Fun pictures that lift the spirit

I'm trying to get my self out of this funk and what better way than to laugh. And of course , the laughter of your own children can lift your spirits immediately.

This one is my favorite.

This is what happens when you try to take your own family photo...

Of course, the pictures of the boys came out beautifully.

Oh what a funk...

I have been in such a funk lately. I could blame it on the rainy season, or the fact that I am missing home VERY DEARLY, but whatever the reason, it has got to END! I hate feeling this way.

It's PCS (Permanent Change of Station) time here and most people are busy cleaning or packing or saying their good-byes or talking about where they'll be living. UGH, I'm a bit jealous and frustrated. This month marks our half way point; we have 18 months left and it feels like it could be forever. It's not that I don't like it here, because there's really nothing to make it terrible, but I MISS HOME. I have never gone this long without seeing my parents and I think that may just be breaking my heart. I feel more than a couple of countries away, I feel like a lifetime away...I hate to complain because Shawn and I have such a wonderful life together. I love being his wife and I love being a mom, and I know that "home is where your heart is", but 18 more months...UGH!

Anyway, we've been keeping busy. I'm not sure with what...I guess with everyday details. With the yucky rain, we've been doing a lot of puzzles, and watching movies, and coloring books. We did find out that Caleb will be starting pre-school August 31st due to his speech development. The specialists say that he has Oral Apraxia (difficulity anchoring his tongue when he talks) and some speech delay. So he will be in a pre-school with 3-4 year olds who all display a speech delay. He will also be seeing a speech pathalogist for 60 minutes a week. Caleb qualifies for 5 days a week, for 2.5 hours a day, but I think at first we're going to take 3 days a week. He is so excited to go to school and I am so excited to be able to understand him. Although, I will miss some of his words, "nose" for noise and "backman" for Batman. Speaking of Batman, he is Caleb new favorite character. We bought him the Batmobile (which he calls "Batman race car) and the day we bought it, he feel asleep playing with it on the floor...so cute!

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.