Signs

I am starting a series where I will post interesting/comical SIGNS around Japan

SNACK LEMON as in "Jack Lemon" our family's favorite actor?

Self-explanatory as long as you know what a DORINK is

I've posted this one before, but it is a classic, CRAM CHOWDER

I wonder what ocean "crams" come from?

Oh yes, those PRECIOUS COFFEE MOMENTS....

makes me think of the Precious Moments statue collection

This one kills me, CINNAMON TOAST HOTDOG

Funny thing, the owner saw me taking a picture of this sign and it has not been out since!

And my personal favorite, DEEP FLIED

not sure what they are deep frying, but apparently it has wings!

Fleas from the Flea Market

I went to the Setagaya Flea Market for a Relief Society outing.  I hung out mostly with Vanalee Carruth (she reminds me of one of my favorite persons, Mary Lou Chavez).  We had a blast chatting and shopping.  I found a couple items that were a steal.  An antique kokeshi doll and an antique handweaved basket plus some cool glass fishing weights I planned to display in the basket.

Problem was, as I was putting the weights into the basket, these WIERD BUGS, like "silver fish" came crawling out everywhere... YUCK!!!  I smashed as many as I could find and then stuck the basket in the sink to wash it out.  Did I throw it away?  Oh no, I love it too much.  It now sits proudly on my shelf.

BUSTED

After cleaning our bathroom mirror I found these words written on our mirror:

I love M.A.D

"Who's initials are M.A.D and why are they ruining my nice clean mirror???!!!"

I asked Shailey.

"I have no clue".

Hmpf.  I was still suspicious.

Later that night, Emma overheard me quizzing Shailey again and she confessed,

"Oh, I wrote that.  M.A.D are for MOM AND DAD".

Oh dear.  How sweet is she?  And don't I feel sheepish. 

She went back to my mirror and added some details to her graffiti:

Thank you Emma, we love you too!

Pack Your Bags

Here we are 14 hours and 13 suitcases later,

the OSTLUND WAGON TRAIN back in Japan

Today You are Six

Happy Birthday!

When I was One,

I had just begun.

When I was Two,

I was nearly new.

When I was Three

I was hardly me.

When I was Four,

I was not much more.

When I was Five,

I was just alive.

But now I am Six,

I'm as clever as clever,

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

 

-A.A. Milne

 

6 Reasons We Love Jonas

1.  He is a real SUPER HERO with real POWERS

2.  He is completely KIND, never malicious

3.  He is a fantastic and fast CLEANER

4.  He is READING like a pro

5.  He is IMAGINATIVE and CREATIVE

6.  He is a good FRIEND and knows how to have FUN

Our annual picture of us sitting on the FLOOR WHERE HE WAS BORN

(were we really here six years ago?)

We LOVE Jonas!

 

Shailey Turns 13

Thirteen Reasons We Love Shailey

1.  She is very FUN

2.  She has a great LAUGH and sense of humor

3.  She has a fabulous VOICE and rocks her school band

4.  She is a great FRIEND and she is learning to choose better friends

5.  She TALKS to us about everything... everything

6.  She THINKS about deep things

7.  She is INTELLIGENT

8.  She is a fantastic BASKETBALL PLAYER

9.  She is a LOST fan

10. She is BEAUTIFUL inside and out (I want her waist and her skin! :)

11. She is SPIRITUAL and talks to Heavenly Father in prayer

and writes in her journal weekly

12.  She WORKS HARD in school

13.  She is a super EXAMPLE to her sister and brother

We love SHAILEY!

New Years in Bloomington

What did we do once we got to Bloomington? 

This picture says is all...

Even Felix was RELAXED

Our family came to visit us from Kansas, Missie, Greg, and their boys

We had a date night for Sushi... yum!

Jonas loves having "boy cousin time"

I love this photo... can you tell we are related?

Missie is Glenn's sister and I think Emma has a lot of "Ostlund" in her

It was very cold, but no snow,

so we had to come up wtih creative outings, like BOWLING

Jonas and Brody are only about a month apart in age.

Mr. Tate had his 4 year old BIRTHDAY with us... so darling!

He loved to SING the Beatles, "Baby You Can Drive My Car"

Missie gave the girls HAIRCUTS

Jim and Lindsay (Glenn's step sister and husband)

came for a short VISIT

And, just as we were packing up to leave,

we finally got SNOW!!

Only one day to play in it, but the kids were so HAPPY

We love Bloomington :)

Favorite Christmas Moments 2009

The Traveling Ostlunds...ha ha

Making GINGER BREAD HOUSES

Mom Loosing it over her caved-in gingerbread house

Aunt Maureen's yummy CHEESECAKE

Mom bought her girls PAJAMAS

The kids performed the CHRISTMAS NATIVITY

LETTERS to SANTA

Cool Christmas gifts like SUPERHERO LEGOS... Jonas was in heaven!

TWLIGHT CAST in Shailey's stocking rocked

Emma got a VINTAGE TYPEWRITER per her request

Grammie got an OBAMA BAG per NOT her request

Grammie bought all of the granddaughters an AMERICAN GIRL DOLL... wow!

I compiled my Grandma's LIFE HISTORY BOOK that made everyone teary

Cousin SLUMBER PARTY

Dad and I connected with pieces from his GRANDFATHER's PAST

We relaxed and played...

it was a fabulous Christmas.