News from SF and Tokyo

Baby Sunn at Daddy's exhibit in San Francisco, with CL and Liz.
Wish we could've been there too.

Les with Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, in Tokyo.

Undoubtedly a good speech, Les.

Penelope, the sleeping beauty

What?!!

A day in Palama

Our last singing lesson at this building today.   We will miss coming here!

And talking to Honey.

And MiuMiu.

            This morning I was in Palama and here I am again at night.

Higashi Honganji Bon Dance.
Denise and Sharon.  We missed Janie.

Lacey and Sharon were at the taiko and Kathy sang, although they did get in a lot of dancing too.

Neon green ladies

What makes us choose certain colors to wear?  Melinda said "photo moment" for those who decided this morning was a neon green day. 

Not a blue or pink in the bunch!

Kamaaina Coffee's cheese croissant sandwich.  (I thought I would restrain from rich food, but it's more fun to go the Zumba way)

Wide eyed cuties

Sunn!!

Penny!!

Penny meets the family. Panya and Gazen

Exciting morning for Penny who got to meet her relatives at Panya for breakfast.
Aunty Daren, who gave her turkey bacon to take home.

Niki.  Thank you for the Kong toy which she hunts down and chews on whenever she can.

Sunn, who Penny loved because she didn't screech or squirm or grab.  Just smiled and waved.  And  mom Erica.

Sunn's gpa Les.

Her dad Jesse and Mom Erica enjoying breakfast.

In the evening,

Penny got dropped off at Aloha Dog and Liz, CL, R and I went to Gazen where we especially enjoyed the ume chazuke!

Hi Aunty Liz.  Missed CL this time, but they'll be back again soon, I hope.

House Without a Key breakfast ladies

House Without a Key breakfast.

Gma and Liz at the buffet

Today is gma's birthday.

Familiar but always beautiful ocean.

                 

Colorful assortment from the buffet

Orchids reunion (gma's birthday and a welome to baby Sunn);Toni's lamps

Catching up while waiting for everyone to show up.
Nina, the teen in our family, is not only smart, but talented in music and sports (like soccer and kick boxing).

And here's Sunn, at 8 months,  the youngest.
She captivated us all.

Les, who just arrived from Tokyo a couple of hours ago, gave a greeting in his usual humorous style.

Jesse and Erica.  Thanks for bringing Sunn to us.

It seems like just a few years ago that Niki brought Nina to us in her arms also.

Grandma, 97, was overjoyed to have her family here today.
Of course, we missed R and M who send their love.

After bringing Gma home,  we went to find new lampshades for her.  Toni's is fun and different from the usual stores.

Interior is mysterious and
so packed it's hard to
walk.

Outside is quaint, too.

It was so hot, we stopped in for something cold at Tokoname.

These cookies from Ginza Enfant, which we received from A san, are beautiful!  Typical of Japanese sweets, the motifs are seasonal.

The box and wrapping of these peach sweets from Minamoto Kitchoan in Ginza, are so lovely.

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin

At Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, a very good place for Japanese style katsu pork.  Another must stop place for us.
R being advised on iPhone usage by CL.

The hand cut cabbage is all you can eat.  Grind your sesame seeds, help yourself to mustard and sauce, and enjoy the tender Fillet Katsu.

Before the crowd.

House Without a Key

It's a tradition for us to have dinner at House Without a Key whenever family come in from  the mainland.  It sets the Hawaiian atmosphere with the relaxing music and views.
Tuesday and Thursday are outdoor grill days.

Our usual order is the hamburger, which comes from the grill.

The younger members of the family are off enjoying their own version of a Hawaiian holiday, while we catch up with what's going on in California and Hawaii.

The lovely music and hula provide a soothing background.