Yunessun Hot Springs

I took a day off from being "mom" and headed to Yunessun Hot Spring, www.yunessun.com/english/ which is in Hakone, Japan. By bus, it took about 1.5 hours.

Amy and Tracy were my travelling partners on this trip.

On the way up the mountian, we passed Fujiya Hotel, www.fujiyahotel.jp/english/index.html which was the first resort hotel built in Japan in 1878. Fujiya translated means, Flower Palace. The hotel is celebating it's 130th Anniversary and they have some great deals for us Gaiji, non-Japanese persons. I would love to spend a night there and explore the Hakone area.

We were so excite for a day of sitting in hot springs!!

At this pool, cold water and bubbles were shot out from the ceiling at scheduled times. The kids there got so excited when the bubbles floated down to the water, but I enjoyed the showers of cold water. The pools got a bit hot and the cold water made for a nice relief.

There were all kinds of different pools filled with assorted addittives; Green Tea, Sea Salt, Coffee, Wine, Chamomille...just to name a few. This pool was filled with honey.

Periodically, a staff member would come with a bowl of honey and the Japanese people would gather together waiting for a dose of honey that they than used to lather their bodies with...

Amy and Tracy getting their dose of honey.

Some of the pools were indoors and others were outside. This was one of the areas for kids. I wish I had taken my camera to the other outside pools but I was really afraid of my camera getting wet. I missed getting pictures of the Green Tea pool, which had a large Tea Pot pouring hot water and the Wine pool where there was a large Wine Bottle.

Behind this waterfall, was a large cave with several pools included. It was very exclusive feeling, romantic almost...

We were literally on top of the world.

Built into the side of the mountain was a water slide and this too was feed by the hot springs.

(We look like we're part of a cult wearing the ropes we were given)

The Japanese people would stand at the bottom of the slides waiting for us to come down and they would laugh and clap at us. We didn't get it at first, but after watching several Japanese people (children included) come down the slide, we realized that they make no sound, no splash, no sign of ridiculous fun. Not us, we were screaming as we sped down the slides and when we hit the water we made BIG splashes! At times, our feet went over our heads and the water spilled out of the pool and we stood up with our bathing suits stuck between our butt cheeks. Now that I think about it, no wonder they were laughing at us...

On our way home down the mountain, we passed Lake Ashino-ko, which is a crater formed over 3,000 years ago by a volcanic erruption by Mt. Hakone. Along the lake is Hakone Shrine, built in 757 and marked by the large red tori gate you see in the picture.

It was a beautiful and relaxing day. However, if anyone ever has the chance to go...take some Drammamine. I didn't know we were going to be travelling on butt kissing turns and curves. I got so car sick on the way there and on the way back. I prayed for sleep to take over my mind and stomach.

Monkey Island

Amy and I took the boys for a boat ride out to the island that sits right off of Yokosuka. It's known as Sarushima, translated as Monkey Island.

There are no monkeys on the island. Instead, the name is credited to a myth about a famous priest whose boat drifted toward the island and a white monkey that led him to a beach where he could land safely.

Amy and Zachary

Caleb couldn't have been any more excited. He was doing a happy dance and chanting, "I going to the beach". Riley on the other hand was not so sure about the ride.

I think overcast days make the best beach days. It's not too hot or humid and the sun isn't blinding you. This was an overcast day.

Riley didn't know what to make of the sand and the seashells and the seaweed. At first, we was really upset and then he got use to it.

He liked the sand enough to taste it...Yuck!

And then he made it down to the water line and really freaked out. The water is still very chilly this time of year and he did not like it!

Caleb on the other hand loved every part of the beach.

And has asked to go back everyday since we went. He's very excited to ask daddy to go with him... Shawn missed this trip.

We were only there for 3 hours, but we were all exhausted by the time we caught the boat back home.

McDonald's Playground

A great day at McDonald's playground. The weather was great and the kids were well behaved, what more can you ask for.

Grandma sent Caleb these sunglasses and they are the first pair that he has consistently worn and not lost or broken. It may have something to do with the fact that they are "Lightening McQueen" glasses.

Riley really likes this playground. It's designed for small children, so he can reach everything and chase after his brother.

Trying to Keep Up

This is what happens when little boys try to keep up with a big boy!

A haircut, a crane, and water...

Over the weekend, Shawn gave the boys a haircut. Yes, it was Riley's first haircut and all his baby hair is GONE! He doesn't look like a baby anymore...he's a toddler now and I'm kinda sad about that.

After haircuts, we took the boys to a "Curry Festival" at Mikasa Park, where we got to see up close the large floating crane that we've been looking at out our living room window for several days. I just discovered that this crane is, "Yoshida" - Japanese biggest floating crane, built by Mitsubishi heavy Industries Division. It can lift 3,700 tons! I read it's here to put in a bridge to the man-made island that is only accessible now by boat. It's so large, that it looks fake or like an amusement park roller coaster ride. Anyway, Caleb thinks it's AWESOME and loves to see it out our window everyday.

At the festival, there were all kinds of curry. But there were also jugglers and balloon artists. The kids had fun and Shawn and I got sickly full on food.

On the way back, we decided to let the boys play in the water fountains that line the sidewalk. Of course, the boys were attacked by all the Japanese ladies.

One of the ladies was encouraging Caleb to jump into the fountain calling out, " 1,2,3, GO!" and Caleb had to abide. At some point, Caleb got bored just jumping in and decided to take a dive in on his belly and came out COMPLETELY SOAKED! I talked him into giving the nice Japanese lady a big hug...she thought it was great and didn't mind at all.

A haircut, a crane, and water made for a great family day.

Friday details

We started our Friday with a package from Grandma and Poppy. Thank you. The boys loved it (as you can tell from the explosion of "stuff" on the floor) and I loved my gifts too. It's so awesome to get packages from the states, especially ones you're not expecting. It's a little bit of home in a box...and we are really missing home these days! One of the items the boys received were WV license plates with their names on them. As soon as Shawn walked in the door from work, (which was noon, how wonderful) Caleb was begging for him to attach it onto his scooter.

We played outside until it was time to take a nap. And it was great, we ALL took a nap, is there any better way to spend an afternoon?

We had our Friday night pizza and movie ("Hotel for Dogs".....AGAIN!) and then Caleb and Shawn played a game while I folded laundry....I'm wondering when my Mother's Day weekend will begin???? Not tonight I guess, or Shawn would have been folding the laundry....

And here is what I found as the boys got bored with us....one getting into the trash and the other getting into the cabinets. It was time for bed!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It has rained for so many days now, that I've lost count. Other than the kids being able to go outside and play, I'm missing my daily walks. So, I'm asking for the rain to go away and come again another day. On a good note, Shawn is coming home tonight..yeah!

Dinner Impossible

Do you guys recognize this chef? It's Robert Irvine from the Food Network's show, "Dinner Impossible". We met him over the weekend at a book signing at our Navy Exchange. We tried to give him a challenge, but he cut us off and said, "If it has anything to do with these three boys, No way." He was really nice and patient with the boys. He asked Caleb if he was the captain of the crew and Caleb said, "No, I'm three." So Robert started calling him a three star and Zachary was a two star and Riley was the one star....very cute.

If you haven't seen his show, you've got to. It's fun. Did you know that he use to be one of the chefs for the Queen and the family?? Yeah, very interesting guy.

Walking baby

As you can see from the video, Riley is doing it all...walking and talking at the same time. I knew he was going to be my smart kid (hehehe). He is into everything and going everywhere! He says "mama" and "dada" and his new favorite word is, "nyo, nyo". That's right, his first word is "No". That should tell you something about his personality; He is a trouble maker. I can't turn my back for a second without him getting into something. I have to empty the dishwasher when he's either sleeping at night or taking a nap during the day because he insists on taking the knives out of the dishwasher. (He never grabs for the plastic spoons, I guess that would be too boring) If I take out the utensil rack, he slams the dishwasher racks in and out and my dishes get slammed. The more noise it makes the more he does it, so I've resorted to waiting till he's asleep at some point. He's figured out how to open the sliding glass door and go outside and play by himself, which is okay in the backyard where there's a fenced yard, but not so okay when he goes out the front and takes a stroll down the sidewalk....which leads to either a parking lot or the road...so now the sliding glass door is gated (because it has to be open in order to cool down the house since we don't have air conditioning until the base decides we deserve it...May 23nd. They call it conservation, but I call it controlling and crazy) Oh the list goes on and go...he's put his hands in the toliet while Caleb was peeing, he likes to take the toliet cleaning brush and use it to wipe the walls and floor and rug. Again, the list goes on and on...

PS. On the video, did you hear me ask Caleb not to yell? After hearing it on the video, it didn't sound like he was yelling at all in comparison to how loud Riley was talking. Riley is LOUD!

He also has stared giving hugs, which makes up for all the hardships he causes me throughout the day. There is nothing better than the tight squeeze from your baby on your shoulder. I love it. He's starting to share the love with others too. Out of the blue, he gave our little friend Zachary a big hug at dinner the other night. And Caleb gets an occassional squeeze too (he mostly saves little slaps and tugs for his brother though). He's getting so big and developing before my eyes. He went today and got his 12 month well baby check up. He weighs in at 21.6 lbs, which is only 25th percentile for his age, but his height came in at 75th percentile. Caleb was competely the opposite...short and fat. I guess Riley is going to be my long and lean baby...

It's a "Bob"

As many of you know, I have been trying to go to the gym several times a week. I've been putting the boys in the "child watch" program and Caleb has given me such a hard time about going. He's had moments where he won't even go into the gym or if he does, then he'll scream and try to run out. I've just had to force him into the room and walk out...hoping for the best and every time, Caleb eventually starts playing and having a good time and I pick him and Riley up an hour and a half later. This last time I went, it was same as usual, Caleb screamed and kicked and I just walked out and left him. I got onto the treadmill, got myself situated and not even 10 minutes later my beeper goes off.....I walk toward the "child watch" room and one of the ladies is standing there holding Riley and he's crying. She tells me that she can't get him to stop...I take him from her arms into mine and in that second he stopped, just like that.

It's no easy task to get myself and two kids ready and out the door and to the gym by 9:00. Add the hassle of Caleb screaming and kicking, and now, Riley having separation/stranger anxiety, only to workout for 10 minutes...at this point of our lives, I'd have to be crazy to go back. So,I've just been trying to tell myself that this is my life right now and it's a small sacrifice to make and blah, blah, blah...until I seen an ad for a used "Bob" Revolutionary Duallie jogging stroller. I thought, "what in the world is a "Bob" stroller and what makes it worth $350 USED!!" I mean, I have a Sit and Stand stroller right now that someone gave us and I don't think much of it. As soon as Caleb sits in it, it's almost impossible to maneuver. So I went online to do some research, more out of curiosity than anything else, because I never thought I'd pay that kind of money for a used stroller. First of all, this stroller retails for over $600 new. The tires are air filled and it has an awesome suspension system. It's light weight, yet can hold up to over 100 pounds. It's suppose to be the best of the best of strollers...still this didn't mean much to me until I was talking to my girlfriend who takes walks every night with her 3 year old and her newborn in a Graco double stroller that broke a wheel...wheel snapped right off. When I asked her how much she paid for it ($200), that's when I decided that I was going to make the call. And I am so glad that I did.

So, I bought the "Bob". (Don't worry honey, I haggled and got a good price for it) And I have used it every night since. I love it!!! It rides so smoothly and Caleb fits perfect in it. And I can't tell his 41 pounds is only sitting on one side. I can take curbs with ease and corners with precision. It's awesome! I love walking with the boys and I am looking forward to building myself up to being able to jog around the track with it.

I love my Bob!