Happy Happy Birthday!!!!

It was a great few days...full of friends, family and festivities! My birthday was on Thursday. We ran some errands in San Jose and then met Lori for dinner at the Pruneyard. We ate at Buca di Beppo...a fun Italian place that surprised me with a red, white and green birthday cake slices.



On Friday, we had a pre-4th of July get-together with the Fremont Group...The Nakashimas are in town from Seattle...so, it is always a good excuse to get together and "let" the guys play poker. It was a long day, and ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to Lori for coming early to help set-up and staying to help clean-up! You totally rock.


Actually, having 30+ people isn't that bad...this group really pitches in with the food, cooking and clean-up...unfortunately, my mother uses it as an excuse to have a large birthday cake...

It is so great to see the kids playing together...and they are all growing so quickly! Here are some pictures from the day...


Neil and Brent (from Seattle)

My friends Brian and Elizabeth with my Mom and Auntie Irene

Me and Mama Baba...I took the picture by stretching out my arm...hee hee
Mrs. Nomura, Jeff's Mom and Cathleen relaxing... Watch out GUYS!!! The Nomura and Matsubayashi girls are out!

Michelle and Betty...all smiles....

The first "baby" in the group...GOSH...Kaitlyn is starting Jr. High in the Fall...I can't believe it...seems like just yesterday she was this little baby bundled up like a football...

Today, we got up "early" and drove down to Salinas. My Dad needed some help, but, he was all done by the time we got to Salinas. One of my Dad's workers had to leave because his father died, so, Dad had to set up the irrigation pipes and etc with a new "kid". My poor brother Gary ended up helping earlier this week...something a Marketing guy from HP is not used to. I heard he had to take Advil that night...Jeff did help Dad put up some sheetrock in the tool house that he is building...and Mom and I bought fireworks to do later tonight.

This is the first year Salinas is allowing fireworks. The Buddhist Temple of Salinas has a booth, so, we bought it there...I'll have pictures of the fireworks in tomorrow's posts.

(I'll update this post when I get home...I can't get Mom's SD drive to work....oh well)

N-E-I-L

While Jordan has been in "school"....I told Neil that he can do a project....so, we went to Joann's (one of my favorite stores) and we picked up some letters, paint and other wood embellishments. Of course, Neil choose red paint....(I just noticed my new purse is on the table...why is it there? Hmmm...I better move it before he paints another coat!) Here is a closer look at his letters....N - E - I - L...Oh, I picked up some letters also...M - O - M and purple paint!

So....it's July...my birthday is coming up...and my friend Lori gave me this beautiful purse! It's actually handmade by a woman in Japan...her website is www.tagodesign.com. I haven't visited it yet, but I will...isn't it cute? My two favorite colors...purple and black (silk). I love the shape and it is fully lined!

Thank you, thank you Canada!!! Oh, and Happy Canada Day!

Notre hymne national
O Canada!Terre de nos aïeux,Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,Il sait porter la croix!Ton histoire est une épopéeDes plus brillants exploits.Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

(in English)

O Canada!Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons* command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land** glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

SCHOOL is back IN!

...or at least it is for Jordan. He started his two classes at Ohlone For Kids. His two classes are a Writer's Workshop and a Cartooning class. I think he had fun with both classes and he was did his Writer's homework without being prodded...too much. He had to write 10 random things on fortune cookie sized pieces of paper.

Here is a picture of Jordan leaving for his first day in "college". (Ohlone is the Community College in Fremont...but, the OFK classes that Jordan is taking is at Newark Memorial High School).

Jeff had a dinner "meeting" with the guys tonight...so, the boys and I made English Muffin pizzas. As usually, they had to be difficult, I mean different...Jordan wanted sausage and ham, Neil wanted ham and pineapple....so, I had all three! Sausage, Ham and Pineapple!

In August we are going to Universal Studios. I have never been there...our family always went to Disneyland...but, AAA has a great deal...Buy 1 day @ $57 and get the 2nd day free. Not too shabby...especially after Jeff found that Universal Studios sells a "All You Can Eat" pass....I think they will lose money on Jordan!

Happy Birthday to you (Megan and Rachel)

Today was Megan and Rachel (Jeff's nieces) combined birthday party! It was at Pump It Up in Pleasanton. It was VERY hot over there...unfortunately, I couldn't make it due to duties at church. It was hot there...but, it was a hot kitchen!

Here is Megan and Rachel in their crowns....Jordan and Neil were the biggest kids there. Jordan said he kept tripping over the little kids.
Don't you just love the brotherly love here? Jordan probably just pounded Neil...but, hey, that's what little brothers are for, right?

Here are the seniors...don't they look exhausted from jumping on the equipment?

After the party, Jeff dropped the boys off at the Main Library. At last week's Craft Fair, Jordan bought a book called "The Tao of Yao" by Oliver Chin. He used to work at Shonen Jump. Anyways, he was giving a workshop on writing your own anime. I swear, Jordan wrote a lot during the workshop...and Neil had a very good story. They are going to work on it some more...I'll scan in some pictures and will post it.

Lazy days of summer

Okay, okay...no excuses...but, I have been very lazy about my Blog....it seems like I had more time when the boys were in school....hopefully, I can get back into the groove....

I have been back in my sewing groove. Remember I went shopping with my Mom in Salinas? This is the purse made from the pattern and material...Opps, I should have taken a picture of the lining inside. This can either be a clutch or I can attach a strap. I don't like the way the pattern calls for the strap to be attached, (tacked onto the outside sides...), so, I need to play with it a little.
I did add another Swarovski rivoli button onto this purse. I changed the pattern of the button a little and added little points. Joanie at the Bead Asylum said that it turned out great! She even commented that my purses don't look homemade...hee hee...I love her...here is a close up of the button. I love the way the button fits into the flower on the print...I would like to say that I planned it that way...but, I was just lucky!
Just to ensure that I can still buy craft items, (Jeff said he won't complain as long as I use whatever I buy....) On the two tags below, I made little flowers using the punches I bought at the JCCCNC Craft Show in SF. I didn't realize that I had to bend the petals etc....and I had to use my Tacky Glue...which isn't a problem until I can't find the cap to close it....sigh! I did find it...on the other side of the room! (The tags are for Megan and Rachel's birthday party...they have a joint party at Pump It Up in P-town tomorrow...I'll be at church making an for the Bazaar...Jeff will have to solo...)

Jeff's new toy

Hee hee...okay, that didn't go so well...I was surfing on Jeff's new iTouch...and I thought I could update my blog...no go....

So, after years and years of having that Callaway American Express...what do we have? Yup, an iTouch....oh, I think Jeff got my golf bag through them also...anyhoots...it was a total nightmare...

We needed 500 more points to get $250 worth of American Express gift cards...which I used to buy a refurbed 16GB. We have had really good luck with the refurbs...and when my brother Gary had problems they not only replaced his iPod...they upgraded him...so....hey, why not!

Well...did you know that you can only use two credit cards on the Apple site? (Amex Gift cards are treated like credit cards). I had three cards (2-$100 and 1- $50), plus I had to use my credit card. So, I ended up buying a $200 Apple gift card and then using the $50 for something else later...But, typical of me lately, I made the mistake and bought a $150 gift card...I cancelled the order, but then had to wait a week for the cancellation to re-credit my gift cards...and then purchase the $200 gift cards. Why didn't I stick with the $150? Because I wasn't thinking...

Sigh....that's my life....oh, and I went to Target the day after the boys got out of school (Thursday), they already have their back to school supplies out! Then I remembered that Staples had their supplies out when I was running my last "the boys are in school" errands...sigh...Hallmark Christmas ornaments are coming out July 11-12...I got my flyer...and there is another Disney Precious Moment ornament.

Craft Fair and Island Jam

Today, Lori came over EARLY in the morning...and we had a nice breakfast in the backyard...then it was off to SF for the Craft Fair and Island Jam! It was a pleasant surprise to bump into Great-Aunties (Great-great for Jordan and Neil) Sets and Marian. We had a nice lunch at Tampopo (not the same restaurant as the movie, but, it was very good ramen)

Here is Lori, Jeff, Jordan and Neil. Jordan said that he will be taller than Auntie Lori within a year. Which might be true with the way he has been eating....oh, BTW: Jordan ordered Kara-Miso Ramen ...VERY SPICY...he had 5 glasses of water! But, he liked it...but, then again, he likes any type of noodles!)

Here is a picture of some of my "loot". I also did some birthday/Christmas shopping so, I left those items out of the picture. Oh, and the boys bought some stuff...but, they already put it in their rooms, so, I didn't want them to bring it out....with fear that it will be out until September!

Yes, I bought a lot of paper punches, but see the book on the left? It shows how to make a wide assortment of flowers with the punches! Lori and I are going to see if we can expand our expertise. Hmmm...if we make 3D cards, how do we mail them??? The item on the left is a little tealight holder...isn't it cute???

Jeff even did some shopping. He bought the below pictures for our bedroom. The first one is Hanauma Bay and the bottom one is Diamond Head....Michele Yamaguma who makes these "picture boxes" lives in Redwood Shores. We are on her mailing list for her Open Studio which will be sometime in November.
Oh, and I did good!!! No purses...although I was tempted a few times.....ONE more year to go!