Ski Week Mini Staycation

Last week was our "ski week." A full five days off school for the kids and, with Sumie able to take a few days off early in the week, a chance for the whole family to get out and have some fun. We opted for a staycation this time around. I figured it would be easier for me to fight off the kids at home than in a rental or hotel room.

Even before the ski week hit, we'd been busy. Inspired by the Space-X Heavy Falcon launch, Kuri insisted that I build him his own. Here's our rendition in very, very basic Legos.

 Our Valentine's day was made extra special with a bouquet designed by Kuri.

On the Sunday before ski week, Sumie suprised the kids with chocolate chip muffins and kindly made me some almond flower pancakes. So sweet.

We then headed out for a local park where Mimi and I practiced tennis. By the end of our session, we pulled off an eight hit rally. Huge success (for both of us, honestly).

Of course, Kuri and I got out for the occasional drive.

We watched the Olympics and rooted for Japan...

...and for the US and Korea, complete with flags Mimi made with chopsticks.

 We saved some money making our own pizza...

...and naturally, we did our Japanese homework (there is no ski break for Japanese school).

During our staycation, we attempted to explore some of what the Bay Area has to offer. A trip to the Academy of Science was well received (but so common, we didn't get pictures). We did try something entirely new, though: the Hiller Aviation Museum. Here, Mimi and Kuri got to sit in a Blue Angels cockpit.

All three kids learned how parachutes catch wind using a wind tunnel table...

 ...and learned how to land a 747 at SFO (with a little help from Papa).

The practice was fortuitous as outside the museum, the kids were able to take the yokes of a real 747!

 

Mama and Mari decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Later that week, we put our newfound aviation knowledge to use flying our balsa wood planes up at the neighborhood school.

Mimi and Kuri also hit another local park, Memorial Park in San Anselmo, but this time just with Mama. Papa and Mari had decided to take a nap.

Even with all the park visits, there was still plenty of time for snacks. Mimi used a special Japanese kit to make her own waffle treats.

And the sugar intake didn't end there. With the temperature having dropped it was time for an evening fire, and that, at least to the kids, meant marshmallows.

Thankfully, Mimi cleaned up rather well.

Over the weekend I decided to break out my FujiFilm X-A1 camera. I'd never been that happy with it, but decided I'd flash the firmware for the camera body and the lens to see if it would make a difference. It did.

The kids and I had a lot of fun snapping shots in the backyard...

...and, once again, at a park. Mimi had fun pushing her baby sister.

Mari attempted to play in the sandbox, but wasn't that happy with the resulting dirty hands.

She much preferred playing peak-a-boo.

Even Kuri jumped in.

After so much play, Mari needed some re-energizing apple sauce.

That evening, as the temperature dropped once again, we warmed ourselves up with some soup. 

All told, it was a lot of fun. So much we did that wasn't even covered here - a sleep-over and Grandma and Grandpa's, a lunch date alone for me and Sumie. Maybe we'll be better at taking pictures on our next staycation. We'll definitely do it again.