I really want a Nintendo DS. The PSP looks cool, but I really love Nintendo. One of the reasons is because they always have some really innovative and creative games, for instance Animal Crossing for the Gamecube. Electroplankton is another strange and original concept for a video game. You control small plankton creatures and create music. I know it sounds silly, but that’s just the sort of thing I really find interesting. Electroplankton is probably not going to be sold in the U.S., but since the system is region-free, a Japanese game will work on a U.S. DS. Another neat game is Nintendogs, which is like Tamagotchi, where you have to take care of a virtual pet. And later, Animal Crossing DS will be released! The Nintendo DS is really neat, I wish I had one!

Last night my friend Mikey and I went to see Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, “Howl’s Moving Castle”. It was excellent! The visuals were amazing as usual, and the music was wonderful. There were many signature Miyazaki elements, which looked like they were adapted from his other movies. For instance, in one scene Howl does a little wave with his hand as he flies off, just like Nausicaa did. The castle itself moved on legs that looked similar to No-face (Kao-nashi) in Spirited Away when he was in his monster form. And then some of the flying machines were reminiscent of the airships in Laputa. Also, when Howl and Sophie were flying in the beginning, it looked like Baron and Shizuku in Whispers of the Heart. Lots of similarities, but they didn’t detract from the movie, but rather gave it a familiar feel, at least to me.

Bay and Yuta have fun while watching Power Rangers.

Koa touches Magic, the horse.

Papa gets attacked by Bay and Mariko!

Koa likes to wear baseball caps.

It was a hot day, so we got out the inflatable whale pool.

There was a pony at Bay’s school the other day. He didn’t want to ride it at first, but later really enjoyed it.