Ikuya's first Halloween

He decided to go as the all-American Superman...

I decided to go as the all-Japanese Hello Kitty...

We then headed downtown Chicago for the Halsted Little Street of Horrors parade

Wisconsin Dells

My family has been going to Wisconsin Dells and Devil's Lake every fall since I was born. It is the perfect combination of American cheesy touristy fun and the great outdoors.

Ikuya arrived in America for his very first time in October, so guess where we took him first!??!?!

We hiked, went to my favorite apple orchard Sky-Hi, went on wooden coasters, 5 story go-kart courses, got soaked at the water parks, had a skee-ball championship and more!

Nashville and St. Louis

Peace Corps reunions in Nashville and St. Louis

After finishing the Vipassana course, I hopped on a plane down to Nashville to go see my Peace Corps Kenya buddies Kim and Maria.

After a day playing around in Nashville, we headed out to the Ponderosa. How do I even describe the Ponderosa??? It's magical. A friend from Kenya and the "old man" bought a run down old barn in the middle of nowhere Tennessee, and are converting it into a farm house. I was lucky enough to go out there, help around the house, and have some good ole hillbilly fun. I even taught the old man how to do a headstand.

Here is just one example of how cool the old man is. He leaves the price tag on everything he buys from garage sales. I love him.

Another weekend, we drove down to see other Peace Corps Kenya buddies, Sheila and Ann, in St. Louis.

After heading out to see the arch, we had a bite of pizza, danced at karaoke, then ended the night with a Kenyan dancing pow wow back at Sheila's.

Sheila also took us to the City Museum in St. Louis which is one of my new all time favorite places!!!! It's a huge pile of recycled junk strung, twisted, and tied up a 10 story warehouse. You run wild through all the twists, turns, tunnels, cages, planes, buses, ferris wheels, and mole holes.

Before driving back home, we had one last day on Sheila's family's farm... We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the bonfire, played on the tractors, then went on a hay ride at night! Good ole American fun!!!! ;-)

Hawaii cruisin!

My Mom and I went on a cruise to Hawaii at the end of September for 2 weeks. With the economy down, cruising has become dirt cheap!

We flew to Honolulu, and then cruised around to Kauai, Kona, Hilo, and Maui. We then had an amazing 5 days of pure relaxation as we sailed to Mexico before heading back to Chicago. :-)