Visitor Sandwich: Top Crust

Our Visitor Sandwich was topped off with another stop from Jii and Baachan on their way back from Utah. While they were here for this round, we made a play date with Annabel and her mom at the Centerra Kid's Day. This is an event with lots of free activities for children and lots of long lines.

Hee-hwa and Baachan stood in the balloon line while Ramona and Annabel ran around in the splash fountain.

 Mika wasn't too eager to get wet but was happy to get a slightly elevated view from my arms.

We tried to protect Baachan from the Colorado sun with an umbrella--it was a hot day to be outside!

 Finally, balloons were received into anxious hands . . .

 

 . . . and it was time to line up for something else. Thankfully, there was more entertainment to help with this wait.

The payoff for this wait: customized arm/face paint. Hope it was worth it for the girls (not sure it was for the grown-ups).

 

By the time paint was applied, it was well past lunchtime. We all went to get some noodles to complete our summer play date.

A couple of days later was Independence Day, so we got to keep Daddy home from work. We went to Spring Canyon Park to picnic, let the girls splash in the fountains, and climb on the playground.

 

 

 

Afterward, Jii and Baachan treated us to some frozen yogurt to help us cool down. Too bad Mika slept through this stop!

 Ramona, on the other hand, was completely alert and brimming with anticipation.

She seemed pleased with her concoction: raspberry lemonade and coconut yogurt, with Reeses Pieces on the side.

That afternoon we got a surprise visit from my cousin Janette and her daughter Josie, who were in town for a softball tournament. Thank you thank you for making time to come and see us!

Evening plans: frozen fruit bars and fireworks at Windsor Lake.

 

 

 

 

 We did some dancing and played with glow bracelets/sticks until it was time for the show to start.

 

It was the first time Ramona or Mika had ever seen live fireworks--they were NOT disappointed. Ramona enthusiastically admired each display and Mika kept saying "'gen, 'gen!" (again, again!) or "petty!" (pretty!).

We saw the opposite coastline ablaze immediately after the show ended, and heard the fire trucks wailing as they rushed over to put out misdirected flames. Good 'ole Colorado does have the tendency to catch on fire . . . 

The next morning I took Ramona to get 10 inches chopped off of her hair. I've never done much more than trim it her entire existence, so her locks easily covered the entire length of her back. Lovely as it was, she had more than enough to spare, in my opinion, so it was time to donate.

Ramona was happy to do so, and didn't seem to miss her long hair at all. Whenever someone asked how she liked her new haircut, she simply said it was easier for Mommy to brush. (I wonder where she heard that idea).

 Some origami time was had later in the day with Baachan . . .

 . . . and more wildlife was rescued from our window well with Jii's help. This time, two little toads. (We really need to get those window well covers).

It may not have felt like much of a rescue to the animals, being chased by Ramona and Mika in the backyard upon their release.

Saturday morning I went on the first hike I had been on in a long time--so many hiking opportunities have slipped by this summer as I've battled with morning sickness.

Forest accommodated my out-of-shape state and we chose a relatively easy hike up Coyote Ridge. It was nice to get up and be able to leave while the girls were sleeping.

On our way down we saw this little creature--perched like a moth but antennae like a butterfly. Couldn't tell which one it was. Pretty, though.

 After dinner Jii and Baachan provided some chocolate-covered coconut bars as a treat.

Ramona had to correctly identify some hiragana characters to earn hers--she successfully passed the test.

Thanks Jii and Baachan, for playing with the girls, teaching them Japanese, and topping off our Visitor Sandwich 2013!

Visitor Sandwich: BLT (Be-Loved Travelers)

After my parents left for a week to visit my grandmother in Utah, we got more visitors: Paca, Crissy, Aubrey, and Connor taking a pit stop on their way to Illinois.

Soon after they arrived, we found a baby bunny trapped in the window well. The girl cousins all watched excitedly as it was set free in the backyard.

 The girls all love Connor.

Some excess energy was expended at the neighborhood park. The girls set up a food (wood chip) stand and drew Paca in as a customer.

 

 We tried to wind down the evening by spreading out on the floor for stories and TV shows.

 

And so we piled our beloved travelers into our Visitor Sandwich--mmm, mmm, yum.

Visitor Sandwich: Base Crust

We've received a welcome onslaught of visitors these past few weeks--we got Jii and Baachan for a week in June, then Crissy & Crew, then Jii and Baachan again for another week in July. It was like a visitor sandwich with Crissy in the middle.

My parents started us out with the base crust. With them they brought lots of Japanese toys and paper for origami.

 

 

Although I was still feeling queasy that week, we managed to make it out of the house a few times in an attempt to wear out the girls.

 

 

 

Of course, wearing out the girls by default means wearing ourselves out, too.

Our kitchen hosted more food prep than it had seen in quite a while--homemade gyoza was one item on the menu.

 

 Our backyard also got some good use, with Jii's help.

 

Toward the end of the week, we planned a picnic with our friends, the Hong family. We met them for the first time at a park last summer when my parents were visiting. Ramona and Baachan made onigiri to take and share.

 

 

 Ramona, Mika, and Annabel had a blast running around the playground that evening.

The next day we drove to Denver for an adventure at the temple. Jii and Baachan watched the girls for me and Forest so we could attend a session together.

 

Afterward, we had lunch and bought groceries at H-Mart, an enormous Korean supermarket in Aurora.

It was so helpful having my parents here as I was emerging from the worst of morning sickness. Multiple neglected moving boxes were unearthed, unpacked, and flattened. Attention-deprived grandchildren were finally paid sufficient heed and basked in uninterrupted playtime. A drowsy pregnant lady often curled up on the couch for afternoon naps. It was a great start to the building of Visitor Sandwich 2013.