X(-ed off the list), Y(ogurt) & Z(oo)

We zoomed through the zoo—it was a bit on the sweltering side today—and cooled down with some froyo afterward.

From Farm to Fork to Felicity

A foodie I’m not, but I am a fan of fine food—and certainly an advocate for choosing finer food options whenever possible. (On a basic level, it’s the idea of always passing on Taco Bell if there’s a taquería—or even a Chipotle—around.) I realize that we’re limited by our food/dining budgets, but I think an increased awareness and efforts to replace filler with actual food go toward the essential practice of nourishing our bodies—and souls.

We are fortunate to have an incredible farm-to-fork restaurant—fit for foodies and food enthusiasts—in our community, and it was the perfect setting for our meal marking the many miles my grandmother and her friend traveled to join us.

Return to the Fold

My Grandma Ayako is second from the left

My dear Japanese grandmother came back for a visit to the States for the first time in nearly a decade, and for her first major trip following the death of my grandfather. She was joined by her friend Mrs. Toge, and they joined my parents for a visit to our home.

Language barriers aside, our kids immediately took to our guests, and they to them. Watching the four of them create origami and communicate with one another was certainly a sight to behold (be-fold?).

Got the (Baked) Goods

Reed is our resident cookie connoisseur, bonbon bon vivant, and dessert devotee.

This Is About “Wild,” Which I’m Wild About

Where the Wild Things Are Bizarre

Da da da da da da da da Circus, da da da da da da da da Afro, Circus Afro Circus Afro polka dot polka dot polka dot Afro!

Now try to get that out of your head.

You’re welcome.

The movie, as it turns out, isn’t half bad. And the 3D effects made the movie-watching experience especially fun.

Face to Face

Faces and persons to whom those faces belong reunited during a family gathering organized by Beni’s cousin.

Happy Campers

We enrolled the little guy in Sporty Spiders, a class that teaches youngsters the basics of baseball and soccer. Early protestations of excessive heat and shyness aside, Reed learned to swing a bat like Mays and his leg like Messi.

His older sister, a former Sporty Spider herself, moved her game to the university field, where she partook in a soccer camp hosted by the men’s soccer coach at my school.

Impressive Feet

The Summer Olympics start in London at the end of July, but today we got opening ceremony-worthy performances from Olivia and the many local children who study dance where she does. She and her fellow dancers get the gold—some, quite literally, with their canary-hued costume—for their artistry and talents.

Tooling Around

It looks like someone’s graduated from Build-A-Bear.

My Dear Miss Watson

When I was young, I had a book that listed the home addresses and PO boxes of famous athletes. The author advised us autograph seekers to be patient, persistent, and payers of postage—well-paid athletes can’t pay for stamps!—so as to increase our chances of success.

Eager to test the outlined methods, I sent a dozen short notes and self-enclosed stamped envelopes to several postage-bereft professionals. I waited patiently for a month—per the author’s suggestion—but eagerly in the month-to-three-month likely-to-respond period.

The result? Nada. Zilch. Nothing.

I’m hoping, for Olivia’s sake, that British actresses are better at responding to their fans—and especially to those fans celebrating a birthday today.

Atop Ten

Beni and I have ascended ten years of wedded mostly-bliss. She remains as stunning and feisty as the day we married—and met, for that matter, in high school—and I’m doing my best to keep up with her and our kids on our collective journey over life’s peaks and through its valleys.