On Sunday, we went to Crissy Fields in San Francisco to attend Nakayoshi‘s Annual Welcome BBQ. We haven’t been able to go the past couple years because we’ve always happened to be out of town, but we were glad that we could make it this year, especially since it’s been a lot harder to go to Nakayoshi’s events since Mio was born. The BBQ picnic was a really family-friendly event, and it was a good chance for Mio to meet all her aunties and uncles in Nakayoshi! 🙂
Jamie did an awesome job organizing the BBQ! We’ve known each other since she was a freshman at Virginia Tech who joined JCA during my senior year. It’s awesome having a fellow Hokie transplant in San Francisco, and I love that Jamie’s involved with Nakayoshi now! 😀
There was so much delicious food that everyone made!
This was seriously the best spam musubi I have ever had.
Mio happily eating some onigiri.
Mio reunited with Uncle Graig — she loves him!
With lovely Auntie Sam! Thank you for always being so sweet to Mio. 🙂
Nakayoshi Chair Haruka welcoming everyone welcoming everyone at the Meet & Greet.
It was hard to keep Mio from running around everywhere during the Meet & Greet. (><)
Touchdown! She discovered a football.
Despite the foggy weather, it was a great turnout!
Megumi made a surprise appearance — it was so good seeing her again!
Mio meeting Tiffany and Atsushi for the first time.
Giving high fives all around!
Jason leading all the fun of the Nakayoshi Games!
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay for the games because it was Mio’s naptime and she was getting cranky, but we heard it was fun! 😀 We’re glad that we could at least be there for the first half and see everyone again, as well as meet some of the newer Nakayoshi members!
Dan’s mother gave us a Japanese cucumber plant recently, and Mio has been helping us water it with her mini watering can. It’s a very cute sight to see!
She’s got it down!
Getting some occasional help from Daddy…
She occasionally tries to drink the water in the can, but for the most part, she does her watering well.
Mio watching Daddy closely while he cares for the plants.
So sweet…
Walking around the front yard with her watering can – so adorable. ã“ã®å¾Œã‚姿ã«èƒ¸ãŒã‚ュン♥
Looking up at the window.
Mio is already such a sweet little helper! Next up, teaching her to do the dishes…. haha* I kid.
Two delicious treats in one! I made these for the Nakayoshi Annual BBQ today, but unfortunately a lot of them toppled over in the car and they were a mess when we got there. 🙁 At least I got a couple nice pictures of them beforehand!
Notes for the future: Keep the macaron and cupcake separate until we get to the final destination and top them before serving. Also may not want to use softer frostings like cream cheese frosting, since they have a tendency to not hold the macaron as well.
The Marin County Fair is going on from June 30 to July 4, so we drove over to San Rafael yesterday so that we could give Mio her first taste of a fair. She was too young and short to go on the rides, but she still had a lot of fun with the farm animals that were there!
Walking around the fair, making our way over to the farm animals area.
The fair was a huge affair by the water – we were impressed by how many rides, food tents, and vendors there were.
In the area with the farm animals, Mio got to see so many animals — rabbits, chickens, geese, sheep, turkeys, cows, goats, deer, horses, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, potbelly pigs, wallabies… there were so many that she got to see for the first time!
When the animals were inside pens, Mio got very adventurous and climbed up on the railing and leaned in to touch them, as she did with this cow.
I think one of the highlights for myself personally was watching the potbelly pig race! I’d never seen a pig/hog race before, so it was actually really fun to watch!
It was an intense race! And the potbelly pigs were so cute.
There was a petting farm area specifically designed for little kids, so that they could go in to touch and feed the free-roaming animals. While Mio had been really brave up until then, trying to touch the animals inside their cages and pens, she suddenly became very timid when she was in an area where they weren’t behind bars.
Here I am, trying to get Mio to pet the llama… but she refuses.
Mio is usually very quick in trying to run off, but this time she clung to me.
She even turned away from the smaller animals like the baby goats.
We finally got her to willingly feed a little fawn, probably because she felt safe as it was one of the few animals that was caged in.
Mio feeding the fawn from her hand.
A baby goat wedged its way in to get fed, too. Mio has great practice with feeding animals from feeding our pet chinchillas back at home!
Even though the fawn was behind a pen, it still managed to reach its neck out to take a couple bite out out of my dress, leaving holes in it! 🙁
Mio loved climbing up on the wall of the cages to look down at the animals.
A little overwhelmed by all the animals.
Had to take a picture with the creepy-looking Clover cow.
…and of me as a cow.
Taking a lunch break on the haystacks.
Gotta stay hydrated!
I forget how small Mio still is compared to Dan…
After Mio was done eating, we walked around to try some of the delicious fair grub ourselves…
Turkey legs remind me of college! I was tempted to get one, but I didn’t.
There were so many good food stands! We decided on some delicious garlic fries, Cajun seafood gumbo, and a root beer float… all delicious!
With our tummies full, and our hearts warmed by all the cute animals, we headed home. It was a great first carnival experience for our little family! 😀
