PHOTO GALLERY

Jeana and Kevin's Miharu Diary

Kevin 8th Bday Party in Miharu

Kevin turned 8 in Sept of 2002. To celebrate, we had an American-style theme birthday party, the likes has never been seen in Miharu. Ten of his friends attended the party at the Rice Lake House. The theme was "Harry Potter" of course. We have just finished reading book 4 together. Guests were asked to dress in Wizard Hats and bring brooms. We played lots of Harry Potter themed games Kevin and I came up with, even including a HEATED Quidditch match played with three kinds of balls. It was a real hit with the kids - even the ones who had never read the HP books.

At the end of the day, Kevin declared it was the "Second Best Day of his life". (The first being the day he was born, according to him. Really, I'm not making this up. What a great kid! :> It was definitely worth all the time and money to give him this party - Just to see his face when he saw the cake and the decorations. And we had such fun with the games. The people here were amazed at the lengths I had gone to, but really it was nothing compared to what we do in the States. I am glad he had a great birthday.

(But I can't say that I am anxious to do it ever again!)

Click on any photo to see a larger image.

Kev8thbday003Resized.jpg Kevin with Mommy's attempt at a Harry Potter cake.	Kev8thbday012Resized.jpg Tablecloth and Party Favors thanks to Aunt Mary, balloons by K. Yaginuma all helped set the scene.	Kev8thbday013Resized.jpg HP plates, cups, hats and napkins (thanks to Aunt Mary) made for a festive mode like never seen in Miharu.
Kev8thbday016Resized.jpg Party guests were sorted into Hogwarts Houses. 10 friends from Kevin's School attended.	Kev8thbday019Resized.jpg Mom as Professor McGonigle sorts the birthday boy into his house.	Kev8thbday020Resized.jpg From left to right - Kevin, Shogo, Takuya and Taiichi.
Kev8thbday023Resized.jpg From left to right, Makoto, Rina, Emi, and Akiko.	Kev8thbday025Resized.jpg Birthday Boy Kevin aka Harry.	Kev8thbday027Resized.jpg First class was a little wand practice.
Kev8thbday028Resized.jpg Akiko and Ayachan at wand practice.	Kev8thbday029Resized.jpg The boys at wand practice.	Kev8thbday033Resized.jpg The girls read the clues for Hide and Seek.
Kev8thbday067Resized.jpg Kevin and Mom and the cake.	Kev8thbday037Resized.jpg Hide and seek gets under way. Teams of three raced to find the hidden characters.	Kev8thbday039Resized.jpg The kids searched the house for HP characters hidden throughout.
Kev8thbday053Resized.jpg Mom explains the rules of indoor Quidditch (as made up by Jeana and Kevin).	Kev8thbday056Resized.jpg The kids quickly got the idea. It was a heated match.	Kev8thbday069Resized.jpg Group shot
Kev8thbday071Resized.jpg Everyone showed their HP tatoos.	Kev8thbday072Resized.jpg Group shot of Casey, Aya, Naoko, Jaime, Kevin and Mommy.	Kev8thbday080Resized.jpg Crackers before the cake and presents.
Kev8thbday091Resized.jpg Kevin received many wonderful presents from his friends.	Kev8thbday094Resized.jpg Presents and more presents. "I'm not spoiled..."	Kev8thbday097Resized.jpg Rina and Ayachan. We won't say the g.... word, but they are Kevin's special "friends".

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