9 Pix of 3 Kids on a Hot Summer Night

Which one is your favorite?
Photos taken by Tony on a hot summer night in Pasadena.

Pasadena's Charming Obon

My summer thing is to go to as many Obons as possible, or at least go to some new ones every year. Last year, we did 8 Obon days... this year we're falling slightly behind, but we've done it while also going to Crestline to work on Larry's house 3 times this July. So far this year, we've been to Senshin, Venice Carnival, Nishi, Venice, Pasadena and West LA this year. I also enjoy doing a little compare and contrast, pointing out my favorites of each one, as each one is so different.
So Pasadena was my favorite this year, I think because it was my first time. It's not a very big one, compared to other obons, and they don't have a lot of games. But, it had a real small town feel and was very charming. For one, there were mature pine trees in a very old parking lot and the buildings are well-worn, so it had a rustic vibe, with the mountains close by. There didn't seem to be a lot of visitors from other obons you often see dancing, but seemed to be mostly locals (Mike saw several of his relatives there).

The Food: Their Spam Musubi far surpasses any other I've had, with good tasting teriyaki Spam, and some kind of green salty nori inside, good rice texture, and a steal, at $1.50 for a pair. I didn't taste the chicken ($7) but the kids liked it, and they had real roasted corn ($2), inside the husks, which was really tasty. Chow mein was Nisei-style, said Tony. It had a handful of pan fried noodles with vegetables, beef and sauce on top. They had a delicious cold somen ($4), which was great on a hot evening, and the kids loved it. I salivated over, but passed by the red velvet cupcakes and other baked treats. Maiya enjoyed shave ice ($2) I forget which flavor, and Amani & Leela had the pink lemonade shave ice. Texture was ok, but the flavor was sweet, and prices were lower than most. A nice touch was the free cold mugicha.
Another thing I liked was the odori intermission taiko performance. I thought it was the temple's group, but they turned out to be from Norwalk. I did enjoy dancing the last few dances with Laura, Leela and Maiya, although Maiya was upset because she didn't start dancing until the last song, and wanted to go back to get her odori clothes and I told her she didn't have time. Another nice thing was the encouragement for non-dancers like myself to go out and just have fun. Anyways, I enjoyed the evening--you could feel the love there on a balmy Sunday night in Pasadena.

Next post will be some cute pictures of the kids that Tony took, and I still need to post pictures from a few other obons, but it's late, and it's been a long day.

For Zeebah

For some reason, I thought of Zeebah, who is expecting twins with her partner, when I saw this video of Maiya at the dinner table from a few months ago and I thought she would enjoy it. Maybe it's just a glimpse what's to come.

Visitors and Playtime

A few weeks ago, Lianne came over with Baby Alia. She's a cutie, huh?

Later that afternoon, Lauren came over for a playdate.
Maiya and Lauren have been friends since they were 9 months old.

Lauren and Maiya talking into the cassette recorder.

Lauren and Maiya kicking it at the park.

Helping daddy change bike tires in the backyard.

Did I mention we got a new card reader? Lots of back(b)log on the photos.

Friendly faces at Nishi Obon 2009

Welcome to the Nishi Obon!
Preschoolers behind the stage waiting to perform.

Peanut, peanut butter, and jelly!
Maiya Grace in her yukata

The Cousins' Entourage

Snowcone #1 (Rainbow) - with Tula & her friend from Boston

Odori break with Grandma & Grandpa's Snowcone (#2)

Sharing snow cones (#3) made by Daddy with Skyler Mari-chan

Nishi Obon this year was really about family and friends. So, thank you to Auntie Keiko, Chiz, Grandma Machi, Auntie Gayle, Kieth, Kaylee, Ronnie, Leeta, Uncle Darin, Auntie Sao, Kyle, Kevin, their bachan and grandpa, Auntie Nobuko, Emily, Scott, Tula and their friends from Boston for coming to see Maiya's class perform. Then later, after we ate, Grandpa Walt, Kaz, Skyler, Baby Gavin & their bachan & grandpa (I forget what you call grandpa in Japanese) came to join us in odori dancing. Thanks everyone for coming long distances on such a hot day.

Tony took the shift in the Preschool Snow Cone booth this year. We saw lots of friends at obon this year, and it was fun to see all the preschool parents and kids enjoying/working the obon. We were there for over 6 hours and it was a hot and exhausting day... no nap for the weary, well, actually daddy took a nap in the air conditioned bingo room, but Maiya sure could have used one. Her mood went up and down throughout the day, down when we said no more games, and up when friends came or snowcones appeared. We did participate in more dancing this year, about 6-7 dances. Daddy joined us at the end for some tanko bushi, One plus One and the Shiawata Samba (?). We love summer, and we love Obon.

Backyard fun

Over the past few weeks, I have cleaned and moved Maiya's playhouse closer to the house. It was full of spiders and spider webs, and not used much. I also put some of our small pots next to the house to make it homier. Here is Maiya with her new garden window--beets and onion chives. She and her rabbit Kasha would love for you to visit.On Sunday, Maiya hosted a "7th birthday party" to herself, a few years early. Auntie Keiko brought over some new-out-of-the-box vintage toys, actual Tupperware Toys from 1979 and 1980. So we had a little fruit & cake party.
And this morning, we picked a ripe tomato and cucumber from our garden. The garden itself is not doing too well, I think it'll take a year or two to get the rich organic soil that I am hoping for. But, the compost is cooking, so hopefully that will make for a better garden next year.

4th Weekend

Nice to have a long weekend. Thursday, I was off and took Maiya to the LTSC work picnic. She had a good time. Then we went to swim class, worked out and over to The Wood Cafe for an all-organic dinner.

On Friday, we went up to Crestline to continue with clearing out Tony's dad's house. It's probably our 5th or 6th trip there. We made a lot of progress this time, sorting through things to keep, donate, recycle, give away, donating many boxes of things to the local thrift shop, and bringing home all the recycling. After we went to the thrift store, Tony went at it with the weed wacker, and I took Maiya to Lake Gregory for the first time. It was cute, it had a little beach. She had a lot of fun playing in the water and playing in the sand, err, dirt. Water was cold, but the day was hot in the sun. And I got to read a little of my book, "On Gold Mountain." On our way home, we stopped and had dinner with Mike in his front yard and hang out for a bit.

For the 4th, Tula, Scott and Emily (of Detroit/Boston/Seattle/LA) came by and we went to Jackson Market for lunch. The girls had a great time playing and spending time together. Me & Maiya went to the Culver City High School fireworks. We went with the little girls next door and their family. It was freezing out there on the soccer field, but we got to lay down and watch the fireworks. Maiya loved it. I wasn't so crazy about the America-rah rah, but I did like the green peace fireworks and the happy face fireworks, which I've never seen before.

Today, more cleaning and purging over here. Farmer's market, grocery shopping, laundry, all that fun stuff. Then tomorrow, it's back to work.

3 Hats

With other parents from Proyecto Pastorale

I went to the Early Learning Advocacy Day in Sacramento earlier this month and I was proud to wear 3 hats, one from Little Tokyo Service Center's Child Development program, the Asian and Pacific Islanders California Action Network, and as parent of a 4 year old preschooler. The morning was a mixture of speakers in the ECE field, parents, business community, and politicians. I learned that California is now 47th in the nation in per child spending, and will soon be 49th. We learned about updates on several bills and legislation.

I also sat up and listened when Carl Guardino from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group talked about the tale of two "states," the "haves and have nots" and the 3.1 million Latino/a children and their high school exit stats vs. white children. His advice to show how we in early childhood education "add value to the State of California" was a very clear message. I was also inspired by Kris Perry, the ED of First 5 California, who spoke about the "children who need preschool the most, don't have access to it."

We also spent the morning preparing for our legislative visits in the afternoon, my first time... my group went to visit Assemblymember John Perez' office. We had 3 parents from Boyle Heights in our group and it was wonderful to hear their stories and share in their first visit to Sacramento.

Overall, being part of close to 400 people from all over the state coming together was really special. The day helped me reflect on our infant toddler program in downtown LA and our preschool in Echo Park/Angelina Heights and feel proud about the work that we are doing with children and parents in our Family Literacy program.

supporting the (bento) art(s)

Here's a little look at the tri-level bento dinner from the JACCC fundraiser on Sunday night. The portions were delicate and minimalist, but delicious. And they gave us a reusable stretchy furoshiki to take home the clear bento box to use again. All around, it was a nice evening out.

Birds and the umm, seeds

In the car this morning:

MG: Mommy, how does a baby get in the mommy's belly?
JK: Uh, how does a baby get in the mommy's belly... Umm. (Restating the question to stall for time)
MG: Yes, how does the baby get in the mommy's belly?
JK: Um, the daddy puts a seed inside the mommy and then it starts to grow.
MG: Then how come it doesn't fall out?
JK: Um, it stays there until it's ready to be born.
MG: Oh! I thought you take the belly off and put the baby and then put the belly back on.
JK: No, not exactly. The baby grows inside the mommy's belly, or actually her uterus.
MG: Oh, ok. (Continues looking out the car window.)

(Photo by: Cherie Larice)

Play time: FBRB

I took Maiya to see a play on Saturday. It was "Frog Belly Rat Bone" produced by Rogue Artists Ensemble at the Ivy Substation, home of The Actor's Gang in Culver City. It was a last minute decision--I had mentioned the possibility to Maiya earlier that morning, but before making a promise, wanted to see whether she'd be awake/not so cranky (etc.) after shoe shopping (again) and a lunch date. As we were heading home, she said, "Hey are we going to see a play?" The timing was right, we were about a mile away and it was due to start in 15 minutes. The story, puppetry, set and costume design was terrific. The play was based on a book with the same name, about friendship, treasure hunting, and planting seeds in "Cementland." Maiya enjoyed it, and it was a nice way to spend the afternoon... here are some photos off my cell phone.

Before the showStar struck: Meeting "Pirate Boy"--one of the puppets in the cast after the show.

Shopping & other milestones

So, it seems, that Maiya loves shopping. Tonight, after Maiya's swim class we went to find some badly needed tennis shoes for her. But instead, we found other summer things on sale, like a new bathing suit $10, flip flops $2.50, and a new kicky little hot pink hat $4.99 (below). Everything was like, "Oh I want this." "Oh, I need that." It was the first time I ever took her into a dressing room to try on new clothes. Also, when we went to the Children's Place, we went straight to the back where I used to buy clothes for her when she was a baby/toddler (yes it's been that long since we've been in the mall). Who knew that we are out of the toddler clothes section and into the regular girl's section. Ay, it's all too fast.

And last night, Maiya announced that she would be spending the night in her bed, in her room, with the hall light on and door open, without mommy.

Anyways, we couldn't find any shoes, but Maiya was quite excited about meeting some new friends and big kids at Old Navy.
Since the move, haven't been able to find my card reader. So you have to settle for what I can pull off my cell phone. Sigh.

Letter to Granny Franny

Dictated by Maiya:

Dear Granny Franny,

I need to tell you some stuff. I have a lot of dogs like you. I hope you like that. And, um, umm, um, umm um, let me think what i'm going to tell her. Let's see here. I have a Baby Gaga doggy, i have a baby dog and her name is Baby Gaga. and I always go to school and do you know what my school name is? You don't? Oh. It's called Nishi Center. Nishhii Ccccenntteeerrr (sounds out the words). And I have a big dragon. And I have big bear too. And I even have a big big Elmo. Is that really funny? Yes, it is really funny. And I have a lot of toys. And dresses. And, daddy has a big wrench.

How are you? You're good? Great! And, um, I wanted to tell you shuplasch, schoot, scoop she gosh (etc.) Oh! I know what I should tell. You have a lot of shupp gashy gash. So how are you my scoopysy Granny Franny? You granny granny ganny fanny? And I used to have a sticker on my nose, an Obama sticker and I used to go to Legoland with my cousins and Grandma Machi and Grandpa Walt and everybody and my cousins, and my cousin came, Kaylee, Kiethy, and Kyle, and Kevin. They came and Auntie Gayle, and Auntie Lee, and Uncle Darin and Uncle Sao, and and um, and and um, and um, and Grandma Machi, and Grandpa Walt, I already said them, and and I like YouTube. I like Mommy the best. and then I say, and one more thing to tell you, and I'm saying "catch me if you can."

Love, Maiya

I hope you feel happy and glad for me.

Jenni's Journey on the Bike Marathon 2009

We did it! I can't believe I was able to complete the LA Bike Tour/Marathon on Monday, Memorial Day. The last two years I participated in the 5K Walk/Run with Maiya. Last year she was happily riding in the stroller for the first mile, but then got hungry, bored, cranky and vascillating between wanting to push the stroller, but not being able to push it straight, but being too tired to walk. On top of that, I had the flu, and turned out to have a high fever later that day.

This year I wanted to try the Bike Marathon. Having spent much of my 20s mountain biking, I wondered if I could do it, considering I hadn't been on my bike in over 15 years. My mountain bike was in too poor a condition to ride, but my husband Tony offered to give me his dad Larry's comfort bike--Larry passed away in February, so wouldn't be needing his bike anymore. Only problem is that it was up at his house in Crestline near Lake Arrowhead, and we hadn't had time to pick it up.

In the meantime, Nobuko began calling me urging me to begin training. My "training" consisted of inconsistent stretching, and 3 trips to to the gym to ride the stationary bike for 15 minutes each. During those gym practice rides, my knees and hip would hurt and I would never even break a sweat. My friend Lily joked that I would do anything to help raise money for Great Leap. She's right.

Then, on Saturday, 2 days before the ride, we woke up early and drove up to the mountains to pick up Larry's bike. On Sunday, the day before the ride, Tony pumped up the tires and set the bike out for me to take a test run. I took off down the street, going 3 long blocks, and back home... maybe 15 minutes. When I came back, I was wheezing and tired. I wondered out loud how many miles it was to the end of the block and back. Tony groaned. He had promised to ride with me, but I could see him dreading the ride.

Anyways, come Monday morning, Memorial Day, Tony and I woke up at 3:30 am, a mere 3 1/2 hours after going to sleep. As I got dressed in the middle of the night, I was a little bit excited, but pretty nervous. We left the house about 4:15 am, Tony had a tunafish sandwich, but I couldn't even think about food.

We arrived at Senshin Buddhist Temple, meeting 8 others from Great Leap who would be riding with us. We rode quietly and slowly in the dark from Senshin over to Exposition Park. When we arrived, I couldn't believe it. With bright lights blaring, we watched as 10,000 riders were lining up to start. We started about 5:10 am.
The first 2 miles down Exposition Park were crowded, with bike traffic causing us to ride slowly, although it seemed like it was downhill. Not expending much energy, I felt pretty good. As we weaved through Leimert Park, it started getting light out. We went through several residential areas, and I said a silent good morning to Ayako, Reverend Mas and Victor, who live in the neighborhood.

Heading North on Crenshaw, the bikers were thinning out. We hit our first big hill at the freeway overpass. As many times as I've been on Crenshaw, I never realized what a big hill it was. We actually went as far as Fairfax and La Cienega, and passed the Kidney Dialysis Center and one of the many hospitals that Larry was at last year. I got a little emotional thinking about how I was riding on his bike and dedicated the ride in his memory.

We did stop once, I think it was Olympic or Third, about halfway through the ride. Shortly after, we headed back, up through Hancock Park and then Koreatown. We rode past Tony's old school where he taught 3rd and 4th grade for several years, and then rode through the area where I lived until I was 3 months old.

Unfortunately, we got misrouted for a few blocks when a man was painting the LA Marathon logo on the street and was sending everyone down an unpaved street and into traffic. After a few blocks, we got back on the right path. Finally, as we headed south on Vermont Avenue and back to USC, I felt the cool air rushing through my shoes, and I realized we were almost there.

22 miles, in about 2 1/2 hours and we finished just after 7:30 am. Aside from a pretty sore butt, I felt pretty good. Tony had been joking that we would be on a date... but it was really nice to spend time with my hubby on the ride. Afterwards we went to breakfast near our house, and then went home to take a bubble bath and a nap.

Thank you to all who generously sponsored us, made pledges and gave moral support. I hope to do it again next year!

Jenni

P.S. It's not too late to sponsor us with a check payable to Great Leap. Email me or leave a comment and I'll give you details.

Yes to Family Literacy!

LTSC Angelina Preschool Family Literacy Field Trip to lend their voices to the No on Prop 1D cause. The mommies in our program attended a rally downtown this month. Having no return transportation, they marched all the way from the California State Building on Spring and 3rd Street back to Angelina Preschool in Echo Park carrying their signs and urging voters to support First 5LA programs such as the Family Literacy Initiative.

Speaking to the LAUSD Board: No on 1D

I was asked to make comments to the LAUSD School Board to urge the board members to pass a resolution opposing Proposition 1D. It was my first time in the Board room. Going up to the podium was a little bit nerve wracking, but luckily I managed to get through it with 5 seconds to spare on my 3 minute comment:

• Good afternoon. My name is Jennifer Kuida and I am the Director of Childcare at Little Tokyo Service Center. With me is Meliza Roa-Arreola, our Family Literacy Program Manager at Angelina Preschool. Our preschool is located a few blocks from here in Echo Park. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today.

• Little Tokyo Service Center has been a grantee of First 5 LA’s Family Literacy Initiative for the past 7 years. One of 22 grantees in our program, we have served 90 families with a highly intensive 4 component program, including full-day year-round early childhood education, adult education where we offer daily ESL and computer classes, weekly parenting education, and provide opportunities for parent and child interactive literacy activities, such as our Lending Library, Mommy and Me, Read-A-Thon, and parents reading to their children every night before they go to sleep.

* Proposition 1D would rob our children of the most important early learning opportunities needed for school success. School readiness programs, family literacy skills-building classes, and access to preschool give our children the greatest chance for school success.

* We have these programs in LAUSD because of First 5 LA and Proposition 10 funding. Now, when we need these programs most, state leaders want to cut them to balance their budget … and, I might add, a very small portion of the state budget.

* First 5 LA’s family literacy programs like Little Tokyo Service Center’s Angelina Preschool Family Literacy program are proven successes. Our program works to improve the literacy skills of parents and preschool children, engages parents to
become involved in their child’s school once their children enter the school district, and teaches families the importance of reading as a key to learning and, ultimately, as a key to success in life.

* First 5 LA-funded family literacy programs have improved literacy levels of both parents and children, and have resulted in families bringing many more books into their homes, and a number of positive benefits that are known to boost students’ success rates.

* The education safety net in Los Angeles County is at risk if Proposition 1D passes on May 19th. Proposition 1D is so over reaching that it takes almost 67 percent of First 5 LA’s yearly funding. We don’t think that’s fair.

* The children of Los Angeles County should not have to pay this high a price to balance the state budget. This ballot measure is completely deceptive.

In closing, We’d like to thank you on behalf of children and families in Los Angeles and our Family Literacy Program and urge you to support this resolution opposing Proposition 1D.

(The resolution to Oppose Prop 1D passed at the May 12 LAUSD Board meeting).

Sponsor KuidaoOsumi @ the LA Bike Marathon

Dear Friends & Family~

This Memorial Day on May 25th at 5am, I am dusting off my bike after about 15 years, and endeavoring to ride 26 miles with Tony and other Great Leapers in the LA Acura Bike Marathon to raise money for Great Leap, a nonprofit multicultural performing arts organization I've been involved with for the last 12 years. And if we can't find a babysitter, Maiya may well be riding on the back of Tony's bike, too!

It will be my 3rd time to participate in this annual fundraiser for Great Leap, an official charity of the LA Marathon, our only fundraiser event this year. The last two years Maiya did the 5K Run/Walk with me, but this year I'm planning to push it to the next level.

I would be thrilled if you would sponsor me. I don't have to tell you how the arts struggle during tough economic times. Often it is the first thing to be cut. But know that 100% of your contribution will go to supporting Great Leap's programs such as Collaboratory, Leaps of Faith, or Nobuko's new touring work, "What Can a Song Do?"

If you would like to sponsor me or Tony, please reply to this email and let me know how much you'd like to pledge. I'll send you an email and photos confirming our completion of the event. You can send your check (payable to Great Leap) to me (email or FB msg me for the address).

Also, if you 'd like to join us on the walk, run or ride, go to the Great leap Marathon webpage (http://www.greatleap.org/marathon) to sign up. Thanks for supporting Great Leap on its 31st anniversary~using the arts for social change in our community.

Love and Peace,

Jenni

Observations from the carseat

Every day on our way to preschool and work, Maiya and I pass hundreds of homeless people, men, women and children, as we pass the Skid Row area on San Pedro Street. Here's our conversation last month as she looked out the window at all the people sleeping in the street or sitting on the curb:

MG: I don't think that man has a home.
JK: No, he probably doesn't. We're lucky we have a house to live in, aren't we.
MG: Yeah, I don't think its comorable to sleep on the ground.
JK: No, probably not.
MG: And if there's no blanket, then your clothes will get all dirty.
JK: That's why we did the walk last year* to help raise money for people without a house.
MG: I want to raise money. But I might get tired if I walk again.
JK: Yeah, but it's ok if we get tired, because we can help people who don't have a house.
MG: Oh yeah. Let's do it again.

JK: Ok, we can do it again this year.

Maiya says this to anyone who will listen, including strangers: "My mommy is good at finding things and cleaning things and my daddy is good at fixing things and carrying heavy things."

*United Way Homeless 5K Walk blog

Manzanar 2009 - Part 1

Well, this year we celebrated the 40th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, 210 miles from Los Angeles, the site where 10,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans were incarcerated during WW2. By my finger count, it is only my 16th pilgrimage, coming almost every year since 1992. It was actually Maiya's 4th time, which is a lot considering that she's 4 years old. It started out pretty cold and windy, but then warmed up a bit in the afternoon. Here's a few of the 100 pictures we took.

Arriving early, we take a family photo.

Excited that Skyler Mariko came up on the bus with her family!

When you're 4, you bring a shovel and pail to collect rocks.

For the pilgrimage, we estimated about 1,500 people this year, and about 14 buses. I acted as stage manager again this year. Things seemed more laid back this year and ran more smoothly than in the past.
When you run the stage, you can get your family to hold the Gila River banner, an honor, in honor of Maiya's grandpa Walt's family. The original signs were contributed by each of the 10 camps back around the year 2000. In 2004, they were placed in the Manzanar Interpretive Center. The flags below are reproductions of the originals, and used for the first time in 5 years.
I'm sorry that Tony and others had to hold the flag in the wind for over an hour at the Interfaith portion of the program. But it was cool because Kaz' parents were part of the Interfaith service for the first time.
It was so fun to visit with Kaz. I think Kaz was there for the first camping trips for Manzanar After Dark (MAD-ness!) back in 1997 and 1998. Baby Gavin slept through most of the odori dancing.
Maiya and Skyler were eating fruits behind the stage and playing in the sand so they missed the dancing. When the dancing was over, the girls were done with the day.

Another pilgrimage program finished! See you in '10!

Still to come, photos of the newly restored Mess Hall, swimming at the Dow Villa pool with Daddy, and the Manzanar at Dusk program.