Vaillant Family Update 2018

Whenever we have big news I try to share it on the blog so I can remember our thoughts and feelings in that very moment in time.  In a previous post I mentioned we found out some news while we were on our Singapore/Thailand trip.  Eric decided to apply for an Ortho fellowship specializing in Sports Medicine.  Initially this was just an application to get a sponsored Air Force spot.  He found out they were offering 3 spots in Sports for the 2019/20 year so it was a good time to apply.  He turned in his application in October, and we knew we would find out on December 19th while away.  As we were about to board a train in Singapore, he logged in to find out he was selected for one of the spots.  It was kind of an awkward congrats and hug in that moment because while we were both happy he was selected it meant a variety of things.  For him it meant applying to civilian programs and interviewing over the next couple months.  For me it meant the very real possibility that we would ask to stay in Japan an extra year since the one year fellowship is for 2019. If we chose to move as scheduled it could mean 3 moves within 2 years not knowing where they would station us before and after.  I had prepared myself for this but it definitely weighed heavily on my mind the rest of vacation. 

Eric decided not to travel for in-person interviews and just ask to do them all over the phone or via skype.  Some programs declined to do phone interviews but he ended up having interviews with 5 programs....Richmond, San Diego, Baltimore, Wake Forest, and Orlando.  With the time difference some were at 10:00pm and a couple were at 5:00am!  He did them all at our house so it was hard for me not to listen in.  :)  I was happy with all of the location choices but obviously pulled for Richmond to be closer to family and friends.  I told him to choose based on what programs he liked first and then based on location.  I prepared myself for any location and prayed he would match at one of his top two. 

In the meantime, we told our parents after Christmas and New Years the news and what it meant for us staying in Japan.  They were sad of course but also happy for Eric.  Its taken me a while to get in a a positive place about it personally but knew it was the best decision for the boys and our family.  The boys do love it here and they will get to stay at their same schools and even go to school together next year.

Match day was yesterday, April 5th in the states.  We didn't know what time they would post the results so I stressed out from 1:00pm (midnight EST) until finally at 10:00 pm we got the news.  Eric matched at Orthopaedic Research of Virginia in Richmond!  We were both surprised and excited that he got his first choice.  We told Hayden while Eric was home for lunch today and he was beyond happy.  Lincoln was just excited that we will get our dog Georgia back.

We recently confirmed they would extend Eric's orders in Japan until July 2019.  Me and the boys will make a trip to visit family and friends in Virginia this summer for a couple weeks.  Eric will join us for a week after taking his oral boards in Chicago.  We will then all travel to Florida to see his parents and family before heading back to Japan in August.  Another positive to us staying in Japan is we are already planning more fun adventures for the next year.  The travel we get to do here is great but I will still be counting down the days until Summer 2019 and our return HOME!

Hayden's 9th Birthday!

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!

Winter Fun 2018

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.

On the lift

So close to Mt. Fuji!

Snowboarding at Dusk