Hopper is 4!!!!

Sunday was Hopper's 4th birthday so we threw him a party in the afternoon. I always wanted a summer birthday as a kid, swimming, playing tag, general outdoor merriment, but I'm realizing now that it will always be Hopper's curse that most of his friends will be on vacation for his birthday. However, with that in mind, it was spectacular to see so many people jammed in our house, eating, drinking, having a great time. And the kids were loving it. Especially Hopper. He loved playing with all the kids, getting presents, tucking in to the most fancy chocolate cake a 4 year has ever had, and most of all, feeling a little special.

It's quite unbelievable that I suddenly have this boy in my life. No more toddler, certainly nothing babyish left. His face and body are all leaned out, he runs like the wind, likes to play rough and tumble, and says things like "Mama, all the people on Earth (quizzical look), how did all the people get onto our planet? Did they come on a rocketship?"

And yet, I know there is a part of him that mourns getting older, it's that little forlorn flash in his eyes, and he lets me tickle him like a baby, and smooch him all over, and coo and rub and sniff his head. And then I know, that I will never really have to say good bye to my baby, he will always want a little bit of that from me, whether it's now at the cafe or in 10 years in the deepest privacy of our home, he will always want me to be mama. And I love that.

So I tell him, I know you're a big boy now but you will always be my Tiny Pie, and he snuggles a little closer.

Happy birthday, to the love of my life, the flutter in my chest, my sweet boy Hopper.


*Thanks everyone for all the lovely presents. He loved everything. But also especially for coming and helping to make his day special so he felt celebrated and loved. It means everything to me that he was so happy and excited and, at the end of the day, full of contentment. Thank you from the entirety of my bosom.

last night being 3

Good Morning Birthday Boy!

Nankai Express train

like daddy like son

family shenanigans

the Spidey suit on the left was a dud, refuses to wear it, BUT the bike was an amazing find, pimped out by daddy, now if only he were a bit taller!

putting together the goody bags

the arts table/the party has begun!!!

Hopper & Ophelia hiding from the bum monster

Gabrielle checking out the new animals book with the boys

Gorgeous ladies Gabrielle, Jill & Samira and S's kids Raya and Ramzy

That's right, everyone can have a go!

 

Samira, i need to see your photos!

so many lovely people came with presents and good cheer

Uncle Glen and cousin Jill (on right)

gift opening is serious business (with Zack and Jill)

the fanciest 4 year old's birthday cake ever, what a delicious experience

back away from Nik's ginormous knife

and the room fell silent

Happy Birthday Dear Hopper!!

yummy concentration, that dude INHALED it!

oh hi Axel

our bed is always an epicenter of explosive energy

the final result

What started as a very rainy day, turned lovely and sunny so after cake (during the sugar buzzzzz) we headed to the park. And no sand pit this time for Mr 4 Year Old, the kids played soccer and ran around in the grass field.

sometimes in opposite directions. sometimes not at all.

and then there's the inevitable shake down, the wrestling to the ground, and theft of a ball. the horror! and the tears.

and Yama brought some presents to help lighten the mood (and some great wine, thanks!)

not certain he wants a repeat of the Axel theft maneuver

COUSINS!!! (broodje Hopper = Hopper sandwich)

some of the park posse

Ophelia came in a Lightening McQueen costume, which of course endeared herself to H in immeasurable ways, then chased him wearing his armor. I think he's in love!

followed by a lovely dinner at Senpachi, Japanese family style restaurant, with Yama and Manus

my beautiful boys

ice cream and smooch

He is my perfect boy

Just look at that happy face. My best moments. To see that face. Happy Birthday Hopper! I love you to the moon!

Roadtrip to Anpanman Museum

During our last stint in Japan in 2013, we managed to travel around a little but were quite busy with the residency schedule so didn't get loads of time to wander further afield than Ikumi Beach in the next prefecture (county). This time, we knew we wanted to see more of the island, this breathtaking, mountainous, rivery, sinewy swath of forest and jungle called Shikoku. 

We had been checking weather forecasts and hotel options and found a perfect sunny window to hop in the Cube and head southwest to the beach in Shimanto but first, a little detour for Hopper-chan.

No trip through the area of Kochi, about 2 1/2 hrs drive, can go without visiting the shrine to all things Anpanman: The Anpanman Museum in Kami, the hometown of the creator Takashi Yanase. The whole area looks a lot like Kamiyama, and there is very little around, well except breathtaking views and windy roads. Of course.

Anpanman is beloved by children and adults alike, he's a super hero whose head is made of bread (with red bean jam filling!- like almost every freakin desert in Japan) who saves creatures from his nemesis Baikinman (and when they're starving, by offering them bits of his head, only to return to his creator and baker Uncle Jam who bakes him a new head and makes him whole again). He has lots of friends and foes, the list of characters is astonishing (1768 to be exact), but his biggest enemy is Baikinman, who is always up to dastardly deeds. 

Hopper was introduced to him a couple of years ago so knew him by name. But now that he's a fully cognizant nearly-4 year old, and fascinated with "super heros" and super powers, he's really into it and knows quite a few of the characters names. (This is all without having seen a single cartoon, just flipping through books, seeing them on "healthy" cookie boxes, toys, shirts, dolls, toothbrushes.) We were excited to go but mostly overjoyed at seeing the excitement in his eyes in the car.

Then, we were off to Kochi, a lovely little city beach hamlet with a taste for superb fish and a big Sunday market. Stay tuned...

Anpanman with a map of Kochi Prefecture on the Southern coast

beautiful setting, and free parking!

There he is!

Baikinman, poke him in the eye

A little bit of the story, with glorious translation

The old guy on the poster is the creator, Yanase. He died in 2013.

A few of the main characters, prints of Yanase's original oil paintings

probably the best part of the museum, the paintings were fantastically psychedelic

a wall with all 1768 characters, def too much attention required from a 3 year old

merchandising: a history

diorama of the land of Anpanman and co, it was massive and moved (see video)

Uncle Jam's bakery

more cute characters, Japanese really have the market cornered on 'cute'

theater showing cartoons

play nice...

oh no it's baikinman!!!

Of course he's too afraid to actually say hello to his favorite super hero!

outside was a fab playground with different parts for different ages, and an ice cream shop

but sometimes the best part is the grassy field for running around playing silly chase games