I was just minding my own business and then that happened . . . .

Here's a gal, minding her own business, just eating a few little vienna sausages . . .

ももちぃの百面相。その実態は、ぐるるぅ。。きゅるるぅ。。。
ママ、×××出ちゃって気持ち悪いよぉ～！



Uh oh. I got that feeling again and it isn't a good feeling . . . . .



POOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIEEEEEEES!

A day at the beach? NO THANKS!

Once I was finished with my business in Port Canaveral, we took a little trip down to Key West, Florida to visit our friends Uncle Sam, Aunt Michelle and Cousin Samantha and also Uncle Paul. It was a nice trip but unfortunately the wind had kicked up while we were down there and it was not good outside weather. We took Momoka to a nice recreation area at the Naval Air Station at Boca Chica. They have some tiki huts with tables and chairs and a nice little lagoon that even small kids can splash around in. It was kind of a double whammy on the day we went - the wind was blowing and the water was a little on the cold side. I put Momoka's little toes in the water and she reported rather quickly, with a big screech, that the water was a little too cold for her.

ももちぃのビーチデビュー、可哀相なくらい風が強すぎてももちぃはずっと不機嫌。せっかく可愛い水着に着替えて、ばあばにもらった帽子をかぶって、いそいそとお出かけしたのに残念。涙　次はハワイの海でリベンジ！



Can we go now? PLEASE!

Disney and a visit with some old, and new, friends

Hey, you can't go to Port Canaveral and not jump on the freeway and shoot over to Orlando, right? Daddy and his little gal hanging out at Downtown Disney. There is a salon inside World of Disney where your little girl can go to get transformed into a Disney Princess. I wanted to take Momochan in but we decided (Mommy said no - boo!) to wait a few years. I can't wait! That is going to be the best.

ダウンタウンディズニーでプリンセスに変身？　パパはすごく乗気だったけど、予約制で無理です！　それにまだ歩けないももちぃにあの衣装はママは反対！　だって暑苦しそうなんだもん。すぐにあせもが出来ちゃうももちぃには綿１００％じゃなきゃダメ！　でも歩けるようになったら涼しい季節に連れて行ってあげるからね～♪



Daddy with a couple of adult beverages in Downtown Disney. They were some stiff drinks, even by Navy standards. Guess that's one way to ensure you open that wallet and pour out your cash to Walt and Mickey! Based on my VISA statement the following month that strategy worked pretty good on me.

さすがディズニー、屋外のなんてことないお店のカクテルでも高い！　でもすごく強いんですよ。お酒の弱い人は一杯でほろ酔い気分になっちゃいそうです。隣には色々なディズニーストアが目白押し。パパの言うとおり財布の紐がゆるむ、ゆるむ。。。苦笑

ところでももちぃの左手、『一杯いく？（くいっ）』って感じがしません？爆



Mommy's friend Keiko. Mommy and Keiko used to ride motorcycles together back in the day. Yes, Mommy used to be a bosozoku. Keiko works for a large Japanese travel agency in Orlando and always knows the best places to go. We had some good eats with Keiko and her husband Dan while we were down there. Thanks Dan and Keiko!

一番古いお友達の一人です。昼はオートバイでツーリングに出かけ、夜は共に飲み明かし。。。いやぁ～、本当二人で遊び倒しました。笑　そんな彼女も今では可愛いお孫ちゃんがいるんですよ！↓　今はたまにしか会えなくて寂しいけど、ディズニーの近くで働いているので、これからはもっと会える機会が増えるかな？



This is Keiko's daughter Jenny with her husband and their son. Misao said she remembers when Jenny was the same size as Momoka. Time flies.

ももちぃと数ヶ月しか変わらないのに、この手足の長さの違い！！！



Daddy and his little gal hanging out at the Starbucks in Cocoa Beach, Florida watching a little baseball while Mommy shops at Ron John's Surf Shop.

ロンジョンの隣のスタバにて。ももちぃ、少ししっかりした顔つきになってきたね。



My favorite bar in the Keys (which is saying something since there are a million bars down there) is over at the Sigsbee Navy Housing and Marina. Beer is cheap and the food is surprisingly good. The place has a real "Keys" feel with a thatched roof and open air. You can get a great view of sunset from this place. One of those "best kept" secrets in the Navy. SHHHH! Don't tell anybody, they'll just ruin the place.

Daddy - "Who wants chili cheese fries and a cold brew?" Momochi - "I DO! YATTA!"

数あるキーウエストのバーの中で、パパの最もお気に入りのバー。場所柄変な酔っ払いがいないのでママも気に入っています。パパもママもお酒好きだけど、はた迷惑な酔っ払いは大嫌いなのよ。

このバーは海沿いに立てられていて、海に沈んで行く夕陽がとても綺麗なんです。このバーのある建物の下にはアライグマが住んでいて、たまにお店の中に迷い込んできます。キーウエストは、野良猫や野良鶏だけでなく野良アライグマも多いんですよ。

Hey Veep, thanks for the AMTRAK tip!

When we went to Florida we decided to take the train down south and back. AMTRAK has a train that goes from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida (just north of Orlando). You can load your vehicle onto a train car and it will be offloaded in Sanford when the train stops (hence the name Auto train). We purchased an upgrade to a sleeping car on the way down and back and honestly (and somewhat surprisingly), it was a very nice way to travel. Very relaxing and the service was AWESOME! The Stewards were great, very helpful and courteous. I will consider AMTRAK from now on whenever I take leisure travel and AMTRAK provides service to the area I am going. On the train, during meals or in the club car, strangers actually struck up conversations and talked to each other. How unusual is that in our modern society? Never happen on a plane or in the airport. Of course there were also some self absorbed morons with cell phones but hey, you can't completely get away from jerks and technology anymore. Gosh, I must be getting old.



AMTRAK offered free wine and appetizers on the train just prior to departure. They had smoked salmon and scallops, some cheese, crackers and vegetables as well as a chips / party mix. Here's a couple of glasses of wine for Mommy and Daddy and a tasty Similac cocktail for baby.



On the way back we missed out on the salmon and scallops because we boarded a little late. We did get some party mix along with a couple of tasty beverages to wash down the junk food.



A shot of the menu from the train. How was the food? Better than airline but not five star. I had steaks on both legs of the trip and found them to be good. Misao had roasted chicken and that was also good. Food is served on ceramic plates with silverware in the dining car. Wine is complimentary. Tipping is appreciated. Good chow and the service was great.



Look who has bunny ears! How come giving someone bunny ears never gets old? Momoka loved the train. We propped her up on a pillow in front of the window and she laid there and watched the world go by. Better than TV!



Watching the world go by is hard work Daddy! I think I'll take a little nap to get my energy back up.



The rocking motion of the train made for some good sleepy sleepy time. In both rooms we had on the train the baby slept with Mommy in the lower berth. Daddy slept in the upper berth. The train leaves both stations at around 4:00 pm and it takes approximately 17 hours to go one way. Takes about an hour for your car to get offloaded. The trip probably wouldn't have been as much fun, or as enjoyable, if the baby had been fussy but she was great and slept through the night on both legs. What a great girl.

Our Home Study appointment & Baba's sun hat

Here we all are at the agency who completed our home study. For those of you not familiar with adoption you must have a certified agency with a social worker come to your house and do a study to ensure you will be fit parents. Once your baby comes home you'll need the agency to come back and do some post placement visits that will then be filed with your petition to finalize the adoption. In our state one of the post placement visits must be done at the agency's office. The two folks to in the picture are the social worker who did our home study and the agency director. Momoka is conked out and slept through most of the visit. We've got one more visit to go and then we'll be able to petition the court to finalize our adoption. That is going to be a great day!

ホームスタディでお世話になった斡旋所です。個別面接では無茶苦茶緊張しましたが、皆さん優しい方ばかりでした。こちらの斡旋所は主にベトナムからの養子を斡旋しているようですが、今はベトナムから養子が迎えられないので色々と苦労があるようです。



We recently took a trip to Florida. I had some business down at Port Canaveral and Misao and the baby went with me. Baba found out about the trip and went to Gymboree and bought Momoka this cute little sun hat. Here she is modeling the hat and getting ready for sun and fun in Florida!

ヒューストンのばあばに買ってもらったジンボリーの帽子。これでフロリダの強い日差しもばっちり対抗できそうだね。でも帽子をかぶりなれていないせいかウニャウニャモード炸裂！



Ok, ok, I'll wear the hat in Florida - now, can we get on with feeding me?!?

なれちゃえばまんざらでもない様子です♪

Mommy, Momoka and a little shopping

Mommy, if I'm going shopping I want to wear this shirt . . . .

なんだか履歴書に貼れそうな真面目なお顔。ぷっ。。。



A biiiiiiiiiiiig yaaaaaaaaaawn!

ももちぃ、結構お茶目な女の子です♪



Ok Mommy, let's go shopping!

パパのクレジットカードを持ってお買い物三昧へＧＯ！

Our ninth Anniversary

Today was our ninth wedding anniversary. Misao had jokingly said she wanted a "sweet nine" diamond ring as a present. The Japanese jewelry industry has started some baloney called a "sweet ten" diamond that is, in my mind, an opportunity for them to sell you a ring. I tried to think what might be a fun way to tell her that I had bought her a "ring" for our anniversary. instead of a "sweet nine" ring, Misao got nine sweet rings. Yes, of course I ate the other three donuts on the way home from Krispy Kreme. Truth be told, I think Misao liked the donuts better (she loves Krispy Kreme). Of course next year won't be so easy because I've used up the donut angle and I think she'll be expecting something a little more substantial than 3/4 of a　dozen donuts.

『プレゼントは１年早いスイート・ナイン・ダイヤモンド（リング）でも良いのよ～♪』と、結婚記念日の前にパパに言っておいたら、記念日はダイヤなしのスイート・ナイン・リングが用意されていました。いや、ここのドーナツも嫌いじゃないんだけどねぇ。。。朝から親父ギャグ爆裂のパパです。



Hey Mommy I'm better than any dumb old diamond ring!

もちろんももちぃに勝るプレゼントなんて無いです！　
ももちぃの笑顔だけでママは幸せよ～！

Tub time Oyaji

One thing Momoka has always liked is bath time. We have tried to get her into a routine at night. She has a bottle, we eat then I take her for a walk in her stroller. Once we get back home, Momoka gets a bath, gets some lotioned, diapered and PJ'ed, gets fed again and then goes to sleep. She loves to relax in the warm water (must be how she gets rid of all that baby stress). I take a small plastic cup and pour water on her tummy and legs. She loves it so and will usually fall fast asleep in the tub.

ももちぃは本当にお風呂が大好きなようです。夕食の後は長い散歩をパパと一緒に楽しみ、帰って来たらお風呂でまったり♪　気持ち良過ぎるのかよくベビーバスの中で寝ちゃうんです。温泉大好きなパパはももちぃと一緒に行くのが今から楽しみのようです。

Karate Practice

Ikuwayo

いくわよ、覚悟なさい！



Momochi PUNCH! Take that Miffy sama!

ももちぃ、相撲にパンチは反則だよ～！　
何度見ても笑える写真ですね。