This “look back” is just a glimpse of what January and February 2015 held for us as a family, and our little business.

January 18th – Kaipher waiting patiently in our hotel lobby for our ride to Haneda airport. After months of cutting massive amounts of “immigration-red-tape”, we had our embassy interview on January 15th, and my baby boy became a U.S. Citizen upon entry, and of all places, that was in Toronto, Canada!

We watched “My Neighbor Totoro” countless times while living in the hotel, and Kaipher requested a “soot gremlin” drawing. I was able to keep my Society 6 shop up and running during our huge transition, and this print is available there now! Click here: “Soot Gremlins”

After arriving in Birmingham, AL, we spent two days unpacking and settling in, then we had to get out. Our first outing was to the Birmingham Zoo. Kaipher was obviously thrilled after days of packing, traveling, and unpacking. And big surprise, the flamingos were my favorite.




Settling into our new home and enjoying our obligatory “seasonal tree”, along with a cozy fire, adult beverages, and some mind stimulating board games.


Here’s another new print in my Society 6 shop!

The nature trails in Mountain Brook are beautiful! We are loving our new neighborhood!
We also celebrated Kaipher’s 4th birthday in February! While we are missing Japan so very much, we are thrilled by this new chapter/adventure.




Happy Birthday to my heart, my love, my baby boy, my little man!!!

Credits ~ Photography by: Nathan Black, and Taren S. Black