Adventures in Japan - seven (nana)

February was another low key month mostly doing things on or around base.  We were able to venture out to Tokyo twice...once to celebrate Eric's birthday and then again for a date day while the boys were in school.  Its been nice that Eric can take a day off every so often so we can have some time together. 

For culture group this month the Japanese ladies hosted us for a lesson on Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arranging).  A little old Japanese lady taught us the history of Ikebana and showed us how to make our own flower arrangement that we were able to take home.  The flowers were beautiful. 

My finished flower arrangement

Group photo

Eric turned the big 36 on February 4th.  I planned a date night to a craft beer and Chicago style pizza place in Tokyo called Devil Craft.  We enjoyed the beer and pizza!

Cheers!

The Super Bowl aired live on AFN on Monday morning at 8:30am.  We invited some people over to watch, have breakfast, and enjoy a bloody mary bar or mimosa.  The kids were at school.  Hayden was very upset he could not watch it with us!

The bartender

Bacon and an Old Bay rim!

Most were cheering for the Falcons.  We had fun despite their loss.  Look how many people we fit into our house.

We attended a Drama Day performance at Lincoln's school on a Saturday.  They did a little skit where he was a light blue crayon.  They also sang songs.  Lincoln mostly looked sad but did participate in the music portion a bit. 

Cutest sad little light blue crayon.  I only know he was light blue crayon because our English speaking contact sent me an e-mail explaining the story and his role. :)

Not singing but I will play an instrument!

Happy boy with daddy after the performance

Cheese!

On Valentine's Day we attended family lunch at Lincoln's school.  He has a hard time when we visit him at school but we are trying to continue going to the family events with him.  It was a long wait for lunch and he mostly sat in my lap but he was happy once he realized he liked some of the items being served.  He even got brave and went up for seconds on his own.  This was our second family lunch and overall it was a much better experience.

Yummy pasta and chicken

Seconds!

One with mommy!

I do like this grapefruit that looks like a lemon!

We hosted the Japanese ladies on base for an everybody birthday party.  In Japan they celebrate certain birth years for girls and boys.  They do not celebrate every year like we do in America.  We taught them how to make cake pops and we exchanged gifts with eachother.

The group with our finished cake pops

For date day, Eric and I went to a Tokyo shopping area called Ameyoko.  I had been with friends but didn't have much time to look around so I had been wanting to go back.  400 shops line the streets and you can find a lot of interesting food.  It was fun to walk around, eat, and shop.

These fruits on a stick were delicious!

Shopping!  My favorite kind of date day.

Very expensive Japanese crabs.  I wonder how they compare to MD crabs.

Thumbs up!

Hayden started basketball season and has games every Saturday.  He has really improved from last year and is enjoying playing on a team with a friend from his class.

Ready to ball

He is a great hustler

His dribbling has gotten so much better.  I love watching him play!

Eric took Hayden to an indoor ski/snowboard place not far from base.  This was Eric's and Hayden's first time trying to snowboard.  We were able to rent all the gear from outdoor rec.  They stayed for about 6 hours.  Eric said the first half was rough and Hayden struggled but he stuck with it.  By the end he was making it down the hill without falling.  They have already been back again and he picked it up right where he left off.  The season is about to be over but they will definitely do this again next year and hopefully snowboard on a real mountain.

Ready to shred

Ramen lunch break with daddy

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!