California Pizza Kitchen Japanese Style

We actually found a California Pizza Kitchen in Japan, can you believe it? Thanks to my friend and neighbor. She said it was good tasted just like it did back in the states and was fairly easy to get to. It was just 4 stops away by train. However, once you got off you had to walk to the other train line and around it to get inside the Lozano Mall. It was a huge outdoor mall with mobs of people. They had a little fashion show of some type going on we couldn't see it or understand it so we didn't stay to watch it. The funniest part we had to say was that it was about 68 degrees outside and all the Japanese thought it was cold. They must have looked at us with no coats and Don and Kyle in shorts, shaking their heads thinking "those crazy Americans". They were already in winter coats, scarfs and hats. The train had heat blasting. We were so refreshed when we finally got outside in the fresh air. I guess it's like when we lived in Hawaii and after the first year we were finally acclimated. Even the dogs had sweaters on them. Just an observation on my part I'm not trying to say anything bad about anybody, just thought it was funny and how they had to be sweating but they weren't.

Here is a picture Kyle had me take on the train. The "two clones" (they never travel without a book), you always find them like this, they didn't even know we snapped the picture:

Here is a picture of Lozano Mall and the crowds of people:

Here are pictures the kids took of us at the table. Here's Megan's photo skills:

Here's Kyle's picture:

Next, we hopped back on the train and went one stop to Yokohama to Cosmo World to ride the Ferris Wheel at night. We had never rode the ferris wheel yet. It was a 75 minute wait which they both did well in line. However, about 10 minutes before we were ready to ride Kyle had to go pee. We couldn't get out of line so we told him he had to hold it. Then we finally got in the ferris wheel. It's about a 15 minute ride. We were about more than half way around when he really had to go and said he couldn't hold it and Megan now had to go. I guess the 4 refills of lemonade were finally working through the system. Yes, we did make them go potty before at the train station. Anyway, we made it accident free off the ferris wheel and ran to the nearest toilet.

Good thing we didn't see this before they went to the bathroom, I think it would've scared the pee right out of Kyle.

The Nina, Hina and Monta Vahina (according to Kyle)

Kyle had a Christopher Columbus project to do for school. He had to make a boat that would float out of recycled materials. They learned all about Christopher Columbus. Kyle retold the cutest story how Christopher Columbus had 3 ships named: Nina, Hina and the Monta Vahina. Whenever we tried to correct him he told us NO, the are called: Nina, Hina and Monta Vahina. So we quit trying to correct him. Eventually, by the time Columbus day rolled around he was actually saying: Nina, Pena and Santa Vahina. Close! He paid attention real well in class. He learned how Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. When he sailed he thought the Earth was flat but soon found out it was round. He also told us that he sailed around and bumped into the US and before he died he discovered the US! He had many other wonderful facts that I was impressed he remembered and paid so close to the details.

Here are pictures of his finished boat. It was supposed to be a project that parents helped with. Daddy glued the milk carton closed and clamped it. Kyle painted the boat, and the chopsticks which held the sails. I only painted the windows, anchor and USS Kyle, then Daddy just put the sails on. So it truly was a group effort.

The Friday before Columbus day, the Kindergarten classes tested their boats and wheter they would sink or float?
Will it sink or float?

Of course it floated....cardboard floats says Kyle!!!

Megan's First Swim Meet

Megan's first swim meet was Saturday, September 27th. I'm a wee bit late in posting the pictures, it took me awhile to download my camera. She was nervous and didn't want to compete but she did pretty good for her first competition. She swam in four events and was at the pool from 8am - 3:30pm which made for a very very long day. There were about 5 other teams competing. Teams from Yokotoa Air Base, Atsugi Naval Air Base and I believe 2 Japanese swim teams. Megan only competes in events with girls in her age group 8 and under.

Her first event was freestyle 50 meters. She finished 2nd in her heat with a time of 1:00.85 and 9th out of 22 overall in her age girls 8 and under.

Her second event was the 50 meter backstroke. She finished 4th in her heat with a time of 1:12.72. She finished overall 15th out of 21.

Her third event was the 50 meter butterfly, which Megan has now told us she likes and prefers over the breaststroke. She finished in 1:36.31 and was 11 out of 11 for her first time.

The last event was the 200 meter relay. Megan swam the last 50 meters of the relay. They were the only team in their age group, so they came in first place and they got a ribbon. YEAH!!! Their time was 4:03.21.

The meet is finally over...Great Job Megan, we are so proud of you!!!

All Clear

We woke up this morning to Typhoon Readiness Condition (TCCOR) I, which meant the typoon was set to hit within the next 12 hours. This was at 7:15am, by 8:30am the typhoon changed course and we were all clear. It was quite a rainy night but we are glad that was all it was.

We woke up to a beautiful sunny day. So we ventured off base for lunch at Twelve Frogs (Kyle and Don had yet to be there), a trip to Bagel & Bagel for fresh bagels for tomorrow's breakfast and shopping at the 100 Yen store.

So we are all safe and sound in our little world over here.

Typhoon Warning

In case any of you might have heard, we are in Tropical Cyclone Condition Readiness (TCCOR) II. This means that winds of 50 knots or greater are anticipated within 24 hours. We will keep you posted. If for some reason you are unable to reach us by our Vonage phone or email over the weekend it could be due to power outages. I will try and post an update when the typhoon has past and the all clear is given.

Godzilla

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...Godzilla!!! What would a trip to Japan be without visiting Godzilla? We took the kids a few weekends a go to the Godzilla park. Godzilla was tall, so tall it was hard to get the kids and Godzilla in the same shot together. The kids had a blast at the park. Again it's another Japanese slide park. The best part for my kids though was the zip line, they absolutely love them and would love it if they could have their own.

It was a hot and humid day and we had to evacuate our building rather quickly thanks to a fire alarm that went off in our building. So instead of grabbing the backpack that I usually take packed with the outing essentials (like a good mom), I grabbed my purse packed with the financial essentials (my checkbook, credit cards and cash). Hence, I did not have any sunscreen (the bad mom), so we couldn't stay out and enjoy the park that much. Here in Japan you can't just run out and buy sunscreen like you can in the states. We can't read the labels, it's hard to find and those we have found say not to use on your face.

We will have to go back another time in the fall when the flowers are in bloom. They have some beautiful gardens. Here is a look at the gardens, there were lots of butterlies. Some were very big. Doesn't Megan look thrilled?

Even Don looks small compared to Godzilla.

After all that fun it was time to cool down with a shave ice. We found a nice shady bench with a beautiful view.

We captured this spider in its web on our walk back to the car. We thought it was too cool.

Soccer Season has Begun

The soccer games officially began on Saturday. Megan and Kyle both are playing again this year. This is Kyle's second year playing and Megan's fourth year. They both had a lot of fun. Neither team keeps score officially, although the kids do. They are learning to play for fun and that both teams win. It was a very hot day out and we were on the fields for almost 3 hours, not quite, between both games. Here's Kyle's game...

Kyle assiting with a goal...

Coach talking over strategy with the team...

Then we went to Megan's game. Her's was a little more competitive. She has really improved her skills over the years. Her she getting the ball...

Cornerkick...

Throw-in from the sidelines...

Good game...

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Kyle's 1st day of Kindergarten, he was so excited to go to school. All morning he was asking how he looked. He had me put get in his hair and asked me if it looked ok. Did I think Mrs. Garcia would like it? It was cute. He really likes her.

Last Monday, I went to Kyle's class for a parent orientation and learned about the classroom and what would happen during the year. Then on Tuesday, Mrs. Garcia came to our house for a home visit. All of the Kindergarten teachers visit each student in their home to see them in their own environment. He was so excited to have his teacher come to his house and have her see his room and his toys. He showed her how he organized his cars. He told her he liked to organize the blocks. Then on Friday Kyle got to visit his class and see his desk. One of the first things he told his teacher was the blocks were messy and he needed to reorganize them.

Here are pictures from our visit to his classroom on Friday...

My new cubby...

My new desk...

My teacher Mrs. Garcia...

Walking to school on my 1st day...

Dad came too to drop me off...

Lining up to go to class...

Doing my homework after school...