Trip to Utah

年末年始はいとこの結婚式に出るためにユタまで車で行ってました。車で片道１８時間！前の週はマイナス３０度まで行ったのでどうなるかと思いましたが、天気にも恵まれて無事行くことができました。道中二日にわけて行ったのですが、寒さで溶けない雪が風に舞っている中、何もない砂漠を延々と走りました。自然の美しさと過酷さに圧倒されました！途中で手車隊が難儀した場所にも通りかかり、ここを開拓者たちが歩いたのか、と思うと胸が熱くなりました。ユタでは子どもたちとテンプルスクエアを観光し、グランマに会いに行き、りゅうのすけくんのお墓、改装されたBYUを見に行き、日本人ワードの友達にも会えて（しかもおいしいご飯までごちそうになった）とってもいい時間が過ごせました。最終日の金曜日はメインの結婚式！久しぶりに会う家族との時間を楽しみました。家族っていいなあと思いました。

We were able to travel to Utah for cousin's wedding this winter break. We weren't sure if we could go because of weather. We experienced -30 C!! However weather got much milder after that and there was no snow during our trip. We drove for 18 hours to get to Utah. It took two days. There's nothing on our way. Just powder snow sitting on great plain was blown by wind and made us amazed with beauty and harshness of nature. We drove by the church historic site Martin's cove. I was shocked that pioneers actually walked the road we were just drove through. Way too harder than I imagined. We enjoyed our time in Utah. Temple Square, meeting with Grandma and friends, newly renovated BYU campus, cemetery, wedding and wonderful family gathering. I've been telling myself I would do these things for a long time and it finally came true! It was so nice to spend time with you guys again!!

Days till Christmas

ご無沙汰してました。。１１月末に大雪が降って以来、とけることなく雪に覆われています。マイナス２０度の世界！！けのもダディの雪かきを手伝います。けのは６歳になりました！体調が優れないのを言い訳に何もしてあげなかった・・・毎年誕生日のお菓子を学校に持って行っていたものですが、けのの学校は食べ物を配ったらダメという大変進んだ学校なのと誕生日が土曜日だったというのをいいことに、学校でのお祝いもせず。外食と外出に頼ってお手軽誕生日だったのだけど、けのにとっては特別だったようで、とっても喜んでいました！誕生日ケーキもけのの希望でコスコのアップルパイ！大きい割にけの以外誰も食べないのでまだ冷凍庫にある。。そんなこんなでクリスマスも何もできなかったんだけど、おかあさんやともだちがプレゼントをくれたり、信ちゃんがクリスマスツリーと靴下を買ってきてみんなで飾り付けして子どもたちがその中にプレゼントを用意していれたりしてちょっと盛り上がりました。子どもたちはプレゼントする、っていうのが大好きみたい。心があたたかくなりました。
After thanksgiving, we had been always covered by snow. It's -20C that snow never melts. Ken helps daddy snow shovel. Long winter has just started! Well, Ken turned 6!! He loved going to Kindergarten and learning a lot. I used to bring treat to school on his birthday but his Kindergarten doesn't allow him to bring treats and his birthday was on Saturday. Besides, I wasn't feeling well so I didn't do much. We celebrated by very simple and commercial way. I feel cheating but he loved it.... We dined out for lunch and dinner and took kids to inside playground and sang with Costco Apple pie he chose. (It's huge and only Ken eats it at home. So it's still in freezer.) He got Lego and earphones. He loved his birthday! Christmas was the same way as well... I didn't do anything but Shin took in charge. He bought Christmas tree and stocking for each member of family. We decorated them and put secret gifts inside. It was so nice to see kids preparing gift for others. They are simple like hand written cards or treat they got for doing well but giving was a great opportunity and they loved it.