Fasching

Minori's kindy celebrated Fasching several weeks ago and it's taken me this long to make a blog entry on it and upload the photos!

For awhile I was in a bit of a fix about what Minori should wear for the party so that she won't feel out of place.  Buying her a bulky costume so close to returning to Japan was out of the question... right now, the last thing we need is clothing we wear only once to take up luggage space.  I wish I had brought her a kimono/yukata for occasions like this (it did cross my mind before we left Japan but I didn't think she'd be able to walk in it for awhile).

Lo and behold, the day before the party I found these wings and wand at H&M for less than €5!  They are light and able fit into our suitcase so we're bringing them back to Japan too!

On Fasching, 90% of the girls in her class came as butterflies, fairies, angels or princesses.  With girls, you can't go wrong with wings!

 

"This uncle"

Minori became a bit of a Wang Leehom fan after watching him a few days ago on CNN's Talk Asia. She was completely fascinated that:

"He speaks English and Chinese!"

"He plays the guitar and violin and piano!"

"He's just like Leo!" when he conducted the Hongkong Philharmonic Orchestra. To those who don't watch the Disney Channel, Leo is a character in the Little Einsteins who likes to conduct.

Conclusion: "I like this uncle. He looks like Uncle James" (later it was Uncle Steve). <-- time to get either her or my eyes checked.

Note: In Malaysia, children typically refer to someone older as "uncle" or "auntie" out of respect. In Japan, someone around Leehom's age would probably be "oniisan" (big brother) or "oneisan" (big sister).

Say "Cheese!"

Marisa finally gets her own toothbrush (in pic: the green one on the left).

For weeks now, she would observe Minori brush and then open her mouth for daddy to brush hers too! When we finally got her her own toothbrush yesterday, she knew exactly what to do and how to use it.

She still only has got four little pearly whites, but they will clean little peraly whites!

Minori is 3 and a half!

The older sister started going to a German kindergarten about 2.5 months ago. Everyone there speaks German so she's really picking up the language. The kindy experience is also great in the sense that she's so much more independent. She is now capable of dressing herself up, putting her shoes on, brushing her teeth (we still do a brush over after that) and going to the toilet on her own.

At home, whenever she's willing I try to get her to help out with some of the household chores, like laying out the table for dinner, putting the dirty dishes into the dish washer, hanging out the clothes to dry, and watching her baby sister. I think her favorite is helping to bake -- and afterwards, eat -- what she calls "corn flakes cookies."


She's become technologically savvy too (aren't all kids these days?!). It's amazing that using a TV remote control is so instinctive to her (and her 13-month-old sister!). So is turning on the CD player, Skyping, watching videos on YouTube (she knows how to get the videos to Full Screen!) and manipulating the electronic dictionary. In this photo, she types her own name into the dictionary to find out what it means.


Here's a picture of Minori and her own little walnut cafe! Not sure whether she'll be the little helper or competitor to her uncle when we return to Japan.

New blogger format, Obama, etc.

Gosh I really need to get used to this new Blogger format.  I thought I have made several new entries and now I'm not sure to where they have gone.

We've been closely following the American presidential race and the fact that Minori can say and recognize Obama and HClinton even before she even turned 3 proves it (is it too early to tell that she's a non-American Democrat?).  With Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, a candidate's wife that looks like Barbie, an ex-beauty queen running mate thrown in, it's just so full of drama and fun.  At least more so than the political scenes from our countries.  Besides there's no underestimating how much impact the American president (and First Lady) can have on the rest of the world.  Was it an ex-French premier who said that the foreign community should also have a say as to who the next American President should be?

Yesterday while cleaning up after breakfast I casually asked DH who he'd vote for if he were an American, and he replied "Obama" without any hesitation.  This is coming from someone who 90% of the time either tries to sound tactful by not taking sides or to refuse giving an answer.

In our household we vote for integrity.  And even a preschooler knows who has it.

Imitating everything she sees

If you are a Disney fan, you'll probably know Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Disney's animation of Alice in Wonderland.

These are the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in our family.

Mary Poppins and robin singing "Just a Spoonful of Sugar."

Our own "Mary Poppins" and little sister's plush chicken singing "Just a Spoonful of Sugar."

Playing the big sister

The older sister acts like one.
The little sister is thrilled!


(video taken on 30 June 2008)

Daddy's dancer girl!

A dress and a bouquet (who cares if it's just parsley!).

Daddy was to complete the picture. Maybe she's been watching too much of that Anastasia animation on DVD where Anastasia dances with her father, the Tsar, in a scene.

As you can see far from being Tsar-like, daddy, still a bit dazed in pajamas, had no idea what hit him when Minori grabbed his hand and said, "daddy, let's dance like this!"

Apartment tour: Girls' room

Thanks to our lovely landlady Hanna, Minori and Marisa have a room in our rented apartment decorated just for them! It looks quite bare because the girls play out in the living room usually.



After bringing home a parsley plant from the supermarket, Minori took it, changed into a dress, and started dancing with it like it were a bouquet of flowers! Girls will be girls!

Daddy's soccer girl!

There are many places in the little town of Rostock where we can just sit out and enjoy the sun (and a kebab!). This video was shot in May in one of these nice parks.

Minori making daddy very proud!

Who does Minori look like?