All dressed up--and goofing around!

Here are the pictures from my first day of school!

First day of kindergarten!

Yesterday was a big day for me. I got up and dressed for school, having to add a belt because my pants wouldn't stay up. There is a dress code, and Mama did take some pictures. I ate all my snacks and lunch. I had my first drama class, and my teacher was impressed that I was able to copy words from the board. When I got done with school I got to play on the iPad for a little while. I love playing on the iPad. We went to dinner at Culver's, and I ate all my fries and about half of my burger. While we were there we ran into my friend, Cooper! Then we went to bowling, where a local radio station puts on "The Big LeBOWLski" and gives away prizes in a drawing. I won a tee shirt. I can't wear the tee shirt to school, but I was happy anyway. I had a really busy, but really fun, day!

Birthdays and graduation

I celebrated my birthday at Antema's house, and the candles on my cake kept re-lighting themselves!

Then I graduated from pre-school. When asked what I was going to be when I grew up, I answered "an adult."

Then I had a small party for my friends in Fort Collins at our new house. We put a balloon on one of the cars to help the parents find it.

Mama couldn't find the candles, so I had to blow out imaginary candles on this cake. I got them all on the first try!

(Mama is really behind on everything, not just posting to the blog. It's on her list of things to do. It's a long list.)

Oma and cookies

Oma got me dinosaur cookie cutters, and a couple of weeks ago we broke them in when Mama and I visited.

Licking the beater

Putting the cookies on the tray

They're pretty fragile

Mama decorated most of them

But I got in on the action, too!

Oma waits for the last tray to come out. Mama forgot to take pictures of the final product, but they were delicious!

Lesson to be learned

Mama and Daddy have lost the pump to put more air in my basketball. I was actually playing with it these past two days. They found a pump, but not the needles to put into the ball. So we took a trip to buy some. Mama selected a little cart because we weren't there for a lot of shopping. I asked repeatedly if I could climb on cart, and was told "no" each time. One time I just stepped up on the end of it and Mama pushed me a bit before making me get off. We were in the aisle with the ball accessories when I asked to get on the cart again. Once again, the answer was "no."

Mama turned her attention to Daddy and while she wasn't looking I attempted to stand back up on the cart. This was a mistake because the cart tipped over, dumping me face-first onto the floor and landing on my legs.

Mama pulled the cart off me and Daddy held me and let me cry. Daddy got me a strawberry popsicle to try to reduce the swelling, but it hurt too much and we ended up eating it instead. Eventually it was decided that I needed to go to the urgent care clinic "just to be sure" I was OK. The nice doctor checked me out and was on the fence about sending me for a CT scan. Ultimately we ended up back in the car and at the radiology department of the hospital. Thankfully there was no sign of internal bleeding!<\p>

I have a really nice hematoma on my forehead, though. Mama suspects it will be beautifully colored in the coming days. She and Daddy wonder how they are going to keep me quiet for the next week because I'm on exercise restrictions. Mama is also wondering if this will finally teach me not to stand on shopping carts.

Memorial park geese

There are a lot of Canadian Geese in Colorado, especially in the winter. Mama and I did a little goose watching while we were visiting Oma in December. The lake was frozen, so the geese were walking on top of the water.

We took a picture of all the goose tracks

Mama and I watched a group of geese come in for a landing. Because of the close ties to the military, she jokingly called it a "flight" of geese.

It was a very good day

Christmas 2013, part 2

Later on Christmas day, Antema, Bapa, Aunt Jaki and (Uncle) Mark came up to spend some time with us. That meant more goodies! I got some different shaped erasers from Aunt Becky, Uncle Austin and Addy--from Japan.

I got three Frog and Toad books

I also got the book "What Does the Fox Say" that goes along with a song I sing (Mama in--ALL THE TIME!)

Mama and Daddy got dark red sweatshirts--Mama's with horses and Daddy's with wolves.

Uncle Mark got some towels and hot mitts for the kitchen.

He then used them to become the kitchen towel monster and tried to eat me!

Aunt Jaki got a letter opener designed like a miniature Japanese sword. (Sorry--Mama forgot the technical term for the exact one.) It has its own stand, but the picture of it in the stand did not come out well.

Antema got a set of slippers that were fuzzy like the ones Mama got earlier, only these were not as tall.

Finally, Mama unwrapped a long, thin package that was rolled up.

It was a scroll of our last name "O'Keefe" hand illustrated in Japanese characters. It is already hanging on our wall in the kitchen! It also came with a description page for what each character means. O = Love, Kee = Happiest, Fe = Rich. It is very beautiful!

We also gave out peppermint leaves from our garden that had been dried (and taste really good as tea.) We received candy and other food from Japan as well. Who knew there were *strawberry* covered Kit Kats? Or Kit Kats with pumpkin filling? Mama says that she likes the dark chocolate ones best, though!