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!

Disney Characters

Chris had a pass from work, so we headed to Disney one last time. We're so lucky to have a Disneyland only an hour away - we wanted to take advantage. Adam was more interested in the characters, but everyone was also interested in Adam and Lottie.

By the time we found Chip (or Dale), Adam was an attraction by himself.

Chip (or Dale!) dragged Adam out from the wooded area into the open. Up went a LOUD squeal ("Kawaii! - cute in Japanese). Then everyone took pictures of them.

In the meantime, other Japanese were holding Lottie. She leapt (!) into this woman's arms. She does like the pretty ones.

While Adam was riding Big Thunder Mountain with Daddy, Lottie was accosted for pictures.

Then she made friends with one of the Disney Cast Members at Big Thunder Mountain. She loved this woman. Look at that smile!

The Japanese just love American babies! In retrospect, we also realized that Lottie was dressed up like Boo, from Monsters, Inc., which was the newest ride there. Whoops. Also, costume idea...

Joy School Class Picture

Adam is almost done with Joy School. We are finishing up with the joy of the earth, and took a trip to Sagamihara Park to see the animals and appreciate nature (or at least the playground). We did manage to keep them still enough to take a few class pictures. From left to right, we have Jesse, Catey, Calum, Bella, Sassy, and Adam. They are a fun group, and we hope they had fun and learned a lot this year.

Japanese Dog

I thought it was high time Nani learned another trick. She is learning to balance. It's not going too well, but we managed the Daibutsu (Big Buddha)...

and a Japanese train station. Adam would be so mad if he knew. (The pink ring, for some reason, is the only thing that makes her hold still. Her balancing training wheels.)

Japanese Hotel

Why we have problems traveling in Japan:

"My husband and I can go relax. Dinner, dinner or take the wife out of shape, I have my meals alone, we have the room to make a porridge with you later."

This is a translated quote from a travel site that rates hotels. Do you really want to stay at a hotel where your choice is dinner alone or having to take the out of shape wife? (I guess some people would love it!) You COULD have porridge later if you were still hungry, I guess.