Playing Hooky

Mike had one last weekday off before this final deployment gets rolling, so we spent the warm day in Tokyo to visit the Meiji Shrine! One of the oldest and most well known. 

Back to School!

Look who started 3rd and 1st grade!! Big upgrade this year, they are walking to and from school SOLO each day!! (The whole 4 minute walk, with 10 of their favorite neighborhood friends, it's rough)

So far they have done 3 days, and have been nothing but smiles and full of excitement. Oh how we all missed some structure!!! 

Castles, Temples and BEER!!

Last weekend we took a base tour to Odawara Castle and a temple and the Asahi beer brewery for a tour! 

Storm Day

Monday at home to ride out the storm!

We started with Sunday night dinner of homemade Gyoza!! I might ONLY make them from now on. They were so easy and so delicious.

Followed it up Monday watching the Olympic closing ceremonies.........2020 in Tokyo! 

Then the kids had cabin fever and shared a shirt and were giggling endlessly 

When we got the post storm all clear the kids went out and found dozens of cicadas that fell from the trees. Gross

Kids at Work

Our squadron hosted a Bring your Kids to Work day! So much fun for all! The girls loved it. Lucky to be so hands on with dads job over the years! 

Robot Bar

Finally made it to the hot spot in Shinjuku! 

It's so bizarre it's hard to describe. But it's a show.......I just don't have words. Everyone says you have to go at least once! 

Walking the streets of Shinjuku after the show! I spy Godzilla! Such a fun night life area! 

Play Ball

Friday night at the ball park! And we got to do Karoako after!! (No kid night!!)

Yokohama Day

Monday off from work?? We took the train to Yokohama and finally rode the giant ferris wheel! 

Weekend in Tokyo!

Got to spend the weekend in Tokyo with this trio! Lots of R&R for all of us! 

Fireworks

Sunday night we had tickets booked for a pirate ship cruise on Lake Ashi in Hakone! Fun family night together. 

(And then we got home, slept for 3 hours and got up to climb Mt Fuji---yes we are crazy people)

Mt Fuji--Success

Our squadron hosted a Fuji climb today!!

It was definitely on or bucket list and I'm so glad we got to do it together. 

This was no average mountain. The terrain was far different from what I imagined and was tough to climb. The typical climb is 9-12 hours round trip just depending on your ability level. We did it in 6-1/2 hours up and 3-1/2 down! Needless to say it was a LONG day. Left the house at 330am and got back at 9pm! Exhausted!!!

But so glad we completed such a unique accomplishment