Autumn & Kalina

The reason we came to California this weekend was to dance in Obon.  We got dressed up in kimono’s, Allie put makeup on us, and we got fancy clips in our hair.

Autumn being Autumn!

This year I wore a red kimono.  It was the same one I wore a couple years ago.

Auntie Jane came over to tie us up!  You literally get tied up with wraps to hold everything in place.

This was the obi that Autumn wore.

Next came her hair clip and makeup.

Then is was my turn.

This was my fancy hair piece.

Autumn and her poses!

I go for the more serious face.

Sisters!

Obon starts with the taiko performance.  That was pretty cool to watch.

Finally the dancing started!  We used the uchiwa (round fan)

Autumn was resting and Mommy took a picture of her eye lashes.

This is our cousin Emmet.

Kachi kachi’s were another dance.  They click together.

Emmet and trying to get Allie to dance.

This is Emmet and his Mommy.

Who tied that towel on his head?

This was a hand dance.  There was one dance were Autumn’s favorite part was shaking her bootie!

Another kachi kachi dance.  They are fun because of all the noises.

This one was the sensu. (folding fan) It was tricky because you have to spin the fan around!

At obon the last 2 dances are even ones that Diane and Grandma will do!

After we dance we get to have a hot dog and treats.

We came out to California for a few days before school starts.  When we got in we went to Diane’s house to see Howard and Jerry.  We played some “soccer” with Howard.  Except we kept having to take breaks after a few minutes!

Howard got into his “stance” and we tried to move him.  We usually won.

Grandma made Mommy’s favorite dinner.  Sukiyaki.  Autumn even tried kamaboko-and she liked it!

When we got back to Grandma’s house Allie came over.  We went to B & R and got dessert.  Can you guess what Autumn had?

On Thursday we played in the morning.  This was our “hike” with Grandpa.

Then we went to have lunch with Allie at her work.  While we waited for her to come get us we drooled over the candy dish in the lobby!

It was national root beer float day, so we went to the coffee shop downstairs after lunch and got a root beer float.  Look at these ginormous chairs they have!

One pic in the “in” sign.

We went to the swimsuit store to see what they had and when we got home, Diane was there.  Autumn had an assignment from Alicia to give Diane a hug, even if she didn’t want one.  This was our proof.

Later we went to dinner at La Fondue.  It’s like the Melting Pot at home, but Mom says this place is better!  We think chocolate tastes yummy wherever you have it.

Friday mom rented a car for all of us to go to the aquarium.  We had 4 lattes, 3 hot chocolates, and 7 pastries and then we were ready to hit the road.

Monterey wasn’t to far away.

Why do we have to stand by this sign?

This lady had baby moon jellies in a jar when we walked in.

Mom told us to go and check out this exhibit.  We didn’t know it but a wave comes crashing over you.  It scared us at first!

These are the touch pool areas.

We went outside to see what was going on and Mom told us to go and sit in here with Allie.

Guess this is why.  This was from September of 2011!

Check out the anchovies swimming in circles!

More touch areas upstairs.  We touched a sea star, and I was brave enough to touch a crab!

Allie showed us how to make a bookmark.

There was a coral reef area and I wanted mom to take a picture of these fish.

Autumn wanted a picture with this sea star too.

Then we headed over to the open ocean exhibit and all the jelly fish.

Look carefully.  These are Kalina and Autumn jelly fish!

This was a place where you draw your own jelly fish and then it swims across the screen.  This one was Autumn’s.

Here’s mine.

Autumn and grandpa were sitting on a jelly fish stool.

This was a real jelly fish that glows in the dark!

Ahhhhh!  We’re trapped in jelly fish tentacles!

These guys were in the tentacles exhibit.

And here are the cute sea otters.  There was food in the little balls.

We headed down to greet the Pacific ocean.  It was definitely colder than Bermuda!

Grandma gave us quarters to check out the spyglasses.

Lunch was fine, but Dippin’ dots were better!