Rugrats VII -
Winter 2002/3
Geez - where to start?  I waited too long to do a new page, and now I'm having trouble figuring out a logical structure.  How about if I just cut it up into sections and not worry about it too much?
Lauren's birthday, folks' visit and other stuff in the December-ish time period
Of course, Lauren plays a starring role every year at this time, since December 25 is her birthday.
That's right, the folks made it over again for the holiday season, and were good sports as always about jet lag, weather and my periodic grouchiness.
The visit from the folks, Christmas parties and other events meant Lauren got to celebrate over and over.  Funny how she never seemed to object to that. 

Katie and Kaori didn't seem to mind that much either...
And you never know when a birthday hat may come in handy, as Dad can testify.
Even without the hat, Dad was popular with the ladies...
Oh, yeah.  December 25 also has other  implications.  Below, Lauren (in her school uniform) meets the man himself. 
The folks scored big with both girls on their holiday gift of a plastic tea set. 

(And "Ho, ho, ho" to you too, Mom and Dad, for the musical teapot, which I always seem to kick over on my way to the bathroom at 3:30 a.m....  "I'm a little teapot, short and stout, here is my handle, here is my spout..."  Oi vey!)
Let's see... What else did we do while the folks were here...?
Dressed up and took a stroll...
Went out to dinner...
Visited the aquarium....
Did we have a good time?

Ask these guys.
Resort weekends at the Arai Mountain resort in Nigata Prefecture
Went to the park...
Kaori discovered this resort,with its extensive system of children's ski programs and child care, and on two visits it was a big success for us. 

Here's the full crew, sporting our resort look.
And here's Lauren with her instructor, ready for their first ski lesson. 
Katie, meanwhile, wasn't 100% sure what to do with so much snow...
But the resort's pool was a major hit with her...
And I didn't hate it either...
With the kids in ski lessons and daycare, Kaori and I snuck off and had fun, snowshoeing to the summit of the resort's peak on a gorgeous day.
Pretty sweet...
....But, man, all that fun will just wear you out.  Lauren and Kaori headed off for a last dip in the Japanese baths, leaving me and Katie zonked in the "baby room".
Miscellaneous other shots...
Katie and me at work on a batch of carrot bread (...or maybe it's pumpkin bread?).
Singing, dancing Lauren.
Katie the keyboardist, at play on Lauren's birthday present.
And on the vibes at the Children's Castle music room.
Lauren munching a Japanese goodie...
Katie becoming a biker chic...
And a final shot of Kaori and Katie from the Arai resort.
More to come when I do a spring page.  Hopefully, soon, but not until after I do my next climbing page!