Friday, May 24, 2013

Luvin Japan - Hirosaki Castle



It was a beautiful day at Hirosaki! There were very few folks, the view of Iwakisan was GORGEOUS,!

As our time in Japan begins to wind down the enormity of  leaving Japan hits us at odd moments. Today was such a day. We all did our best to hide our emotions - we ARE Third Culture Kids  - but the photos Michael captured do show several of us in a bit more melancholy frame of mind than typical.  By the end of the day I was singing the Hee Haw song, "Gloom, despair and agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery...." ::snort::


Most of the Cherry Blossoms were gone...but there were still a few to be seen.  



Seriously, I was making a memory....seriously. 


Is it genetic?
 






Weeding
 




The last one out of the park....realistically this is our last time to Hirosaki.



Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Sweet Sixteen at Cape Shiriya!


Happy Birthday to Arielle! Sweet Sixteen! It has been a joy to watch the woman of God Arielle has become....yes, I said she's BECOME.... not WILL BE. 

We drove up to Cape Shiriya lighthouse today....


It was a red letter day as we found FIVE glass floats..... 

 


When Michael told Arielle to get the camera because he wanted to give me something....and I knew we hadn't been anywhere NEAR a mall....I figured he'd found a float....but he found an oblong roller....our very first one!  I was suitably impressed.



Of course this is the way to measure a really big piece of bamboo! ::snort:: 
 

Today's treasures....I rescued the bottle in the knick of time! 

There were several cute foals....and this led to the funny of the day..... 

Zander  - "Perverted Pony!"

Me - "No Zander, the pony is nursing." 

Zander - "Really?"

Me - "Yes, horses breasts are down there...." and the car rang with laughter...o.k. Hashimoto moment....couldn't quite find the right words....

When we got back to Misawa we went to Papa Genos for dinner.... and then Arielle showed us a few things she wanted....and we got them for her. She'll have a "rolling birthday." Her main gift from us is still to come.

These are fake books with a box....

She passed on these....

We drove up to the house late at night and discovered birthday fun! Arielle has some great friends.

Arielle opened a few gifts....Stacia made Arielle a jewelry set clear back in February and was thrilled that her birthday FINALLY arrived! She also got her a Barbie coloring set at the AWANA store. Back at home she began  having second thoughts and thought maybe Arielle would like the watch she got better.....we talked about it and then she went upstairs, came back down and said, "Arielle says she would LOVE to color on the airplane!" Later, Arielle told me Stacia subtly said, "Arielle  - do you like watches or coloring best?" ::snort:: 



Wedding Crocs - they are GREAT. 

Onsen towel and a little glass teddy bear in an onsen tub

One friend MADE this fake book

Chocolate bandaids - perfect gift for our sweet, fun, slightly klutzy (like her mother) daughter! Her friends know her well. 
Arielle has asked me to try to figure out how to make an ice cream cake using the Cashew Banana Ice Cream recipe.  I'm going to try to get the ice cream part in the freezer before they pack the food processor and then play with it when life has settled after the packers take our things. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Wednesday Continued


Our busy Wednesday continued with AWANA and Club Beyond. We dropped the older kids off at Club and I took Zander and Stacia bowling.



We dropped Stacia off at AWANA. She was thrilled that it was STORE NIGHT.

Zander and I continued our day by  checking out the newly renovated Mokuteki....nice.

Another long, fun, crazy day!

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Luvin Japan ~ Towada Horse Park


It is certainly helpful to have visited so many of the spots the family wanted in the "Luvin Japan" series this past week. ::wink::  You can either click the Misawa tab above or search the blog for more posts and directions to this spot. 

We enjoy driving out to this park and I was glad it was on Jared's bucket list for the week. This park has flowers, nature, views, play structures, horses, vending machines, a little restaurant, museum and a killer roller slide. We've spent many lazy afternoons out here. This is a great spot for sledding as well.



Stacia is as wary of the horse as the horse is of her! 

Roller slide upclose 

The trash talk is as fun as the slide
Arielle....


What seems to be the hold up? 

Trick mirrors 


  A little spider man action follows...and Stacia is convinced she looks like a mermaid in the above photo!




It cracked me up that Stacia KNEW Jared must be waiting for her on the top of the slide...so she didn't come out.... LOL 


Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...