happy things

as you all know, we've had some tough times recently - thank you to everyone for their kindness and support - but we've had some happy times too. i wanted to share a couple.

first, another song from Molly. they've been learning all about building houses in school, and what it's like to be a carpenter, and Molly's become quite knowledgeable about pipes and wiring and foundations. it's wild to be having a conversation with her about the pipes used to bring water into the house, or sheet rock, but that's our genius girl for you! here's her latest song with some interpretive dance in the background by her father.


also, we've had so much fun with her many, many amazing Christmas gifts. some of her current favorites being her TAG books, all of her new games like Candyland, Shutes & Ladders, Eric Carle's ABC and Memory, and her new wooden blocks. here is one of her latest block creations, a combo fireplace / space station. it was a surprise for me, probably because she knows i really want to be a astronaut, and i like fire places. cool!

and speaking of Christmas presents, Zero and i got a cookbook this year from my Uncle Lonny and Aunt Ritsu on traditional Hawaiian cuisine, in which they talk about Hawaiian plate lunches, one of Zero's favorites! he's been reading through the cookbook/history since we got it, and this past week made his first meal from it. he made adobo chicken, pickled cabbage and (of course!) mac salad. i BBQed up some tofu and we got some POG, and sat down to a delish Hawaiian plate lunch. Molly enjoyed it as well. thanks Lonny and Ritsu!

lastly, Molly's really getting interested and excited about letters. we work with letters here at home, and they do at school, and she's starting to recognize them more, and in the case of M and O, write them herself! just today, after writing several Os, she said to me, i'm going to write and M now, and sure enough, she did - near the top left of the picture, isn't that a perfect M?! she also drew a cat today, with ears and claws, and an owl with a beak. yep...brilliant!

take care one and all!