Happy Hanukkah!! -1st night

Happy Hanukkah

Tonight is the 1st night of Hanukkah. My book says "During the winter, Hanukkah is a light that warms and cheers us." Chris said the blessings on the first night over the Hanukkah candles. On the first night, a candle is placed at the far right end of the menorah (the candle holder). BUT BUT BUT...I see the candle at the far left....OH NO!! The one on the right is called the shammash. The very first light to be used to ignite the far left one (which supposed to be at the right). We do this eight days. On the eighth night, there will be eight candles plus the shammash on the menorah.

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Chris says the blessings tonight (saying from the book..oops.).

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Chris sets up the menorah.

My Jewish books

Package from Japan!!!

福砂屋の手づくり最中

(Monaka from Fukusaya)

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I have been receiving some packages from families and friends. Yes, Japanese stuff. This is MONAKA from FUKUSAYA. Wooooooooo, I love love this Japanese snack. I decided to take a photo of this thing becaues my friend Jessica does take photos of Japanese stuff on her blog. I think it is a little wierd (sorry, Jes. This doesn't mean anything. I guess I feel like I am exposing myself too much..!?).

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I am reading 劇団ひとりの陰日向に咲くnow. This is me reading it.

This book came in the package from my mom.
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I think I am a little homesick. I am experiencing this year's holidays/the same holidays at the different places, with different people, and in the different ways. This experience makes me think about my families and friends in Japan. Japanes food I got in the packages is definitely helping me feel this way. Thank you all who care about me and actually took your time to pack items and sent them for me.

Holiday season!!

Happy Holiday!!

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I do celebrate many holidays now. I just celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. I had discovered how grateful to enjoy Thanksging day meal with my wonderful family. Hanukkah is coming in a week. I will celebrate it because I got married to a jewish guy. I had been receiving a Christmas present from Santa when I was a child. We just bought our very 1st Christmas tree. And of course, I as a Japanese person New Year's day is the biggest holiday of the year. I have to say that New Year's Day is the holiday I truly enjoy and celebrate especially if I am in Japan with my family and our gorgeous traditional Japanese New Year's Day recipe!

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This is how our living room looks like now. We bought this Christmas tree at IKEA today. Chris and I are both very excited about this Christmas tree, our very 1st Christmas tree in our house which we definitely will enjoy many more years to come. Let me say this...within a year or two..you might see this Christmas tree with our lovely baby who not yet seen.

Thanksgiving Day

This is me eating Thanksgiving day meal. I was dying to eat my mother-in-law, Carol's food and did not take any photo of her food, sorry. It was nice. I should've taken a photo of Turkey at least. I remember the first time I saw a whole turkey on the table. People in Japan don't see that that often. Am I right?

This is my family I enjoyed the Thanksgiving day meal with. Jonathan, Chris, mam, and dad.

This is dad calling the family who are far and could not spend time together today. I could talk to some of my new family members too. I am very grateful on this Thanksgiving day.