Sakura turns 4!

Sakura turns 4!

CRAZY but true.  Our little cherry blossom turned 4 years old today!  She chose Princess cupcakes to take to preschool to celebrate, and Mommy left work early (poor Daddy has been SUPER SICK for days, but actually got off the couch to head to pick up Sakura from school and go out to dinner) ... Sakura chose Outback for dinner - Macaroo and Cheese (although she ate more of my filet than anything else, which is fine).  They even brought a dessert to sing, Sakura wasn't fond of the singing 

"It was too loud Mommy".  Then we came home, she opened her presents from us, family and friends, and then we headed down to celebrate with Baachan and Jiichan (cake and ice cream).

Ready for presents!

A funny that happened while we were at dinner, was Daddy asked if we were going to take the presents down to Baachan and Jiichan's house to open, and Sakura excitedly asked "Presents?" ... we explained that yes you get presents on your birthday ... she was pretty excited about that!

From Auntie Nancy, Tripp and Kiki - Hello Kitty ART!

All done - Thank You everyone!

HAPPY Birthday Sakura!!!

Making a wish .... boy do I hope it comes true, she is my every wish come true!

Tide Pool and Beach Day

Well everyone knows how much I LOVE Disneyland but honestly our whole entire time with Auntie Misty and Kumi these were my favorite memories!  I know that's hard to believe, but truthfully Sakura and I had a fantastic time visiting the Tide Pools and the Beach.

I'm not sure how these two pictures got moved out of place, and I'm equally as unsure about how to move them back down where they go ... so I'm leaving them here (out of place which makes me crazy, but better than not here at all!).

Ready to go to Seal Beach, Kumi was so sweet helping Sakura put her shoes back on.

All on her own, Sakura wrote her name on the beach!

How precious is this picture?  Kumi was showing Sakura the beach.  I LOVE this girl!!!

Sakura was eager to go and check it out (I was SHOCKED, as our last beach experience was less than desirable!)

Ready to explore :)

Running and playing on the beach

But NOT so sure about walking around on the rocks ... it was pretty "sharp" and a bit tricky to maneuver

Incredibly breathe taking though!

We saw TONS of sea life!  It was absolutely amazing!

I LOVED watching Sakura and Kumi play together

Building a sand castle?

We saw starfish!!!

After we visited the tide pool we headed over to Seal Beach ... after stopping to pick up some sandwiches for a picnic at the beach. 

Auntie and the girls going after water for their sand castles

Yes there were birds ... Sakura didn't like them but she has the BEST friend ever  Kumi is quite the bird chaser and took great care and concern for Sakura as Sakura would point and say "Kumi", Kumi would get up and run those birds off.  What a GREAT friend she is!!!

It sure doesn't get any better than watching two best friends play together at the beach ... a picnic lunch and great company are all anyone could wish for and more.  We love spending time together and again we are SO lucky and blessed to have them close by to share our lives together.

Thanks Auntie Misty for this perfect photo of Mommy and her girl!

Sadly our visit was over on Sunday morning.  We did get to enjoy a nice character meal together before heading back home.  What a fantastic mini vacation together.

A day at Disneyland with best friends ... doesn't get much better than that!

Sakura and Mommy snuck away to spend a few days with Auntie Misty and Kumi.  OMGoodness we needed it (well Mommy sure did anyway).  We are SO lucky and blessed that our friends (who like I've said a million times are much more like family) moved closer and we get to spend time together!  Sakura and I drove up to Anaheim and got to the hotel just after Auntie Misty and Kumi arrived and checked into the room - perfect timing ... just like the whole weekend was - absolutely perfect!!!  Once we checked in and got settled, Auntie Misty was gracious and offered to drive us around, as Mommy is a BIG chicken in traffic - so we headed to Party City (Someone is going to be FOUR years old very soon and there is a party planned for a princess!!!).  We were successful in our shopping and I was able to get everything I needed (and a few extra things too!).  The girls were fantastic, and Auntie Misty provided much needed guidance in choosing things!   After we shopped we went to Pei Wei for dinner - YUMMMMMMM!!!!  After dinner it was back to the hotel as tomorrow we were headed to DISNEYLAND for a day together!!!  We got up and headed down to breakfast, then off to the park .... oops Auntie Misty forgot the tickets (LOL!) - luckily we left with plenty of time to spare as we DID have an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for two very special little princesses!  

Off and running tickets in hand - we got to the park, parked the car and headed for the tram to the park. Made it in the nick of time (actually a few minutes to spare!) and checked in for the girls appointment.  This was Kumi's FIRST visit to the BBB and Sakura was THRILLED that she got to experience it with her buddy (these two are like sisters honestly).  

Here are a few pictures from our visit!

Sakura aka: Cinderella

Two beautiful Princesses!

Like I said, Sakura was SO excited to watch Kumi get her first Princess transformation

Mommy was trying to get a good picture for birthday invitations!

It's All About the Shoes as Cinderella knows too well!

Chatting with Ariel

Three gorgeous princesses

Christmas 2013

What an amazing Christmas - we sure love every age and every stage of Sakura and Christmas is especially special now that we see it through the eyes of our daughter!  

The ONLY thing Sakura said she wanted every time we would ask, or Santa would ask was 

"A Make-Up Place" ...  Sakura must have been a very good girl again this year, as Santa delivered exactly what she asked for.  We also woke up to a sweet final message from JingleBelle, I think she even posed for one final picture before flying off with Santa as we found this on the camera after she was gone.  What a sweet little elf.  

Well Said JingleBelle.  

Looks like Sakura was a very good girl!

Sakura woke up a little later than usual, and Mommy was already up and getting in the shower - Sakura apparently came out as she exclaimed upon her arrival in the bathroom that "SANTA BROUGHT MY MAKE UP PLACE!" ... Yep, we all missed her first reaction!  Ugh!!!  As you'll be able to tell, she was quite pleased with Santa's gifts and got right down to business doing her hair.

Santa even left clippies just for Sakura! 

Flower ones and Hello Kitty to be exact.

And a little train case with make up!

Admiring her handy work

Over and over again she did her hair!

Rudolph got a new brush!  So Sakura did his hair too!

SO much fun!

Mommy was MOST excited with the gifts Sakura made at Preschool

A beautiful wreath made from painted puzzle pieces will hang on our tree every year!

Sakura is CRAZY for hospital/doctor stuff ... she got her own emergency room!

Sakura was SO excited to see that Clarice came to be with Rudolph, she's been talking about wanting her every since we were at Build-A-Bear - Thank You Greema and Papa!!!

She had them hugging and kissing as soon as she opened her - she sensed that Rudolph missed his girlfriend I think!

Greema's turn to open a gift ... wonder what she got?  Why pictures of Sakura of course!

Sakura had MANY beautiful red packages from Auntie Linda, Uncle Mark, Jessamine and Stephanie to open!
She LOVED every single one of them ... what's inside this one?

A CAR SEAT for Baby Yuko!!!  YAY!

Sakura was thrilled with all of her things for Baby Yuko!

Baby Yuko and Baby Emma got a crib too!

Doesn't get much cuter than a Hello Kitty airplane!!!

A diaper bag for her babies too!

Papa's turn ..... wonder what he got?

Daddy got to open the card Sakura made

Sakura was very excited to watch us open her gifts ... we were just as excited to open them!

Another package for Greema .... with a little help from her friend :)

Once we finished opening packages at home, we headed down to spend a little time with Baachan, Jiichan and Auntie Fumiyo who graciously came to spend a couple of weeks helping Baachan out to give us a break - can't even describe our gratitude to Auntie - it's been VERY hectic this last month!  We can't ever repay her for relieving us a bit.  

Naturally Sakura had to take Baby Yuko and Baby Emma down to show everyone her things 

Auntie and Sakura have a special relationship ... Sakura LOVES her Auntie Fumiyo!

Baachan looking at the fun Auntie and Sakura are having

Helping Baachan open her gifts, she only has one working arm, the other is in a sling so she needed lots of help, Sakura was happy to oblige.

What a wonderful Christmas, spent with those we love.  We are SO blessed and our lives are full.  Merry Christmas from our family to yours.