5 Hours at KidSpace

Last weekend, we met 5 of my coworkers, their spouses and kids (9 months - 3 years old) at the KidSpace Museum in Pasadena. We got really lost going there because the directions on their website are not correct (take note). Anyways, I had been hearing about it for a long time and wanting to go. We had a fun day. Unfortunately our timing was a little off with Maiya running our show, so we didn't really get to spend much time with friends from work, so the pictures make it seem like we went by ourselves. Next time I will be sure to get a group picture when we arrive!

Maiya looking at the insects and shouting, "pica pica pica" which I thought in Spanish meant bugs or insects, but it actually means bite, but it's something that all the kids at childcare say when they see the humongous roaches outside in the playyard at childcare.

We spent a lot of time, and when I say a lot, I mean hours, at the outdoor play area for kids under 4. They had cool water toys and of course Maiya's favorite, slides. She wanted to ride the mini-tricycles, it seemed, but once she got on the helmet, she didn't want to ride.

Back inside, Maiya and Tony went up the climbing towers, it goes several stories high. I don't know how high, but about mid-way, I saw Tony crawling through it because the levels were so close together. A long time later when they re-emerged, Tony came out sweating.

We also spent a lot of time in the indoor kids play area, it was so fun to see Maiya squeal with delight when we entered the room of all soft and cushy things and lots of shopping carts to push and cushions to bounce off of. Here we are reading a book under the canopy, and wondering if the girl will ever nap. By the way, if it looks like she is hoarding toys, she is.

Here are Josh and Jolynn, along with their one year old Tomie. They organized the outing on our work/parents club listserve. Here they are on their way out of the museum. I think their family kind of looks like ours. Jolynn is JA and Josh is a hapa dude like Tony, which makes our girls both 3/4 JA. Josh had come up with a term for them, which I'm trying to remember at the moment. Something like "hapa hapa" or "half a hapa." Another famous "hapa hapa" is my former boss and friend, Nobuko.

Here we are outside in the parking lot. Because we were having a family dinner about 20 minutes away, we ended up hanging out about 2 1/2 hours after we were done with the place. While it was tiring, it was nice to have no agenda and to just hang out. Tony took a whole roll of film camera, and lots of video, and i took a ton of digital pictures. Maiya had been carrying this red balloon for a long time, running with it and then just as we were trying to take pictures, the balloon escaped into the sky. We had been trying to tie it onto something, but Maiya insisted on holding it and wouldn't let us put it around her wrist. So, here we are saying goodbye to the balloon.

Here we are in San Gabriel after dinner for Uncle Bill's birthday. Unusual for Tony's family, we went to someplace new and different, a Chinese food restaurant that Uncle Bill had read about in the newspaper. Maiya was of course, having a good time being the center of attention. Her legs aren't short, they're just bent in that photo, in case you are wondering.

Ok, that's the report for last week's day for Maiya. I'm enjoying finding the balance between doing stuff as a family that combines activism, cultural and kid-friendly, and I think we're doing pretty well. I'm off to continue nursing my weeklong illness (see comment from my last post if you care) and do some homework for my online class (which I'm dreading because it's getting crazy).

APIs Against the War this Sat.

Supporting Ehren Watada (waiting for 2nd courtmartial) & Agustin Aguayo (who just received 8 months in military prison for refusing to fight in Iraq)... we plan to join the March to End the War this weekend. Can't believe it's going to be 4 years since the war started. Peace. Out.

Singing

Here is video of Maiya singing in the car. After the Marathon, after having dim sum in Chinatown. Tony seems embarrassed by the fact that I put this on YouTube. He thinks it's something only a mother could love.

Tony Bikes 23 miles (& Blogs About it)

I made it—all 23 bike-peddling miles. The week before I was worried I wouldn’t make it. I even told my friend and day’s riding partner, Glen Kitayama, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get something to eat with him after the ride. Turn down food? I surprised him. He’s done the ride 10 times, but I had visions of cramped legs, gasping for air, feeling nauseous, and losing bodily functions.

Friends asked if I trained for the ride. I told them I didn’t want to over train and burn out, so I’d stopped lifting weights in my early 20s, stopped bike riding in my 30s, and was resting and carbo-loading nightly for the last 15 years.

Truth was, I hadn’t ridden more than 20 miles since the 80s and it’s been over 12 monthly $50 payments to the YMCA since I last got on a stationary bike. But for Great Leap, I’d do it. No problem.

I got up at 4am and tried not forgetting anything like my helmet, water and an extra inner tube. I did forget my air pressure gauge and was too scared to fully fill up my 100 psi tires at the gas station. Better to ride with some extra effort than blow up a tire and have to change.

At 5am I parked in front of Foshay Learning Center on 37th and Western to meet Glen. I started teaching Foshay over 11 years ago. He thought I was going to be late and brought a book to read. I told him I was worried he’d be Nisei and show up 15 minutes early.

It was dark and cold. Glen had nice long-legged riding pants, a long sleeved riding jersey and a windbreaker. I had denim shorts and two t-shirts on. He also had a really fancy 24-speed road bike. I had my Brompton 3-speed folding bike. It’s world renowned as a “folder,” but not an asphalt burner.

By 6am we were in a giant line/mass of people near the starting line in Exposition Park. After 4 minutes of fireworks (not so cool for neighborhood folks trying to get some sleep) everyone inched their way forward. Around 6:15am with music and a PA system blaring we crossed the starting line and headed east on King Blvd. All kinds of peoples were riding: kids on BMXes, dudes on cruisers, ladies on mountain bikes, college students on city bikes, families towing toddler trailers and your standard roadies with black tights and colorful jerseys.

Glen said the key to the ride is not falling. Not only are there lots of riders, but it’s especially dangerous when you hit a hill and some riders slow down or stop and others come up from behind. It’s a bad combination. He also warned me about taking turns in the same arc as others.

By 6:25am I saw my first accident happen and it wasn’t pretty. Somehow a lady lost control on a straightaway and did a header. Her friend braked hard and another rider bumped into her and yelled, “Don’t stop like that!” The whole thing kind of freaked me out for a minute because everything was cool and people were bopping along all pumped up, and then suddenly, Bam! Crash and burn.

The first 4-5 miles around King, Central Ave. and Jefferson Ave. were around where some of my students live. It was early and only a few people were out cheering.

This was also around the time my butt bone started hurting. I raised my seat a bit and it helped, but for the rest of the day it was tender. Not bad, but a little uncomfortable. Luckily I never got winded. My legs got a little heavy about a third of the way in, but then it went away.

The toughest part of the ride was a sharp left turn onto 5th Street off of Figueroa. It rose west over the 110 Freeway. It was a steep hill and it bottled necked with slowing riders. About half of us got off our bikes to walk, but Glen was one of those who kept peddling and wove their way up. Later on 6th Street it was up a mixture of downshifting uphill and coasting and tapping the brakes downhill.

Volunteers were out in numbers and started handing out water and Gatorade. I was eyeing that Gatorade. All I had for breakfast was water and a banana. Unfortunately, the Brompton has tiny 16-inch wheels and a short wheelbase. It’s quick steering and doesn’t lend itself to no-hands or one-handed riding. Not wanting to crash, I passed on those little green cups and the sorority girls passing them out. I thought it would have been cool to ride by, grab one with one hand, swig it down and throw it away like they do in the movies.

It was somewhere on 6th Street that Glen said that we were past the halfway mark. I felt good physically and knew I’d make it—if I didn’t fall. That’s why I didn’t mess with that Gatorade.

The course weaved back and forth through East Koreatown and Pico Union along Olympic, Pico and Venice. When we hit Normandie, I knew it was straight down to Exposition and over to Vermont to the finish. That’s when my fear of nausea and rubbery limbs faded. I started thinking about food again. Our plan was to go to Tak’s Coffee Shop, a Japanese American breakfast joint over in the Crenshaw Square.

On Exposition, just before Vermont, the pace slowed with riders. I saw a yellow archway and asked Glen if that was the finish line. It was! We crossed the finish line and a young Asian kid holding a bullhorn and dressed in Jr. ROTC camouflages meekly announced something like, “Keep moving forward, people.” It was a little anticlimactic. Glen and I laughed. No double overtime Chick Hearn ending and no yellow ribbon ripping across the chest, flashbulbs popping or giant digital clock documenting the moment. But I was happy. I wasn’t chafed.

At Exposition Park, another line 15 bikers wide formed and it took almost 40 minutes getting our medals and making our way out. As we headed back to Foshay to get the cars I hoped to run into a few of my old Kindergarten and First Grade students who are now in high school.

A short drive later we slid into a booth at Tak’s for some hot links, eggs, rice and sourdough bread. Jenni’s Auntie Keiko works at the restaurant and without us knowing, kindly picked up our tab. “Very Nisei” Glen said.

I had a great time riding and hanging out with Glen, who was cool enough to ride at my pace. Of course raising money for Great Leap sweetened the day. I’ll ride again next year. Maybe Jenni and I can borrow a bike trailer and bring Maiya along.

LA Marathon with GL

It took 45 minutes to park. People were finished before we even started!
Maiya rode in the stroller more than halfway through the 5K.

Here were are on San Pedro Street near the old Japanese produce market. Maiya walked from 9th & Central to 11th & Grand at her own pace, waving to Fashion District workers cheering us on, then I carried her to Figueroa & 12th.

At the 5K finish line with Shobo, Nobuko & Donna. Notice we're all alone. We were almost the last people there. They were pulling down cones behind us.

We made it! We love LA!

Meeting up with Great Leapers who biked 23 miles at Empress Pavillion.

Comparing medals with daddy back at home!

We helped Great Leap raise a lot of money and we had a great time. We didn't see any TV cameras on the 5K, but we saw lots of families, hundreds of people walking from Ability First and Runners for Justice. It is possible that Maiya was the youngest walker of the day (we saw lots of babies in strollers though) walking about a mile by herself, and crossing the finish line on foot. On the other side of town, Tony did great finishing the 23 miles bike ride in about 2 hours with no training. We're looking forward to doing it again next year!

Happy Valentine's Grandpa!

The day before my dad's birthday, which happens to be Valentine's Day, Maiya and I drove out to visit my parents on my day off. We went out to celebrate Mom's Belated Bday and Dad's Bday by going to a Japanese restaurant. Maiya was a little nutso that evening. We also got to visit my friend Kaz and her daughter Sklyer Mariko who live right down the street from my parents' house. We had a nice time hanging out and playing with the girls. When we left, Maiya gave Skyler and the dog Summit a hug.

Great Leap Fundraising update: The LA Marathon is this Sunday. It's not too late to sponsor us--in fact it would be great if you would sponsor Tony! I've gotten about 30 sponsors so far, thanks to generous friends, family, and 20 of my LTSC coworkers. But Tony is just getting started... Tony's going to be riding 23 miles in the Bike Marathon. Let us know if you'd like to sponsor him!

MG Meets Elmo in the OC (Tony Blogs)

On the weekends, Maiya usually ends up doing what we’re doing. She’s usually along for the ride when we’re at community events, shopping, kicking back, etc. So when Jenni said we needed to start planning more of our days around Maiya, I had to agree. So today we drove on down to the Orange County Discovery Science Center for the traveling exhibit, Sesame Street Presents: The Body. Within the Science Center, there’s a Sesame Street themed, child-friendly take on the body and its functions. Pretty cool stuff for young kids.

We weren’t the only parents spending the day with their kid. The place was packed. The line for tickets was long, but luckily moved fast. Once inside, parked strollers were herded together like a drive-in movie. Older kids darted here and there and one 6-year old girl slid in front of me and took over the exhibit joystick I was working. I was powerless. Adults were merely traffic cones to be avoided. Teams of toddlers ran the first floor and the under 10 crowd controlled the second. Think suburban “Lord of the Flies” meets “Romper Room” with 1/2 the lights on and 4-times the kids—but in a nice way.

Highlights for Maiya were shopping for toy vegetables and fruits at Mr. Hooper’s grocery store, running through the soft-padded obstacle course for kids under five, and pressing the buttons at all the exhibits, even if she was too short to see what they were actually doing.

After about an hour and a half, we made it out alive, resisting the onsite clutches of Pizza Hut Express and Taco Bell. We also didn’t have any meltdowns leaving the gift shop. We ended on a high note with the family taking a picture with a Bert, from Bert & Ernie fame. He’s much taller in person.

Our next outing will probably be to the LA County Museum of Natural History where I just got a family membership through The HeArt Project. We also need to check out the Museum of Science and Industry. And of course there’s the LA Zoo. If you have any ideas about places to take toddlers around Southern California, let us know.

Support GL in the LA Marathon!

It's Saturday, 11 am and 80 degrees. Whoo hoo! Maiya has a bit of a cold today. Five toddlers from childcare have come down with hand, foot, mouth virus, and I think it's possible she and I have a light case of it. It's very contagious.

Oh! I need to blog about the LA Marathon coming up in 2 weeks... KuidaOsumi is going to be participating in it this year! No, no, we're not running the 26 miles. Instead, Tony is going to be riding in the Bike Marathon, while Maiya and I will be walking/strollering in the 5K. We're doing it as a fundraiser for Great Leap.

LA Marathon Fundraiser for Great Leap!
Sponsor our bikers and joggers, or join us!

We've been stuck at our desks waaaay too long! Along with several friends, we are going to be riding our bikes/walking at the L.A. Marathon on March 4 – joining 15,000 other riders for the L.A. Marathon Acura L.A. Bike Tour. In addition to fun, exercise, and a unique Los Angeles experience, our group is riding to raise funds for your favorite arts org... Great Leap!

I would be thrilled if you would sponsor me on our ride/walk! Your contribution will be put to use immediately in support of Great Leap's programming and you’ll get a letter from Great Leap thanking you for your tax-deductible contribution.

Just email me, or send me a comment below, and you can sponsor me & Maiya in the walk at $1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $10 per kilometer (or more) for the 5 kilometers (or sponsor Tony for biking the 23 miles). Whatever you can donate is wonderful. We’ll send you an email confirming our completion of the event, but feel free to send your check earlier if that is convenient. You may send your donation check directly to:

Great Leap, Inc.
1145 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100-D
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Attn. ArtRider

Or, you can send it to me and I'll turn them in. either way is fine with me, but please let me know if you would like to sponsor us!

Also, if you would like to join the L.A. marathon as a runner, rider or walker and help raise funds for Great Leap, please register online at www.lamarathon. com and then visit www.greatleap. org to get instructions and a sponsor form – it would be great to have you along!

Other riders so far:
Glen Kitayama
Jorge Diaz

Sponsors so far:
Ayako
Letty & Paul

Maiya's 2nd Bday Party

Elmo Cake... What else?

Cousins Kieth and Kaylee make Boboli pizza

Maiya with Auntie Nobuko eating fruits

Letty, Paul & Francisco eating BBQ!

Grandpa Walt & Grandpa Larry with Uncle Darin & Kevin

Keiko, Tina, Janice, Kyle, Danika, Nina, Clarissa, Grandpa, Kevin

With Nobuko, Tarabu & Mamie (97 years young)

Blowing out the candles, make a wish!

Maiya's birthday party was chaotic! A small, mostly family gathering wound up with over 30 people. The good thing is that it forced us to clean the house, organize the office/den, and clear out the backyard (from construction mess). Tony made teriyaki chicken, salmon and BBQ kabocha, red peppers, jalapenos, zucchini, potatoes, macaroni, cheese & wieners, the kids made Boboli pizza, my mom brought fruit platter, Nobuko brought a green salad, I made rice, and we ordered sushi and chow mein.

I wondered if Maiya knew that the party was for her. She had so much fun playing with all her cousins and friends. By the time the presents and cake time happened, she got it. We had a good time, but it went so fast, and Tony & I were so busy the entire day. I think next year we will have to move the location or think of something different. The important thing is that we got to spend time with friends and family, and Maiya had a great time.

As I reflect on the last two years, my heart fills with happiness at how I got so lucky. Maiya brings so much joy and fun to our lives, and makes our community and political work even more meaningful. I look forward to watching her grow and learn and live and love.

More Maiya videos (Part 2 & 3)

Maiya and Chango Play Gimme 5


Maiya and Daddy Play Touch Your Chin

KuidaOsumi Supporting War Resisters

On Saturday, we went to the "Stop the Illegal & Unjust War in Iraq/Support our Soldiers Courage to Resist" Vigil/March and Program in Little Tokyo. We went because we wanted to show our support for Lt. Ehren Watada who is the first military officer who refused to go to Iraq. The military wants to make an example of him and he faces 4 years in military prison, 2 years for speaking out against the war in public. We also went because we support Spc. Agustin Aguayo, who is the first one to apply for conscientious objector status. He actually went to Iraq, but refused to put ammunition in his guns (or something like that).

Watada's court martial trial began yesterday in Ft. Lewis, Washington. Some of our friends from NCRR went up to Washington so that they could attend the trial. But the judge has refused to allow any evidence about the illegality of the war, only whether or not he made public statements and refused to serve. A few months ago, we were able to attend an event where Watada's parents spoke about his courageous decision to stand up and speak out.

Anyways, we were busy cleaning the house and getting ready for Maiya's birthday party the following day, but it was important to us to take Maiya to this event. Tony made a little pin for her with the peace sign and the words "Support War Resisters" with two little Hello Kitty stickers on it.

It was great to see so many of our community friends, and even cooler to be on a peace march through Little Tokyo, our "home" base. Speaking of which, the march went right past the Little Tokyo Mural, and Tony got some great pictures of people walking by the mural... At the program following the march, Nobuko, Olmeca and Quetzal performed, along with our friends Traci Kato-Kiriyama and Ruben Guevara.

For more info about Lt. Ehren Watada, see http://www.thankyoult.org

@ Childcare and @ Office

Here are some photos of Maiya en route to childcare where she goes 4 days a week, outside playing in the yard of her childcare center, and after hours at my work. The first photo is from a few weeks ago, the rest are from her birthday on Thursday.

Maiya in the car eating cereal & sipping agua.

Maiya with her primary caregiver,
who she's been with since she was 9 months old.

Maiya with her friend. They greet each other with
a kiss and hug every morning then they run off together.

Maiya having fun in the yard at childcare.

After childcare, we go to the office to hang out a bit.
Here we are with Justin, who now goes to preschool.

After hours visiting with Davis, Devin, Jennifer & Helen.

For Fran

Recently, we watched the video from our baby shower. Tony's mom's main words of wisdom for us was, "Best to breastfeed for two years." Nothing that the World Health Organization wasn't saying, and yet as of 1998, only 29% of moms in this country still breastfeed after 6 months. (See www.gotmom.org)

I am happy to say that at 2, Maiya is a poster child for extended nursing. She is independent, not clingy or developmentally challenged. Yes, she has age-appropriate tantrums. But she has never taken any medication stronger than Infant Tylenol or Motrin, relying on "mama's milk" to keep her healthy. Doesn't mean she never catches cold, because she has had her share of runny noses and icky coughs, but she has never had the flu, and has only had a few mild fevers.

So, this video (which is Part 1 of a 6 Part You Tube series on guess who), is dedicated to Fran. We thank her for her years of experience as a nurse midwife, prenatal care policy expert, breastfeeding advocate, and of course, for providing support and encouragement at Maiya's birth.



And the photo below, is a gift that I bought for Maiya's birthday and my 2nd year birthing anniversary. It's a made to order pair of wool felted dolls, a brown-skinned Mama doll with nursing toddler doll in our likeness, made by my friend Julie. See her online shop: (Julie's Lactation Nation).

Looking Back... 2 years

Happy 2nd Birthday to Maiya Grace!

Here is our first family picture 2/1/05.

And here she is a year ago...

Can't believe how fast time flies. Seems like only a short time ago.
Little did we know then how much she would change our lives.
Life is good. Really good.

@ Home

Yum, Mama made me pancakes for breakfast!

Just sitting in my Elmo chair, and doing the alphabet.
Daddy taught me the letters "M," "O," "A" and "B"

Helping Daddy make Boboli Pizza in the kitchen

Just hanging out... watching some late night TV

It's amazing to me that Maiya is going to be two years old this week. She is more animated and talkative every day. She has an amazing memory and loves pulling out toys and dragging them from room to room. Everywhere I am, she wants to be. Today, Playdough was the fun of the day. Lately, she has been helping Tony make dinner, and it is so cute how she wants to be involved in whatever we are doing. Whining has become frequent, as she always knows what she wants, but doesn't have all the words yet to go with it. Luckily, she is good at sign language, pantomime and pointing, and we most often can figure out what it is that she wants. She is full of energy, running throughout the house, yelling and squealing. While it's exhausting, it is my greatest joy to watch her play.

@ Play

Here are some recent pictures of Maiya at play. I've been trying to go to the park or somewhere every week either on my day off or on the weekend. We've been enjoying our little outings. Maiya loves playing in the sandbox, riding down the slide, and running around the park. Last weekend we went to the Marina park to see the boats, but what really got her boat was running around and chasing the seagulls and pigeons.