Korean BBQ

 We have tried to take advantage of our last week in Japan. This specific evening we tried Korean BBQ! All you can eat or drink for 90 minutes!

We get to cook our own meat on our own grills!

 Our men BBQing

 A WHOLE SHRIMP! Including the head!

 Crab!- YUMMMM

We love our friends:) How awesome to travel the world with 3 of our favorite people!

I'ts amazing what damage you can do in 90 minutes! Loved this food!

This guy was AWESOME! He did everything by himself!

Disneyland Tokyo

That's right! Last weekend we made a day trip to Tokyo! One of the things I had been talking about doing while we are in Japan is going to Tokyo Disneyland. I LOVE Disneyland in California, so I think the trip was more for me than anyone else in my family. Remembering that Disneyland is the "happiest place  on earth," I wouldn't say that was the description of our day. But, it WAS a memory, that's for sure. We started the day by getting half way to the train station and having to send Matt back for the second camera battery (we realized on the way that the one we had was almost dead).  When we finally got on the train, we got to officially experience "PUSHING" for the first time. One of the biggest cultural differences I have noticed is the concept of "personal space." Now, I come from a very touchy feely huggy family, but this is intense. So, we are all crammed in the train. It is too full to find a seat, so we put the breaks on the stroller and hold on to the handles hanging from the ceiling. We got on what looked like an already full train. I use to think that more people couldn't fit but after spending 3 months here, I know differently. One after the other, more people squeeze in. When it looks like there is no more room, you are WRONG! The train workers push and lean into the person they are trying to make room for. One, after the other, more people fit in the small space. It was hot, my legs were smashed up against the stroller, and it was only about 3 minutes before Lily wanted to be held. So then, you try to hold onto a swirmy toddler and the handles at the same time. It is also challenging to keep a toddler from grabbing other people's cell phones that are within her reach, or to keep her busy feet from accidently kicking the gentlemen in sensitve areas LOL. I wish I could get the pushing on video camera, but at that point you are trying to survive, let alone record. So, watch this you tube video I found to get an idea of the "pushing" in Tokyo. It wasn't as bad as the video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33qxTMA9XTA


CRAZY ISN'T IT?!!?!?!? You are hot, smashed, and can't move. Thankfully we got to change trains after 25 minutes or so, and there was a little more room on the next one. To add to our interesting day, Matt "forgot" the directions. I say "forgot" in quotations because we found them on the way home in his pocket! Hahaa this is how real life goes. Anyways, We managed to get to Disneyland. Thankfully, both Matt and I had studied the map prior to leaving so together we were able to remember the stops and transfers between trains to make it there (with a little added help from above).


Here we are! Just off the train and ready to finally head into TOKYO DISNEYLAND!

The weather was another factor of our day. The forecast the last time I checked said "zero chance of rain and 60 degrees!" How absolutely wrong that prediction was..........


Lily was excited to enter Disneyland!

After our long journey there, we just wanted to find a restaurant to sit down at and have lunch, and to warm up after walking around a bit. It turned into 2 hours of wandering around the park trying to find a restaurant to get into without a 2 hour wait line! You would think on a rainy cold day, the park would be less busy? Not in Tokyo!!!

Yummm yummm PB& J

We finally managed to find little restaurant called "Coffeehouse" by the entrance.

This is how we felt most of the day! :-(

 After lunch we noticed a small line for Small World. We went for it! This was our only ride of the day. Two hour wait lines were also unappealing.

But just as we got to the front of the line, Lily was asleep. I tried to wake her up, but she slept through the whole entire ride.

She did enjoy the parade though! Cinderella even blew her a kiss! This was Sully from Monsters Inc. It reminded us of our Golden Retriever Sully back home.

Ice cream makes everything better!

When we had finally had enough and decided to go home, the sun began to come out and warm us up.

We got to say hello to Japedo on our way out!

So, it wasn't our best experience at Disneyland, but I got to spend the day with the two people I love most in the world. We will try again in warm and sunny California!!!

Mikasa Park

Mikaela and I walked Matt and Clark to work, stopping for lunch on the way. We all had burgers at Tsunamis.

 Om Nom Nommmmm

After doing a few errands on base, us girls headed to Mikasa Park.  I can't believe I hadn't been here yet!

We stopped for a snack and watched the fountains and water show...

Then we stretched our legs in the grass.

 We ended the afternoon with a good "meaty" laugh! Hahaha. The Japanese man in the background made a funny gesture at me as he smiled after watching us take this picture:-) Good times.....

Peaceful napping on the walk home.

I met a Japanese man on the elevator on the way home. He spoke pretty good English. I managed to understand that he was a school bus driver, and a teacher. I told him I was a teacher too. I shared with him that I think the school buses are so cute in Japan (they have cartoon panda bears on them). Then, he showed me a picture of some pretty flowers on his cell phone. It was a fun interaction, he was a sweet man.

Catching Up

What have we been up to? I have to say I have been a little disappointed. At the beginning of the month I had a list of all of the things I wanted to do in Japan before leaving.These adventures are ones that I would not take on myself but was hoping to do as a family. But it turns out that Matt's work has gotten pretty busy. He's had about 1 day off since we got back from Tokyo at the very end of February/beginning of March. He is also on swing shift which means that he leaves for work by 12:30pm and doesn't crawl into bed until 2 or 3am. So really, by the time he wakes up we get to spend about 3 hours with him each day. Nevertheless, we are making the most of it, and going to enjoy the little things. Here is last week's preschool:

 Lily's here today, Lily's here today, we're so happy that Lily's here today......

 Painting Lephrachauns!

 Matt came down and joined us for Preschool on Wednesday since he's on swings. One perk I suppose! Lily was loving the blueberry muffins I made! I'm pretty sure snack time is always her favorite.

Class got interesting as we did "shaving cream art."

Hee hee SOOO CUTE!

Kiddo's started loosing their clothes!

On Matt's one day off we skipped the St. Patrick's Day party for the kids and went out for lunch and to base. Matt had to take me to get "the best pita he has ever had!" He decribed it as being light, which I imagined maybe chicken with veggies and a light vinegar dressing. Believe me, I am usually not brave enough to try the street food.

 It was on Dobuita Street.....

 The place was called Gyros Pita

So, his version of light means..... beef with cabbage with this sauce mixture of mayo, ketchup, and chilli sauce. It didn't taste "light" to me, it was rather rich, but I did like it and ate the entire thing!

 Aren't they so cute?

 Yummmmmmmmm

This week we also attended our friend Andrew's 4th Birthday Party! Lily loved it!

 She loved the juice boxes!

 Great food! Hamburger, beans, macaroni salad, fruit and more!

 She ESPECIALLY loved the CUPCAKES!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!

Lily had so much fun, she wore herself out. She fell asleep during Andrew opening presents, so we scooted out a little early. She took a super long nap!

We got Lily this umbrella stroller this week for our travels in Mississippi. Lily thinks it is so great. She wants to sit in it at home during the day and climb all over it. So, we tried it out on our trip to base this week.

 Those blue eyes.....

 It is SPRING! The plum blossoms are blooming! We are just hoping to see the cherry blossoms before we leave! Come on sunshine!!!

Matt and Lily snuggled and watched part of the Lion King before he headed off to work for the day. They were so cute I had to capture the moment:

Yesterday, we went out to take some pictures of Andrew. His momma asked if I'd try to get some good ones with our camera. Here is Lily and Ava watching the photo session:

 This one is my favorite!

 Buddies

Playing at the park after the photo session

Today, we were packing. Lily woke up from her 3 hour nap with wild hair. I have been playing with the settings on my camera. Here's my girl again....





 Do you see that ringlet?

Lily actually enjoyed coloring today!

See ya'll real soon!