Peach Picking, Kaleidoscope Making and Winery Tour

Last Sunday the kids and I went on our second base guided tour.

It was for "Peach Picking, Kaleidoscope Making & Winery Tour"

It was a great kid-friendly trip, 8am-8pm!

 The peach orchard was very hands on. We got to pick and eat as many peaches as we wanted!

And then any extras we could pick and buy to take home.

Fruit here is horribly expensive (compared to the USA).....so 3 large peaches was about $8.50

 

 

Washing off her peach

 Chowing down.......of course Maddy just stared at hers since she's my anti-fruit child

 

 

 Alongside the orchard were some grape vines--pretty to peek through

 I told Abby to hold up the peaches we were going to buy....I had no idea it would look like THIS :)

 After the orchard we drove to a craft/cultural center to make our Kaleidoscopes.

They had the kaleidoscopes prepared for assembly (which made my life SO much easier......since I was assembling three of them).

 First we assembled them, then we stamped our design onto our Japanese Washi paper, and then glued the paper onto the tube and chose our rocks/gems for the capsule.

 

The finished product. Very cool!

 Then we were on to our final destination--Shirayuri Winery

Our group had a tour of the facility and the grape orchard

 They grow a few varieties from Japanese to French grapes!

 The Peach Wine bottles before labeling

 After the tour we ended in their tasting room and were allowed unlimited tastes of their 6 varieties!

Plus Sparkling Wine and Brandy!

The Japanese do NOT make good red wine. I was warned by friends upon coming here that wine is NOT the choice drink when out for the night. But the whites at this winery were quite tasty and refreshing!

My loot for the day! I purchased a bottle of Sparkling Dry, Chardonnay, and a Peach Wine!

Happy Anniversary

July 24th

Finally a moment to reflect on where we started over a decade ago. 11 years ago today I married my best friend and started the craziest, unplanned journey of my life (still ongoing)!! And that's a lot coming from this girl who likes to plan. But somehow the volatility of our military lifestyle has only magnified my excitement for life and adventures! 

We have moved 6 times so far in these 11 years and lived in 3 states and a new country! We expanded our family with two wonderful children who couldn't be more adaptable and perfect for this circus ride! The four of us have embraced each move, each transition and each new adventure with open arms. And we benefit from it more than we know.....and realize wholeheartedly when we move what we have gained and what we sadly have to say goodbye to. 

Life is short--leave the house and explore is my motto here. Mike may (occasionally) despise my constant need to be busy and on the go......(hence my calendar already being CHOCK FULL for Aug, Sept and Oct!!!) but I know he appreciates the diversity it brings to our family experiences as much as I do! 

Cheers to MANY more wonderful years and adventures with my best friend and biggest supporter.  

Busy Summer Weeks

We've been busy keeping cool! 

Afternoon at the pool! 

Evenings at the park right next to our house--it gets the perfect late afternoon shade and breeze! So refreshing after so many roasting days 

Nightly hour long swim lessons for Abby! 

Evening sky!! 

Abby and I went to Costco today! 

And she helped pick out this sushi tray for dinner tonight!! This entire fresh tray is $10.75!!!!!!!!!!! It was delicious! Tuna and Salmon! 

Mount Takatori

Today my good friend Carrie and I took our four kids to hike Mount Takatori! I drove an hour to her base and we walked right off her base for the hike! We knew we were in for a challenge, and the kids did amazingly considering 90% of the hike was uphill and steep! 

This was a great challenge that was totally out of my box and certainly the most challenging adventure the girls have ever done. 

WIN: I didn't carry a single child on the entire hike. Maddy whined a few times, but given some water she warmed right back up to the adventure and seeing what was around the next corner! 

The start of the hike

Nature at its best

Jungle like hiking

Temple gong

Carrie and I in front of a temple 

The landscape was a mix of jungle and rocky! 

Big Stone Buddha 

The final steps of the 5-1/2 hour hike!!!

After this we still had to walk 20 min to the closest train station to get back to my car at the base. 

Classic Japan

We went on a full day tour trip today! 

Many photos to come....of course!!

But this is my favorite!! 

Classic Japan scenes

A funny pose stand in a hallway of the building where we made Kaleidoscopes today!! Totally random but entertaining!

These hand gesture puppets were in a bucket in front of the stand!!

100YEN Heaven

I My 100YEN loot from today! I visited a new local store that is owned by a different entity. It was like the Nordstrom of 100YEN stores. Everything still $1

I grabbed a deep plastic bin to organize the bathroom (Gotta start making some space so mike has some counter space for a toothbrush in a few months), a plastic jar for my M&M stash, a cute small bowl/colander combo for the kids fruits/snacks, an onion mesh sack which hangs perfectly inside my kitchen sink door, and a cooling necktie sleeve and gel insert pack!! 

Thrifty Shopping

Today my friend Cyndi and I got a sitter and went to the local shrine sale close to the base, which is the US equivalent to a yard sale! Very fun! This location has one once a month!! While we were there a woman was performing a Hawaiian dance! 

USS George Washington

A glance into Mikes days at work! 

And how everything including our mail is delivered to and from the boat. 

Teeth!!

Her new tooth next to the front one is FINALLY starting to grow in!! I feel like it's been an empty gap for 3+ months!! 

Yoga

I thought I'd share a glimpse into my Wednesday mornings here! I joined a few of the ladies in our squadron and started attending their weekly Power Yoga class they attend on base! 

I've never been a Yoga fan before, but I am now a believer! At least from more of a workout/stretch perspective than meditation.....I am not one to focus inward....just doesn't work for me. But the stretching and sweating speaks wonders and my body loves it!