Christmas in Tokyo

Instead of presents this year, we decided to take a trip to Tokyo to visit Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea and Tokyo Tower (a scaled-down version of the Eiffel tower).  It was a BLAST!  We were tired everyday, but got to see a lot of sites.  Here are the pics:

from one of the look down windows on the floor of Tokyo Tower...what a brave soul

The crew!

Elijah in the funny mirror...he said he liked the way he looked short and fat:)

Please note that we were waiting in a quiet 3-D theater inside Tokyo Tower, notice the sharp looking Japanese gentleman in the suit behind us and this is the pose my American boys give me!

at the Guinness World Record Museum inside Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower

Elijah imitating the wax statue of Michael Jackson

at Tokyo Disney Sea in front of the Indiana Jones ride

Tokyo Disney Sea

Elijah's Christmas Card to Us

He was sooo SUPER excited to read it to me yesterday after school.  

We are guessing he meant it as, even though you discipline me, I  know you are the best parents ever....hmmmm?  Guess we won't be getting any award for Parent of the Year anytime soon?

MY Christmas Party

Let me just start off this post by saying I had a lot of fun last night! I didn't expect to have that much fun either. I mean last year's party was TOTALLY LAME! Really it was! Last year we were at a log cabin kind of building - potluck style and sang Christmas carols with the entire staff while the 2 music teachers played the accordian and recorder. The topper last year was that afterwards we were streamlined, like cattle, down a hill to an open field where there was a bonfire (it was snowy and C -O-L-D) and roasted marshmallows. Really? Who does that?

So this year I am on the social committee (along with many different members than last year) and we rented out the Officer's Club ballroom, buffet style dinner with a semi-formal dress code. We had a scavenger hunt too. It was so much fun! I learned a new country line dance. We took dollar votes to see what staff member people wanted to see dress up as Santa....raising over $100 for Toys for Tots!

Anyway, here are the pics......Eddie's Christmas party is next week:)

Swine flu is spiraling out of control at my school

It took awhile, but swine flu has made it's way to our elementary school here. I am on sick leave through this month, so I am too thankful that I don't have to be around all those pathogens. My immune system is being over worked healing from surgery as it is!

I thought the picture was cute. We are all sick-free in this household :)

Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar...

No lie!  Japan has the coolest snacks EVER! 

My new craze is trying to find the newest flavored Kit Kats.

So please understand that I do not like chocolate very much.  I mean it's just okay to me....I am not one of those people that loooooves chocolate.  I would much rather have a handful of gummy bears.

Eddie actually eats VERY little chocolate a year....less than 16oz, but we both really like these flavored Kit Kats.  The reason:  they are made of white chocolate and infused with unique flavors.

Here in Japan, the Japanese have mastered Kit Kats...they have flavors that are so unique, sound bizarre, but taste DE-LEC-TABLE!

 - watermelon 

 - creme brulle

 - green tea

- apple cider vinegar (the best so far)

- buttered potato

- corn soup

- Tokyo has a soy sauce flavor (haven't tried it yet)  

 - This list goes on and on!  

Here are a few that we actually found lately.

MY FAV!  Ginger Ale flavored

Apple/Carrot 

Yummy!  Royal Milk Tea....sort of like a tea flavor with milk

top: caramel salt

middle:hazelnut

bottom: sweet potato

Hey you guys:  I was skeptical at first too..........you all now that one thing I know is good food! We'll have to snag some up when (if) we ever make it back to America to share:)

Misawa World Wine Festival

Lucky us, we had another date night!  We attended the wine festival and sampled wine from all around the world on Saturday.  We snacked on really yummy food...for about 2 hours.  I had a super full belly when we left there.  There was live Jazz music as well.  

I only like sweet wine, so when I got a sample of a dry wine I poured it into Eddie's glass :)  he he he!

We still like German wine the best......it beats Italian, American, Australian and Japanese rice wine hands down!

Misawa Air Show

 ...okay I have been slacking. We really haven't done anything too thrilling lately, so I haven't updated the blog.

However, we did go to the Misawa Air Show a few weeks ago (I know ..it's late, I would rather sit on the couch with Eddie and Elijah than edit photos lately)  

There were a BAZILLION Japanese on the base.  Truly, there were a BAZILLION!  Believe me when I say Japanese people love American stuff.....to the sum of buying up items marked WAY up.  There was a line that was about 90 min long for Burger King and 60 minutes long for Popeye's Chicken....really?  The air show is one day......Anthony's Pizza grossed $55,000....no lie!

Yet and still the Japanese people were still the most polite guests ever!  

...this is what a BAZILLION Japanese people looks like!

The Air Force Thuderbirds

...I am not going to lie....I was pretty proud of the shots I was able to capture with my camera!

Date night

YEAH!  We had a long needed night out ALONE!  The base was hosting a comedy show night with D'Lai and Bruce Bruce.  We had such a great time out with friends.  

At dinner with friends

Such a cute couple - if I may say so myself!

My friend, Tan

Jene, Toni and Love

Misawa Aviation and Science Museum

This past weekend we went to the science museum.  Oh fun times!  It's really interactive so Elijah and Eddie enjoyed it A LOT!  

Piloting a helicopter

Eddie and Elijah take 'a walk on the moon's surface'.....all without space suits!

...doesn't he look a bit nervous:)

boarding one of the model planes

Fire Prevention Week Parade

So every year the Japanese and American fire departments ride through base housing and throw out candy to the lil rugrats that cheer them on. Last year, we went to the demonstration at the fire house.

That's where Elijah was able to 'put out' fires with hoses, roll the hose up, get dressed in all the fire fighters gear, practice stop, drop and roll techniques and crawl through a smoke-filled house. ......ummm Elijah couldn't go this year because he got in trouble in school twice last week for talking too much! ARGHHHH! Really? I mean your mom works in the SAME building! He should probably be on his BEST behavior....not so much!

It was a rough 3 day weekend for the lad! It's a good thing the Lord's mercies are new every morning because mom and dad's aren't.

CHECK OUT THE LOOT!

3 things to look out for:

1. The Japanese fire trucks look so different from American fire trucks.

2. Did you notice the way Elijah did not use his pockets to put the candy in so that he could get more?

3. The readiness of Elijah to run out into the middle of the street - IN FRONT OF A 3 TON FIRE TRUCK - to get the candy that was in the street?

Elijah....The Taiko Drummer

Yesterday was Elijah's first taiko performance. Taiko means 'drum' in Japanese. They are REALLY loud drums...REALLY LOUD! He has been taking lessons for about 2 months now and is a shining star in the class.

There are 3 levels of Taiko - beginner's, intermediate and advanced. I think it's pretty cool the way the advanced members use their entire body when performing.

Here are some pictures and videos for your enjoyment.

Pretty random......Storm Trooper was there....not so sure why though? The event was the Misawa, Japan Special Olympics.....I think anything having to do with the American culture is a winner in Japan though.

1st flag football game

Elijah plays flag football. He LOVES it and Eddie is the proudest Daddy EVER!

Elijah is a wide receiver on offense and is SUPER fast! He is also a corner back on defense. The poor kid stayed on the field the WHOLE game........(I am about to show off) he was the only kid that did not have to 'take a break' on the bench during the game.

Go Chargers!

Waiting for the snap!

Eddie setting up the defense....way to go coach!

Elijah running after the loose ball

Labor Day cookout

One of Eddie's friends organized a cookout for the guys that returned from the deployment. We had A LOT of good food.....yummy grilled chicken for me and Eddie said the ribs were great!

Welcome back to Andre.....Jene's husband!

This is Terrance....he threw the cookout for the guys.....wow Eddie looks majorly short compared to him huh?  Really, Terrance is a tall guy though!

Notice the 1 adult that is in the midst of the kids when the pinata broke!  If the black jersey doesn't look familiar check out the next picture.....

Me with no make-up on and Eddie in the above mentioned jersey!  Ha ha ha the man loves candy!

We aren't hermits...

...so I know I haven't blogged in almost 3 weeks. I apologize. I guess since Eddie has been home I have really been trying to spend as much time with him as a family as possible. It has been so nice having him home again. I really can not explain the relief I felt when he walked in the front door for the first time in 6 months.

He completed everything on his 'honey-do' list.....things Elijah broke and I needed hung up.... he he he.

Plus 2 days after Eddie got home, school started again. Now all my teacher friends that read this already understand what that first 2 weeks involves and how blogging is just not happening right when school starts. For everyone else, I am literally exhausted after waking up at 4:30 to workout, come home get Elijah up at 6:30, get showered dressed, fix breakfast, get students into the routines of school again......only to mention I have 2 sets of 28 kids throughout the day, come home cook dinner, eat as a family, help with Elijah's homework (Eddie does most of it actually - while I am cooking), then sit down for about 2 hours with my hubby before bedtime.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays Elijah has some extra-curricular practices to be at also. You will see those blogs soon.

P.S. I am not complaining......I am very thankful for my family and work!

So all that to say I will blog this weekend..with pictures :) Thanks for holding on with me :)

......I can finally exhale!

After a 6 month deployment, I finally exhaled yesterday evening when Eddie got home!

Arriving on the flight line on a chartered flight......all the families were waiting

Elijah waiting to see his Daddy with his sign and that favorite t-shirt AGAIN!

Our front door decoration

The love of my life - we were waiting for customs to check Eddie's luggage in the arrival hangar