2012 Year in Review - September and October

As the summer came to a close, September and October was an absolute flurry.  Weddings, ballet, Halloween and the biggest change of all, The Move.

It kicked off with a little chess in the park...

...and collaboration as to the next move with the Pup

Elsie stopped by to swap boochu/binky stories, among other things:

Once the initial fanfare died down, on to the big stuff, which means wedding season baby! Uncle Vishal got married to the lovely (the now) Aunti Anjali (technically Anjali Mami) and our little hero was asked to be a flower girl, which required that she don her best Indian garb and make her first stroll down the isle (and thankfully, not as the star of the show).

First, a pit stop at the famed Chicago Millennium Ball with Deven the Dude and Uncle Ve:

And a short nap afterwards

So as to ensure that everything didn't go too smoothly, a short pitstop to the emergency room was in order due to some breathing troubles.  Nothing like a little nebulizer to open up them lungs...Smile for the camera!

But got back just in time to dress up and get down to business:

Flower girl!

Down the isle...

On to the wedding and...

...back to Cleveland (momma was passed out and refused to be photographed)

A little holiday season action:

And a new interest - ballet!

Some quality time with members of the old gang:

And on to the big news:  Moving out!

Exhausted after moving everything out

In the end, it was Goodbye Cleveland.  Thanks for the memories!

2012 Year in Review - July and August Edition

So the blog has incurred a fair amount of criticism for the lack of any updates since June 2012, during which time both the little lady and the pup had birthdays, went to an awesome wedding, traveled to Niagara Falls, moved to NC, enjoyed Thanksgiving and now are in the midst of end of year celebrations.  Ok, ok...criticism warranted - in a word: laziness.  These beautiful Carolina blue skies make sitting in front of the La Computadora hardly ideal. That said, the public at-large demands updates, so this out to catch you up on the happenings of July and August:

Sachi Turns 2!  
In celebration of Sachi turning 2, the entire country took the day off and set off thousands (if not millions) of dollars in fireworks.  What did the Ozas do?  Picnic in the park.  

Start with a good-looking (non-dairy) cake...

..., which is quickly destroyed.

And a party was had at Beachwood park:

Days later, Sophi Bofi from NC came to visit.  Where else is there to go?  Indians game!  

In August, the Sachi followed her Indian roots by making the obligatory trip to America's Northeast crown jewel, Niagara Falls. For those that haven't been lately, it seems that every 3rd person in Niagara Falls, NY is of Indian descent.  

Maid of the Mist!  

August was also prime time for playtime with members of the east side crew (co-starring: Elsie, Cecilia, Max and Jack):

...as well as a nasty looking caterpillar (yeah, its real!)

To Japan We Go!

After 1 and 1/2 years, it was time to take the little lady back to Japan.  This trip was for the ladies only, so Paipi and Poppa held down fort in Ohio, while Momma and Sachi headed overseas to see Ji-chan (Grandpapi Takemoto) and Baa-chan (Grandma Takemoto).


Hanging with Ji-chan and food!

One of the adventures that Sachi got to experience is the famed Nagasaki "Bio-Park", where wild animals apparently run around and can just walk right up to you.  Here's a glimpse:

Alpaca

A parrot with a nasty disposition

Crazy looking flamingos attacked Sachi for some food.  Best to keep a safe distance.

Petting a lizard

and harassing an exhausted kangaroo-like animal (Aki insists its not a kangaroo, so it must be some unknown, yet undiscovered species)

With Paipi relegated to the kitchen while Poppa Oza was at work, Sachi found a new play partner: her cousin Yuki (aka: Yu-kun)!  

Strawberry picking at Ji-chan's buddy's farm. Check out the front of Sachi's shirt, which is a dead giveaway that our little girl was tasting the produce before making any purchases.  

What a haul!

Ji-chan's buddy is apparently stoked b/c he just made a killing in selling strawberries to a 1 year old

Nothing says a good meal like a wife-beater and sashimi with Ji-chan sushi...

...but a meal with Baa-chan requires more elegance (and clothing)

Good eating at Takako-chan's (Aki's old time friend) restaurant, Anyo (http://anyo.otemo-yan.net/).  Everyone goes home happy!

Hanging at the barbershop with Ji-chan and Yu-kun

Goodbye hugs before leaving

And before leaving, making sure she's got the correct directions to the airport

On the way home...