It’s hard to believe that today Koji turned 3 years old. Again, it really doesn’t seem possible! How can I have a 6 year old AND a 3 year old! Just crazy I tell you!!!! Since day one Koji has made us smile. He’s such a happy go lucky child and Ichiro and I are so lucky to be his parents!

Like most birthdays in the Ashihara house, it was TACO Night!!! Today I decided to make both chicken soft tacos (crock pot recipe) and regular ground turkey crunchy tacos. I decided to change it up for our guests!

Auntie was the first to arrive and as you can tell the kids were excited! Koji ran out of the house to hug her and Taizo greeted her at the door…

What goes best with tacos?  Well Pumpkin Ale with Caramel Cinnamon Sugar Rim.  Ok maybe not but they were still yummy…

Yup it never fails!  I’m known for burning the taco shells, maybe to many beers!!!  Good thing I always have boxes of shells in the cabinet!

Koji watching his special birthday message from his girlfriend Ari…

Talking about young love, Taizo chatting it up with his new girlfriend Cora…

Taizo loves his Uncle Keith…

Koji showing Uncle Keith all his new Angry Bird Star Wars …

I learned my lesson this year.  You never know what your going to get when you ask Koji a question.  When asking Koji which type of cake he wanted this year he said, “A Star Wars Donut Cake!”  REALLY?  A donut cake????  What the hell is a donut cake?  A cake shaped like a donut?  or a cake made OUT of donuts.  Well after much discussion we figured out he wanted a cake made OUT of donuts.  We aim to please in this house, so here is Noby helping me make his brother’s Star Wars Donut Cake!!

A close up of Koji’s cake…

He seemed to really love it…

Opening his Chewbacca keychain…

IT”S THE MILLENNIUM FALCON!!!!

Uncle Keith brought Noby’s gift too.  I think Noby liked it!! lol

Loving his new toy…

Showing Auntie how everything works…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KOJI!!

Taizo is EVERYWHERE and he’s getting into EVERYTHING!!  Today I finally had to stick him in the bouncer so I could finish my coffee!!!

How is this possible?  How can I have a 6 year old?  Where has the past SIX years gone?  And why don’t I feel old enough to have a 6 year old?

Noby was pretty lucky that his birthday just happened to land on the day that Grand Pepere and Great Grandma were coming to check out Auntie’s new condo!!!  It meant that we all were able to celebrate with his great grandparents.

So this year Noby asked for an Angry Bird Star Wars cake.  I know what you’re saying, “Didn’t Noby have an Angry Bird cake LAST year?”  He did but this year it was Angry Bird STAR WARS!!!  Noby would tell you that’s TOTALLY different!  He looks pretty excited about his cake!

The boys playing Angry Birds with Grand Pepere!

New Shirts…

Getting some love from Great Grandma…

He stopped opening gifts so he could check out the book his friend gave him…

“OHHHH A STAR WARS SHIRT!!!”

Opening his gift from Koji…

He  loved it!! Giving Koji a great big hug!!

Taizo honking Buddy’s nose…

Taizo doing his Zoolander look…

Taizo talking to his Memere and Grand Pepere…

A little Dominoes…

Auntie and Koji make a great team!

Don’t you just love sleeping babies!!! Taizo was partying to hard!! lol

Still can’t believe he’s 6!!!!

Happy Birthday Noby!!!! <3

I saw this in Boston today and couldn’t stop laughing….

As most of you know, Noby biggest concern for starting Kindergarten was having a “Trash Free Lunch.”  This is what’s on my 5 year old’s mind. lol  Here’s a picture of the first, of many, Noby Trash Free Lunches….

Nervous but excited…

First in line…

I love this kid!!!!

The sign that hangs in my living room reads, “Friends Are The Family We Find Along The Way.”  About 35 years ago my parents “found” the Beucherts, and we all quickly became family.  I have fond and vivid memories of growing up spending Friday nights at their house watching movie and eating Chinese food, while the adults played cribbage in the kitchen.  Ted and Gail have always been part of my family and Ichiro and I couldn’t be happier that they’re part of our boys family too.

We were so excited to be able to share in the celebration of 50 years of marriage between Ted and Gail. Here are a few pictures from the awesome weekend!

Dinner at Bistro 5 in West Medford was just AMAZING!!!  I HIGHLY recommend it!!  Check out these awesome menus they made special for the night…

They happy couple..

Our boys just LOVE Ted and Gail’s son Eric…

My dad helped the happy couple renew their vows…

I just love Ted’s face in this picture…

Aren’t they cute!!

Their beautiful rings from 50 years ago…

Carl, giving his parents a special toast…

CHEERS!!

Ted saying a few words…

I wonder what Noby was saying…

Taizo ready to celebrate…

Like I said, the boys just love Eric…

The beautiful cake!! It tasted AMAZING!!!!

Cutting the cake…

The Beucherts!

BFFs!!

Family!

Carl even got cupcakes for the kids, again they were AMAZING!!

A little to much partying for Tai…

Carl helping Koji with his chocolate milk…

I just love this one of Gail and Taizo, you can see the love… <3

With the planting of new grass Keith and Megan’s background is now ready for PARTIES!!!! First up a 4th of July BBQ!!!

Taizo, ready to party!

Tai telling Uncle Keith all our secrets…

Megan, ready to pop!!!

Me and my boys…

Happy 4th!!

It’s been a LONG time since I made it to the hair salon to see my favorite hair stylist, Grant!  Let’s just say I STILL had a gift card from Brenda from TWO birthdays ago!!!  It was the best hour of pampering I’ve had in a while.  Grant is such a genuion guy and really makes you feel special, while giving you the most amazing hair cut!  I have no idea why I waited so long to go see him.

Someone wanted in on the action when I was taking my picture…

Such a ham!

I received some free sample of diapers in the mail a few weeks ago.  They are the most adorable diapers!

Check out some of the different patterns…

Of course I kept holding out on using them.  I’m not really sure why, I just really liked the patterns.  Maybe I was saving them for a special occasion.  But then I got to thinking that I should really try them out BEFORE we were something and they didn’t work.  Thank god I did, turns out they aren’t the best diaper, not by a long shot.  They were not absorbent at all.  Tai ended up having his first two blow outs while wearing them!  It was not a good day in the changing diapers sense.  I am soo happy I didn’t wait for a special occasion to try them out.

I did play around with the camera today and ended up with a few cute shots of Taizo in the skull diapers.  He’s such a bad ass!!

Before heading back to Boston we made a quick stop at the Mahers!  As the kids played we were able to catch up.  It’s always a nice relaxing time with them, I only wish we lived over!!!

Tate was very interested in Taizo, maybe he wants a little brother too, heehee!!

Bodie and Noby taking turns on the iPad

Koji had a hard time sharing.  He REALLY liked all of Bodie’s Cars!

The Men (and Bodie!!)