Asakusa Trip

Sunday we embarked on our first base led trip in Japan!

Chartered bus direct from base to our destinations, all entrance fees handled!

We were off to Asakusa in Tokyo--home to Sensoji Temple (oldest in Tokyo)

 Abby is 100% joining the drama club! She is FULL of it!!!

 The huge hanging lantern outside the temple

 Cute "Happy Lucky Cat" statue! It magnifies through its eyes and tummy from the opposite side

 My posers

 This building intentionally looks like a tall glass of beer!!

Its the Japanese beer company--Asahi

The building to its right replicates a torch

And the tall skinny one to its left is the Tokyo Sky Tree--destination on our list!!

 Rickshaw transports! These drivers have the most amazing legs!!

And they wear boy shorts/underwear as their uniform.....

 Sensoji Temple entrance

 Our guide explained that the you wave the incense on parts of your body you wish to heal....the kids got in on it

 The Tori gate (above) represents the entrance to a shrine

While these red archways (below) represent the entrance to a temple

 Before praying at the shrine you cleanse your body

They take a cup of water to cleanse each hand then drink a bit and spit it out to cleanse their mouth.

 Protectors of the temple gods

 The streets of Asakusa were amazing and required MUCH more of our time than we had available on this trip. The kids loved these toy shops with trinkets GALORE!

 Endless blocks of foods to eat and trinkets to buy!

 After enjoying a wonderful lunch at a Ramen bar (high praises from the kids!!), we met our group at the cruise building for the next part of our tour--a 40 min riverboat ride down the Sumida river. The timed tickets get you on a boat, but there are MANY styles! Your boat is whatever shows up next. These were some of the ones we saw before and during our cruise.

 View from the back of the boat in motion as we left Asakusa

 The kids and I sat below in the dining area to relax!

They got pretty giggly, as usual. Cracking themselves up!

 The end to their goofiness!

The end of our trip was a 2 hour visit to the Kanigawa Aquarium

I didn't take many photos, but the kids had a good time!

 Walking into the aquarium I couldn't pass up a photo op with these two girls dressed up as.......who knows......

The shark tank. Two HUGE sharks swimming in circles in a small tank.

Last Day of First Grade

Just sent Abby off for her last day of first grade (pajama day)!! She adjusted so well to this move to a new school (in a new country) for these last 6 weeks!! 

She luckily had the BEST First grade teacher here (all the other moms were incredibly jealous!!)

And she is excited to have her little sister at her school with her next year!! Watch out school--Maddy is headed to Kindergarten!! 

Second Grade--Here comes Abby!!

Well she graduated from another grade....in another country and another school!! One for the record books!!

Off for her last day of First grade

And home from her last day!! Certificate in hand! She couldn't be more proud of herself. And Mike and I couldn't be more proud of how poised and smart she is! 

Moms Day Off

Another successful parents day out (really it's called "moms day off" in my book!! 

I went with two friends to Shibuya today in Tokyo! My first time venturing that far. We had a blast exploring the shopping district and I had my first Shabu Shabu dining experience (where you self-cook raw meats in booking broths at your table!) Delish!!

This is Shibuya crossing--world famous as the busiest intersection with tens of thousands crossing daily!! We did it twice!!

Shabu Shabu lunch

Apparently we don't have this store in the states 😂🎏🇯🇵 Found it at Yokohama station. 

Japanese Treats!

Took the girls to a great Japanese store that is very close to base. They loved the huge selection of snacks and treats! 

Maddy was smiling here but not willing to buy the dried fish! Especially the dried while orange crabs!! 

The kids did give two thumbs up to the Oreo flavored kit kats!! 

First Grade--Last week!

Abby had a wonderful LAST week of 1st Grade!!

It is officially SUMMER for us!!! Thats right!!! Sleeping in starts TOMORROW!!!!

 This is a group photo from her class talent show last week

 In her classroom--during one of their "tech" days (kids all brought their favorite device to play)

 Abby's class-- VERY heavy in the girls!! And her wonderful teacher Mrs. Colar

 Yesterday the entire 1st grade hosted a potluck Luau party at the park.

This fabulous park is right next to the school and VERY fun for the kids.

Luckily it was while Maddy was at school so I was able to attend and spend some nice quality time with her. She loves showing me off.....and it warms my heart.

 She loved introducing me to all her girlfriends in her class.

This is who she always partners with for events

Hair cut

Maddy begged to get a haircut today! 

One kid likes it long and other other short. She beat me to the hair salon for our first trip!! And I think we will both enjoy the easy bath time washings and daily morning brushing without tangles and tears! 

Loose Tooth!!

Maddy has her first loose tooth

Tonight's dinner conversation: 

Maddy: "Mom my tooth is bothering me when I eat"

Me: after touching the tooth and realizing how loose it is...."You have your first loose tooth!"

Maddy: while crying and sobbing hysterically "oh no!!!! I don't want to have blood!!!"

Abby: don't worry the blood is worth it you get $1.00!!! (Coming from the strange kid that enjoys pulling out her own teeth--something tells me Maddy won't have the same determination)

Maddy on the scooter

Abby's Talent Show Dance

Izakaya Dinner

I had the most amazing Japanese experience so far last night out with 20+ friends!!! We walked from our houses to the base front gate and grabbed cabs to the restaurant. 

The base Officer Spouse group hosted a dinner out to an all you can eat and drink (all alcohol included!!!) "Izakaya" restaurant. They bring all the food in courses to the table. Some dishes family style others individual servings. And the alcohol just kept flowing. 

Because we were a scheduled large group, we had a private room on the third floor, and sat on traditional tatami mats. The Japanese wives whose spouses work on the base joined us. So I met some new faces and they were great at explaining all the food and drinks!

Amidst food deliveries to the table, we participated in some fun antics of skits, and played Japanese "telephone" where 5 Americans had to carry forward a Japanese phrase and the Japanese women had to do the same with an American tongue twister!! The Japanese women politely requested we not photograph or videotape the entertainment portion....they are modest and what happens at girls night.....stays at girls night. Or as they say it, keep the fun in your heart, not on film!!! 

My good friend Allie and I

Round 1--sashimi platter!! The usual suspects. My favorite was the thinly sliced fish (from the resulting skeleton)! The Japanese women told me to eat it with some of the chopped onion and ginger for the best flavor. 

This was a broth with veggies and a shrimp. Whole steamed Okra, carrot, Japanese pumpkin, and a potato

My drinks for the night too! Grapefruit Sochu, Beer, and Sake!! 

This dish was amazing! These are green bell peppers that have the most bold taste!! No spice. All flavor! The fried rolls are chicken wrapped with Shiso leaves inside! Delish!!

This was my favorite dish of the night! Eggplant, covered with a thick spread of Miso paste, Mirin sauce, soy sauce and sugar! Roasted!!!! Amazing. I need to replicate this! We ate everything with chopsticks FYI!! 

The Japanese women said this is high grade Sake! The good stuff!! I took the photo so I can go buy more at the store!! It was so sweet and smooth. I'm usually not a Sake lover, but I was last night!! 

Soba noodle bowl with crispy tofu pieces and seaweed (served cold!) 

Not to worry......I ate up all of it last night!

And drank my fair share too!!! We all had a wonderful time and it was such a valuable experience on day 38 here!!!!

First Scooter Attempt

My little scooter girl! She has never wanted to try it before, but decided on her own that yesterday was THE day!! And she rocked it

Donuts

Celebrated our first National Donut Day in Japan!! Can't beat having a Dunkin Donuts on base! This could prove to be trouble 😁😂

Daddy Dolls

The girls are older this time around (they were 3 & 5 during mikes last deployment), but these Daddy Dolls still come in very handy. Maddy talks about Mike all the time at this age, and asked to sleep with her doll. She kisses it nightly. I told her she can talk to "him" too!! 

Patio Fun

Maddy broke in our patio yesterday! 

Yes we have NO grass!!! I chose that intentionally!! Nothing to maintain!!! Woohoo! Taking a yard break while I can for two years. 

She got right to work on playdough construction while Abby was at school. 

Talent Show

Abby had her class talent show yesterday! Her class danced to "Tiki Tiki Room" and did a fabulous job! She practiced incessantly for two weeks and is definitely my little perfomer! 

(She wore her cousin Sheila's hand me down Hawaiian dress too!)

(Video to come....)

Japanese Favorites

There are so many great things to eat around here. And sauces and dressings and dips are in NO shortage. 

My friend told me this dressing sold at Costco was a MUST. She calls is crack salad dressing. You can put it on anything!! SOOOO tasty!! 

It's always healthier too when you can't read the calorie dietary numbers since they are in Japanese 😜

Eggs!!

Japanese eggs are delish! Everyone told me they were so much better and I agree. The commissary sells them, but so does Costco!! Except they are sold in 10pks. 

Very smooth consistency and deep golden yolk!

All moved in--and settling in!!

Well we moved in Monday, and after 4 days of unpacking (ALONE!!!) I have this place 85% put together!!! It's so hard to pick a room of priority. But the downstairs is complete and I tackled my bedroom last night. Onto the girls room today!!

They are very much enjoying having a dedicated toy room!! And having friends over to play with them!!

Moving Day!!!!

All moved in!! The Japanese movers arrived at 7:59am and got right to work unloading our 8 crates of belongings!!

After being shipped on a boat to Japan and sitting in a warehouse for three months, our stuff looks great!! Just as we left it six months ago when we left Monterey in December. 

Wonderful moving crew!! Very efficient!

Best I've seen in our many moves--which is what everyone told me!! 

The Japanse unpack your items onto a tarp to use as a staging area before they trek it all into the house. 

Four hours into the unpack and I have all the beds constructed and a pretty normal looking living room!!