Papa says "don't run"

I have been telling both the girls as of late not to run in the house. Way too small for that and way too many hard surfaces to smack into.

The other night, while reading a book and getting them ready for bed, Sam decides to discuss the topic yet again.

And she also decides to see if Miki's nose really is firmly attached to her face...

Dinner on a balmy night...

As E was getting an awesome udon noodle dinner together one night, I sat on the back deck with the 2 monkeys taking photos of their silly antics. We are in the middle of the rainy season here and although it's not actually that hot, believe me, because of the humidity it feels like a sauna. When it rains it feels like warm soup is dripping from the clouds. Anyway...

The dinner, in case you are wondering: udon noodles, Scotch egg and tempura-fried eggplant and prawn. A bit of a mish-mash, yes, but oh so tasty.

Ice Cream & Paper Airplanes

One afternoon last week, after Ericka & Sam picked Miki up from school, they spent a few hours at a nearby park.

A paper airplane enthusiast (not sure how else to describe him) gave Miki one of his airplanes and she entertained herself trying to fly the rubberband-powered contraption.

Apparently the girls also had ice cream.

Pancake Sam

Last weekend Ericka and Sam made us all pancakes for Father's Day.

Thank you, they were delicious!

Sam in Boots

Back in B.C., when Miki was almost 2, she received her first pair of rain boots. There are some photos of the occasion on this blog under the Archive section. Anyway, she posed for the camera clad only in her rain boots and a diaper.

Oddly enough, Sam just got her first pair of rain-season boots last weekend and repeated the same textile ensemble as her older sister.

What is it with toddlers, diapers and gum boots?

Jibiki ami

The literal translation is something like "pulling the net by yourself", but that really doesn't help much does it?

Every year around this time a unique event is held on the beaches of Enoshima and certain departments at my school get involved. Last year we were invited to this event as well. One of the main sponsors is the construction/architectural firm responsible for the buildings on my campus. Let me try to explain in a few sentences:

Starting around 6 or 7am a group of "for-hire" net-fisherman motor away from the beach in a large boat for a couple hundred yards and drop a massive net overboard. The net strings are anchored to the beach via a rusty, make-shift, gas-powered pulley. Once the fisherman have returned they begin to very slowly wind the net in, inches at a time, pausing every now and again to snare more fish. Around 8am another group arrives and proceeds to set up large tarps and a beach-front kitchen/BBQ. By 9:30 food is being cooked, folks start arriving and beer is being consumed. Parents eat (and drink), kids run around and frolic in the waves and this pattern continues until about 1pm: the main event.

The mechanical winch is shut down and everyone is called down to the water's edge to help haul in the day's catch. Basically a game of tug-a-war with the net, fish & ocean. When the "belly" of the net is finally dragged onto the beach everyone gathers around to see what the ocean has provided. Last year the highlight was a small shark (eventually released). This year, in addition to hundreds of small & medium-sized sardines and mackerel, were 2 squids, a long salt water eel and 2 poisonous blowfish. Not released.

Guests of course are allowed to take home whatever they wish but we didn't bother. No time to clean them and honestly, I don't want to carry a smelly bag full of cold, dead fish home on the train with me.

Anyway, last year it was too hot (in my opinion) and this year it was too cold. Threatening rain all day but lucky for us nothing until we started to pack up and make our way to the train station.

It was great fun, Miki and Sam loved it. Looking forward to next year.

Sun-Block Sam

Next weekend we are going to the ocean for a company-sponsored BBQ on the beach. In preparation we thought we'd make sure that Sam's sun-blocking beach wear fits.