Party Time

The holiday season and all the parties that come with it are in full swing. Saturday night was Mike's Christmas party for work. I was looking forward to it because I thought I'd be able to do some long-awaited dancing. Unfortunately, my dance partner sprained his ankle the evening before when he tripped trying to get on a train. We did manage to dance (hobble) our way through a slow song though. I was also worried about my dress. I wore the same dress as last year since I figured this was a new crowd, but I was really, really worried that it wouldn't fit. I managed to zip it up, just barely. But despite my handicapped dance partner and my too-tight dress, I wound up having a good time.





Mike with the guys












Me with Kazumi

Oh No, the Big 3-0!

So it finally happened, the day I've been semi-dreading...my 30th birthday. I don't feel any different, but officially entering my 30's seems so surreal. Oh well, 30's the new 20, right? And I'm having a good 'ol time, so being an old lady shouldn't matter!

On my birthday, Mike and I headed to Hard Rock Cafe in Yokohama to celebrate. I thought it was supposed to be an intimate little lunch, just the two of us, but when we got there, I was greeted with a bunch of our friends. I was completely surprised because I thought we had celebrated my birthday the night before when Mike and I went out with a couple of our friends and shared birthday cake. My wonderful husband threw me a surprise birthday party! Here are a few pictures...

Here with adorable little Mimi who was my enthusiastic helper when it came time for presents.




Mimi trying on a present- a rabbit fur scarf (Sorry, PETA).







Now my turn.






After lunch, we all went to the mall next door to do some shopping. We didn't last very long though because shopping as a large group is quite a challenge... we kept losing random people and spent most of our time trying to find each other. Poor little Mimi was exhausted by the end and fell asleep. I volunteered Mike to carry her because her mom didn't bring her stroller. I figured it's good practice for him when it's our turn to have our own little Mimi. He carried her from the mall, to the train station, and the whole, crowded train ride back. What a trooper!