I have not posted for quite some time! The power-outage really broke the routine I had going, which is a good thing. Sometimes life without technology can be better. Not that I am complaining! I just miss all of the exta time we had to go outside and play with the neighbors. It was a really memorable experience.
Today I am home waiting for the electrical inspector to come check Yoshi's work in the basement. Once we pass this inspection, he can insulate and dry-wall our new bathroom. I have to admit that after waiting forever for this project to be completed, it looks really good. I can visualize our basement finished again, with cozy carpeting and some of our furniture from the cramped living room upstairs. It is really exciting!
It was all supposed to be done by the end of October, and I was hoping to have the space for our Halloween party. Unfortunately, Yoshi has to go to Japan on a business trip for two weeks this month, so the date will probably be mid-November. I teased him that when he came back from Japan he would find everything done, because I would hire contractors to finish the job! I really would do it if we weren't down to a single income. Honestly, this project has been expensive enough with Yoshi doing everything himself. We did hire a plumber who spent about two weeks in our basement. That was a good investment, because if Yoshi had done all of that himself, I doubt he could have gotten it done before January. If our baby were born before Yoshi finished up his project, I would be so angry!
This project has taken up almost all of his time since early July, and it has made my transition to being a full-time mom so much more difficult because I literally have Maia all the time. Usually, Yoshi would entertain her on evenings and weekends, so I could get things done or just have some Roula time. This has not happened much lately. To Yoshi's credit, he is slaving away in the basement and saving us a ton of money. I know that it will not last forever and the end is finally in sight, but it has not been easy!
I guess Yoshi and I have very different ideas about getting things done. In my opinion, giving up the majority of family time for 4 months is a recipe for disaster. But Yoshi sees this sort of thing as normal. Sometimes you have to work harder than others, so you just have to suck it up and do it. I agree with that philosophy for a week or two, but 4 months? Needless to say, it has been a little tough on us! Perhaps someday I'll understand the Japanese work ethic. Until then, I'll focus on the fact that one day soon, we will have a nice finished basement with a full-sized bathroom and I'll have my husband back. The whirlpool tub in there won't hurt either!
I'll post some pics soon!
Our first stay in traditional Japanese hotel. Yes, you are supposed to wear those "flattering" yukatas around the hotel and to breakfast. Here, we are just heading off to the private hotspring bath. 
Yoshi is quite excited in this picture because we went on a tour of the Coors plant in Colorado, and they had three FREE samples. I was pregnant at the time and got to enjoy all you can drink Coke. Oh well! Maybe we'll go back when I can partake as well.
Here we are in Colorado at Pike's Peak. Can you tell who the Indian's fan is?
On our wedding day in Oahu. What a handsome fellow:) 
Admiring Maia when she was just an infant. 
What could be cuter? 