Michigan Trip Week 1

{WARNING: LONG post ahead....LOTS of pictures!!!}

I cannot begin to say how busy (but amazing) this week has been!

We came back home (to Michigan) to see my family, and for my family to see me Noa...

and we have been having a blast!

needless to say, this week has been an eventFULL week.

It began with settling in, getting re-aquainted (Noa, with everyone), and getting some shopping done.

My sister flew in from California, and it's been great to have her here for a short little while.

When my sister and I get together, we talk, hang out, and take lots and LoTs of pictures

{we are what you might call compulsive/pathological? photo-takers...}

here is the result of those photo-taking episodes:::

Noa played on the baby piano that my mom had bought for him. Very antique-looking and cute, but also very out of tune and harsh on your ears, especially how Noa was banging on it.

but...He sure looked CUTE doing it!

{*kiss*}
 I can't wait for him to start learning to play the piano!!

Tuesday was Chad's birthday...

we celebrated with the WHOLE family (minus Levi)

with SUSHI!!!!

...and {raspberry/white chocolate/Oreo-crusted} CHEESECAKE !!

(made by Yushi)

topped off with some awesome presents {that Noa helped open}
Happy Birthday, Chad!!
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A couple days this week, we played tennis at my subdivision tennis courts...

very FUN!

 my little brother and Chad had a pretty good match going....
and we were cheering them on

The girls got some playing time in too:

 
We even rescued a turtle on the court!!

He (or she?) is safe now, back where he belongs...

Pool-time is one of Noa's favorite activities!

He loves the water...

...he's all smiles the whole entire time we're there...

we all had so much fun!

Noa also LOVEs going to parks...

and exploring the world.

 ...discovering new things everytime...

and enjoying blissful life...
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We were able to attend the temple as a family {with everyone there - from the oldest to the youngest} for the first time ever.

{Detroit Temple, June 2010}

We were able to do baptisms for our relatives as a family.
It was so special!
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Saturday was Yuka's Japanese School field day (運動会）
she participated in the soccer, volleyball, three-legged race, relay race, and the giant jump rope events

{so hot}

And then there was Father's Day...

it was the day Chad flew back to Utah.
It was sad that we couldn't spend it together as a family...

but we sent him lots and LoTs of LOVE from Michigan!

Every year for the past few years for Father's Day
we get our Dad a tie....
but on that ordinary tie, we draw a picture of a temple to just make it a little more special.

Turned out so fabulous this year....

the BEAUTIFUL picture of the Salt Lake Temple was drawn by my amazing sister, Mariko

...and the not so nice writing on the tie (plus the card) were done by me.........

So there you have it, a short recap of the amazing week we've had here in good ol' LO-town

plus a few pictures here and there for you to enjoy!

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks ahead of us!!!!!