Hayden turned 9 years old on March 11th! We planned a fun overnight party with friends at nearby Tama Hills Lodge. We had originally booked the yurt which is a large enclosed tent but since it had rained a lot prior in the week and was cooler, we decided to upgrade to two cabins. We ended up having 8 boys come for the overnight adventure. We also had one other dad agree to come stay and help out. The two cabins were side by side and backed up to a large field so it was perfect for all we had planned.
The big boys on their way!
The birthday boy in front of the cabin
Cabins B & C, where it all went down
One pic with mommy before things get crazy!
The party agenda included a Nerf War so all the boys brought their own nerf guns and were ready for combat. The camo party bags included bullets, bandanas, headlamps, glow sticks, and some baseball kit-kats. Eric made the two little boys medics, and we split up into teams of four. Medics were off limits to get hit, but if one of the big boys got hit they had to touch a medic to return to war. The goal was to capture the flag of the other team. We played about 3 rounds before moving on to a Geocache hike.
Party bags
Locked and loaded
We were surrounded by hills and trees too so the boys had plenty of places to hide
The big 9 year old
Brothers unite!
While the boys were fighting, Eric snuck off to hide some geocaches along a hiking trail. I printed off some maps and circled general locations of where to find a geocache prize. We hid 8 so each boy could find one. The boys loved exploring along the way too.
Maps
Eric explaining the route and rules
Ready to run. Thanks to our friend Zeke who introduced us to Geocaching since in Japan and helped us with all the party events despite just coming back from a work trip.
And they're off!
On the hunt
Lincoln found one!
Using our headlamps to explore an old WWII elevator shaft
Danger Off Limits...said no boy ever
After our hike we headed back to the cabins to prepare dinner. While Eric was grilling, the boys played baseball in the field with Mr. Zeke. I got the cupcakes and treats ready for after dinner.
The grill master
Improvising on s'mores since we did not have a fire pit at the cabins
They seemed satisfied
Singing Happy Birthday
After dinner we walked up to the lodge to check out their game room. We were the only people there and the kids were allowed to hang out until 9:00pm. The boys enjoyed playing video games, pool, foosball, and ping pong. Mr. Zeke played some sweet tunes on the Juke Box.
The boys around the pool table
Hayden trying to break
Hayden and Eli looking like old men
Some ping pong action
Team Lyons on foosball
Peace out 8!
Back at the cabin the boys decided on watching The Sand Lot before bed. The big boys decided to all stay in one cabin with Eric. Mr. Zeke and his youngest, Saylor, had the other cabin all to themselves.
Movie time!
At this point I said my goodbye's and headed to my room at the lodge. I had a nice quiet night in my own Queen bed. :)
Good morning! I walked back down to the cabins to find Eric and the boys hanging outside. We got ready and headed up to breakfast at the lodge. I did not recognize my husband since he had little sleep because of his allergies. His face was so swollen the boys were a little scared of him.
On our way to breakfast...Levi, Hilton, Isaac, Eli, Lincoln, Hayden, Brodie, and Saylor.
The boys really enjoyed breakfast at the lodge!
After breakfast we headed to the archery field. The boys had safety instructions from Mr. Zeke before starting. They all took turns trying to hit the target and most were successful at least once.
Bulls eye for the birthday boy!
Collecting arrows
Linc giving it a go
The boys played one last game of home run derby before we packed up and headed out! This was probably my favorite birthday we have done and all the boys really seemed to have fun. I am really glad we got to do this considering all but one of these friends will be moving this summer. We will miss this great group of buddies from our neighborhood!
We saw a good bit of snow this Winter in Japan! Hayden and Eric prepared for the season, practicing their snowboarding skills on the nearby indoor slope. By January they were ready to hit the real slopes. They signed up for a day trip to Kurohime-Kogen through Outdoor Rec with some from friends. I was super impressed with the video Eric sent me of Hayden in action.
Towards the end of January we had one of the biggest snowfalls Tokyo has seen in years. The boys were in school when it started and they sent Lincoln home early because of the fast accumulation. Snowfall reached about 12 inches and school was cancelled that Friday. The kids had a blast playing in our parking lot and later moved to the one larger hill on base to sled. It took weeks for all the snow to melt.
After school fun
3 fuji friends
Brothers in the snow
Woo hoo! No school!
Ready for a fight
The neighborhood snow pile
Mini hill
Moving on to the best hill on base
Cheesy Linc
Bo in action
I think he repeatedly fell on purpose to get a laugh
Brother ride
Those faces!
In early February we hiked to a frozen waterfall called Hossawa Falls. It was a nice little day trip from base. The whole family enjoyed the tofu donuts after.
Hiking to the falls
Cool frozen tree on the way
Frozen falls!
Little snowmen left behind
We made our own
Tofu Donuts!
Later in February we booked another Outdoor Rec trip we could do as a family to Karuizawa Snow Park. It was a beautiful sunny day on the mountain and we enjoyed the snow sledding and tubing. This place was perfect for all ages to get out in the snow.
Karuizawa Snow Park
Nice way to get up the hill
Hayden at the top
Linc on the small tubing hill
Daddy the sledding pro
The boys going up the big tubing hill
And E
And Mommy
View from snow tube lift. It was hard to get any pics and video on the way down. It was pretty fast and had two jumps!
Back to sledding
E & A on the snow swing
Balance bike on the snow!
Family run
Last trip of the season, Eric took Hayden night boarding at Snowtown Yeti. The snow season tends to end in March so this was one last hurrah with friends.
