Today’s Photo of Help on The Way

I’m trying to get back into the groove of the office after being away for so what felt like forever – first on vacation and then back-to-back trips to Las Vegas and Seattle. I’ll be spending the day trying to dig out from under my massive to-do list.

Our weekend was quiet, but productive. I spent most of it catching up on laundry while the boys played well together (for the most part). Samuel spent most of the weekend as Wonder Woman, complete with home made tiara and magic bracelets. Thomas built cities out of Lego and blocks. It rained a lot and we barely left the house. Thankfully, our friends dragged us out of hibernation late yesterday afternoon with a football/Karaoke get together (football for the boys and karaoke for the girls). I feel like I’ve been out of touch with everyone for weeks and I’ll be grateful to start getting back into some degree of normalcy.

Before I head off to tackle my pile of work, I’ll share a couple of quick photos that I took during the drive home from Seattle last week. If only they made snow plows that would help dig through to-do lists…

Today’s Photo of Some Very Special Help at the Grocery Store

Welcoming the Year of the Dragon

As I return and recover from a quick trip to Las Vegas during which I I walked about 30 miles of the CES floor, I want to share a few photos from our weekend visit to the Japanese garden to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Of course a Japanese New Year leads to reflection of each of our own birth years – what they mean and how they may have shaped our personalities. A quick critique of my year – the year of the Rabbit:

Usually generous, friendly and tranquil by nature. (ummmm…ok…)
Rabbits like everything to be low key and even tempered and are anxious if forced to take risks. (that’s fair)
They enjoy paying attention to detail to create an ambiance in their lives. (I have no time for details)
Rabbits most often prefer the easy road. (OK, now we’re onto something…)
Rabbits are suited to careers in literature, art, design, public relations, counseling, advisory occupations and law. They also make good secretaries. (Stop right there! Secretary? I would be a terrible secretary. And where is Photographer?)

Regardless of the inaccuracies in my own zodiac, I am looking forward to the Year of the Dragon and I’m grateful we were able to welcome it in style amidst the beauty and tranquility of the Japanese gardens.

Thomas and his friend Camille jumped at the opportunity to practice their Japanese calligraphy. Thomas tried his hand at some Kanji…

…while Camille worked on a Dragon.

And then we watched the professionals create their own amazing works of calligraphy art.

With REALLY big brushes.

Wishing you a very happy year of the Dragon.

Today’s Photo of the Last Lights of Christmas

The christmas tree has been taken away by the recycling and all of the ornaments are packed away in the basement, but I just can’t bare to put these away. They give the house such a nice glow.

Happy Trails for Some – Back to Reality for Others

Sadly, I was not the one boarding a flight for Hawaii. Back for my first full day of work for 2012 and fully into the swing of things.

Trying hard not to feel too resentful of the three people I dropped at the airport earlier this week who are now likely soaking up the sunshine and sipping Mai Tais (well, the two who are of age anyway).

I will be heading down south for a little unexpected sunshine early next week – but it’s for a work trip so I’ll be catching glimpses through any window I can find while the sounds of poker machines play in the background.

I feel as though I haven’t had much time to reflect on 2011 and even look forward to 2012, so I think I’ll need to set aside a little time for that over the next few days. It would be a sad day indeed if I were to I plunge into a new year without a favorite photo of the year post – or maybe two. I’m working on it.

In the meantime, it’s back to reality and vicariously living my dream of a Mai Tai on the beach.

My House Smells Like Pine Tree

We designated Saturday our Christmas shopping day. We had to. It was clear that Christmas was in full swing – even Happy the Elf had made his first appearance in our house – so we could put it off no longer.

First hurdle – locate the Christmas Tree lot. We had one in mind that we visited last year but sometimes Portland streets all start to look the same and we had a little trouble remembering it’s exact location. Finally, a gmail search led us in the right direction (LOVE undeleted emails from 12 months ago) and we soon found ourselves surrounded by Noble Firs – my tree of choice.

Samuel wanted me to take a photo of him with no hands – that kid can be a little weird.

I have hands now!

We finally chose our 6 foot tree – a process that I was WAY more into than anyone else. Me: “How about this one Kei?”
Kei: “Whatever – that’s fine”
Me: “Will you at least LOOK at it? This is a big decision”

And, while Kei tied it to the top of the van… (I guess he’s useful for something, just not choosing the tree)

…I counted the number of blown bulbs on the Xmas lights while simultaneously trying to stop my children from running into traffic (I’m great at multitasking).

When we got home, it was time for lunch and Samuel’s nap. And, because we all had to be awake before we could decorate the tree, I endured at least two hours of Thomas asking if we can decorate the tree yet. He was incredibly excited (and more than a little annoying).

Finally, we put on some Christmas tunes and hung some lights. And when I say “we”, I mean “I” because Kei had not quite awakened from his nap on the couch. I know, I know, we were supposed to wait but the whining got to me. I can only take so much!

The kids hung the first ornaments…

And then “helped” with the rest while I worked hard to protect the most delicate pieces. Thankfully, no ornament casualties this year.

And then we took a few family pics in very bad lighting (it’s the only kind of lighting we have at this time of the year in Portland after 4pm).

Thomas took the next one – not bad!

and this one too

And this one of Samuel and, uh, my chest.

The tree is trimmed, the elf is sitting on the shelf and the Amazon orders are shipping. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…

Five Things Friday: Being

1. Watching…
Grimm – my new favorite show. It’s like it was created just for me – a little bit of crime, a little bit if mystery and a whole lot of weird. It’s also set AND FILMED right here in Portland so it’s fun to try and identify parts of the city as I watch. I might even venture so far as to say it’s my new X Files. I know – HUGE.

2. Reading…
IQ84 by Haruki Murakami. Loving it so far, although I’m only three chapters in. It’s a huge book so it should keep me going through Christmas and likely for much longer after that at the rate I am able to read books these days.

3. Listening…
To Christmas Music. I know, I know, it’s early, but I am on a mission to put together a fun mix for our trip to the Polar Express late next week. This song will definitely make its way onto the playlist.

4. Anticipating…

A bunch of new movies that will be released over the next few weeks. Thinking I might have trouble dragging Kei along to Breaking Dawn Pt1 or The Hunger Games but he might be interested in Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. We’ve seen the Swedish version and I want to see how the American version compares.

Although if he sees this trailer, he might just change his mind about The Hunger Games. It looks amazing!

5. Browsing
75 years of Life Magazine covers. A wonderful history and photography lesson with inspiring images dating back to 1936. If you don’t have time to browse the full 75 years then I highly recommend the 75 Best Life Covers of all time and, for a reminder that perfection is elusive, Life’s 20 Worst Covers.

This weekend looks like rain, rain and more rain. In other words, the perfect weekend to run errands like grocery shopping and piles of laundry, and get ready for the holiday week. Thankfully, our take-out turkey dinner will be cooked by someone else, so all I have to do is make one more side dish and buy some wine for mulling.

I fought this time of year for a long time, but I am slowly learning to love the falling leaves, cozy nights in and the way American’s add “spice” to everything. Looking forward to a great weekend and a short work week.

Just Your Average Mild Mannered Reporter

I was cleaning up my desk at work yesterday and came across some toy glasses that had been purchased for an employee prank a while ago (long story). And of course when you come across a pair of black spectacles and you have a child who’s currently obsessed with Superman, you immediately consider how perfect they would be for the “Clark Kent” portion of his costume.

So I took them home and then spent the rest of the evening helping my three year old get in and out of his disguise. The Superman costume was underneath and, in the absence of a suit and tie, he wore the Fireman Sam costume over the top. Glasses can only be worn when the superman costume is hidden. It’s important to maintain the secret identity.

After his bath, he asked me to make a little curl out of his hair in the middle of his forehead. It lasted about 30 seconds before it dried.

He also went to school dressed as Superman for the second day in a row.

One of the fun details of our life right now.

Going Dark

I haven’t had much to say around here lately. Actually, I supposed I HAVE had stuff to say, just not the time to say it.

I still don’t have time to put together anything deep and meaning so, instead, I will share my stream of consciousness on a Monday morning. You’re welcome.

I joined the gym. Week #1 went very well (4 visits!) and I’m looking forward to quickly becoming addicted to exercise (hah!).
Autumn is definitely here – the leaves are falling from the trees and I’ve dusted off my winter coat. Our Summer was so short that it’s hard to get used to the fact that Winter is just around the corner.
Although I am still firmly in denial, the end of daylight saving over the weekend threatens to pull me kicking and screaming into the new season.
Sunset is at 4:50pm today. A moment of silence please.
Samuel woke up in a great mood today – maybe the end of daylight saving is not such a bad thing after all.
He went to school as Superman.
It hurts to laugh thanks to my Yoga class on Saturday. It’s a good hurt.
I ordered our takeout Turkey yesterday. Bring on Thanksgiving…
…but not before I get on top of a couple of Xmas gift projects. Suddenly feeling very far behind.
Thomas spent a good part of yesterday practicing his writing and drawing on the iPad. Moved a request for one of my own up to the top of my Christmas list.
Catching up on Damages on Netflix. Fantastic new favourite show that I can watch while running on the treadmill – for about 10 minutes anyway (I’m easing myself in…).
I hate ending a list on an odd number.

So I leave you on this Monday morning with a photo that is completely unrelated to the rest of post. Seems appropriate.

The theme for this week’s I Heart Faces challenge is “Black“. Because I had already exhausted my small Halloween photo collection, I had to go back a couple of months to find this photo that I took on the day we visited the Zoo right before Karin and Mayumi went back to Japan. I love how the sea lion looks like he has his own space in our family picture.

Happy Monday – here’s to being a couple of hours closer to Friday!

The First Annual Ishida Halloween Awards

Halloween is over for another year and there is now a big bowl of candy mocking me from the corner of the kitchen. While I do my best to resist the sugar rush, I’ll present you with a few highlights from last night courtesy of the First Annual Ishida Halloween Awards. There are no prizes, only special recognition… Oh, and the awards are limited to the things I was able to capture on camera. Sadly the low light and my very high heels prevented me from capturing everything… Now – on to the esteemed winners!

Most popular costume
Batman, for sure. Followed by Superman, Ironman and basically any other superhero you can imagine. I like that Thomas distinguished himself as the 60s TV show batman rather than the popular “Dark Knight”.

Cutest Superfriends

Best Halloween Investment (Ever!)
After three years the striped tights are still going strong – although the witch’s skirt is getting a little tight. Next year I’ll either have to lose weight or prepare a new costume. How’s that for some motivation to get fit?