Tokyo

We went to Tokyo for the first time in March. We made it up there at the end of my parents' visit. They had tickets to fly into Narita in Tokyo and we managed to catch a military plane that same day. So getting on planes a few hours apart from each other and coming from different directions, we somehow ended up arriving at our hotel within seconds of each other. That was more than spectacular, after spending 2 1/2 hours figuring out the trains, walking and taking a taxi to finally end up at a welcoming place with people whom we recognized. Daddy and I decided that if we ever have to relocate to a big city, we would settle in Tokyo. For being a city of 13 million, it is incredibly clean and the people are all polite and well-mannered. Daddy left my super expensive camera bag on the train one of the first nights, realizing it as we watched the train speed out of the station. I had resigned myself to never seeing it again, when we got a call on our Japanese cell phone. Luckily, I'd attached a luggage tag to it with our number and 2 guys found it who were honest enough to call and return it. So that gave me a good feeling about the city too. I didn't feel unsafe at any time walking around, even while walking around more of a nightlife district at night. I think that's part of the reason I love Japan. Their culture is just so different than American culture, and I prefer the way the Japanese do things now in many areas. I was talking to my American friend at church who married an Okinawan and has lived here for years, and she categorized the difference as an issue of conformity. In Japanese culture, everyone is expected to conform to certain standards and work for the common good, whereas in America, it's every man for himself, nobody looking out for anyone else and no one caring about manners anymore. That's how it seems sometimes, at least. Here there is bowing and politeness and hushed tones, few people looking to start a fight because it would be looked down upon. On the trains in Tokyo, practically everyone was wearing a mask since it was cold season, and there were even signs up encouraging people to be polite and keep their germs away from others. The chatter on the trains was so quiet you could hear a pin drop at times. No one was blaring loud music from their ipods. You know how the concrete steps going down into a subway have a sort of inverted lip on the sides to catch drainage? Well, we actually saw workers with vacuums on their backs, sucking up little bits of trash and debris from the sides of the stairs. Then we saw other workers with their disinfectant spray actually walking up and down, spraying and wiping all the railings on the stairs. Seriously incredible. I will bet anyone that Tokyo would win hands down in a clean-city contest. 

This is a fountain in Ueno Park, a huge park that houses lots of Tokyo's museums as well as their zoo. We only had time to sneak into one museum, but it would be a fun area to spend more time if we're ever back. The best part were these dancers outside next to the biggest Starbucks I've ever seen. They were all dressed in American 50's style clothing - leather jackets, slicked back hair, poodle skirts. They were dancing away as we walked past and still dancing 4 hours later when we came back out. Maybe they were trying to break a record. 

It was so cold in Tokyo - as in 47 degrees most days. We all bundled up in tights under our jeans and double coats, with gloves and hats. Our warm island blood just couldn't take it. It was kind of fun to get a feel actual winter weather again. I think it was the 1st time I'd worn my pea coat in 2 years. 

I had looked on my travel site through literally every hotel available in Tokyo, and results kept saying "No children allowed" or "No children under 6 allowed". Weird. I guess they just REALLY want to cater to business people. I'd finally found a room that was 20 sq. meters. where most of the ones in Tokyo are about 13-15 sq. meters that allowed kids and actually included breakfast, and was going to settle on that, when some rooms became available at the military hotel in the city. Bigger rooms with English-speakers to help us out, and an indoor pool which the girls loved. It was awesome. 

These schoolkids' uniforms are almost as cute as the Australian kids' that I used to teach. They sure do look professional. They wear uniforms here in Okinawa, too, which I love, but I don't see them quite this dressed up. We were in a richer part of the city though. These little kids were all over, taking the buses, waiting for the trains. These parents must have some faith that their kids are going to end up safely at school each day. I don't know that I could let a 9 year old A. do that. 

This boy and girl were holding hands in the cutest little friend way possible. It was like they both had a duty to get the other one safely to school. Their backpacks are called "Randoseru", which actually comes from the Dutch word meaning backpack. Almost all the schoolkids have them here in Japan. They're made of leather and cost around $300, but the kids are expected to keep them from kindergarten through 5th or 6th grade. 

This view took us one whole day to achieve. Grandpa and I made a calculated error of which subway stop to get off on, so we pretty much saw the whole downtown on foot before we finally found this 51 story tower with a nice panoramic view of the bay. 

This is how J. traveled for the trip. Warm and cozy in his adorable hat that he actually got to use, and all tucked away close to one of us. He didn't mind. He's a jolly little guy. We had to free up the stroller for his older sister who refuses to walk when we go places. I'm so glad we didn't bring anything bigger than our teeny-tiny umbrella stroller, because we ended up carrying D. up and down hundreds of subway stairs with her sitting in the stroller, refusing to get out. We didn't see too many Moms with babies in strollers on the trains. There were plenty up on the streets, but the whole system wasn't super handicap accessible yet. We made do, though. 

This is the Senso-ji Temple in Akasuka (an area of Tokyo). The people in the foreground were pulling their fortune from a box in the wall, either receiving a good one or a bad one. There was a certain way you were supposed to shake the box before you opened it too. Very interesting.  

We ended up at this same area twice in our 4 days. The other day we got to the "Restaurant Supply" district a few minutes before it was closing. I hadn't done a lot of planning for this trip, even though I love planning and am pretty darn good at it. I'm probably one of the only people who would take her family to one of the world's largest cities and not plan out a detailed itinerary. But Daddy's idea of vacation is to sleep and eat and hang out in hotels, so he didn't care what we did, and since I hadn't really read up on Tokyo yet, I didn't really care what we saw either. So it was nice just feeling like we got a chance to see a few things and really get a feel for the city and the trains and the different areas without feeling like we had to cram things in. There's always next time. . ?

As we were leaning over this koi pond, J. dropped his rattle into the pond and the fish started trying to eat it. Daddy had to do some ninja moves to hop over the bridge and reach down to fish it out. Shhh, no one saw. 

The 5 story Pagoda with our first glimpse of cherry blossoms in the city. If we had been there a week and half later, I think we would've caught the whole city in bloom. We'd already gotten our meager showing in Okinawa, the first place they bloom every year since we're the farthest south. The pics below I took at the Imperial Palace. Daddy probably could've survived with less cherry blossom pics, but it was worth it to me to have seen whole rows of them in bloom at the palace. 

These were the palace grounds. They have a nice view of the skyline. The actual houses where the Emperor lives are tucked away in some part that people can't see or access, but the rest of the grounds are free to walk around in for the public. There were lots of city folks just strolling around during their lunch break. I'm sure it looks so much prettier in Spring when the lawns are green, but it was still pretty. 

Look! It's our 4th child on a billboard for a children's clothing store! Daddy spotted this walking through the subway and yelled out, "Wait! Stop! You gotta see this!" You do have to admit, this girl looks quite a bit like D. Wouldn't it be funny if #4 looked just like this girl? (To squelch the rumors - there is no #4 as of now. :)

OK, I know that's not many pictures, but that's about all we "did" in Tokyo for the 4 days we had there. We enjoyed it and are glad the kids will all be able to say they've been to Tokyo. We'd like to climb Fuji still, but that's only an option in July and August when it's not covered in snow, so we'll see if that every works out. And you can't really take the kids on that adventure. :)

February, March and April

Grandma and Grandpa came over to visit in mid-February. We got 2 1/2 great weeks with them, the last few days spent in Tokyo on an adventure. J. saw them last when he was 7 weeks old, so wasn't quite sure what to make of them. After the initial screaming fit all the way home from the airport, he warmed up a little, which was nice of him. We had a great time visiting all the sites on the island, and even saw some new ones I hadn't explored yet! I think they're our last visitors for awhile, which means we can start saving up adventures for when our next guests come. 

A rare family picture. It is of course impossible for everyone to smile and look at the same time. We're standing at Cape Hedo, the northern tip of the island where the Pacific Ocean meets the East China Sea. Beautiful turquoise waters, although it was overcast this day. 

A's baby hair. I still haven't cut it, and don't plan on it until it starts looking really bad. For now, it stays, because I love it. 

Here are J's chubby thighs. When he went in at 9 months, he was 24 lbs. 9 oz. That means he's only gained a pound in the last 3 months. He is starting to thin out a little. Can't you tell? 

One of the base units was putting on an all-island track meet which I found out about 2 weeks prior to the race. I made Daddy run in it to relive old times. I think he had fun training and stretching over those short few days he had to prepare. He was a record-holding hurdler in high school and college and still knows how to get 'er done. It was such a throw-back to our college days of going to each other's sporting events to watch each other compete. We really never pictured the kids along the sidelines cheering on their Dad. It was so fun for that fact alone, and Daddy did awesome. Didn't knock down a single hurdle. :0 

Easter time! We had a great church celebration again this year. It poured down rain early Easter morning, but had let up by our 10:00 church time. I just love the worldwide connection I feel on such big days in the church year. It's so great knowing that our church family all over the world is celebrating Jesus' resurrection in the same way we are. 
Almost forgot. I don't have a picture, but A. learned how to ride a 2-wheeler the day before Easter! We'd taken off her pedals at the suggestion of friends. They said the balancing is the part that kids have to learn, and it was true. We'd had them off for months, but hadn't practiced much until the last few weeks. Daddy thought she was ready to ride with the pedals again, and all it took was one little push and she was off. She didn't fall once her first try. She still hasn't fallen actually, which I think is remarkable. She learned right away how to push off and start herself too. She's growing into such a big kid. 

The other big news is this toothless grin. She lost her first tooth on April 4th! It had been loose for almost a month, and it was finally time to pull it. She agreed to let Daddy do the honors, and she was rewarded with 300 Yen from the tooth fairy. It's the Japanese tooth fairy, and she calls it a "he". No going back now. This kid is not at all a baby. She is our first "big kid" and it's so weird and exciting to see such big changes all at once. 
Until next time,
Mommy

January 2013

I just love this kid. 

Ha. A. put the sheep ears on him. 

D. in a veil made by Great-Grandma B. to match blue dresses she'd made them earlier.

In her new cozy robe from the sewing machine of Great-Grandma B. 

About ready to enter pike position :) He's probably only a couple weeks from crawling, which mostly means I have to keep my floor tidier. 

Christmas and Birthday celebrations