Catching up with Papa and Gramma Janie and saying Goodbye to Zakk

Today Sakura and I headed to Phoenix for several reasons.  Since my nephew Zakk graduated from high school earlier in the week, Papa and Gramma Janie were in town so we snuck in an extremely short visit. They brought Zakk with them so we could say our Goodbye's - he has chosen to move back to Georgia, I can't even begin to say how much we will miss him.  He is a GREAT kid and Sakura adores him!

Lunch at Oregano's - with Zakk

Zakk making something for Sakura out of pizza dough

Can you see how much she loves him?

After we all had lunch, Zakk headed over to visit with his Mom, so Papa, Gramma Janie, Sakura and I headed to the mall to play at the play area.  It's FAR too hot to do anything outside right now.  Sakura loves the play area, and Papa and Gramma Janie got to watch her in action.

Sakura loves Papa!

AND Gramma Janie!

BIG Hugs!

Saying GoodBye to Papa

Mother's Day 2012

My very favorite day of the whole year - Mother's Day.  A day I use to dread is now my favorite.  Every day with Sakura is special, she puts the joy in my heart that was once a missing piece - I couldn't be more happy to be her "Mom Mom, Mommy, Mom".

To me it's not about the gifts, it is about the time we spend together making memories and traditions.  Each year, since I can remember, we celebrated Mother's Day at The Garden Cafe, with my Grandma, and with my Mom - and so the tradition continues - brunch at the Garden Cafe.  That is my favorite part of the whole day, I LOVE The Garden.  It was especially hot this year, and all of the seating is outdoors, but we were there as a family - with my Mom and David - creating more memories.

Walking hand in hand with Daddy and Mommy

Trying to get a picture, Sakura had been complaining (lately) that the sun is too "hot" /  bright so we tried with our shades

Me and My Girl - Sakura was not real cooperative with photos, but we did manage to get a few decent ones. 

Playing while Greema and Papa went to get their food - it's a buffet, but not like any other buffet, it is DELICIOUS!

Our beautiful daughter

All the Mom's get a flower, Sakura kept saying "Where's My Flower" so Mommy shared with her

Just being silly

And pretty

Trying to get our annual Sakura, Mommy, Greema picture - someone was cracking up!

LOVED this one!

Not bad either :o)

We are SO lucky that Bachan and Jiichan are here to celebrate special occasions with as well.  We have adopted a new family tradition, dinner at Ah-So with Bachan to celebrate Mother's Day. We are very lucky to have such special people in our lives to celebrate and create wonderful memories with.

Oops, Mommy was looking off in the distance at who knows what :o(

Of course there is another Mom (and family) we think of everyday, but especially on this special day - Airi, because of her love for Sakura this day is possible for me to enjoy.  We celebrate Airi, Sakura's BioMom who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave us the biggest Blessing.  Happy Mother's Day Airi.  We love you more than you'll ever know!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Easter 2012

Easter was extra exciting this year since it was the first time we dyed eggs with Sakura.  Greema and Papa came for the weekend, so we waited for them to come - it was a late egg dye but we all really enjoyed it.

Sakura loved seeing the eggs change colors, despite not liking eggs - she didn't have to eat any :)

Time to dye eggs!

Wait wait wait ... 

Time to take them out!

All finished dying the eggs, our little
Easter bunny is ready for bed! 

But FIRST we have to plant some magic seeds that only
grow on Easter Eve ..... Sakura is excited to plant with Greema! 

Easter Morning - all dressed and headed to see what
the Easter bunny delivered - OH and the seeds grew!

Sakura LOVES her Hello Kitty Easter bunny!

AND M&Ms!

A Hello Kitty jump rope too!

The Magic of Easter still lives ... her seeds grew!

Picture Perfect - our precious girl!

Or Hello Kitty Easter Bunny :)

Sassy Sakura!

After breakfast at Mimi's Cafe I wanted to head out to a field where I saw some beautiful larkspur growing for some pictures ... I got some cute "posed" ones but my favorite by far are these few candid shots of Sakura just browsing around in the field of flowers.

Checking out the flowers

A little girl having fun - that's what makes the world go
round for me! 

Here is a larger shot of the gorgeous field of larkspur

 We got home from breakfast and Daddy went outside for something and spotted the Easter Bunny hopping down the road!  Imagine Sakura's delight when he told her and she went out to look for him, asking MANY questions about him and his appearance - when she found he had just dropped off some "eggs" for her to find!

Hunting eggs

Yes she found the golden egg!

Greema and Papa left after the egg hunt, Sakura took her nap and the we headed down to Bachan and Jiichan's house ... Sakura also was delighted that she had basket of goodies there too - 

from Bachan and Jiichan!

Easter goodies from Bachan and Jiichan

You can find ALL of the hidden eggs when you wear your goggles!

Sakura found all of them .... 

Happy Easter Everyone!

Tiny Dancer

Sakura attends her 1st wedding and reception

We headed out to the middle of the desert to celebrate two special people (Heather and James) getting married. We had been having beautiful warm weather, but it turned cold and windy on their wedding day, it was beautiful none-the-less. Being that it was on St. Paddy's Day, I opted to put Sakura in something with green. This dress was perfect and made by a special friend - and named Windy Day knot, which was very appropriate - LOL!

Our beautiful little girl

We're here! Yes it was literally out in the middle of the desert - our invitations said "Milepost 72" - which is almost across from one of the courses where they test vehicles, we are assuming this was where Heather and James fell in love, they spent many hours together testing vehicles for the war out here.

Being cute on Daddy - she was cold and wanted to be held (as she ALWAYS does when she is cold).

Daddy and his girl.

Wyatt (Heather's son) is one of Sakura's classmates, so she was all too happy that we were going to see Wyatt because as she says "I LOVE WYATT" .... LOL!

The beautiful bride and two of her sons.

Someone is having a great time!

I didn't take the camera to the reception, so I'm going to have to figure out how to post a video from my phone here on the blog, but Sakura rocked out on the dance floor - it was incredibly cute, not sure where she gets her moves, but this girl loves to dance!