Finally FALL!

The weather has finally started to change. The last few days have been blustery and cool. The airconditioners have been turned off and windows have been opened. It is so wonderful! Our adventures have been few and far between since school started but will hopefully pick up now that the weather is cooler. We do have a big trip to Tokyo planned for Halloween weekend....more on that later.

Fall activities are keeping us busy....Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts have started. Christian and Carson will be playing football, and all three of them start Awana (a church club) tomorrow. Sadly though, all of these fun activities require us to make several trips to the base a day. It is a lot of driving (about 40 minutes each way) but it is good for the kids to be involved in some "American" activites. We are getting used to driving on the wrong (left) side of the road and don't really have to think too much about it anymore...but don't get me wrong....we have made a few mistakes....good thing nobody was looking!

Well, here is a picture of Carson in his fall uniform. Yep, they don't wear jeans here......they call these "short pants"....it is what they wear through the winter. Don't worry though....he won't get too cold because he will wear his knee high socks once it gets really cold. Won't that be attractive? He doesn't seem to mind the uniform....after all, all of his friends wear it too. We kind of think it is cute!

Earthquakes, Typhoons, and Spiders.....oh my!

Hello everyone! Things here in Japan are going well! School is in full swing and the kids seem to be settling in quite well. We had a very interesting weekend. Friday night we had 7 kids at our house.......CRAZY!!!!!! We had our 3, Kenzie's friend Jennifer, and 3 of the boys from the White Family. The White's finally had all of their household goods delivered so we had the 3 younger boys over for a sleepover so their mom and dad could get some unpacking done. We had a really great night with all of our houseguests! To make things even more exciting......we experienced our first real Typhoon Friday night and early into Saturday morning. We pulled down the really cool metal shades that protect the windows during a storm, we moved the bikes and scooters to a safe place.......and we prepared for the worst......but it was actually no big deal....some rain.....some wind.....and that is about all. But, it was exciting nonetheless. Then.....Sunday morning we experienced our first earthquake. There are baby earthquakes here almost everyday but we have never noticed them...until Sunday. At 7:17 in the morning I was woken (I know...I know......can you believe I was still sleeping in at 7:17) by shaking and rattling. By the time I awoke from my sleepy stupor and realized what was going on, it was over. It was a 4.9 magnitude earthquake....not so big....but big enough to notice. It was sort of exciting....but not nearly as dramatic as you see on TV! So....how many people can say that they experienced an earthquake and typhoon all in one weekend?
Then..... just the other day I encountered a very very very big spider in a parking garage on base. Now....I know what you are thinking.....it is like one of those fishing stories where people say that their fish was 18 inches long when it was really only 8 inches.....but I am serious.....this spider was as big as my hand. I don't know what it is about Japan....they have the smallest people but the biggest critters I have ever seen. Now, this spider wasn't especially mean or dangerous looking.....but it was big.....big enough that I didn't even try to kill it....I just calmly walked around it. Yuck!
So, we had a very adventurous weekend here in Japan.
Hope you all have a great week!

Carson's Boo Boo

First, let me just say that if you have a toddler in your house.......you should make sure to secure your dressers to the walls. I have heard this over and over, and have even considered doing it.....but now, I think I will actually do it. Carson decided to climb on the dresser at 6:00 in the morning so he could chat with his brother who was on the top bunk. Needless to say......it didn't end well.......Carson and the dresser had a bonding experience as it toppled on top of him, trapping him underneath. That would have been bad enough, but piggy bank shrapnel became lodged in his forehead....ouch. He is a little trooper and is recovering quite well. Here are some before and after pictures.

BEFORE......My brave little guy even managed to muster up a smile in the midst of his trauma!

AFTER........

Here he is sporting his 15 new stitches......notice the chocolate donut remnants by his mouth....bribery for him being so good in the ER!

Enoshima Aquarium with the Whites

We made a day trip to Enoshima Aquarium with our friends the Whites. You should have seen the look on all of the Japanese people's faces as the 10 of us (Calvin was in San Diego) loaded the train. We had a great day. Here are a few of the pictures.......

(Nathan, Christian, Jacob, Kenzie, Daniel, Carson, and Ben)

Oh how I wish I had an explanation for this one.....this Japanese gentleman was wandering throughout the aquarium....we still aren't sure why he was all dressed up....but the kids sure got a kick out of him.

First day of school.......

Kenzie is an official 4th grader....an upperclassman in the Elementary School ranks!

Christian started first grade..............

and Carson started back at Kurihama Yo Chien after a long summer break.......

Kenzie's Birthday

Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to you.....Happy Birthday dear Kenzie..................Happy Birthday to you!

Here is a picture of the cake that I made for her party! I think it turned out pretty cool!

We had a great time of celebration with all of her friends. It is good to know that even our Japanese, non-English speaking friends can celebrate with us.....it seems that everyone speaks the universal language of cake and bowling!

Here are a few more pictures.........

(the mommys)