Christmas 2006

This was Aki's first Christmas in Seattle. Aki was visiting his great-grandparents in Indiana in 2004 and in Japan for 2005.

Our Christmas tree is a Western Red Cedar. We'll go plant it after the holidays. We awoke to a cold morning but the rain had tapered off. Aki had a nice pile of stuff under the tree when he woke up.

Bikkei: "OK that tree's kinda lame and I don't see anything to eat under it. Could somebody please turn on the heat around here?"

Aki went right for the big present--an Elmo doll. Aki loves Elmo. His Elmo bedtime book is one of his favorites.

On to more presents. A "Go Big Red" hand to cheer on the Cornell football team. We don't get many Cornell games here on the west coast.

Cool--something that makes noise.

Aki also recieved a new train. This one has some of his favorite animals.

Aki playing with the marble blocks that came from cousin Benjamin.

All the presents unwrapped. Lots of new books, some clothes, Elmo, a turtle backpack, a bus bank (so Aki can start saving for his kayak), a puzzle, the animal train, and a kayaker pillowcase.

Mom got a cameo pendant--she's been wanting one of these and Aki helped pick out a nice one.

Aki parking his new animal train in the roundhouse. Aki got his wooden train set earlier this year and keeps adding new pieces.

Ishi kept busy through the day with his bone.

Duck for Christmas dinner.

Christmas dinner: duck with orange sauce on a bed of baked apple, Swiss chard, baked potato with cheese sauce.