Domo Arigatou

During all the transitions that happened between finishing out the school year and bringing a baby home from the hospital, Jii and Baachan were there helping out. For three weeks they stayed with us, doing household chores, providing childcare, and allowing me to get some much-needed rest.

They read the girls lots of books and took over preschool drop-off and pick-up . . .

. . . they taught the girls Japanese and brought over plenty of activities and gifts to keep them occupied (and accessorized) . . . 

They watched Ramona, Mika, and Paula for an entire day while Forest and I were at the hospital, and evened out the adult-to-child ratio in our home at a very crucial time.

 

Baachan put scrupulous effort into food prep and meals after Wylie was born . . .

 

. . . while Jii let Paula boss him around as they played with baby dolls and toy doctor kits (he was a very patient patient).

 

Both Jii and Baachan took the girls to the park multiple times. . .

. . . and prepared a special graduation ceremony marking the end of the girls' Japanese lessons with them.

 

Ramona composed some acrostic poems about both Jii and Baachan: 

Baachan--black hair, always hates the Sun, chatty, hates not realistic, on time, new grandson

Jii--generous, intelligent, (not) imagining

For a couple of days after they left, Paula kept asking: "Where's Jii and Baachan?" It took a while for her to understand that they were not living with us anymore.

We are so grateful to them for all of their support. Domo arigatou, Jii and Baachan!