

Lately, Riki has been learning variety of things in home economics class. He learned how to do laundry. This time, he learned sewing and brought this cute American mouse back home. Very well done!! I think this kind of class is very important.


なんて可愛い表情でしょう。He got really cute expression.

裏庭の花達 Flowers in the backyard.

我が家の裏庭には色んな種類の花があるのですが、今はいくつか春っぽい花が咲いています。この間までは１年中季節の同じシンガポールにいたので、こんな風に花で季節感を感じられるというのは久しぶりです。今がとても良い季節ですね。数ヶ月したら、とても暑くなりそうです。お花の写真をお楽しみください。
We have many different kinds of flowers in our backyard. Now some of those spring flowers are blooming and they are so pretty. We moved from the year-round tropical weather country, Singapore, so it's nice to be able to feel the season by the kinds of flowers in bloom. Now is the comfortable and beautiful season. Soon it will be very hot, too hot. Please enjoy the pictures of the flowers.

ケビンと新しい猫 Kevin and his new cat

友達っていいですね。この度は心優しいお友達がケビンのリクエストに答えて、ケビンの猫ブラウンの友達を編んでくれました。２、３日前からお腹の調子が悪いケビン。どうやらお腹にくる風邪を引いたようです。病気のケビンに優しく付き添う「ケン」。御陰様でケビンは少しずつ回復に向かっています。ありがとうケン。。それからケンの製作者様。
The friends are so precious. This time, one of my very sweet friends responded to Kevin's request and made a cat friend for his other cat, Brown. Kevin has been sick for the last few days. I think he got stomach flu from school. His new cat "Ken" has been so kind and is keeping him company. Thank God, Kevin is now on the way to recovery. Thank you, Ken and his creator.

レッスン１ Lesson 1

金曜日にお友達が初めてのパン教室をしてくれました。今回習ったのは、ハム玉ねぎ、コーンマヨ、ソーセージロール、お好み焼きパン。どれもとお〜〜っても美味しかった。それで、とても忠実な生徒のわたし。。。早速レッスンのポイントを思い出しながら、実践。見て下さいこの成果！今日はハム玉ねぎとあんパンを作りました。しっとりもちもちした生地に仕上がって、お味も最高でした。嬉しかった！！
I had a first bread making lesson at friend's house on Friday. We learned Ham-Onion, Corn-Mayo, Sausage Roll, Okonomi Breads this time. They were all delicious. A very dedicated student, I right away wanted to practice what I learned while I still remember all the key points of how to. So, I baked Ham-Onion bread and An Pan(red bean paste filled bread). The result was very pleasing. Delicious!

おはよ Good morning

夕べはインターネットをあれこれと検索し続けひどく疲れたぼく。。でも、ケビンが学校で作ってくれたこの可愛いクッションの上でぐっすり寝たら、僕の目は今までにない輝きと美しさに。。。。。

I did too much web surfing last night and was so exhausted. But I had such a good sleep last night on this beautiful pillow Kevin made at school, my eyes are looking prettier and more beautiful than ever before.

ねぐみくん Mouse

今ちょうど猫の家族に新しい仲間が増えました。このねずみくん、家族の人気者になること間違いなし。きっといつも追っかけ回されちゃうことでしょうね。今ねずみくん、私のブログをチェックしています。彼ったら、「僕はタッチパネルを使えるから、マウスはいらないよ」ですって。。なんておりこうなねずみくんでしょう。

I just finished the new addition to the cat family. He will be SO popular among them. They are all going to chase after him. He is checking my blog site and he said he doesn't need a mouse because he knows how to use the touch panel. He is SO smart.

ケーキ Cake

このケーキを見て感動しない人がいるでしょうか？本当に本当に超美味しそうで、なのに食べられないのが超悔しい！！！先日のケビンのお誕生日のケーキを教えてくれた義妹から送られて来た写真。なんと素晴らしい作品でしょう。何度も言うようだけど、食べられないのが悔しい！！

Who wouldn't be impressed by those cakes? They look really really delicious and I hate the fact that I cannot eat them. This photo was sent from my sister-in-law who taught me how to make the wonderful birthday cake for Kevin. What beautiful pieces of art. Grrrr.... I am so frustrated that I cannot eat them!!!!

初めてのめがね First eyeglasses

とうとうその時が来ました。理輝の初めての眼鏡。すっごくかっこいいでしょう！！ひどく悪い訳ではないのですが、眼鏡をかけたら。。「わぁ〜〜、あちこちがはっきりと細かいところまで見える！」って。。。
The time has come. Riki got his first eyeglasses. Doesn't he look so handsome!! His eye sight isn't that bad, but when he put on the glasses, he said "Wow, everything is so sharp clear and all detailed."

チャン家の眼鏡の二人。遺伝ですね。
Two Chans with glasses. It's genetic.

庭仕事 Yard work

バレンタインデーの昨日は、友達の家の庭仕事を家族総動員でお手伝い。素晴らしい天気の中、作業もゆっくりだけど着実に進み、なかなかいい感じ。普段やりなれないしゃがんでする作業に、腰回りの筋肉がピクピク．．今朝起きたらあちこち筋肉痛！温泉にはいりたぁ〜〜い。

Yesterday on Valentine's day, we went to friend's house to help them out with their yard work. We were blessed with beautiful weather and the work progressed slowly, but surely. Not get used to doing so much work in squatting position, the muscles around the lower back and legs were awakened and strained. Ouch! I woke up with aches almost all over my body. I want to go SPA!!!
よく働いた子供達のために、お友達が美味しいチョコレートケーキを焼いてくれました。ごちそうさま。
Boys worked really hard and my friend rewarded them with a really delicous home made chocolate cake. Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

昨晩ケビンが妙に静かに自分の部屋にこもっていました．私たちはその珍しい行動に、何をしてるんじゃろうか？？とおもいきや。。。
今朝このとても可愛いオリジナルデザインのお花を手にお部屋から出てきました。本当に優しくて粋なことをするケビン。いつも私たちの心を溶かしちゃいます！もちろん彼にバレンタインデイは明日だよなんてやぼなことは言いませんでしたよ。。。
Kevin was so quite in his room for so long last night. We thought, mmm...... what's going on there??
This morning, he came out of his room with this beautiful creative flower in his hand. He is as sweet as chocolates and he really melts our hearts. Of course, we didn't tell him the Valentine's day is tomorrow.

満開パート２ Full bloom Part 2

今回の満開は、ローズマリー。小さい花ですけど、とても可愛くてきれい。働き者のミツバチ達が忙しそうに働いていました。もしかして彼らは例の蜂の巣に帰るのかしら？
What is in full bloom this time?? The ROSEMARY! The flowers are so small, but they are pretty. Hard working bees are so busy working. I wondered they are going home to THAT bee hives?.

ベビーシューズ Baby Booties

とても可愛いパターンを見つけたので、ついつい編みたくなって編んでみました．片方の靴を編んだ後、誰にあげるか？と考えていた時にこの靴にぴったりのサイズの足をもったシンデレラが現れました。彼女の名前は「さくら」。彼女の大好きな編みぐるみとお揃いの糸で。。
I found this cute pattern on the web. It was so cute that I had to make it. After completed one boot, I was thinking of whom I give this to. Then, Cinderella came into my site whose foot perfectly fit in this little boot. Her name is "Sakura." She has her favorite Amigurumi animal made with the same yarn as the bootie.

またまた感動！ Being wowed again!

友達って素晴らしいねぇ！本当に日々友達を通してたくさん祝福されておりますが。今日の恵み、見て下さいこの素敵なパンの数々！！ハム玉ねぎ、ソーセージロールにお好み焼きパン。朝に焼きたてを持って来てくれました。超美味しくって感動！子供達も学校から帰っておやつに頂き超ハッピー！！ありがとぉ〜〜友達。
Friends are wonderful. They bless me so much. Today's blessings from one of them are those handsome looking tasty breads, ham and onion, sausage roll, and Okonomi-yaki* bread. *--Japanese vegetable pancake. They were all super delicous. Kids were SO happy to have those as a snack after school. Thank you, friend!!

ケビンの誕生日 Kevin's Birthday

２月４日。ケビンは１１歳になりました。
February 4th. Kevin turned 11 years old.水曜日は学校が半日なので、お友達を招待してお誕生日会をしました。宝探し、ピンポン、Wii、ビンゴ、バスケットボール、ピザ、ケーキ、もちろんプレゼント．
Every Wednesday is a half day, so he had some friends over for his birthday party. We had Treasure hunt, Table tennis, Wii, Bingo, Basketball, Pizza, Birthday cake and of course presents.
夕飯は理輝のお誕生日と同じ寿司。美味しかった！
We had Sushi Variety for dinner just as we did for Riki's birthday. They were delicious!
お手製のケーキ。ちょっと飾りを工夫してみましたがいかがなもんでしょう？味は最高でした。
Home made cake. I was experimenting and trying to create some new design. How's it look? Tasted absolutely delicious!!!

１月２月に続き３月はヨシアのお誕生日。この次はどんなかな？
１ヶ月後にブログします．
Following January and February, March is the Joshua's birthday. How's the next one going to be? I will blog about it a month later!!

今日のアート Today's art

今日の芸術作品。ミッキーマウスです。久しぶりに作ったなぁ〜〜。子供が小さい時は良く作ってあげてたなぁ〜。すごく喜んでくれたしね。
Here is my art of the day-- the Micky Mouse! I haven't made this a while. When kids were small, I used to make this quite often and they loved it.

あみぐるみ Amigurumi

１ヶ月半ほど前、友達にあみぐるみ猫を教えてあげた。研究熱心な友達は次から次と色んな糸や色、サイズで猫を編み続け、現在猫の家族は皆で２０匹を超えているはず。。。それでは私もと。。。黒のジャンボサイズの猫を編み始めたら。。なんと３日後彼女は白のジャンボ猫を完成．このアイデアは私が先に考えたのに！！！！先を越された私の黒猫は未だ手足もなく。。。押し入れにしまい込まれてしまった．．．
About a month and a half ago, I taught my friend how to crochet a Amigurumi cat. She kept making cats one after another using different types, colors, and size of yarns and slightly different patterns and so on... Her cats' family probably has grown to over 20. Well, I thought I should make one myself and I knew it had to be special. So, I started making a Jumbo cat with black yarn. Three days later, she completed her Jumbo white cat. It was MY idea!!! Now my black cat with no legs, arms and tail is in the closet. He is feeling defeated.

若い料理人 Young chef

我が家の若い料理人ケビンが先日アボガドをきれいにスライスして並べてくれました。彼は手先が器用で料理も上手。自分で勝手に目玉焼き、オムレツ、ピザトースト、トルティアチーズなどなど作って食べています。料理の手伝いも時折してくれて助かります。もう２月だなんて信じられない！！早いなぁ。。。
Young chef in our family, Kevin sliced and arranged avocado on a plate nicely the other day. He has very good hand motor skill and is good at cooking. He often cooks his own eggs, pizza toast, tortilla cheese etc. and eats. He is a very good helper when I cook. I can't believe it's February already. Time goes so fast.

満開 Full bloom

今日はサンディエゴまで中古のボートを見に行ってきました。まずは飲茶で腹ごしらえ。。と。。そのレストランの駐車場で、桜？梅？桃？の花が満開に咲いていました。このところとても暖かくなった南カリフォルニア、今日の最高気温は２６度くらいでした。とても気持ちのよい季節です。中古ボートはあまり状態が良くなかったので、買うのは断念。早く手頃なのが見つかると良いな〜。
We went to San Diego today to see a boat for sale. But, first we went to Dim Sum restaurant. And there I saw those beautiful cherry? plum? peach? trees in full bloom. The weather here is getting really warm lately and the highest today was around 76F. It's a beautiful season now to enjoy outdoor activities. The condition of the boat was not very good, so we decided not to buy. We hope we can find a good deal soon.