Adventures in Japan - six (raku)

Besides visiting Disney, January was a pretty low key month.  The winter has been mild so the boys enjoy being outside as much as possible.  With Lincoln being sick over the winter break we got in the habit of taking walks on the flightline to get us both out of the house.  Sometimes Hayden joined us on his bike.  I think Hayden enjoys life here the most.  He is loving how much freedom he has to play outside, is playing a different sport each season, taking swim lessons, and he gets to see daddy every night and weekend.  Having Eric around more is probably the biggest positive of life here for me too.  :) 

Out for a ride!  The boys love it when we can see Mount Fuji on the flight line.

My name is Hayden.  I love sports!  My brother is Lincoln.  I love Japan.  It is a lot of fun!  We play a lot.  I have a lot of friends.  And I have been to Tokyo.  It is Fun!  Hayden  There are plenty of things we could complain about living here but I try to post the positive's.  I found this note in Hayden's notebook and had to snap a photo to look back on when I need a pick me up and a smile.

Eric and I enjoyed a date night in Tokyo where we visited a brewery and did some shopping.  We are getting more comfortable with the trains here.  I am not quite ready to go it alone but I could probably manage my way home if I ever needed to....maybe.

Sampling beers at Baird Brewery

Photo Opp with Hello Kitty

My culture group met twice in January.  The Japanese ladies hosted a New Year's lunch for us on base where we got to see some traditional performances and eat some yummy Japanese food. 

Group photo with the performers

Hayden is still trying new foods and has a new favorite...Ramen!  This is good because you can pretty much find it anywhere in Japan.

We took him out to lunch one day when Lincoln had school and he did not.

Daddy and Hayden enjoying lunch together

I was also able to experience a kimono dressing and traditional tea service with my culture group.  The Japanese ladies worked hard to get us all fitted into our kimonos.

First layer, a beautiful robe

Tying me in

Lost in fabric

This is a two person job.  Its getting hard to breathe!

Beautiful Kimono

Angie San

The back Obi was also beautiful

Time for the tea service.  They are showing me how to get down while in kimono.  Its not as easy as you would think.

Sitting like this becomes painful fast.  Then you just go numb and hope you can stand without falling.

One of the Japanese ladies in our group dressed in Kimono and led the tea ceremony

They gave us a candy treat to start then explained how to hold the bowl, rotate the bowl, drink from the bowl, and then clean the bowl.  We said "thank you tea" at the end.  You were also supposed to drink the tea in 3 sips and finish with a large slurp.  I did my best.

Group photo.  An experience I will always remember.

 One weekend Eric took the boys to a local fishing spot.  This place is great because they clean and cook the fish for you right there.  To fish for trout in Japan they use corn as bait.

Hoping for a bite

First fish caught in Japan

This spiderman fishing pole is always the best catcher

Linc got one!

9 fish total!

Cleaned and cooking

Linc sampling the fish

Hayden too!

Tokyo Disneyland

Ever since we told Hayden we were moving to Japan he has been looking forward to visiting Tokyo Disneyland.  It was one of the positive's we really pushed when we broke the news to him about our change in orders.  Our kids have never done any Disney park.  We always tell Hayden he was at Disney in my belly when Eric ran the Disney marathon when I was 30 weeks pregnant with him but that is just not the same.  We decided to go on the Martin Luther King holiday on an ITT day trip.  The crowd calculator was low so we thought it would be a good day to not have to wait in lines.  We left at 6am from base, made one stop at a rest stop, and still made it within two hours with a little traffic.  It was a chilly day but the sun made it feel much warmer.  We didn't really get cold until the last couple hours of the day after the sun set.  We didn't wait more than 20 minutes for any ride and used the fast pass system on a couple popular rides.  The park overall was not huge and we pretty much hit every ride we wanted to experience....some more than once.  Lincoln was tall enough to ride everything and he even rode space mountain!  Mommy did not enjoy that one but Lincoln said it was just a little scary.  Thunder mountain was a favorite for all and we did the Toy Story ride twice.  All the characters in the park and on the rides spoke in Japanese so that was interesting but the boys did not seem to mind.  In Japan, the Disney popcorn buckets are a big deal.  They have some interesting flavors but both boys found one they liked.  We finished the day off watching the light parade.  The bus left the park at 7pm and we made it back to base in 1 1/2 hours.  It was a great little day trip and we plan to go back at least one more time before we move....unless we get multiple visitors who want to go...hint hint.  Here are some pics from our Disney Tokyo Day...

Hayden finally made it to Disney!  We figured out it was almost 8 years to the day when we were in FL for the Disney marathon.  January 2009/2017

Hayden is not a Frozen fan but he "Let it Go" for the day

Entering Tokyo Disneyland!

Woo hoo!

Pic with my Bo in front of the castle

Riding the train on the Western River Railroad.  It seems Americans are known for Cowboys, Indians, and Pirates!  The first ride we rode was Pirates of the Caribbean.  Jack Sparrow of course speaks Japanese as well.

We did not see many characters at the park but Hayden did get a shot with Mr. Smee

And Jiminy Cricket

Lincoln and Daddy on the Dumbo ride....I was disappointed neither of the boys wanted to do the tea cups!

This is the only ride I really remember from when I went to Disney World in 5th grade.

Here we go...Hayden enjoyed trying to figure out which country each scene/song was from.

Watching the first parade of the day.  "Let it Go" in Japanese!

Another castle shot

Mommy & Daddy

Hayden enjoyed his soy sauce popcorn in a R2D2 bucket

While Lincoln enjoyed caramel popcorn in his BB8 bucket.  Next time we want to try the curry popcorn.

Trying on hats in one of the many stores

Lunch!  Hayden and Lincoln enjoyed their Mickey Mouse shaped nuggets.

While mommy enjoyed a Mickey hamburger

Shooting Game

Toy Story Ride....who knew Buzz Lightyear had a Japanese setting!

Swiss Family Robinson

Mommy in the tree house.  These character purses are also big here.  I went with a Jack Skellington purse.  It was quite handy for wearing on the rides.

The castle at night

The start of the light parade

This was my favorite parade despite the cold and a cranky 4 year old.  Hayden got a front row seat and was waving to all the characters.