Taiiku no hi - In Hind Sight....

Today is Columbus day. We decided to fit in one last adventure before Michael's return. We set out for Oirase (oh eee la say) Gorge. Oriase Gorge is listed as one of Japan's National Treasures (sort of like National Park system in America).  The drive is beautiful and Lake Towada is a gorgeous "crater" lake. You can read more here.  This area is highly popular with Japanese. We've noted it isn't quite as popular as a tourist spot for other nationals. Fine with us. LOL  

Good GRIEF....what was with all the traffic. I deduced it had to be a national holiday of some sort. We have a knack of hitting these holidays...like the day we went to the Ocean on Ocean Day. We spent the day suggesting possible holidays. Sure enough - today is 
Taiiku no hi, Health and Sports Day. Evidently many schools hold field days today...but also evident is the fact that many believe walking in the gorgeous nature is good for your health. We were happy to see festival food and rentals - so all in all it was just fine. 

 (体育の日 Taiiku no hi^?), also known as Health-Sports Day or Sports Day, is a national holiday in Japan held annually on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo, and exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle.

We stopped quite often.

We Hiked 

We Played Pooh Sticks

We Took Group Shots - Day 5 is tomorrow

We Laughed (Yet another men's room with no door)

We Bowed and Chatted with other tourists....

They count kids in Japanese too...but she must have assumed Jared was the father...four kids...she was shocked....I didn't have the heart to mention the 4 who weren't with us. 

The kids really wanted to rent a boat. I knew this may the last chance this season. Jared couldn't. Only four could fit in one boat.....at this moment I realized I had just sent my four youngest ALONE out into a lake with no life jackets, a huge language barrier...and it was their first time to work a paddle boat. 

They did fine....and I soon realized that everyone but the American kids had blue boats....I figure they kept a good eye out on them. 

Hmmm....waning sun SHOULD have been a clue to head for home!

We hiked the forest trails instead. ::snort:: 

In hind sight - it would have been good to skip the last forest hike....it was DARK at night on those narrow, twisty roads....no street lights....the roads were hard to fine (which led to another adventure and a few u-turns on narrow, twisty roads)....

The colors are just starting to change. We all wonder if Michael would like to go up in a couple of weeks. Will the mountains be covered in red????

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G. 

~Coram Deo~ 

Living all of life before the face of God...

SIX.......

Sweet......Mr. Roku (Low Ku)....Roku is six in Japanese. 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Seven -

We were out driving on Saturday, always on the look out for countdown photos when we happened upon this family cemetery WAY in the middle of no where......7 Buddhist graves.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Splendid Saturdays

Saturdays have developed a nice pattern. All sleep in - but I can't. I make use of the mornings and head to the gym for the 6th workout of the week. I reward myself for my diligence by going to the ONSEN....it's quiet early in the a.m.......relaxing...soothing....such a nice start to the day. 

My hip has been bothering me as the weather changes. I spent quite a bit of time in the "pulse bath" today - electrical jolts....yikes - but I've been pain free all afternoon. 

I usually stop off by our favorite bakery on my way home from the onsen and buy some of the "unhealthy" bread. A nice treat....the small loaves with a big family means about 1 slice each....not too bad of a vice. 

We cleaned. 

Then we headed off for an adventure. Jared hadn't seen Misawa Citizen's Forestry park. We went there....then checked out the camping areas and drove off in the direction opposite from home.  Nice day.  I'll save the photo of Jared entertaining himself until Day one of the countdown. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

8 Days

EIGHT year old Zander helps me with the fly away laundry. Stiff wind around here......

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Italian Pizza

We tried a brand new Pizza joint tonight after Sarah told me the kids would love it. This "chef" trained in Naples and the pizzeria is billed as having "Italian style pizza". I don't know what was Italian and what was Japanese - but all in all - it was yummo! 

We loved the brick oven. 

See Stacia's head popping up to watch? 

THIN crusts (so thin you can see through them in spots), VERY fast cooking....we ordered a margarita (very popular here - basically tomato based sauce, mozzarella and basil leaves) and I order Pollo Fungai (assuming it would be chicken and mushrooms - good guess)...one size of pizza (and you don't typically take leftover home in Japan - at least not up here). 

The kids played it safe and ordered the "Americana style" pizza.....I wish I had a photo of their eyes when this showed up.....french fries and hot dog pizza....

Another thing to get used to is the drinks are 8 oz and no refills ($2 a drink)

The portions are smaller....and the pizza is NOT greasy...NOT AT ALL...I loved it. I'm sure we'll go back. They were quite taken with Zander and Stacia and the feeling was mutual. 

Something in the Air?

Busy week. We ended it at the Homecoming game....good fun.....but my children were whacko. One got into a FIST FIGHT.....one was crawling under blankets with an older man.....one was....well you get the idea.....what in the WORLD???????  Tell me that Daddy will be home soon. 


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...