Parking Garages and Japan Trips

We were in a parking garage the other day, and I told John that underground parking garages always remind me of going to Japan, because we would stay in the Hilton and leave our car in the garage. The only other parking garage I ever went to when we were little was the one at the mall, but it didn't have that same echo and parking garage smell.

Other memories of Japan trips? Leave comments!

When Jackson was born

I am pretty sure I am missing most of these pictures, so Eimi and I will have to hunt them down. Unfortunately I didn't get to be there when this cutie was born, which I was quite sad about. Such a doll!

When Alexis Kei was born

 Eimi, you'll need to write more about this when you get a chance. But I'll start with what I remember...

Eimi had been in labor for a while and we were all on pins and needles waiting for Alexis! Mom finally sent me home and told me to go to sleep because Alexis wasn't coming any time soon. I was woken up at around 6am by a phone call saying they were going to do a c-section and to head over to the hospital. When I got there, we still couldn't see anyone, so we went out to breakfast. And I recall when I got back that Eimi was mad at us for going to breakfast without her, and not even bringing her anything! She had a good point, since she was the one doing this:

First feeding.

The proud grandparents 

Sleepy Grandpa Takao, in love with his first grandbaby!

 Darlingest newborn picture ever. Such angels (both of them!).

When Keishi was born, picture version.

You can read Keishi's blurb here. In this edition, we actually get to see Mom in labor! She is looking rather perky, don't you think?

Mr. Kermit himself.

And these pictures are labeled as being later the same day. Is that true mom? He is looking a little too big and too awake in those bottom photos to be less than a day old...

When Mom became a Mom

Mom wrote a few lines about Eimi's birth in this post.

This is so beautiful! Happy Mother's Day =)

Ramada Inn

Mom and Kathy's adventure at the super-trashy Vallejo Ramada this week reminded me of staying in the Ramada and other local hotels when we were little. I remember at least once when Mom and Dad picked us up from school with our bags packed and we went on "vacation" to the Motel 6 or Solvang or some such place. It was always really exciting to get to go swimming and hang out in the "fancy" hotel room.

Anything to add?

Three million...

Remember Mom and Dad used to promise that they would pay us each a million dollars if they ever got divorced, and that they would never be able to afford it? I am curious as to how that came up. It always made me really happy though; I'm grateful for the security I always had in their marriage, even when everything else was crazy.

When Eimi was born.

Having a baby in Japan is a real adventure. In the day, most hospitals wouldn't allow the dad in for the labor and delivery, but since we had a Japanese dad and an a foreign mom, and Daddy was Lamaze certified, they let him in. Daddy was a good coach clear up almost to the end. In the delivery room he started to chat with the doctor while I continued to hyperventilate and go numb. Flailing my numb arm around to get his attention, I accidentally hooked his collar and brought him down to his knees. That got his attention and brought him down to eye level with me. He then handed me a paper sack to breathe into.

When all was said and done and Eimi Sue had arrived, to my surprise the doctor hustled over to congratulate Daddy, not me. And what was he congratulating him on? Not fainting and splitting his head open on the gas tanks the way the last Japanese father had.

3's Company

Being a sibling trio worked out well for certain things. Our dance, for example, cannot be replicated with two or four. Also, our system of laying on each other's backs in the back seat on road trips. Remember that? 

Down-sides to being a trio? Somehow I was always the one in the middle with two people laying on me =).

Does this trigger any random memories for you guys?

Playing on Polk Street

Okay, I really want to get this started, so help me out here. When I think of Eimi, KJ, and myself on Polk Street, I mostly think of playing outside while Grandpa watched TV. And, for some reason, I always think of summer when I think of Polk Street. A few things that come to mind (additions please!):

-Splashing in the plastic pool and laying out in the back yard.
-Riding bikes all the time (also, the month I wasn't allowed to ride after my appendectomy; torture!). We were always trying to do tricks like standing up on the seat.
-Roller skating (also trying to do tricks).
-The one time a cherry grew on the cherry tree, and KJ ate it, then later Mom said no one should eat it because who knows what they had sprayed on that tree.
-Lots of "prunes" from the "prune trees."
-You never wandered into Muffin's corner of the back yard if you wanted to keep your shoes clean.
-One time I secretly planted some pumpkin seeds back by the shed and was super excited when they started to grow. I don't think we got any pumpkins though.
-When the house was for sale, Mom made us put up the tent in the back yard and play out there so that we wouldn't mess up the house.
-Running from the living room into the TV room and flipping over the back of the sofa.
-Lots of judo throws onto the couch.
-Setting up a "car wash" in the front yard, which meant two of us crawled along the walkway, and the other sprayed them different ways with the hose.
-Lots of running through the sprinklers and washing the car.
-Going for walks with Grandpa and Muffin.
-Jumping off the triple bunk beds in Rosie's room.
-Summers at Paul Nelson Pool.
-Listening to reruns of All in the Family, I Love Lucy, and other Nick at Nite shows emanating from Grandpa's room.
-Playing hide-and-seek with Muffin.
-The ice cream man.
-Being excited about getting to mow the lawn with Grandpa.