Spiderwebs

Adam's wise words after seeing a spiderweb: "Look, a spiderweb! Airplanes need spiderwebs so they can grow their fruits."

What?

Moving Crazies

Adam and Lottie are enjoying some aspects of moving. The air shipment went today. The packers arrived at 7:30 (AM!) and the doorbell woke both kids up. Adam immediately raced downstairs, screaming, "Don't pack my trains!" Once the packers left (it only took 45 minutes!), and he was assured that the trains are staying, the kids enjoyed all the open space we have now that our stuff is gone. We do have a few military issue items - couch, a few chairs, dining set, and of course, beds.

Adam and Lottie enjoying the "new" couch. They are excited to move to Texas!

Japanese Boy

Adam will miss Japan. His dessert tonight - Japanese ice cream and mochi with azuki bean (pounded sticky rice with sweet bean filling).

Happy Father's Day!

We spent our Father's Day trying out new things, like falling asleep in our high chair at brunch after church.

And old things, like eating chocolate donuts and getting it all over our nose.

The guard at Atsugi wished Chris a happy Father's Day. Adam was impressed, because he had also wished Daddy a happy Father's Day that morning. (How did she know?) When we got back to SHA, the guard there did not wish Chris a happy Father's Day. Adam immediately and LOUDLY, asked, "Why he not say 'Happy Father's Day,' Daddy?"

From everyone, Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Trainspotters

Adam and Lottie are enjoying their last few weeks of riding the trains. Adam always insists on riding so he can see out the window.

Lottie enjoys hanging out!

Sprinkler Fun

On Saturday morning, we all tried to go to the pool to enjoy the rare sunny day during rainy season. It was being decontaminated (boo!), so we went to the Carlson's for some fun with the sprinkler. Well, really the hose. Lottie had a great time spraying the boys, with Daddy's help.

Jesse didn't really like getting wet, but Calum and Adam had a great time pulling each other through the spray. Notice that Calum is pulling Adam AND the little wagon. It needed a ride too. Good fun!

Cockroach

Cute baby cockroach!

Matchmaking

Moms always joke about our kids getting married, and each boy has his own little girl. One day, Jesse announced that he loved Lottie. Then Adam said he loved Tate. And Calum said he was going to marry Kerri. Adam really seems to have a soft spot for Tate.

We decided it would be fun to make the boys pose with their girls.

We're not sure how the girls feel about that!

Tate had to crash her brother's picture.

Bowling

On Thursday, we decided to take advantage of free bowling, and let Adam bowl. He LOVES bowling. He's also decided that he is big enough to bowl all by himself. First, it was getting the ball himself, and using the bowling ramp to send it down the lane. Of course, he wasn't interested in watching the ball knock over the pins. Just rolling the ball. Then he moved on to trying to bowl like the big kids, no ramp. Of course, that tacked about five extra minutes onto every frame. (Ball gets slowly rolled, ball rolls, and rolls, and rolls. And rolls. And rolls. Ball touches a pin, but doesn't knock anything over. Ball gets swept up by the bar that knocks down the extra pins. And repeat.) Which is when we decided to stop. Such mean parents!

Come Here, Peacock

Adam just loves the animals. If you can't understand Mumblemouth, he's saying, "Peacocks, come over here again. You wanna huggle? You wanna huggle? That's a daddy one. And that's a daddy one, too."

Those darn peacocks NEVER want to huggle!

Gaijin Day at Sagamihara Park

Thursday we visited Sagamihara Park. We were supposed to meet up with a bunch of friends, but we were a little late. So we hit the zoo first, then tried to find everyone. Adam was excited for his second pony ride.

Adam and Lottie had a fun time petting the guinea pig. They fed carrot sticks (ninjin) to the guinea pigs, goats, sheep, and rabbits.

The hydrangea are just gorgeous (still!) at the park. I tried to get Adam and Lottie to pose for some pictures, but I just got one child that yelled, "NO!" and ran away, and one that screamed at me, cried when I set her down, then ran off (too) after I took this teary picture.

After that, we finally found our friends. Japanese call foreigners "gaijin," and a group of gaijin kids that big was a definite draw. Here's Riley - he's only three months old, and oki (big).

Lottie had fun on the baby swing.

Tate loved the baby swing too. Baby swings are rare in Japan, so this was a nice treat for the girls.

Adam and Calum pushed the stroller around for awhile. You bring them to a great park, and they play with the STROLLER. Kids! Then they insisted on eating their snack on the stroller too.

Lottie, Tate, and Aiden had fun toddling around.

Abby (and her mommy Denise) giving her infamous stink eye.

Ainsley brought enough fruit snacks and seaweed (nori) to share with everyone! We weren't sure that the boys would eat it, but once Ainsley showed them her nori-eating technique (cram the entire sheet in mouth), they both ate it too. Yummy!

Day at the Pool

Wednesday we met at the pool to celebrate Tate's first birthday. Here she is, getting used to the water. (She's usually much more smiley than that.)

We couldn't resist the opportunity to get some shots of the girls together. Kerri is now 18 months, Lottie is 14 months, and Tate is 12 months!

They had a great time in the water. I can't believe how big they are now!

They even (sometimes) play together...

Moving Day

On Monday and Tuesday, the movers came for our first shipment (the slow boat variety).

"Are you really taking all of our STUFF?"


"I guess that's okay... just leave us some TOYS, please."

"These crates sure are fun."

After everything was packed out, playing in Nani's crate was super fun. "Look, we all fit!"

Nani thinks, "HELP ME!"

Yoyogi Park

Last Tuesday, we had an errand to run (thanks for the modeling money, Adam), but decided that we had to do something besides visiting the modeling agency. We went with Calum (and Maryl and Tate), and had a great time at Yoyogi Park. It's right next to Meiji Shrine (which we've been too many times), but we'd never been before. It's not really a park for kids, since they don't have any play areas, but the kids had a good time anyway. The boys liked the purple roses - their favorite color.
There was also a pond with lots of fountains. The boys even found some turtles.

Everyone was happy but tired on the train platform.

Tate and Lottie goofing around.

Joy School Graduation

After a long, but fun (and joyful) year, Joy School ended. Everyone got together for Joy School graduation. The kids sang some of their favorite songs from the year. Then everyone received their Me Book and graduated. We even had refreshments - I made cute chocolate graduation caps (chocolate squares for the tops, Reese's cups for the cap, licorice for the tassel). I forgot to take a picture, so you'll just have to imagine them.

Everyone was happy to pose for a picture - Jesse, Catey, Sassy, Bella, Calum, and Adam. Although Adam is a towering hulk, he is actually second youngest (by quite a bit). He had a great time this year, and Mom did too. Thanks to all the other moms - I think WE learned a lot this year too!

Ants

Adam was running ahead of us when we went to the movies this weekend. All of a sudden, he slowed down, stopped, waited for a second, then tripped. Over nothing. At least to us. When we asked him what happened, he exclaimed, "An ant tripped me!" Those pesky ants!

Tired Eyes

Double Dino Claws

Roar!

Technology

I love that the Japanese have replaced a worker with a flag with a SCREEN of a worker waving a flag (yes, that image is moving).

Stone Lantern

We finally decided to invest in a Japanese stone lantern. The movers are going to love us. Fortunately for them, we could only afford the smallest of lanterns. It actually is just five separate pieces that sit on each other. We'll have to keep the kids away from it so they don't topple it! The lantern store (the main business anyway) has been in business since 1592, and this particular store had a koi (carp) pond and water wheel. Adam and Lottie were infatuated with the fish.

The lanterns made a great backdrop for pictures. We could not afford any of these lanterns. Pity.

Our lantern looks just like this big lantern, but tinier. Much much tinier.

More Disney

Turnabout is fair play - I had to take a picture of these cute girls in their princess outfits. I tried to be discreet, but when they noticed that I was taking pictures, they posed! This is pretty typical at Tokyo Disney. All Japanese are very into appropriate "costume." At Disney, most Japanese buy some type of apparel, be it a hat, a bow, or even a tail (Tigger or Marie the Aristocat), and wear it all day.

I was bummed that they took out my beloved soda flavored popcorn for soy sauce and butter flavored popcorn. We did NOT try it. We did buy two souvenir popcorn containers (we had held out soo long), which the kids are already using at home for homemade popcorn snacks. Almost everyone at Disney buys the popcorn containers (which are refillable), which hang around your neck, so you can snack while you wait in line. They have different flavors of popcorn around the park. We tried caramel, honey, and curry. Yum.

Our main mission this trip was to ride Pooh's Honey Hunt, a ride that is exclusive to Tokyo Disneyland. It's theme is perfectly done. You enter through a Pooh book. The ride itself is on magnets, and spins around, and bounces when you encounter Tigger, and even smells like honey.

When you get out, there is a replica of Christopher Robin's bedroom. Adam was ready to take a nap on his bed.

When we got in line for Peter Pan, Lottie was awake and waving to everyone in line. By the time we got to the front of the line, this is what happened. Chris set her in the pirate ship next to him (carefully!) for the ride.

She was still asleep after we got off the ride. Tired!

Adam likes the "friendly robots."

We had to try on all the wacky hats.
Lottie loved all the pillows.

We stopped for a quick bite before the evening parade, and Daddy got Adam a special treat. There were all things Monsters, Inc. themed, since the ride had opened on April 15. Of course, the Fastpasses for the ride were gone before we got there, and the wait was always over an hour, so we didn't ride. Maybe in the States.

Everyone had a great time, and Adam made the cut for the big kid rides, so he was super excited. He's not sure which ride was his favorite, but he loved everything. Except the beginning of the Haunted Mansion. That was SCARY!