2007 Christmas

This year is Ellie's 2nd and Julia's first Christmas. On Christmas eve night, we got milk and cookie ready for Santa. The Christmas morning, we all got together under the tree and opened the presents! It was a chaos, but girls had a lot of fun.

今年はエリは2回目、ジュリアははじめてのクリスマス。イヴの夜にサンタさん用にちゃーんとミルクとクッキーをダイニングテーブルに置いて、みんなで寝ました。そしてクリスマスの朝！ツリーにいくとちゃーんとサンタさんからのプレゼントがありました！

Ellie is quite happy with her "Alphabet Pal"
エリは、アルファベットフレンド。
Julia received a bouncy Tigger! (Many thanks to antie Nicole!!) However, Juila seemed to be interested in wrapping paper and boxes more. ジュリアはティガーです。が、ジュリアは、ラッピングペーパーや箱での遊びに夢中になっておりました。
By the way, Daddy got Wii Supermario Galaxy and he is quite happy about it.

Merry Christmas!

Ellie and Julia and Miffy

Ellie and Julia love Miffy. They play with them all the time!

エリとジュリアはミッフィーが大好き。

Ellie likes eye drop??

Ellie does not like eye drops at all. But strange thing happened today and she wanted to have eye drop before she went to bed. I'm still not sure what that meant...

Ellie's Palette Christmas Presentation

Ellie had a wonderful Christmas presentation at Palette. She was an elf and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Japanese in front of all the moms and dads.
エリのパレットクリスマス発表会でした。小人さんにばけてキラキラ星を元気に歌いました。

At the end, Santa came to give presents to all the children. Well, this Santa awfuly looks like someone we all know. Must be his bowl full of jelly.
最後にサンタさんが登場。このサンタさん、誰かにすっごく似てるけど…。

Ellie pooped in a potty again!

This morning, right in the busy time of the day and we were about to leave, Ellie decided to tell Mom and Dad that she wanted to poop. We hurried and took her to the potty and guess what!? SHE DID POOP IN THE POTTY! Daddy and Mommy were soooo proud of Ellie!

beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got our Christmas decoration up! The sad thing about our Christmas tree is that we have all our ornaments on Ellie and Julia's unreachable zone, which is upper portion of the tree. It was very sad to see the bear tree bottom.

今年のクリスマスデコレーションは、結構早めに飾りました。しかーし・・・エリとジュリアがイタズラしてしまうので、オーナメントがツリーの下部に飾れないのです。かなしひ・・・。

Julia joined in our family this year and we didn't haver her stocking ready. So, she's got a little tiny one for this year. We'll have a decent one for her next year.
ジュリアは今年誕生したので、クリスマスストッキングがまだありません。（おまけに今年は家族で12月は風邪のためダウンで、用意ができなかったのよ。）だから、ジュリアのはとりあえず小さい雪ダルマです。来年はみんなと同じサイズのものを飾りますので、待っててね♪

Phil & Ted e3

This stroller has been serving us REALLY good. As you see, it can take 2 kids and works PERFECT! We're really happy about this stroller.
http://www.mako.com.au/html/phil___teds.html

このベビーカーは、とても便利に使っております。ニュージーランド、Phil & Teds社のe3というモデルなのですが、とっても便利です。なんといっても二人乗りオプションでしょう。写真での二人乗り以外にも、新生児対応で、下をフラットにした二人乗りオプションもあるのです！！

タイヤが大きいので運転しやすさも◎！こどもが２人いるママさんに超おすすめアイテムです。ジュリアが生まれたときに購入したのですが、買ってよかった～！あまりに素敵すぎて、バッグやレインカバー等付属品も購入しております。

横幅がちょっと広いので、電車移動の際はご注意です。

Ward Christmas Party

2nd Ward Christmas party theme was "Nativity" and we dressed up like nativity scene. Ellie was a shepherd. Julia was an angel (only if you notice little wing on Julia's back).
教会のクリスマスパーティーです。今回はイエス・キリストの誕生時の服装だったので、エリは羊飼い、ジュリアは天使になりました（一応じゅじゅの背中には羽が・・・）。
Kana-chan and Shuhei-kun came and we had so much fun!
かなちゃんと修平くん達が遊びにきてくれました。
Ellie is scared of Santa for some reason. She would not get any close to him at all...
エリはサンタが怖いのです・・・。
Julia was unlike Ellie and had fun on Santa's lap.
じゅりあはえりとちがって怖くないようで、サンタさんのおひざに。

Ellie can peepee in the potty.

Ellie can now pee in the potty successfully most of the times. But she still has a little issue when it comes to poopoo. Once in a while she can poop successfully in the potty, but she needs a little more practice...
Pictures definitely not available.

Baby Cereal

離乳食のお役立ちアイテムのひとつが、これ。ベビーシリアルです。お湯でまぜるだけで、あっという間に離乳食ができてしまう。これだけでは味が単調なので、すりおろしにんじんやほうれん草を混ぜたりしてあげてます。里帰りでアメリカに行くと、まとめ買いしてくるのがこれです。

Plane ride back to Tokyo

Ellie on the plane ride. She was a little tired and decided to take over Julia's vaccinate to sleep.

帰りの飛行機です。エリちゃん、お疲れです。

Family Photo

Since we all got together for Thanksgiving, we decided to take a family picture.
感謝祭に家族みんな集まったので、写真をとることにしました。
Ellie and Julia do not know how to smile...

At the farm

We were at Thanksgiving Point and went to the farm.
みんなで、Thanksgiving Pointのファームに行きました。

Ellie was too scared of animals. She only liked to watch bunnys but from the distance (as you can tell from the picture...)
エリは、動物が「こわーい。」のです。近寄ろうともせず、ウサギだけは自分から見たいといったものの、3メートルは確実に離れて見ておりました。

Trip to Logan

We went to Logan for Thanksgiving. Everyone got togetgher. This time, Baba came along with us. We had a wonderful time together.
感謝祭にアメリカに帰りました。マイケルの兄弟みーんな集まりました。ばぁばも今回は一緒に来ました。 We drove up to campus on the first day.
Baba: I'm freezing!
Mike: It's nice and cool.
初日にキャンパスをドライブしました。
ばぁば：超さぶぅ・・・。
マイク：あー、やっぱすずしくていいなぁ。

Baby Food Tip

I make my own baby food, like carrots, rice, squash (Kabocha), etc. Then, I store them in ice cube tray to freeze. Once it is frozen, you take it out and put them in a ziplock bag. This way, I can store them in a cube and defros as many as I need. This strategy has been working very well. I do this with everything now and it is very handy, especially when you don't have time.

This is just a tip for Moms!

離乳食の保存方法で、うちは一度にたくさん作って製氷トレーで凍らせます。そうすると、取り出すときには氷のサイズになり、Ziplockバッグに入れて冷凍室に入れておくと場所もとらずとーっても便利。さらに使うときには氷サイズだから、初期のベビーの量にぴったり。すっごく便利な方法です。
ジュリアは、おかゆをはじめ、ほうれん草、にんじん、かぼちゃ、サツマイモ、ジャガイモ等々を食べていましたが、最近はお魚やお肉も好きで、たらやささみのひき肉も食べてまーす。

I got a tooth!

Julia: Look everyone! I got a tooth!!
ジュリアに歯がはえました！

Ellie and Julia rolling around.

JuJu likes to get on top of Ellie. They like rolling around on the floor.
最近、ジュリアはエリの上に乗るのが好きです。2人で床をころがりまわってます。

Ellie can put jammies on by herself!

Ellie: I can put my own jammies by myself! It's a little tough to put through my feet, but I can do it!
The tough part is my bummy. I always need Daddy's help on this. But you know what!? I think I can do it this time!!

Ellie potty poopoo

Nov 5th, 2007 was the memorable day for Ellie. It was the day that she first pooped in a potty! Yeah!!
*photographs are not available.

Julia cruising

Our JuJu can stand up by herself (with the help of furniture). Her territory has expanded quite a bit. She gets up and look around. and trying to walk around.

じゅじゅが、つかまり立ちできるようになりました！

JuJu loves Miffy!

じゅじゅは、ミッフィーが大好き♪

Ohakamairi

We went to Ohakamairi with Jiji and Baba. We visited relatives and met anties. Ellie wanted to play at Fuji cemetary more, but had to rush to Antie Keiko's for lunch. At Antie Keiko's we always have to eat, eat and eat.

お墓参りにいきました。じぃじとばぁばも一緒です。いつものコースで、富士霊園経由三島です。おばさんたちにも会えました！富士霊園ではもっと遊びたかったんだけど、けいこおばさんのごはんが次だったので、あんまり遊べませんでした。

Halloween 2007

Halloween this year. Ellie and JuJu became pumpkin and monkey.
今年のハロウィンは、かぼちゃとサルでした。

On the 31st, they went Trick or Treating around our neighborhood. They got plenty of candies! (too much sugar...)

We had several Halloween events this year.

On Oct 20th, we had Halloween picnic at Yoyogi park. Ellie's friend, Kana-chan came! Ellie this time was a cat!

10月20日のハロウィーンピクニックには、エリのお友達のかなちゃんが一緒でした。このときのエリは、ねこです。

On, 27th was the Halloween party at the church. Ellie's friends, Rin-chan and Io-kun came!

27日の教会でのパーティーは、りんちゃんといおくんが来てくれました。

Ellie's treasure

When Ellie goes to the park to play, she HAS TO find and pick up her treasures (and these are always leaves, rocks, garbage, etc...) Then she stuffs all her treasure into her little pocket, and bring them home. So, Mommy sometimes washes her treasure with her clothes.
最近、公園でのエリの宝物探しが流行っているようです。宝物を見つけてはポケットにせっせと詰め込んで、持って帰ってきて見せびらかしております。

By the way, these are her treasures.
ちなみに、エリの宝物が、これ。

Ellie shares raisins with Abigail

We went to CostCo with the Riches. Ellie and Abigail eating raisins together.

Ellie loves? to share

Whenever Ellie plays with something, JuJu wants to join. Ellie is being a good big sister (often not) and shares.

えりとじゅじゅ、とりあえず（？）仲良し。

When Ellie does NOT want to share, she climbs up high so that JuJu cannot reach.

でも、独り占めしたいときは、じゅじゅが届かない高いところまでよじのぼります。

Palette Undokai

Today was Palette Undokai! Ellie ran with Sushi on her back. She also danced with Daddy. Daddy ran twice on the track. Our team was #2!! JuJu and Mommy cheered for Ellie and Daddy.

今日は、運動会！エリは寿司をしょって走りました。Daddyは、リレーでがんばりました。おかげで結果は2番！じゅじゅとMommyは、応援しました。

Julia being a bulldozer

JuJu crawls and moves around perfect now. She is almost ready to stand too. Stocker house has gates all over not only for Ellie but for JuJu too.

JuJu in the hospital

Poor JuJu was in the hospital for awhile. She had a seizure in the middle of the night and was admitted to the hospital right away. Her seizure was long and doctors were afraid of her brain damage. So, JuJu got her brain activities checked. Fortunately, there was no damage. She stayed there for 2 weeks and came home healthy!

Outing to Tokyo Amusement Machine Show

We got a free ticket to Tokyo Amusement Machine Show, so all of us went on the family day. Ellie was fascinated with the coin arcade game and sat there and played forever. Then, Mommy got her on the little children carousel, but she is so not sure if she liked it (as you can tell by her face.)

東京アミューズメントマシンショーのファミリーチケットをいただいたので、いってきました。愛理はコインのゲームにはまってました。あとで、メリーゴーランドにつれてったのに、当の本人はむっつり・・・。

Family lunch at J's GARDEN

We went to J's GARDEN for lunch. We really like this place because food is tasty and they are kids friendly. They even have a parking on the basement! They serve nice Italian.
J's GARDENにランチに行きました。このレストランは、ファミレスと一言で片付けるのはかなり失礼なほどお洒落な雰囲気で、おいしいイタリアンをいただくことができます。もちろん子供大歓迎で、駐車場も完備なので、ストウカー家御用達です。うちは車ですぐの池尻にいきますが、ほかにもお店はあるようです。
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g811632/

Ellie loves spaghetti. Noodle is hanging from her mouth (as you can see on the picture.) She sloops so quick so sometimes it whips her chin. Can you tell how fun it is to clean after she is done???

キッズメニューももちろんあるのですが、エリは大人のメニューのトマトソーススパゲッティーがお好き。キッズメニューそっちのけでDaddyのを半分ほどたいらげました。
And this is with Daddy!!
Daddyと一緒♪

JuJu tubby time

Ellie had too many picture of her bathing, so we figured we need JuJu's tubby picutre too. She likes bath and she is happy when Daddy washes her up. She does not like water in her face though.

Izu Summer Trip

Our family summer vacation was in Izu this year.

今年の夏は家族で伊豆に行きました。

We all had a blast time at the beach! JuJu first time on salty sea water. She didn't quite like it. She liked swimming pool better...

えりはDaddyと海です。じゅりあも初めての海。でも、塩辛いお水は嫌いで、プールのほうがよかったみたい。 Ellie and Julia are tired after playing and decided to nap at the beach.
泳いだ後は、お疲れで、ビーチでお昼寝。。We had Japanese dinner at Onsen Ryokan.
温泉旅館でお食事もいただきました。
On the way back home, we stopped at Baio Park to see the animals. Ellie fed carrots to the giraff.
帰りは バイオパークに寄りました。えりは、キリンににんじんをあげました。