Aug 8 2011
“Daddy, I want to watch that spinniness!”
— The kid wants to watch the spinning wheel game
Yesterday we went to the Palo Alto Obon Festival with some Peter, Laura, and John. The kid was really looking forward to this particular Obon because she’d won a stuffed animal (a cat, of course) the two previous years playing the “Spinner” game (basically a variation on Roulette).
Would she win this year? There’s only one way to find out.
Jul 18 2011
Dad: (watching the kid create a barricade in the hallway) “Why do you like making barriers?”
The Kid: “It’s fun, like making a sand castle! Why do you like cleaning up (cat) poop?”
- The kid answers a question with a question
2011 Mountain View Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
Yesterday we went to the Mountain View Obon Festival. Here’s the video.
Aug 17 2010
The Palo Alto Obon fest is the third and final Obon festival we attend, and is a bit smaller than the others. It has drums and dancing and food and game booths. We attended the P.A. Obon with Grandmommy two years ago, and keep going in her memory.
This year the big event of the day was Lucy winning a prize at one of the game booths…a kitty cat! She has had luck on the ‘wheel of fortune’ two years in a row. Yay Lucy! I think you’ve found your game!
Jul 22 2010
“Wubie crushed my wand — no magic show for him!”
— Lucy’s response after she waved her ‘magic wand’ (stick with a ribbon) in front of Wubie one too many times (he destroyed it).
We went to the SJ Obon with friends recently and had loads of fun, especially Lucy…she got to dance in her first Bon Odori.
Lucy went to her first Obon fest way back in 2008, when she was still a baby. Grandmommy had suggested we go, she had cut out a clipping from the newspaper for us, and urged us to go that very day (it was a Sunday and we had been visiting her in the hospital). We went and had a lovely time. Shortly thereafter Grandmommy got out of the hospital, so we all went together to the Palo Alto Obon fest. That was about a month before she passed away in September, and it was our last big outing together.
The Obon festival is held to remember ancestors and loved ones who are gone…so it seems appropriate that we keep going in memory of Grandmommy. (Posts from last year’s visits here and here.) If she were still here, she would surely be dancing with us!
Jul 15 2010
“Nice hairdo, Daddy!”
— Lucy smiling (after I’d made an effort to look less unkempt). When I asked if she was making fun of me, she said without hesitation: “Yes!”
Last weekend we met some good friends at the San Jose Obon Festival.
Lucy’s been to a few Obons in her time (she’s 3 and a half, ya know) so she’s an old pro now. (She even has her own yukata.)
In addition to seeing the sites, playing games, having her parents chase her to and fro, and chowing down, Lucy participated in her first Bon Odori dance. She was very excited about it.
The San Jose Bon Odori was huge, with hundreds of people. Lucy had a blast attempting to duplicate the movements of all the dancers. I think she did an admirable job, though her concentration may have wavered a bit in parts.
Pics:
The kid will be busting her yukata out again this weekend for another festival. Actually, I think she also has a birthday party to attend, so her dance card will be full for the next couple of days. I’ll make sure to bring along my trusty camcorder.
Video:
SJ Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
Aug 4 2009
2009 Palo Alto Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
Hey, didn’t I just post an Obon Festival video? Well, here’s another one. This video was taken at the Palo Alto Obon Festival held at the PA Buddhist Temple this past weekend.
Lucy got all dressed up for this one (her Mom knows what the outfit is called). We had a lot of fun. We saw Gpa Peter for a bit, had some shaved ice and fries, saw some Taiko drums, and played a few games. Lucy even won (another) cat! Woohoo, just toss it onto the stuffed cat pile we have at home, kid.
Camera Used: Creative Vado HD.
Jul 22 2009
2009 Mountain View Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
Here’s a video to go along with Jill’s previous post on our day at the 2009 Mountain View Obon Festival.
Camera Used: Creative Vado HD. Soundtrack:
Jul 20 2009
Drums! Rainbow shave ice! games for kids!
Lucy was excited about all these things in anticipation of the Obon fest this weekend…and it did not disappoint.
In the games area Lucy fished for ducks many times, and won two superballs and a pinwheel.
Next on the list: rainbow shave ice! what a delight! always reminds us of Hawaii…
She was really into the drums, dancing and bobbing to the beat, and in the kid’s area, even tried her hand at drumming. A future taiko drummer? who knows!
She also got a balloon animal, from this very creative and talented balloon animal crafter…
Last year we went to 2 Obons, once with Grandmommy and Gpa. Obon is all about family and remembering your loved ones and ancestors, so it was a perfect day to remember our love for Gmommy.
Aug 24 2008
Palo Alto Obon Festival from Mike C on Vimeo.
Here’s a quick video of a visit we made to the Palo Alto Obon Festival earlier this month. Lucy had fun watching the performers beat on drums, sampling the food (including multi-colored snowcones), and spending time w/ Gma Susan and Gpa Peter.
by Shonen KnifeJul 21 2008
Lucy and I went to the Obon Festival yesterday. It was a lot of fun, her first festival/faire/big outdoor thing with lots of people. Lots of pics here.
She played a game and won a pinwheel. We stood in line for shave ice three times, and three times decided the line was too long and we couldn’t wait.
We went to the children’s activities tent and Lucy tried her hand at the Taiko drum (not sure if we were supposed to, but hey, the drummers weren’t there) and watched balloon animals being made.
We saw lots of doggies and other kids, Lucy picked up a few cat toys in the book sale area, and we looked at dolls in the exhibit area. We will be sure to go again next year!
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