Welcoming 2010 Japanese Style

This year we did something we've never done before for New Years!

We made sushi and tempura.

It felt like the good old days when I was growing up and getting together on "the farm" with Grandma and Grandpa Shimbashi, my Aunts, Uncles and cousins AND eating a lot of food. I remember being young and feeling so good when I got a shrimp with eggs! We even played Bingo, but there weren't any prizes...

Nicole rolled her first roll of sushi.

It turned out looking great!

Apparently I haven't exposed Blade to rice bags before...
He started eating it from the bottom and was in a dilemma as to how to eat it with rice falling out from both ends.

I'll admit it, I also had a couple of sushi making kits and the kids tried them out.

Triangular sushi look impressive also.

Blade attempted making a mini roll.

AND Dave was home for New Year's Eve (instead of at work) and we were awake to welcome in the New Year (minus Blade who fell asleep shortly before)! We had our Sparkling apple cider in champagne glasses so the evening was complete.


Dave had to go to work the next day but the rest of us were able to get some tasks checked off our list of things to do before heading back to school.

Blade received an unstuffed "Build a Bear" tiger from Chay for Christmas and we headed to the mall to stuff the tiger. We even used what was left on the Build a Bear gift card that Chay gave Blade last Christmas. Blade chose to put a Jonas Brothers recording in the tiger's foot (which turned out to be in the leg).

Blade and his Police Officer Tiger

Next on the agenda was to go sledding!
SugarHouse Park was packed and so tried out some new hills. They turned out to be so much better and no crowds.

It was a nice day, pretty bright with the sun reflecting off the snow (thank goodness for Asian eyes....)

It brought smiles to my face just seeing the kids enjoying themselves as they came flying down the hill. With my camera I was good for one shot per run. It would have been a perfect time to try out Nicole's new camera.

I think Chay go some "air" in this shot!

When we went sledding last year Blade had a look of fear on his face when he came down the hill.
I loved the look of pure joy on his face this year!

Another example of me getting a different picture than what I anticipated when I pushed the button...but enjoying a good chuckle because of the results. Why Nicole is the one always caught in a unique pose is beyond me...fate I guess.

And this is an interesting expression on Chay...