Day Six of Christmas

Day Six of Christmas! It was a joy to spend the last Sunday of 2012 with our chapel family tonight. 

The day began, however, with a lazy a.m. (doesn't often happen on SUNDAY) and then lunch at the mall. We checked on the Hobbit showings for tomorrow.  We also took some time to look around.

Arielle wanted us to get some sticky pics made...when we got to the booth the signs  said, "No males." That was a bit disappointing - though  I'm not sure they would have liked the whole experience anyway. Stacia and I did. 

You come away with a strip of photos. They print on sticker sheets and are used to decorate all manner of things over here.  I scanned them into the computer and cropped them so we could all have the photos we want. ::snort::

We also succumbed to the temptation of trying to get Stitch out of the machine......We miss Jared (Stitch). 

Hope - 

gave way to despair. 

After chapel we had family circle. We discussed two names of Jesus tonight - Mighty God and Prince of Peace. 

Our clue tonight was: How can I be tired - I didn't go anywhere! The younger ones raced up the stairs...Nolan and Arielle thought it out.

One at a time, all  "found it!" It was hidden on the elliptical and is a new game. We're pretty sure we'll enjoy it...BUT....

All the instructions put us off....Yuuki even tried to help with set up. 

Michael took over reading the instructions while the rest of us did as told.......

When Arielle and I fell asleep, we decided to try to read the directions between now and tomorrow and play it tomorrow night. ::snort::  We could have used the elder Gherkins' help tonight. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

HOBBIT & Girls' Night

The day began rather lazily with an hour of Hobbit reading, snow play and then Michael took Nolan and Arielle and ran to the base to get our mail and do a commissary run.

Zander and I got two more hours of Hobbit reading in....Yes, I do tend to move my mouth as the kids read.

At one point Zander broke into song....I had Michael capture it when he got home! ::snort:: Priceless. 

Four hours of reading today; ten hours of reading total - and SUCCESS Zander reads the last line of Chapter 6 of the Hobbit. He can go to the movies tonight with Michael and the kids. Opening Night of the Hobbit on base!

And so the three older kids and Michael left to watch the Hobbit. Stacia and I settled in for the a fun night. Due to the timing of the shows - today, Sunday (one showing right when we have chapel), Monday (evening) -  we can't go to the onsen as planned while the others go the movies. We don't want to sit in the onsen for an hour and then sit on the curb for two hours waiting for our ride. ::snort::

We cleaned up dinner dishes, wrapped a couple of presents, did each other's nails, popped some popcorn and watched Looney Tunes all night. I had told her she could pick ANY movie she wanted - one that the other kids don't like to watch with her. I thought we'd be watching a princess movie. ::grin::

I was told this is the Puppy Eyes look

Meanwhile - at the base theater, it's a packed opening night! 

One and a half hours into the film the movie picked up in the wrong place, all the action was going backwards and the people were upside down. Yep. It would seem that it may not have been rewound after showing in Yokota. In any event, what a disappointment!  They couldn't seem to fix it. The theater gave passes to another movie...but...um....it shows Sunday during church and Monday - well we'd had family plans for New Year's Eve..... 

We're looking into Shimoda mall - but the website is showing different times on two different computers for the English showing. If anyone has the cinema's number, we'd love to have it. LOL  And yes, I'm open to ideas of another great outing with Stacia - we'll have approximately 3 hours. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Read-a-Thon Continues

Another 2.5 hours and 25 pages of reading the Hobbit today. Michael took about an hour shift.

I am enjoying the Hobbit quotes I'm collecting..."Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey if it don't look like mutton tomorrow."  This phrase has been adapted several ways and used today.

I didn't plan on spending hours each day on reading...but I'm looking at this as a "reading intensive" for Zander and I think it will reap great dividends in confidence when we are done....if we can keep it light-hearted. LOL

Only 36 pages to go to the end of Chapter 6 - I believe he will have this done by Sunday and they can then go to the movie on Sunday or Monday.

Michael suggested I take Stacia to the onsen while they are at the movies. She's thrilled and that will take the sting out of missing the movie for her.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Satsuma-Imo

The ultimate FAST FOOD. Baked Satsuma-imo (Japanese Sweet Potato). You pick them up at Universe or Lawsons....and you can EAT THEM WITH YOUR FINGERS, peeling the skin back as you go. 

Men with carts used to go through neighborhoods selling hot, fresh baked sweet potatoes. More recently, "yaki-imo trucks" drive through neighborhoods playing a bit of music, drawing kids  (and a few adults) to purchase a fresh baked sweet potato. I love it.  Much healthier option than the  ice cream truck. ::snort::  There are still some carts around....

Yakiimo cart

Via Google Images

Yakiimo Truck

Via Google Images

Ishi Yakiimo - stone baked potatoes...sold from the back of his truck. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fourth Day of Christmas

Zander and I began the day with an hour of reading. He is currently reading with Michael. It's a read-a-thon. ::wink:: 

He did take a break to join the other kids outside. They've begun the sled hills....This one is right outside our door. 

Arielle had to get creative

And if Arielle can do it....

Yuuki is a SMART dog...she stays warm! 

Akikosan came over for lunch. We made Yakisoba together. 

This was a new treat for us. Ice cream filled Mochi (rice cake). We'd like to find a mochi pounding festival to attend....must check into that tonight or tomorrow. 

The box to look for at Lawsons

Our next project was to finish our New Year's Decorations....

Arielle has gone to a youth event at a local church. The rest of us are about to pop some popcorn and watch a movie.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Heard Around Our Home

Via Google Images

"Pirates are Jewish, right?" - Um....seems Stacia has become convinced that pirates were originally Jewish.

We've been working on politeness and gratitude around our home.....wait for it......

Tonight at the dinner table Zander commented, "Mom, thank you for that indescribable meal, may I be excused from the table?"  ::snort:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Third Day of Christmas

I had time this a.m. to pray, read, journal, read some more....Zander came down and asked if he could read to me. WOW.

We spent 3 hours and 15 minutes reading the Hobbit today!  Why the sudden interest to go from reading  Frog and Toad to the Hobbit? He heard at dinner last night  the Hobbit was going to be on base on Saturday. Michael's long-standing principle is the kids must read a book before seeing the movie version. Zander has missed out on the Lord of the Rings...and is determined to make The Hobbit.  This is a huge CHALLENGE for him - but just the sort of practice he needs to build his confidence.

He's tackling it....and he got 29 pages read today. I was feeling it was hopeless and I really like to set the kids up to succeed  I feel bad  I didn't think to mention this to him when the movie first came out.  Michael pointed out the movie only goes through about chapter 6  - he needs to read 90 pages. The race is on.  At about the 2 hour mark, I realized I won't be able to go see the movie as Stacia won't be able to go. ::sigh::

We discovered Michael's Kindle DX is much easier for Zander to read on than my iPad. We were zipping through the Hobbit when an Amazon service rep reset Michael's kindle and all our books went away. The WiFi card wasn't working - so yep - now it is blank.  We have the Hobbit on the iPads....but if you touch the screen as you read along....the pages TURN. I recently got the kids' phonics program as an ap - just the ap and a few books to try...now I'm wondering. LOL

Two years ago we bought my iPad ORIGINAL. Michael and Arielle noted how much I enjoyed reading electronic books.  Shortly after my iPad arrived....Michael's DX (bigger one) and Arielle's Kindle 3 joined our family of readers.  Would you believe BOTH of them have quit working? Two different problems. Another call today proves you can't compare Amazon to Apple in customer service. 

The kids played outside much of the afternoon. We stayed warm inside. LOL 

Tonight we discussed Jesus being the Rose of Sharon -  we aren't sold this is a name of Jesus. We need to do some more study. We only found it in Song of Songs 2:1....and there the title is not attributed to Jesus. 

Clue for the night....

Michael found a place to buy the PARTS and fix the Kindle DX himself... Instead of $104 plus shipping it will cost $30. We will probably have to replace the other one as the screen needs replaced and it costs the same as buying a new one. 

Other than dinner....that's our day! We discovered Zander loves stir fry if he can use about 1/4 bottle of ketchup on it. It's a workable compromise. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...