A Christmas Travelogue, Part II

We drove back from Show Low on Sunday. Monday, we met Stephen and Meghan (who had just come in from Mississippi) for lunch before I went to the airport to head to Oklahoma for New Year's. I didn't take any pictures of our great little lunch, but we're glad we were able to see them, if only for a little bit.

Oklahoma/Japanese New Year's

Like much of the country, Oklahoma experienced some record-breaking low temperatures and snowfall. Check out the snowdrifts.

Dane's one and only Hood cousin, Thomas, is so cute. Some people think he and Dane look like brothers. What do you think?


Dane was lucky enough to have Christmas #2 with Jiichan and Baachan, where he was spoiled even more extensively. His request to Santa for Lightning McQueen toys was answered to like the twelfth power, with the combined powers of Santa and Grand-Santa.
We also had a close second to the world's slowest removal of stocking treats.

He also loved playing with the toy train.

Otherwise, we did a lot of hanging out and laughing together.
In addition to being anti-glove, Dane is often anti-pants. But we discovered that he is not anti-leg warmers.


Dane also enjoyed trying on Aunt Rika's new shoes,

playing with Jiichan,

disregarding the hazards of tumbling around while holding a sucker,

playing in his "house" (pack and play) with Aunt Rika,

watching Cars on the little, extra TV,

and begging Jiichan for more popsicle.

The dogs soon discovered that little boys are the best source of food.


Dane and Thomas enjoyed new pajamas from Aunt Mika,


and matching outfits from Jiichan and Baachan.



I don't know why nobody told me how ridiculous I looked in this picture, but oh well.

Here is my dad's look of glee at nabbing a pesky squirrel, named Dug.

Lest you think we are total rednecks/barbarians, squirrels will chew through our roof, eat up the insulation in the attic, fall down between the walls, die, and stink up the house for weeks. So my dad is proactive about it.

Now, for the traditional Japanese New Year's dinner, called osechi, complete with what Joel lovingly calls snotroot. (It is the white stuff covered with soy sauce and fish flakes above and to the left of the egg rolls. It's a root that has a sticky substance, like okra. I think it's delicious. Joel does not.)


It is almost universally agreed that the shiitake is the most disgusting part of the spread, so of course we had to make the little boys try it. Thomas handled it a little better than Dane did.


Finally, on the day we were to depart, we went to eat at Ted's.

Dane loved the warm tortillas and cheese sauce.

We loved the lemon faces.


Thanks to everyone for hanging out with us while we were there, especially Kenji who got relegated to the hideabed in the living room once we got there. We always have a wonderful time in Oklahoma and leave feeling sad that we live so far away. Dane still keeps asking to play with Jiichan, Baachan, and Rika. In fact, tonight, as we were saying Dane's nighttime prayers, I said "thankful for Mommy and Daddy" and Dane interrupted by adding "--and Rika. And Baachan and Jiichan." We miss everyone.
Once we were home, Dane quickly removed almost every toy from his toy box to reacquaint himself.

Funny kid.