Jan Jaka and Bike Riding...

You will be happy to know Zach had a speedy recovery from his illness last weekend.

The rest of the week went by relatively incident free. It was busy. Clara Grace successfully completed level 2 of swim lessons and we were moved from the waiting list to a time slot for March lessons. Luckily we have a break this week and lessons start up March 8th for her. Although I'm glad she is enrolled, it certainly keeps me on my toes getting her to class twice a week plus AWANA and my meetings and work.

We were very pleased to have nice weather this week. It was mostly hitting the 50's during the day and several days I skipped wearing my fleece. On Saturday we took Clara Grace on our first family biking expedition. She is doing really well riding. We put Zach in the trailer that I towed and kept Clara Grace between me and Charlie. We took a ride through the neighborhood and walked bikes across the main road on base and then got on the sea wall. Clara Grace was scared but still gave it a try. All in all it was a fun trip. We did stop at a playground and let the kids play for a little while. I think we rode about 3.5 miles total. There was one little incident where Clara Grace wasn't paying attention and slammed right into a completely stopped Charlie. She shook it off though and paid better attention the rest of the ride.

Today we decided to try a restaurant that gets rave reviews. It is called Jan Jaka and is a Korean restaurant. It was awesome. It is very intimate in that tables are seperated by drapes. We were seated in a little room that only had two booths that were down low to the ground and had a grill in the table. The kids shared a kids meal that had curry, rice, french fries and an egg omelet. The waitress brought out a basket and Clara Grace was able to pick out a little toy. Charlie and I ordered a meal for two that had a variety of meats that we were able to cook on our grill. It was yummy and we will definitely go back.

The weekend is coming to an end now. We are about to start out bedtime routines. I was able to get a lot done around the house as we get ready to begin another week. Tomorrow I begin my class. I have access to the online classroom now and realize I am going to be very busy from now on. Unfortunately my books have not arrived but my instructor responded to my email and she was very helpful and understanding. Hopefully next week I will be able to report that I successfully completed the first week of the class.

Until then, have a great week...

Poor Zach

He is a sickie today. Luckily he is in good spirits and has no fever. He has vomited three times so far but it has been a while since the last time so hopefully he is on the mend and the rest of the family doesn't get sick.

I tell you though, germs will have a hard time surviving after the campaign I've launched since this started. Charlie is out picking up a carpet cleaner as I type.

King Steakhouse

Saturday we decided to take a scenic ride around Iwakuni. Charlie drove us around and pointed out some places he has gone on bike rides. He took us to a dam that was pretty neat. It was the first time Clara Grace had seen anything like that, or at least that she is old enough to recall. While out, we decided to try out a steakhouse that several people have recommended. What a great idea!

The kids each got a "happy meal" that came with a small hamburger steak, rice, what looked like a cheese omelet with ketchup on it and vanilla pudding. Clara really enjoyed her meal. Zach picked at his, which is funny because he is generally a little more open to different foods than she is. Charlie and I both ordered steak that was cooked perfectly and was delicious. It arrived on a sizzling cast iron platter accompanied with potato wedges, carrots and corn. We each had a warm dinner roll I slathered with butter. We were able to choose between a red wine dipping sauce and some other, we chose the red wine but the steak was so yummy without it that we only dipped a couple bites. It was wonderful and I left not a single morsel of my meal on the place. Our meals also came with the soup, salad and fruit bar which wasn't that great for me but Charlie loved it. Clara went with me on my trip and we picked out Japanese cucumbers, broccoli and something that she swore was jello and insisted on trying. I appeased her, but she said it tasted like coffee. Zach, on the otherhand, enjoyed it and ate all of that I had put on my plate. Who knows what it was.

I tell you what I do know though, I will be going back! They had an English menu and there were quite a few things I'd like to try. They also had a high chair which was a big bonus for us.

The Compromise

As mentioned in a previous post, Clara Grace wants her ears pierced. I had the day all planned for when she was around 12 or 13 and we would have a girls' day...manicures, pedicures, tea, a trip to the make-up counter and getting her ears pierced. Plans change. Clara Grace decided she was big enough and could handle both the pain of the process and the maintenance. So, we made an appointment for today.

The ears before...
Here she is, all grubby from a day at school but excited as she awaits the piercing.

I decided to not document the tears. She really did great, I must say. When she saw the "gun" she began to get a little concerned. She asked Hannah several questions about how she was going to do it. She did cry for a moment with the first ear and I was a little concerned. She said it hurt. But when she pierced the second ear she only said, "Ow Ow Ow Ow!" and that was that. No tears. Then we spun her around to see how she looked and this was the expression on her face.

She has no regrets and says she would do it again knowing how much it hurt. I'm still not sure how I feel, but I do admit she looks very pretty with them.

Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow!

This past Saturday we woke up to see a few flakes falling from the sky. Those flakes picked up speed and there was quite a bit of wind as well. Charlie predicted a couple of inches but I didn't believe it. Last winter there was no snow, and while we've had many flurries this winter there has been no accumulation. Charlie was right. We didn't get much, probably between 2-3 inches but it was enough to get out and enjoy. We needed to check the mail and I had left the camera in my classroom so I asked if we could swing by and pick it up to document what might be the only snow we experience while in Iwakuni. This first picture is taken from outside my classroom. That dark line just beyond the car is the sea wall. This is outside the apartment building. I personally wanted a shot of the teen building a fort. It looked like he was gearing up for a serious snowball fight. Clara Grace was busy at work attempting to build a snowman.
There was enough snow that we saw several good ones, but by the time we made it out there wasn't much of a chance without a lot of grass involved.

That is Zach off in the distance with Charlie on the playground. I was trying to get a shot of that kid building the fort. Notice all the snowman tracks where people were rolling the balls.

There they are!

We had a lot of fun in a short period of time. Charlie and I had quite the snowball fight and the kids had a blast. Zach wouldn't wear gloves so we were just out for a few minutes. It wasn't that cold for us but without gloves...not a good idea. The trip ended when Clara Grace got too excited watching us have a snowball fight and decided to throw one at Zach. She doesn't have very good aim, and well, she hit him in the head. Fun in the snow over. Hello hot cocoa!

Anyway, it was a good thing we got out there when we did because it was pretty much gone a few hours later.

This week in the House of Hollowell...

Not much happened this week, and most of this is rambling about the kids. Let's see...

• Zach was mauled at daycare. One of the kids was sitting beside him at the table and just turned and with both hands raked the nails down his cheeks. One side is worse that the other. I have to say, I know the age is prone to doing things like this...but this is why I am maniacal about making sure Zach's nails are trimmed. For his safety and that of other children. He is healing nicely though.
• Clara Grace has requested to have her ears pierced. I planned to wait until she was older, but I'm willing to make this compromise. If I can figure out how to have them pierced here in Iwakuni that is.
• As a parent, you just never know what your kids are going to do. Last night, I was returning some items to Zach's room. As I walked in, the light was already on and I glanced to the right to see Clara Grace standing on the glider. Like she was on a surfboard. And the glider just a gliding. Before I could say anything, she anounced that she was practicing surfing. And got back to business. Of course I had to end the fun, but I found it hysterical.
• Disney has a hold on Zach. He loves Mickey. A lot.
• Clara Grace is currently memorizing the books of the Old Testament for AWANA.
• If rumors are correct, there WILL be a spring bazaar this year!
• I cannot believe Zach turns two next month!

Have you ever been so tired...

you dreamed about it?

I tend to be a bit drained by the time the weekend rolls around. This past Friday, after falling asleep in Clara Grace's bed, then dragging myself out to the couch only to fall asleep there as well and then making it to my bed I fell into a deep sleep. I was dreaming about work, and was talking to someone about how exhausted I was, when my voice woke me up because I was talking out loud! As I woke, I turned and Charlie was staring at me and just burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that I couldn't help but chuckle too...before falling back to sleep.

That being said, I am now energized to make it through another week. This weekend was very productive in terms of home, work, family and sleep!

Photo Update

As promised, I'm uploading a few photos taken since Christmas. This is a common scene. Since Clara Grace has a DS, she passed her Leapster on to Zach. He has no clue how to play with it, but loves to tote it around to be like his big sister. He is such a happy guy...most of the time.

Don't ask. Clara Grace loves to create little clubs around the apartment for her and Zach. As usual, Zach is up for hanging out with his big sister.

This is a picture after Hurricane Zach hit our apartment.

This construction project was halted when the demolition team (Zach) swept in causing a huge reaction from the construction crew (Clara).

Clara Grace at the 1st Semester Awards assembly.

The next karate kid?

Wheeee!

Just hanging around....

...wanting to be just like my big sister!

Vroom Vroom! Zach LOVES the bike. As does Clara.

And of course, Charlie loves it too.

especially when we have a day that warms up to the 50's.

Clara just a swingin'