Dinner Out

Circumstances forced us up to Tokyo during a weekday. This is not a bad thing, unless you get caught in rush hour (slow hour, really). We opted to skip most of the traffic madness by having dinner in the city with the kids.

To our surprise, they sat through the entire hour and a half long meal quite content. I noted Liam is no longer a cheap date. As beef and sushi were options, he insisted on having both. I don't know where he fits so much food!

Giddy Up Horse!

Alexis, looking fierce on a horse!

Old Friends

There is something extremely special about the friendships of our youth. For no real reason, Danielle and I haven't kept in the best of touch but we've been apprised of each others life through mutual friends.

As fate would have it, she was in Tokyo this weekend and we spent a very memorable Easter Sunday together. The twelve years we've missed feel like days.

I feel so blessed to have rekindled something so wonderful.

The Bunny

Our planned egg hunt was converted into a bowling party as the weather did not cooperate. I thought typhoon season was in the summer??

L & A had a great time but Liam told me that he knew "the Easter Bunny is just a man in a costume." I just smiled and asked him if he wanted candy. He said yes....I think we have an understanding.

Beauty Sleep

This is what happens when you wake up at 5:45 AM!! Liam and Alexis keep trying to wake up early to "watch the sun rise." It was cute the first time....

Japanese Strawberries

Liam went on his third field trip of the year. We picked hot house strawberries. Of course this is Japan, so it functions differently.

For our entrance fee, we had thirty minutes to pick and eat as many strawberries as we could stomach. Liam ate about twice as much as I did. I was concerned about the bus ride home. No tummy aches!

The fruit is amazingly clean as it does not touch dirt. These are the best tasting berries I've ever had.

rolling, rolling, rolling

Liam and Alexis rolling down a hill...simple fun

Fish & Kitty Memorial Service

Bumblebee, Hammerhead (fish) and Chip, our dearly departed kitty, were on Liam and Alexis' mind Saturday night. They proceeded to proclaim the evening "Fishy and Chippy" night.

After we ate dinner, we filed out onto the balcony and Liam sang a song and "read" his speech on his three pets. I guess you can call it a mini memorial service.

It's so sweet that all the animals in our lives, have meant so much to them. They howled when the fish died. They sorely miss Chip; we all do. Liam still prays for him when he says grace...

Daddy on my mind....

Liam ran off with the camera again and took a picture of a very important person in our family....

Movie Night

L and A were thrilled to see a movie in the theater tonight! Great way to end the school week. We were entertained by Veggie Tales...As you can see, they scarfed down their popcorn before the movie even started. I don't which they enjoyed more; the movie or the popcorn and candy.

She Did It!

Well, after using Alexis' bike as a home furnishing for three months, she decided to give it a go around the neighborhood!

She rode her bike to pick up Liam from school. He was happily stunned that she was riding a bike....Honestly, I was too...I must have caught her at the perfect moment when I asked if she wanted to ride it around the house.

Alexis was very proud of herself. Liam and I were equally proud of her accomplishment.

Our Newest Addition, Baby Annabelle

Liam drying off Baby Annabelle after her bath. Yes, in between winning decisive battles with his army men, he plays "Daddy" to Alexis dolls....Right after this picture, he did drop, saying her bath was over. Short-lived, but a tender moment nonetheless.

Life isn't fair....

Alexis is quite th professional pouter lately....She sets me up, in the morning, with a question that has no right answer and it goes downhill from there...I'm sure this too will pass...Ujayi breathing will see me through it...OMMMMMM

The Mikasa

Liam is in love with the Mikasa Battleship!It is docked in Yokosuka. He gave me the grand tour and pointed out that it is part of the great triumvirate of naval war vessels: The HMS Victory, The Constitution and The Mikasa. He's visited two...one left to see

This ship wiped out the Russian Baltic Fleet during the Russo/Japanese War. It signaled the beginning of Imperialist Japan...See, I learned something from a 5 year old.

Oh, Liam is the tiny orange dot in front of the ship.