Just To Be Different

I didn't post yesterday for the New Year. So here is my Day-After-New-Year post. I think the past year has been one of the busiest that I can clearly remember. It might just be my failing memory!

So in 2009, I hope it is a bit less hectic (good luck, right?!), yet I also hope it is full of new things. I usually don't keep resolutions for myself, but I like to think of things that I'd like to do or change . . . so a resolution of sorts, without saying that it is a resolution. Are you confused yet?

Here are a few things I'd like to do or change this year. I have 364 days to do these . . . . !!!

• Lose 1.5lbs each week from now to Thanksgiving
• Travel to Japan or China
• Graduate from college (it's looking good so far . . .!)
• Move out and get my own place
• Go whale watching or go up in hot air balloon
• Save at least 10% of all my earnings (hard to do with school bills to pay)
• Workout at the gym at least 4 times every week

So we will see how all of that goes. What are you trying to accomplish this year?!

Fat Suit!!!

I dressed up in our fleece sleeping bag with feet (kinda like a infant footie pajama) and stuffed it with pillows. Then my friends and I headed out to the mall! Haha.

So our first stop was at Jamba Juice. My friend bought me a "power" size drink . . . which I never drink that big of a Jamba, but with my big outfit, we needed a big drink! This bunch of random guys came up to me, high-5ed me, gave me a hug, asked for a picture with me and gave me their email to send those pics to them. So funny!

Then, we went to Starbucks. People kept looking over at me, it was so hard to keep from laughing.

We proceeded to go into the actual mall. We entered through the food court doors. We went into AT&T, American Eagle and Victoria's Secret. I just wandered around the courtyard area of the mall. People's looks were so funny!!

After we left the mall, we went to Target. Some little kids saw me and said while laughing, "I think that's a boy!" Haha.

Anyway, so if you want to see pictures, check out my Facebook. Last night was super fun. When we're with the Nakamuras, we ALWAYS find something dumb to do! I think this is the dumbest thing we've done in a long time.

Meals with Friends

I'm planning a feast with my best friend's family for tonight. Krista and I have been cutting, measuring and otherwise prepping the food for the meal. So what's on the menu?!

Well, we were going to do an international spread, but we decided to stick with an Asian theme.

- Garlic Pepper Shrimp
- Teriyaki Chicken with Hints of Curry
- Chicken Katsu
- Nappa Kimchee
- Bean Sprout Kimchee
- Pork Lettuce Wraps
- Japanese Rice
- Korean Brown Rice
- Homemade Mango Ice Cream
- Apricot Jello Mochi
- Tiramisu (I know, this isn't Asian, but it was one international dish we couldn't take off our list!)

So we'll see how it goes. So far all that can be prepared ahead of time is already prepped.

Last night

I was reading in Proverbs 26 last night. This particular proverb made me think: "Why do people choose this way of living?" When I say "this way," I mean the way of a sluggard or lazy person.

I mean, I know there are times when I purpose to be lazy. I don't know why I choose to be lazy one day and not the next. I try my best (at least when I'm not on a break from school) to avoid this lifestyle.

But then, how do people live that like on a regular basis? Are they conscience of their choices, or are they, like me, just doing it because they don't realize they make that choice?

The verse that says "As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed," has always been intriguing to me. If you think of a door hinge, it swings and cannot come apart from the door. So then, I try to picture a person on a bed, just tossing and turning with no hope of getting up. Now that is sad.

I would never want to be that person! How incredibly wrong would it be if we wasted our life, that God so graciously gave us, just sitting in bed?

Reading that just made me think a puzzled thought.

Food I've Made

Since I've been home, I've been doing a lot of cooking. These are some of the things I've made so far (everything from scratch . . . no mixes):
- Ham & Cheese Omelet
- Banana Pancakes
- Mango Sugared Ham
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Pork Sausage Lasagna with Four Cheeses
- Beef & Pork Gingered Teriyaki
- Indian Butter Chicken
- Saffron Rice
- Naan Bread
- Homemade Jiaozi (Potstickers)

I'm sure there will be more to come . . . . !!!!

Oh man . . .

I need to learn to be content.

This snow is wonderful, it is pretty, it is fluffy and it is fun.

BUT . . . it is getting inconvenient. I love driving in the snow, but now that it is ice, it is not my favorite driving condition. Actually, I wouldn't mind driving in it, but I do not like driving around other people who do not know how to drive in the snow and ice.

Anyway, I am loving the snow, but I really want to be able to leave the house and do something with myself! I feel so incredibly lazy just sitting at home. I've cleaned my bathroom, done the dishes several times, cooked every meal except one since being home (for the family) and have practiced the piano. And still, with all the time I do have, I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with myself!

More than wanting to go shopping, I want to go see people. Like my little cousins, my grandparents and my other family members and friends.

Oh well. I know I will always be complaining about something, unfortunately!

Merry Christmas 2008

Winter 2008

 

Merry Christmas to our friends and family! Once again, the year has gone by too quickly. Even with the economic uncertainty, we hope and trust that you are able to enjoy the holidays this year! Here is an update about our family in a topical format.

 

Jobs:

Mark works a front desk host job at The Belletini in Bellevue. It is a high-end retirement community operates like a 5-star hotel. He works a swing shift, so he’s gone at nights and usually sleeps during the day. His responsibilities include anything from taking the trash out to being the security guard. Kathy worked out of the home for the first time in 22 years. She was a prep chef at Russell’s in Bothell. She enjoyed the job, but it ended up taking too much of a toll on the balance of work and family, so she stopped working there late in the summer. Kara is looking for a job now that she is finished with school. Any suggestions?! Kalyn works at school as a residence hall hostess. She also babysits almost every weekend. Andy works at the post office at school. He loves meeting all the people who come by to pick-up packages. Kristine works at both Jamba Juice and Gymboree. For the most part, she enjoys her jobs.

 

Summer:

Kara spent another summer in North Carolina as a camp counselor. She really enjoys teenagers and the camp setting, so it was a fun summer for her. Kalyn worked 55 hours/week this summer as a nanny for two families. She absolutely loves this job, and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. She forgot how fun it can be going to the zoo and swimming pool on a regular basis! Andy tried his hand at the camp scene, and went to the Mojave Desert to counsel at Camp Ironwood. He definitely came home darker than he normally is! Kristine enjoyed having the summer off from school. She went to camp with her youth group in July. 

 

School:

Kara graduated in May magna cum laude with a degree in accounting and a minor in counseling. She’s still trying to decide if grad school is an option for the future. Kalyn is a senior! She is studying public relations journalism and loves it. She’s never really enjoyed school in general, but she loves her journalism courses. She is super excited to start her staff writer position on The Collegian, the campus newspaper. Andy is a sophomore graphic design major. He spends most of his evening hours in the art labs perfecting his work. In November, two of his most recent pieces were featured in the mid-year art show! Kristine is one crazy-busy junior at Inglemoor! She is involved with many things including: Honors/IB classes, tennis, DECA and marching band. She has met a lot of new friends and enjoys hanging out with them.

 

Summary:

We hope and trust that the Lord will bless you and your family this year! Our door is always open, so if you’re in the area, please stop by and see us! Also, with this technologically-driven era, you can keep up with our family and see our pictures (since we don’t have a good family picture!) on our various blogs/social networking pages.

 

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

 

With Love,

The Kinomotos

Mark, Kathy, Kara (23), Kalyn (21), Andy (20) and Kristine (16)

 

Address & Phone:

115-223^rd Street Southeast

Bothell, Washington 98021

H: (425) 398-0263

 

Email Addresses:

Mark & Kathy: kinomotofamily@msn.com

Kara: kmododragon@gmail.com

Kalyn: kkino708@students.bju.edu or kalyn.kinomoto@gmail.com

Andy: akino693@students.bju.edu

Kristine: krstnknmt@gmail.com

 

Facebook/Blog Profiles:

Mark: “A Mark Kinomoto”

Kara: “Kara Kinomoto” or shortestofall.blogspot.com

Kalyn: “Kalyn L Kinomoto” or sayitwithsarcasm.blogspot.com

Andy: “Andrew Scott Kinomoto”

Kristine: “Kristine Renee Kinomoto”