Ice Skating

So since being home we've stuck around the house and haven't had anyone over due to the fact that we don't want anyone else's kids to go through what Masaru has been through. No one wants the stomach flu man.

Great news though, he's slowly getting better and should be alright for our New Year's celebrations.

So the kids have been playing in the snow with their backyard neighbor mate and then I knew I had to take them with me ice skating.

They young women youth and I decided to go ice skating and out for dinner to celebrate the new year.

I decided to bring the kids too since I knew they'd have fun and love it.

 We brought their buddy Piper as well. She's basically part of the family.

It took them a little bit to get used to it but they slowly figured it out.
Piper had the hardest time, but the other kids took to it pretty quickly. I bet if I took them a couple more times they'd be golden. I managed to be able to get back into it and could skate around alright.
The only time I fell was when Yuki came in and grabbed me and fell right in front of me and tripped me up!!
So here's some video's of the kids.
This guy gave us a 'helper' thing so Emiko and the other's could skate around. It's pretty cool. You could order them when you check in but the guy said they were all out, so that sucked, so it was nice to have one handed to us once we were on the ice.

After we went skating we headed over to Pizza Pie Cafe on Broadway and all had dinner together. It's the first time I've been to that place and it was really good. I don't know why you wouldn't go there. I'm glad we went so I could see how awesome it is.

Super fun day with the kids and youth.

Now onto the new year!!!

Extra pic's

Here are some pictures of the family doing the service project. Pretty cool aye.

Boxing day Dru slept for about 8 hours of it on the couch upstairs at his mother's house. The kids played with their cuzzies and then Grandma took them to kangaroo zoo, which is a bouncy house warehouse. They had a blast.

This elephant is new. So the kids got a picture infront of it. Cute kids.
Takeshi wants to point out that he's in a hole.

Here's some videos that Kate kindly took of their adventures.



They had tons of fun. Thanks Grandma!!

Meanwhile, back at the house, while Dru was napping like a cat, I decided to introduce some classic movies to Masaru, which he was laying there miserable and sick.
We watched 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 'Back to the Future' and 'Cool Runnings'. Anything to try to keep his mind off the fact he was miserable right?

Saturday night was the 'siblings only' traditional dinner together at Kyoto. The only thing that sucks about all eating out is the rectangle tables. We can't really hang out as a family and all talk, depending on where you sit, you talk to those two people and don't really say boo to anyone else. I think a round table would be nice or a square one, I mean what's the point if you can't all hang out?
I appreciated being shouted dinner by Dru's parents, however and am grateful.
We then headed to a movie to watch the new 'Star Wars' which we both really liked. I thought it was awesome and am looking forward to seeing the next one.

Sunday we all slept in and looked after Masaru, then headed out to Kristin's for an early dinner. Cafe Rio style salads. So yummy. It was nice to hang out together for a little while.
Maseru then rang us and wondered where we were and wanted us home, so we headed back to be with him and start packing our bags.
We hung out as a family for one last night with Brooke. She was heading back to CA early the next morning.

Monday we slowly packed up, but Masaru wasn't doing any better, so I took him to insta care to see if it wasn't something else and to get his vitals checked.
His vitals were fine and he wasn't dehydrated, thank goodness, but they figured he had the stomach flu and he should be over it soon enough. They gave him some meds, which he promptly threw up, and had to just suck it up I guess.
She told me to try giving him pedialite but he didn't want it and didn't want anything the doctor told me to give him. So I dunno man. I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help him to get better and since that prayer he never threw up since then.
We said our goodbye's and headed out.
So the car ride home was good and Masaru did well enough.
We came back to Boise, without a hitch, always nice, and had some dinner then slowly started unpacking.

Great family Christmas and it was nice to all be together for the holidays. I always enjoy being home at Dru's mother's for Christmas and hopefully we can keep doing it.

Christmas Day 2015

Since Masaru was sick, and is the perpetrator of the early wake ups, we got to sleep in. It was really nice. First year we've been able to sleep in past 5am!!!
I'm sad he was sick and this was the only perk I guess.
Brooke's kids got up earlier than our kids, and that never happens!
So they had already started and were well into it when our kids came to get us up.
Yuki told us that Masaru doesn't believe in Santa anymore, so maybe he's also not as excited you know. I dunno.
So here are the pictures I did get of the morning.

 Yuki opening her bike. That was her main gift, of course, and Dru and I debated whether or not to get her a bike, but since it'll be handed down to 2 more children, opted to get a decent one for her. She hasn't had the chance to ride it yet, since there's snow all over the ground, but we wanted her to be able to open it anyway.
Yuki also got some earrings, coloring books and pencils, a soccer bag and water bottle.

 We got a bunch of pictures of Emiko opening her gifts.
Here's her soccer bag. I'm gonna ask my mate if her machine can write the kids names on their bags.

 She got a 'Daniel the Tiger' toy that she loves. Daniel the tiger is her favourite programme at the moment. I like it, it shares great problem solving activities and she goes around and sings how to do so.

 She also got a cash register. She loves it as well.

 I got a full faced helmet, which I love. It's the same color as my mtb shoes. Pretty sweet.
I miss mtb and have been really bad with my exercise this last month.

 Dru also got me some jewlery and a mtb jacket that we need to swap out. It was nice.

 Dru got himself this car fridge that he really wants. I'm not sure how much we'll use it, but it's what he wants and will come in handy when we do need it.
So I got him some bike tools and a T-shirt and food slicer.

The t-shirt is from NZ and says "No Pads, No Helmets, Just balls" and has a picture of two rugby balls at the bottom. I cracked up when I saw it and knew I needed to get it for him.

So we didn't get any pictures of the boys opening their gifts. They were all on the camera!
Masaru got this sweet tech lego toy, soccer bag and bottle, pokemon cards and case.

Takeshi got some sweet trucks and bulldozers that he loves, soccer bag and bottle.

All the children got gifts from my mother as well. They picked them out while they were in NZ and opened them as well. Masaru got his bone necklace, Yuki got camo pants, Takeshi got All Blacks stuff and Emiko got a wonder woman bag and PJ's.
They all had stockings as well with lamps for their reading in bed at night and some chocolates.

It was a great morning and the kids were really happy, of course, and we hung out.
We then headed upstairs and had breakfast with the family, which was really good.

Then the relaxing began. I got a few messages from family and the kids played with their stuff and outside in the snow.
Brooke, Tate and Dru decided to do a puzzle.

 After Masaru opened his gifts, he worked on his lego's for a little while and then resumed his position on the couch being sick.

See Dru's t-shirt? Here they are working on their puzzle.  They got it done, but when they whipped that out I knew it was a good time to go visit Kristin out at her place.
Usually everyone either naps, does a puzzle or something I'm not interested in and I end up being quite bored, so I'm glad I could take off and go see Kristin at her place this year.

I went out and visited with them and brought three of her kids home with me to spend the night with us.
We had dinner, which was awesome, and then hung out. Dru's sister Brooke left to visit with other family and we hung out with Dru's brother's family.
The kids stayed up for a while and played, but then after a melt down we decided to put them in bed.
That all seemed to go well as well, which worked out great.

We then tested out Dru's brothers hot tub. It was really nice. We sat and talked for a while. It's pretty rough getting out though, so cold. But totally worth it.
We then had a talk with Ry and Les and went to bed.

Low key Christmas, just the way it should be and apart from Masaru being sick, was a really good day.

Christmas Eve

So turns out my computer didn't download all of the pictures off of my camera and I hit the 'erase all' button then went back to copy them and they're not there.
It's taken me an hour to get over it and now I'm just at the point of 'it is what it is I guess' and 'rookie mistake' and 'you're an idiot' and 'thank goodness Leslie and Ryan took some pictures' and 'thank goodness I took a few on our phone'
So stupid.
Anyway so that's where I'm at.

We headed down to Utah on the Wednesday and got in late and put the kids to bed.
I went over to Leslie's and did some last minute scrapbooking for Dru's mother's Christmas present and then we headed to bed.
Christmas Eve was met with some last minute shopping done by Dru and I.
The kids were playing with their cuzzies in the snow on Grandma's street with sleds. They had the best time out there.
They then made some sugar cookies with Grandma and the rest of us hung out and helped prep for Christmas Eve.
I talked to some of my family who were having their Christmas Day festivities.

Drus family decided to do an assembly line and put together packages for children in need of food on the weekends. I wish I had gotten a picture of everyone doing that.
I was upstairs talking to NZ family while they all did that. I came down right at the end. What an awesome thing to do right? It was great of Dru's parents to organize that for us to participate in.

We then had dinner and then started the Christmas Eve program, done this year by Leslie.

It was fun and the kids had a great time.

 I took LOADS more pictures. But apparently I can't be trusted with the downloading of pictures anymore!!
Aren't they so cute?
Takeshi the naughty kid.
Apparently when they were asking the kids who they wanted to be, both Takeshi and Zeke yelled out that they'd be the devil. Nice.

 Emiko was a wise (wo)man. She looked awesome.

 Here's the beautiful snow that the kids were playing in.

This picture show's Takeshi's 'tryouts' as the devil. Look at that face man. It has the words 'mischief' all over it. Crazy kid.

After the program, book, a few words from Grandma, we headed downstairs to share gifts we'd exchanged as a family.

 Auntie Brooke made Emiko this cute quilt. So lucky right. She loves it.

 Here she is opening it. Look how excited she is about just the box? Hahaha

 Takes opening his gift from Grandma. It's called a boogie board, I think, and they can draw on it and erase it and start again.

 Then he also got a quilt from Auntie Brooke. Check it out. Soft and cozy on one side and freakn awesome on the other side. This should be the new NZ flag.
 Look at Dru and Takeshi's faces, they're almost pulling the same face. Funny how the look a like in this picture.

 Maseru came down to open up his gift. Some more legos from Auntie Brooke.

 Brooke got me an awesome matching cycling top so Dru and I can be twins on the foothills. She also made all of us these cute toiletries bags. Cool aye.

 Yuki showing us her goods from Grandma.

 Everyone together.

 Dru did well with his gift from Brooke. She finally found him a rice re-heater. He's been looking for one for years. He was pretty pumped about that. She also gave him a couple of sushi plates. Pretty awesome.

 Emiko enjoying her quilt.

Dru's (and my) new cycling shirt.

After everyone left I continued to make Kristin her gift while Dru wrapped presents. He spent a good hour wrapping this for Yuki. What a great Dad.

We did stockings and gifts and then Dru had a headache and went to bed.
I finished my sister in law's gift and went into bed with him.
I wished I helped with the wrapping of the gifts. It's always exciting and I'm a little sad I missed out. It's my own fault though, leaving things to the last minute.  Silly man.
With Masaru being sick we figured we'd get to sleep in. He's always the perpetrator when it comes to Christmas morning.

Snow and presents

 So in the interest of making gifts for a few friends, I started thinking about what would be cute and searching.
I wanted something that was easy to make but cute, then came up with wreaths.
So I made this one for my mate Cesha for her bday.

 I made this one for my homie Jobecka out of her yarn she gave me. She was secretly hoping for a pillow, but I haven't even finished the one I'm making for myself, so she had no shot.

 I made this one for my mate Natalie. She gets double since it's Christmas and her bday all in a matter of days.

And this last one is for my home girl Kristin, who's family I had this year for Christmas, in the Nakaya exchange.
I love all of them and am glad I found something cute and fun.
Now I wanna make one for myself, but ask me if I'm motivated?

 Natalie gave me this sweet necklace.
I have it on right now.
So perfect right?

Jobecka made me these sweet earrings made from a bike chain. The only reason I don't have them on right now is one of the kids pulled it out of my ear so I put them away.
I mean how awesome are these?
I have some good mates who know my loves, mtb and jewelry.

 It's been snowing a little in Boise and so the kids have been taking advantage of their snow gears and their awesome back yard and having a blast out there.
They took the camera to take some pic's of their snowman.
Here he is.

 Here he is a little closer.

 And this one looks like he could be taking a selfie.

 Cute kids.

He's pretty small but he's enough to make them proud.
I like the snow and now our backyard is the size of a park, they can gather up enough to have some real fun.
They continued to play into the night and also made a fort. Pretty fun.