Marathon

On Sunday I ran a marathon! I ran for 5 hours and 14 minutes. Now I'm very tired, but I am not injured. I feel good! This is my father and me. Everyone can have a medal when they finish a marathon (me) or a 1/2 marathon (my father - he ran 13.1 miles). It was very hard and very exciting! I will write more later.

Marathon

On November 16, I will run a marathon! A marathon is 26.2 miles ( 42 km). I have trained for six months. These are my training friends. We made this photo after running 20 miles ( 32 km). We are still smiling! I am very excited!

Ju-Jitsu

We had a Ju-Jitsu competition at our Ju-Jitsu school on Saturday. Ridge, Aaron, and I all fought. Here are some photos. My fighting photo is hard to see. Sorry. I am fighting Laura. She is Brazilian. She is strong! Aaron fought a big man! Aaron is the man wearing blue. Ridge is on top and he is wearing white. I am wearing blue.

Our Chicken's Eggs

Here is a picture of some eggs. Can you see the three green eggs? We think our eggs taste better than eggs from a store. Every day our chickens lay (make) about 5 - 7 eggs!

Dude Ranch

A "Dude Ranch" is a vacation place. A "Dude" is a person from a city. Sometimes, people from cities like to visit the country ("inaka"). They enjoy riding horses and visiting a ranch (with cows). Aaron's mother wanted our family to visit a Dude Ranch. Here are some photos. Ridge and Holt had a lot of fun! We rode horses many times. We stayed for 4 days. By the way, you can change each photo to a bigger size.

Marathon

Now I am training for a marathon. I am training with a group of people. We run every Saturday. Last week, we ran 6 miles (10 kilometers). Next Saturday, we will run 8 miles! I am excited. It is very fun. So, now I run three days every week and I train Jiu-Jitsu three days every week. I am sometimes very tired!

Our Racoon

Last week, an animal killed many of our chickens. It killed 5 chickens! We became angry. We wondered what animal killed our chickens. So, we set (made) a trap. We used this trap to catch the animal. Last night, Aaron put the trap by our chickens. This morning, I found this racoon in the trap. I put the cage into my car. I drove far away. I set the racoon free. But, maybe there is one more racoon. We will put our trap out again tonight. Will we find another racoon?

A racoon looks like a tanuki ("racoon dog"). But it is not a tanuki. It is different.

Ridge and Michelle

This is Ridge and me wearing our Ju-Jitsu gi. We both enjoy Ju-Jitsu very much!

Holt's Picture

Here is a funny picture of Holt!

Now, in America, we have summer vacation. I am very happy! I can play with Ridge and Holt every day. Ridge and Holt will learn swimming. They have a swimming lesson every day, now. They enjoy swimming very much. Ridge, Aaron, and me are learning Jyu-Jitsu! It is difficult, but fun. I will show you a picture soon. Ridge loves Jyu-Jitsu!

New Pictures

It is becoming very hot in Texas now! Usually, it is about 35 degrees! I am hot every day. Recently, I have thought about "sakura" in Nishiokoppe. I miss the beautiful flowers.

Here are Ridge and Holt. Ridge is holding one of our chickens. Holt is feeding a horse. Our neighbor has 3 horses.

We will have Summer Vacation on June 4. Ridge will begin "ni-nensei" in August. Holt will be a kindergarten student.

New Pictures!

Here are some pictures for you! Please enjoy them! I hope my Japanese friends are healthy. I hope the "sakura" will come soon!

Our chickens are bigger! Maybe they will lay (make) eggs in June. I hope so.

We went to a Scottish Festival on Saturday. It was fun! Ridge sat on this very big horse!

Ridge and Holt have a tree house. It is at Cyndi's house (Aaron's mother). It's cool!

Last month, we participated in a small parade. Maybe my family is a little crazy? We decorated our trailer. Our them was "Flamingo Beach". My mother likes flamingos.

Chickens!

Last week we bought some chickens! I bought the chickens from the internet. The chickens came to our house in the mail. We went to the post office to get the chickens. I think they are very cute! They are growing fast! We have 28 chickens. We want to have chickes so we can eat fresh eggs.

My School

I have a new job. I am an assistant teacher. I work with 4th and 5th grade students. I like my job very much. But, I think next year I will find a job as a teacher again. This is a picture of my school. It is an elementary school (1 - 5 grade). We have 1,100 students!!

Mochi

On Saturday, Ridge's Japanese school made mochi! I helped! It was fun. I met some Japanese mothers. Some mothers can speak a little English. I met a woman. Her name is Miura-san (So, of course, I remember Nishiokoppe's Miura-sensei and Miura-san!). She has lived in America for 1 year. We ate mochi with daikon. It was my first time to eat daikon mochi. Is it popular in Honshu? I never saw daikon mochi in Hokkaido. Holt is very messy!

New Year's

Here are more photos I forgot. On January 1, we went to my friend's house. Her name is Amy. Her husband is Rusty. It is popular in Texas to fry a turkey. This is Rusty. He is holding a fried turkey. The pot is full of oil. Oishikatta desu!

Holt's Birthday Cake

I forgot to show a photo of Holt's cake! His birthday was January 3rd. Now he is 5 years old! Amazing!

Thank you!

Thank you for writing comments to me. I enjoy reading your comments. I must remember my Japanese!

Thank you for the presents. Many friends sent us wonderful presents and letters. Thank you very much.

I have a new job. Now I am more busy. I will write again soon.

Happy New Year!

New Bicycle

Here is Ridge with his new bike. My parents gave Ridge this bicycle for Christmas. It is very red and shiny. He loves it! Do you remember - in Nishiokoppe - Ridge and Ryuuya often rode their bikes. They rode up and down the street all day.

We went to a beautiful park. Ridge rode his bike. He was very happy.