Emilia:
2020 has been a very exciting year. I'm... dealing with 2020 and Covid-19 by drawing, Zooming with my friends ( although for some reason, I always seem to get kicked out of Zooms by ZOOM itself, ) and trying out some new hobbies and recipes. Hobbywise, I have a lot more interest in climbing and cooking. My climbing has gotten way better, and I can now climb v 0-1s. As for cooking, I've made a lot more new recipes, such as bite - sized apple tarts, which are simple and yummy. Also, I am about to turn 11, and in honour of that, I get to bake my own cake! I'm really excited! But overall, this year was a really fun year for me!
Liam:
aahh. 2020 the year of covid. It's been a rough year. although to me its just a normal year of schoolwork, reading, drawing, creating, and...sleeping until 8:00. (well... at least I try to sleep until 8:00.) hopefully the vaccine will come out soon, but for now, good bye 2020 and hello 2021!
The fact that we have a Xmas card this year (as opposed to last year where we completely missed Xmas) is a good sign that just maybe... we are finally catching up with life and such... maybe...
2017 has been a whirlwind of changes and challenges that started at the end of 2016. We have had our share of events reminiscent of HGTV horror episodes, workplace drama, a forced mid-life career change, several mishap trips to the ER, food allergies, home flooding and destruction of half our home, and growing pains of transitions to new environments - new school (for Liam) and a new work (for me). However through it all, we have managed to keep up the climbing, incorporating short tripshere and there, and kids manage to find ways to have fun regardless of the situations. At the end of the year, we've grown a little more resilient and adaptive. So.. all in all... it's been a good, challenging year, though, I must say, I'm looking forward to 2017 ending, and for the 2018 new year to begin.
Some highlights this year were :
* Emilia became a backup drummer for a band one day night
* Connie completed her 2017 New Years Resolution of 365+ miles in a year and completed a legit, outdoor roof-style V3.
* Kids are becoming more independent and better at climbing. Emilia participated on a climbing team for a short stint. She became belay certified, and technically, the kids can climb on their own.
* Ryan continues to consistently train and build his climbing skill level. We're optimistic a legit, outdoor V8 is within his reach. And he's got our home gym underway...
* And the kids continue to be the best of friends, and worst of enemies...
With this holiday season, we are happy to have a breather and catch up, at least a little. Wishing our friends and family good health and cherished moments of happiness.
These are cuties.. "Valentine Cuties" that the kids and I worked together in creating cute, healthy treats for them to give to their friends at school.
I almost caved to buying a pack of pre-made Valentines cards. I mean, after all, it is quick and easy. These Valentine Cuties took two evenings to put together. The kiddies helped with cutting out hearts, writing and signing a "cutie" note, gluing pieces together, counting and lining up the cutie characters, and helping hold the cellophane while I tied the knot.
While I won't say spending two evenings was fun, I will say the results are very satisfying. The kids and I had crafty art time together. We had teamwork, in putting together the pieces. We created from simple things from home. We made gifts! It felt good not to be passing out candy, and I hope it helped make the act of giving a more personal experience for the kids. Each Valentine Cutie was unique in its own way... foot position, heart message, and of course, smiley face!
--> Behind the Scenes : Sakurada 2015 Holiday Card
This year, and future years to come, I want the kids to be an active part of holiday traditions. The kids helped put up and decorate our Charlie Brown tree (while only managing to knock it over twice). They also assisted with putting up a garland of holiday cards strung across our living room window. When it came time for getting our holiday cards done, I also wanted them to have a hand in it. So this year, we went back to the basics.. homemade holiday cards, which also made for great craft time! (Also reason as to why we're late!)
Kids at work.
--> Year in Review : 2015
2015 was another typical busy year (I know.. it's a re-occurring theme every year!), juggling various schools, work, and activities on top of basic responsibilities. It has had its ups and downs, struggles and joys, successes as well as failures, and always, always never enough time.
Kids with their Charlie Brown Xmas tree & presents.
Emilia started kindergarden this year, and she loves it. The social butterfly walks into school and gets greetings from everyone. It's pretty amazing to see her personality shine in an environment that is her own. Liam has had to learn to be in preschool without his older sister. It took a little bit, but now Liam has found a few best buddies to play super heros with. While the kids each have their own lives and school environments, Ryan and I are still learning how to be supportive parents and to be involved in our kids' community - volunteering for school, meeting other parents, etc.
Camp/Climb Trip May,2015
In spite of juggling everyones' schedules, Ryan and I have been able to somewhat maintain regular rock climbing. Though I'm sure it is at a sacrifice of time for possibly something else (friends, family, sleep, food-lunch/dinner times). This year we were able to do a couple of family camping/climbing trips (Priest Draw in Flagstaff,AZ and Kraft Boulders in Red Rocks, Las Vegas) where we spent days climbing and hanging out at the boulders. At times when climbing outdoors just didn't fit either due to weather or timing, we would tour rock climbing gyms, sometimes meeting friends or famous climbers along the way.
Aside from us, there was lots going on with our friends, family, and the world. Lots of heavy stuff to think about and really reflect on life and what we can do in spite of things that seem out of our realm. The Syrian refugee crisis, the terrorist attacks, both my kids had lock down drills at school, military friends that were deployed as we followed in snippets of their experience and their families, grandma passing, and news of reoccurring cancer to Emilia and Liam's cousin Luke (age 15).
Luke, Spencer, Emilia, & Liam, 2012
--> Important Sidenote : A Request
The best present the kids can have is a chance to have a future with their cousin. I don't know who reads this blog (other than grandparents) but by chance we do have friends and family reading, Luke really needs a bone marrow match. Please please consider being a bone marrow donor and help spread the word. The test is easy, simply 4 cotton swabs of the inside of your cheek.
Obviously 2015 had a lot going on around us that really brought us back to evaluating life, values, and our priorities. How do we go about teaching our kids resilience through fear and hardships? Appreciation for the simple basic joys of life, and not to take what they have for granted?
The "Less is More" motto has resonated a lot recently... less stuff, less distractions and more doing. The kids actually are a lot better than adults about that and they teach us a lot. They already have minimal toys and spend most of their time MacGyvering things to fit their imagination. They get excited when they see a puffy funny shaped cloud, or a moving train while we are driving on the road. On our camping trips, we give them a shovel and nature is their sandbox and play yard. So for 2016, the goal is to get the parents inline with the values we stress for the kids. Luckily the rock climbing life style fits in very well with this. =)
Kids, shovels, and the outdoors.
This quote that I came across Facebook one day sums it up, and as 2016 starts up, this is a continued focus.
"Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is a way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself."
-Gregg Braden
Kids painting the inside of a paper bag. (Thanks Carey for the great idea!)
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Maya Angelou
Happy Holidays everyone! And wishing you all many simple, ordinary moments that take your breath away in 2016!
2014 was a year of typical daily life, but filled with lots of kiddie shenanigans. The kids are at a great age where it doesn't matter where we are or what we do, they can find fun and laughter in just about anything with their wild imaginations. (Something we can learn from them!) It is good since we didn't really go much anywhere or do much anything! =) The consistency of routine helped make life manageable between juggling our work loads, Connie's intensive PT/rehab, and the kids' schedules. We still have our challenges, especially with time management, but it was a great year where being routine was monumental in slowing down the hectic feel of life with kids and allowed for all of us to have both, individual and family growth.
Liam transitioned from being a toddler to a little boy. He said good-bye to his toddler days, moving out of his crib and into a big-boy bed. Growing up is hard to do at times, and he had to part ways with the binkie. Preschool turned out to be an easy transition, despite his initial hesitation. The hustle and bustle of all the kids at school can be overwhelming, but luckily Liam has an independent nature like his parents, and he does not mind doing his own thing. Just like dad, Liam loves any kind of motorized vehicle as they bonded watching motorcycle races at Laguna Seca and checking out mini-motos.
Emilia has always had a natural big sis tendency towards Liam, but this year, she realized he makes a great partner in crime. The two combined have become the "Double Trouble", scheming up imaginary adventures to share together. They fight as hard and as much as they play wild together. In fact, the parental units are thinking of sending them to jujitsu so they learn to "wrestle out" their arguments. Emilia is a veteran at school now, showing Liam the ropes. She loves going to school and has a group of close girl friends. She loves princesses, as do the rest of her gal pals, but we also project our influences, so she and Liam are fans of Ninja Warrior, especially Kacy Cantazaro. They play obstacle games and run races together, and many times Emilia will do them in her princess dresses.
Connie, 2014 was a year of recovery, with a main focus on ACL rehab with a goal of running the Spartan Beast around the 1 year post-ACL surgery mark. Obsessive personality is a positive attribute in this area as it fueled the discipline needed to consistently do physical therapy rehab on top of strength and endurance training. Life was defined only by 3 aspects - juggling time with kids & Ryan, work, and multitude of gym memberships. Knee has recovered, but the injury left imbalances that indirectly causes other minor injuries. All in all though, improvements are made. Maybe 2015 will be the injury-free year!
Ryan maintains being the rock of the family - helping Liam, Emilia, or Connie with whatever comes up. There is always a list of home improvement projects to do, with priorities that jump up due to circumstances, like setting up obstacles for Connie to practice on pre-race and hopefully not injure anything else, or when the raccoons came to terrorize the backyard... Ryan was set on a mission to deter them (in a safe way) from hanging around - setting up motion sensing automatic sprinkler and metal tree guards to prevent them climbing up. There were nights he would go on stake-outs for raccoons and try to scare them off. Ryan is non-stop in keeping our home organized and our lives organized. This year he manages to fit rock climbing in regularly, and we are slowly making it a new family routine.
2014 was consistent busy-ness that helped to form good foundation of solid habits for all of us. One of the traits of highly successful people is that they develop good habits - make their beds, clean up right away, make lists/plans for their day/week/month/year and work on it regularly, becoming a habit of progress. Working out became like brushing one's teeth... just do it without thinking. The kids naturally gravitate towards organization and clean up.. as much as kids can. =) All in all, we are very grateful for the year we have had in 2014. We sympathize with friends and family that we have seen go through hardships this year and those that will be continuing hardships. Keep pushing forward, one step, one day at a time.
Wishing you happiness and laughter all the days in 2015!
Looks like the company I ordered our holiday cards from sent us cards for the wrong family! So, if they can get us the cards by tomorrow, then you may just get a snail mail holiday greeting from us.. or from us, but of another family, hehe. If not, then this Holiday Card post will have to do! =P
Merry Christmas! And here's a bunch of holiday card photo out-takes.
We spent one day photographing all the kiddie's activities to hopefully get something decent for our holiday card. These are some of Emilia's out-takes of her play session while Liam was taking a nap.
I grew up as an only child, and my parents taught me that in my culture, cousins are just like brothers and sisters, and family always is fa...
About
Ryan and Connie officially began our journey in life together (wedded bliss) on August 1, 2009. This blog chronicles our journey through whatever life throws at us.
On February 27, 2010, we welcomed a new addition to the family: Emilia Ying-Zhi. She tipped the scales at 7 lbs 2 oz, and measured in at 19-3/4".
Liam Noboru joined the family on October 20, 2011. His fighting weight is 7 lbs 4 oz with a length of 19-1/2".
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