I’m sorry that I haven’t been posting regularly, but here is my New Year’s bento of mochi, oden, and rice. Ever since I was a kid, every year at midnight on New Year’s Eve we would set off long strands of fire crackers which was hung from a long bamboo pole. Because the firecrackers were suspended in the air the noise was incredibly loud and the rubbish from the firecrackers would fly everywhere. The next morning my sister and I would have to go and rake up all of that red paper that seemed to be in everything! 
I also wanted to share a few pictures of our family and friends from this year. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and a blessed 2010!
I love the middle face… that’s me! I have both scary and fond memories of the New Year’s Eve in Honolulu. Trails and trails of red hanging from the lightposts! The noice, thrills, smells, and as you mentioned… the hard work of removing all the red paper from everything!
Nice flashback photo of the past year and a beautiful family portrait.
Have a wonderful New Year to you and yours! Here’s to 2010!
Happy New Year to you to hapabento! I have some scary memories too. LOL, I was such a tomboy and used to get burned doing things I wasn;t supposed to be doing.
Beautiful pictures! Happy new year to you guys. It has been great discovering you this year!!
Happy New Year joannmski!
Your blog is always such an inspiration to me.
So you were the ones! On our street it was my friend Barb’s dad that did the honors. The next day Barb and I would search out all the unpopped firecrackers, peel them open, dump out the gunpowder into a pile, and make a giant bomb. Happily we survived with all digits intact o_o !
I also have the exact same fishing pic, haha! Except I only had a plain bamboo pole, and I used papipi for bait.
Thanks for sharing your memories of the year, and a super cute firecracker bento! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year sheri! Sounds like you were a pyro just like me!
we only light up the long string of firecrackers for chinese new year. am hoping to catch some fire works though on the eve count down. Happy new year to u and your lovely family
Happy New Year javapot!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2010!
It’s great Happy New Year bento Susan, fun fire crackers … and a lot of memories and happiness just by looking all of your photos here. Wish you and your family a Happy New Year! BTW, your daughter is a copy of you hehehehe
Happy New Year to you too Lia!
I hope you are having a fun time visiting with your family.
Happy New Year Susan! Firecrackers are fun, but you have to be careful with them. I like your photos. Your kids are so cute. Seems you are having lots of fun.
Happy New Year to you too Amaaris!
happy new year susan! the firecracker bento is a wonderful idea (i love when bentos bring memories to life), and i loved seeing your personal pictures too. your family is adorable, and the mcdonald’s bag “mask” is cracking me up! a happy and healthy new year to you and yours
Happy New Year to you too gamene!
Really like ur way of presenting the fire cracker bento, very creative! Must steal ur idea when CNY coming ;p
Wishing u & ur family happy new 2010!
Thanks Kel! Happy New Year to you too!
Lovely family pictures–enjoyed seeing all these joyous faces! Your New Years bento is wonderful. Best to you and yours in the New Year, Susan and please keep up the inspiring posts!
Thanks Jenn! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful New Year too!
Pingback: Happy New Year Bento – Bento Central