A Family Visit to Our New House

Makai was so anxious and excited to see everyone. When he heard the plane landed and they were on the way, he sat out on the front porch and steps and asked what color the car rental car was. When they arrived he was SO HAPPY!. He had not seen  his Hawaii Grandparents since Dec and Aunty Caroline and Cousin Gracie since Oct! 

Gracie and Makai immediately picked up where they left off. Playing and joking around in the house!

 Kathy, Caroline and I took Gracie and Makai to the Shedd Aquarium. We all had so much fun. We are so lucky to have such a world-class aquarium right here in Chicago.

Meanwhile at home, Dallas and his dad mounted 2 TVs and installed these shelves. Turned out amazing!

The next day, we went back to Museum Campus to go to the Field Museum. Aunty Laura is a volunteer there on Fridays and totally hooked us up. Makai LOVED it.

 He LOVED the animal section and would yell “OH MY GOSH LOOK AT THIS” at every turn. He SUPER LOVED the dinosaurs. We went on a dino tour that was geared towards kids. The docent let Makai hold a replica tooth and he took his job very seriously. Gracie tried to get it and Makai was all “GRACIE HE TOLD ME IM IN CHARGE!”

We bought this $6 plaster egg to bring home. Gracie and Makai had to excavate the dinosaur. The kids took turns and worked at it for almost an hour. Totally great return on investment! Makai was soooooo excited to get the dinosaur out. He loved our trip to the Field Museum so much that the next morning when he woke, he ran into our bedroom and the first thing he asked was if we could go back to the museum that day!

 It was HOT outside. Makai and Gracie had tons of fun playing in the sprinkler.

 Kathy wanted to bring something local back for friends so we went to Intelligentsia in Logan Square and got some bags of coffee. We also got some coffee drinks and breakfast pastries.

 We needed to get some dessert for later in the day, so we went to Roeser’s Bakery. Totally old school bakery in Humboldt Park. I’d heard a lot about Roeser’s. I’d had their donuts once when someone brought them in to work. And I had their cupcakes at a party once. Glad to finally go! We got cake bites that were amazing and also some assorted cookies.

We hosted our first barbecue and loads of family came over from the suburbs and a few friends too! Jen + Chad; Kristin; Aunty Laura + Bill; Aunty Gail; Aunty Glenna + Uncle BB; Heather + Jeff; Doug, Naoko, Tommy, Kenji, Eddy, Hanako.

The next day we headed out to Aunty Laura + Bill’s house and saw even more family! Aunty Gail; Aunty Glenna + Uncle BB; Heather + Jeff; Brad, Amanda, Tyler + Carter; Aly, Evan [it was his birthday!], Lexi + Charlotte; Danny, Caroline, Rory + John.

The next morning everyone had to leave our house very early in the morning to get to the airport. We had such a fun time and it went by way too fast!

Christmas Dinner at Aunty Gail’s

This was the 13th year in a row that we have gone to Dallas’s Aunty Gail’s house for Christmas dinner. On Christmas morning, Santa gave Makai a Pikachu onesie and he refused to take it off. He had a major breakdown when we tried to get him dressed for the party. So, while some kids are wearing their finest for Christmas, our kid is wearing pajamas. Choose your battles. It wasn’t worth the fight!

Annual Kids Photo (Photo by Heather)
Back: Charlotte, Chris, Derek, Makai, Ben, Kate, Austin, Mitch, Kenji, Eddy
Front: Carter, Tyler, Lulu, Tommy, Hanako

Annual Family Photo (Photo by Heather)
Back: Chris, Ben, Derek, Jeff, Doug, Naoko, John, Rachelle, Dallas, Miko, Winnie, Mitch, Brad, Amanda, Carter
Middle: Aly, Evan, Uncle BB, Aunty Glenna, Charlotte, Aunty Peggy, Uncle Neil, Aunty Gail, Heather
Front: Tommy, Eddy, Hana, Lulu, Makai, Austin, Kenji, Tyler, Kate, Kyle

Makai was totally habut while getting ready to leave, while leaving, and in the car, but once we got to Aunty Gail’s house, he was OFF. I didn’t even see him for an hour while he was downstairs with all the other kids. Kind of nice that I could just relax.

 Makai and Hana. They were born one day apart so I always take a photo of them together!

Austin, Ben, Tyler, Makai, Kate, Kyle (Photo by Heather)

Makai and Kenji “racing” down the steps. Over and over and over. (Photo by Heather)

 Last year for Christmas dessert, Naoko made a baby shower cake for Aly and we celebrated the upcoming birth of her and Evan’s daughter. Here she is! Charlotte.

Every year Aunty Gail makes beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole and her mom’s lettuce/mayo/crab/pea salad. It never varies. Makai ate a whole piece of steak himself and a roll too. I made a some fudge-y peppermint brownies (recipe coming soon). There were a few other desserts too. Naoko an amazing green tea cake with a red bean sauce.

Amanda, Miko, Brad, Rachelle (Photo by Heather)

 Brad, Aunty Gail, Dallas, Jeff, Rachelle (Photo by Heather)

 Heather and Jeff. Heather is always behind the camera, so I took this photo of them with her camera.

Doug, Uncle BB, Mitch, Brad, Uncle Neil, Dallas, Kyle (Photo by Heather)

Makai got a couple gifts from Aunties and Uncles and in the gift exchange Dallas and I came out pretty good with a bottle of wine and a set of rice bowls (we brought Kauai coffee and spicy hot ramen).

Makai checking out the gift exchange presents.

 Austin, Tyler, Makai, Rachelle (Photo by Heather). Makai was too shy to steal a gift from someone.

 Carter, Amanda, Eddy, Rachelle (Photo by Heather)

Makai loves this M&M guy who holds Aunty Gail’s cookies. At the end of the night each person takes a bag of cookies home!

Christmas Dinners Past:


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Early Thanksgiving Dinner at Aunty Laura’s House

Makai, Rachelle, Aunty Glenna

Brad, Uncle BB

Aunty Gail, Dallas, Tommy, Jeff, Doug

Aunty Laura and Bill hosted their annual early Thanksgiving dinner at their brand new house this year. The house is gorgeous, but now they live 1.5 hours away! And Google does not know that there are houses in what used to be an empty field. So it was frustrating to get out there and find the place! But once we were there, it was all good!

 Rory, Carter, Tyler

Chris, Doug, Tommy, Dallas

Dallas showing Makai how to play pool.

Hana, Danny

Kenji, Tyler, Eddy, Makai

Naoko, Heather, Rachelle

Makai eating dessert.

Aunty Laura’s new house has a huge rec room in the basement where the guys played pool and the kids played a lot of air hockey and the basketball game. I mostly sat at the “bar” and drank wine with Heather and Naoko! 🙂

Our hosts, Bill and Aunty Laura. 

 Aunty Laura, Makai, Hana

 Makai, Hana, Naoko

Hana + Makai’s Plates

All of the plates.

Makai and Hana drew on their plates, which is kind of a Fukuda rite of passage. Some of the first kids to do this are now the parents of the latest kids to do it! Makai drew a monster and a zombie and his name and the year.

 Rory, Hana, Johnny, Makai, Kenji

 Hana, Makai, Rory, Kenji, Eddy

Makai, Hana, Rory, Johnny, Kenji, Eddy

 Tyler, Rory, Johnny

Carter, Makai

Funny. Even though there is plenty of room and plenty of TVs in the new house, all the kids ended up on Aunty Laura’s bed horsing around and watching a movie!

Christmas Dinner at Aunty Gail’s

img_1206Makai and Hanako – Hanako is one day older!

fullsizerender-42 Jeff, Kyle, Dallas (Photo by Heather)

fullsizerender-43Back: Brad, Heather, Danny, Jeff, Johnny, Caroline, Kyle, Chris, Winnie, Ben, Brian, Evan, Scotty, Krystyn, John, Mitch, Doug.
Middle: BB, Glenna, Tyler, Peggy, Kate, Neil, Sonny, Tommy, Gail, Eddy, Hideto, Aly, Kenji, Laura, Bill.
Front: Dallas, Makai, Rachelle, Derek, Carter, Amanda, Rory, Miko, Austin, Hanako, Naoko.

img_1217 Gift exchange. We took the last gift, a bottle of wine, to end the game.

fullsizerender-44 Aunty Glenna and Makai

img_1219 Aunty Glenna, Heather, Rachelle, Aunty Gail, Naoko, Krystyn

img_1220 Aly and Evan are expecting a girl in February!

fullsizerender-2 Most of the cousins – Chris, Makai,Tommy, Mitch, Rory, Kenji, Tyler, Eddy, Hideto, Hanako, Ben, Johnny, Austin, Derek, Kate

fullsizerender-4Makai opening a present.

This was the 12th year in a row that we have gone to Dallas’s Aunty Gail’s house for Christmas dinner. The last two years in a row my parents were staying in Chicago, but not this year. Several people asked about them!

Makai is old enough to run around with all the kids now. I didn’t even know where he was most of the time. He was also getting very brave about sliding down the steps, even head first at times. Makai also discovered the M&M dispenser, and discovered he could reach it on his own when I told him to lay off of them for a while.

Every year Aunty Gail makes beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole and her mom’s lettuce/mayo/crab/pea salad. It never varies. Makai ate a whole piece of steak himself and a roll too.

I made a tray of cookies to share for dessert. There were a few other desserts too. Naoko made a chiffon cake to celebrate Aly and Evan’s baby.

Makai got several gifts from people and in the gift exchange Dallas and I came out pretty good with a box of Big Island shortbread and a bottle of wine.

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img_1165.jpg(null)fullsizerender-3This year, before going to Aunty Gail’s house, we stopped in at Damian and Vanessa’s house. They live literally 8 minutes away! It was a short visit, but Makai had a great time playing with Dylan, Derek and Davin. And petting Miles. Damian and Dallas finished setting up this crazy electronic mouse trap game that Derek and Dylan got for Christmas.
Christmas Dinners Past:

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Christmas Dinner at Aunty Gail’s

IMG_0218_editMakai loved Aunty Gail’s Christmas tree

5Hanako, Naoko, Laura, Makai, Mary, Carter, Amanda (Photo by Heather)

1Ben, Kate, Mitch, Eddy, Makai, Derek, Chris, Hanako, Alexia, Austin, Miko, Tyler, Maddie, Carter, Kenji (Photo by Heather)

IMG_0248_editAly, Amanda, Uncle BB, Aunty Gail, Hanako, Mitch, Chris, Maddie, Kyle, Doug, Naoko, Tommy

IMG_0204_editTop: Ben, Alexia, Tyler. Middle: Eddy, Derek, Tommy. Bottom: Kenji, Makai, Hanako.

3Back: Brad, Miko, Glenna, Chris, Hanako, Laura, Kate, Neil, Austin, Mitch, Jeff, Ben, Kyle, Peggy, Dallas, Derek, Maddie, Winnie, John, Heather, Doug. Front: Carter, Amanda, Aly, Evan, Alexia, BB, Tyler, Tommy, Eddy, Gail, Kenji, Naoko, Makai, Rachelle, Mary, Rick. (Photo by Heather)

IMG_0241_editTyler, Derek, Tommy, Kenji, Kate, Ben, Austin, Chris, Carter, Maddie, Eddy, Mitch, Alexia, Hanako, Makai

IMG_0244_editMakai + Hanako. Makai is one day younger. They’re starting to even out in size! Makai used to be so much bigger and now they’re just about the same.

IMG_0256_editOutrageous dessert table!

This was the 11th year in a row that we have gone to Dallas’s Aunty Gail’s house for Christmas dinner. My parents are visiting from Wisconsin and we dragged them along, like we did last year. It is so nice to see all of the family, including some who fly in and we don’t see very often. Of course, everyone made my parents feel right at home and they had a great time.

Makai, having mastered the stairs last year, was all over the place. Upstairs swiping snacks, downstairs playing with the kids and watching a movie. Always running! He was right in there with all of the kids this year.

Every year Aunty Gail makes beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole and her mom’s lettuce/mayo/crab/pea salad. It never varies. Dessert varies because other people always bring different desserts, but Aunty Gail always makes her signature cookies. My parents and I each made a tray to share and a lot of people brought a lot of other treats. The dessert table was out of control this year!

Mitch, Chris, and Chris’s girlfriend, Maddie, joined the adult gift exchange this year and were warned by their parents that if they get any “bottles” that they would be confiscated. Surprisingly, I don’t think anyone got any booze for gifts this year!

Christmas Dinners Past:

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2015
2014christmasdinner
2014
2013christmasdinner
2013
2012christmasdinner
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2011christmasdinner
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2005

Labor Day Weekend

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Cross Lake

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Rosa: It’s what’s for breakfeast.

For Labor Day Weekend we stayed overnight one night at the lake house with Adam and Christine. It was hot and sunny on both days and we swam a lot in the lake. Makai is getting so comfortable in the water. He kept wanting to go up on the dock and say “one, two, three” and then jump in (with some help). By the next day he was to the point where Adam was literally throwing him off the dock to Dallas and Makai would come up saying (and signing) “More, More, More!!”

Aside from swimming, we mostly just hung around the house. At night we went to Anastasia’s for pizza and after Makai went to bed we watched Mad Max: Fury Road.

From the lake house, we drove to Doug and Naoko’s house for their annual Labor Day barbecue. It was kind of a surreal drive that brought us through the area of Fox Lake where a police officer had been shot and killed just days before. There were many memorials in the area where it happened and at the police station. The official funeral and procession was the following day. As of now, the guys who killed him have not been caught yet.

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Newest baby cousin, Carter.

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Eye-to-eye with a footlong hotdog!

This is the 9th year, by my count, that we’ve gone to Doug and Naoko’s Labor Day barbecue. Last year was Makai’s first year and he could pull himself up and be annoying to the older kids, but couldn’t really do much else. This year he didn’t even want anything to do with us because TOYS. TOYS TOYS TOYS! Doug and Naoko have a big house and four kids, so they have a lot of toys. I tried to relax and let him play with the other kids. There were always plenty of adults around if he needed help. It was hard though! He played and played and played.

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Dessert!

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No metal in the microwave!

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Makai and Hanako

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Hana trying to feed Johnny his bottle

After dinner there was a ton of dessert. I let him pick out one cookie and then I showed him the basement. Head exploded! More TOYS! And bigger things like a swing and slide and bikes and a kitchen. He only took one bite of his cookie before abandoning it to play. If you know Makai, you know that is amazing. All the boys were shooting nerf guns and Makai was just quietly playing in the kitchen. He went down the slide a ton, went on the glider swing a few times. When he discovered the drum set he banged away at that thing forever! One of Naoko’s friend’s little girls sat right next to him and covered her ears. It was so cute.

Doug & Naoko like to have a Labor Day party every year. Here are some photos from years past:

2005: We played a lot of horseshoes
2006: Jordan brought fresh smoked salmon from Alaska. He’d just been on a trip there.
– 2007: No Party? Or just no photo or post?
2008: Lots of kids. First year I noticed that?
2009: Also celebrated Aunty Gail’s retirement. One more photo from that year.
2010: Doug & Naoko have a new house
2011:Two new babies – Eddy and Ty – and Caroline and Danny expecting one more.
2012: How did the kids get so big?????
– 2013: No party. Naoko and I were both pregnant!
2014: Makai + Hanako!