Killed two birds with one stone!!

While in Tokyo, we went to a pig seminar. The speaker we had already met at a different seminar a year ago. Also, at the Tokyo station, we could watch some Japanese traditional things,

Tokyo

This outside photo is while we walked away from the American embassy. We had too many things to take care of, but hopefully now everything is done. Cross is now considered an American.

This swan belongs to the Emperor's palace. We could see 2 swans swimming by while we looked out of our hotel window.

The guest from Panama!

Here we met up with relatives from Panama. Actually, they are all Japanese, but 25 years ago left to live in Panama. They have 2 kids who attend international school . The photo is from a bbq party at katsuya's.

Something new

Baby and mommy are checking out the toy we received from the doctor when Cross was born. He does not look as excited as his big sister Jasmine was though.

It's new!

Yes, and it flushes with water. Can you believe our area of Japan did not have flushing toilets until a month ago. Here is our new toilet complete with heated seat, shower for your bottom, and dryer for your bottom!

Sunny Sunday

Ice-cream at 31 flavors! We do not have flushing toilets, but we have 31 flavors!

Bascketball game

Noah is looking cool playing basketball. He recently gave up ballet of 6 years to sweat it out on the court.

Struggling with passport

Too many passports for our good! Each child has 2 of them. I will be in charge of 9 passports total. It looks like 7-8-06 will be Appleton!

This is our ballet practice building

You can see this face of a man here. His name was Tanakadate. He lived in our city of Ninohe in the time of Einstein. In fact this doctor was a friend of his. On display, you can see some letters that were exchanged between these friends. This is also our ballet place.

Everyone is busy but baby

Today was basketball for Noah, Ballet for the girls, and stay comfortable for baby. Katsuya drove everyone here and there and Cross rode along for the ride. Baby is wearing Yuki San's outfit with Mr. Piggy!

We are playing Easter

A bit late, but that is ok.. We never got a chance to celebrate Easter with all the activity around that time,　so we did it tonight.

Train station, ice cream and father's day

Take a look at the station sign behind Noah. They were at Kotsunagi Station just checking things out. Noah also got lucky with an ice-cream from that area!

Also, today was Fathers Day!!! The gang is all here!h

Lake Towada, our favorite place

Here are photos of today. Mia is not pictured because she thought her friends's house would be more fun. Water was freezing in this area, but warm in another. Lake Towada is a great place to walk around. Visitors from all over Japan come here and paint and take photos.

First passport photo and mom's cookies!

We are plannning to go back to the U.S. in July, so Cross took his first passport photo today. It was hard to balance him while the photographer was taking Cross. We also had mom's tasty cookies today. It was the best one!

Looks good!

Tonight e ate at a nearby place and ordered spicy noodles served cold with fruit, egg, and vegetables. We ordered curry rice, and gyozo too.

School trip

Today was a school trip for Mia and her 6th grade. They will stay overnight too. 7am was departure. Mia ended up forgetting her brush, sweatshirt, and mat. I tried to tell her to prepare.

Indiana Jones

Noah ordered a hat from Hats in the Belfry awhile ago. He did not think his order went through, but look what came in the mail today. Pretty cool stuff.

Our famous garden

Yes, this is our spot where we love to take photos. Pictured here is proud mommy and baby who loves mommy so much!

ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Tonight dad took Noah and Jasmine to an onsen in our local area. Relax time. Tomorrow is Monday- Katsuya says "yippee"

Look at this!

We went to the Ichinohe o-matsuri. This is a festival where we can see woven silk, cotton items. The items are really original and neat. Last June we took our friends the Baums to this old time mountain place. We could also buy traditional Japanese bamboo items and food.

Notice this house has a roof made of mud and straw.

Where are we?

We had to go to the baby hospital today. We got ready as soon as possible in the mornning and stopped for Mc Donald's breakfast. We love it! Baby Cross's tongue is not so milk stained, but we had to stop at the baby hospital once more. We stopped at Toysraus after the hospital to get baby things. Do you think that we live in Japan?? When we got home same thing as always.

Birthday!

Today was my dad's birthday. He became 68 years old. We had cakes and no celebration!? He had a very quiet day. You see photo of my family, cake, and the Primeminister Koizumi. You may wonder why Koizumi's photo? Jasmine was always asking me to take his poster photo on the streets of Japan.

Swimming

Jasmine had swimming class today. She really enjoys that. We had Japanse BBQ tonight, and Katsuya washed dishes as usual!

Another day, another wrinkle

OK, so today Katsuya took baby here and there. They went to the farm, drove pass the big "boy" mountain, bought this tasty food from the wayside shop, and returned home.

Jasmine has homework to do, but why does she try to do it on the floor?

I had a haircut today and realized that I had a few more white hairs on my right side. I have a smile on my face, but actually, I have an eye allergy since yesterday. I probably have another wrinkle too; but I bet it is a happiness wrinkle. I have been smiling so much with baby.