Recent fun stuff....

Danny on TV!

Danny won the "Golden Book" award for week of Sept. 28.  This is an award based upon citizenship.  Each of the teachers from a particular grade choose one child from their respective classrooms to receive the award.  This week was the third grade and Danny was the recipient in his class.  Each of the award winners appears on the school television where they say their name, their teacher's name, etc.  Then, they all lead the school in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  Once the media portion is over, the recipients go to the school office where they are handed their awards and they get to sign the "Golden Book," which is then on display for all to see!  It's quite an honor!

A couple of weeks ago we rode our bikes to the 100Yen sushi-go-round (yes, sushi on a conveyor belt - it's fun and tasty).  On the way home, we stopped to catch a crab!  We named him "Larry."  He lived for about one week....

Sea Paradise - Oct. 5, 2009

A few days before "super typhoon Melor" is scheduled to hit us, the sun came out and the day was beautiful (otherwise, we've had nothing but rain)!  So, we went off to Sea Paradise to go on some rides....

The seals were so cute! They reside right next to the water-rafting ride.

Ric, Danny, and Danny's friend, Kyle, hoped to get soaked on this water-rafting ride (but they didn't). Other people got soaked. I guess we were lucky (although that might depend upon your point of view).

The "Blue Fall" goes up over 107 metres then, suddenly, drops down! Here are Ric and Danny at the start of the ride...

at the top then............... whoooosh....... all the way down!

Kyle and Danny on the Viking Ship! Looks like they had fun (they rode it three times)!

The boys found crabs at the waterfront....

Ric found other creatures in the bushes!

These are NOT bumper boats! We found out afterwards that you're not supposed to bump each other in these boats. Ric and Danny didn't mean to break the rules but we only understand a little bit of Japanese (sukosi Ninhongoga wakarimasu).

Part of the view from a revolving tower. It was a gorgeous day!

This is the roller coaster that Ric and Danny rode. Yes, they sat in the front row, with arms upheld! They did it twice -- at 1000Yen per ticket (about $11), going twice almost paid for admission to the park.

Lake Yamanaka

We went to Lake Yamanaka with some friends for the Labor Day weekend. We stayed in a cabin at the Yamanaka Chalets. The site was quiet and the people friendly. And, we were right across the street from the lake. The Chalet had a one-person kayak, a rowboat, and a canoe that we were allowed to use on the lake. They also had a range of bicycles (something for every size, whether child or adult), basketballs, volleyballs, a rope swing (which the children loved to use), a ping pong table, and other fun stuff. We had a fantastic time and, as you can see from the photos, our weather was perfect!



Watch for the police -- I heard there's speed traps all over! Seriously, I don't know if this pedal cart was available to rent from the local vendors or if it really was used by the police....

First Day of 3rd Grade

It's official - Danny is now in 3rd grade!

Odaiba, Fireworks, Boy Scouts (Life Continuing As Normal)....

This is Danny at the "Raingutter Regatta." He built a small boat and then participated in a race. He learned how to be a good sport when he lost the race.... But, as you can see from the photo below, the disappointment didn't last.

We went to a fireworks show at Zushi Beach o Aug. 27. They shot off 7,000 fireworks. It was a truly fantastic event. Thousands of people showed up for it -- traffic (vehicular and pedestrian) was a nightmare.

We went to Odaiba on Aug 26. In addition to getting the opportunity to ride on the world's largest ferris wheel (in a see-through car, no less!), we paid approx. $75 for the three of us to go to a public swimming pool where there were not even any chairs in which to sit! Yikes! We won't be doing that again. Pictures to be posted when I figure out how to get them off of the movie camera....

Taya Caves

Jill, I, and the children went to a really cool place near the Ofuna train station -- the Taya Caves. The caves were used as a seminary by the Shingon Sect of Buddhist monks beginning in the 12th century. Over the course of 500 years, the caves were enlarged from their natural state, by hand, by these monks.

To attain enlightenment, disciples would enter their own exercise halls within the cave. Here they practiced "austerities" such as fasting for 21 days, meditating, and digging cliffs and tunnels by hand. The original length of the tunnels within the cave was 1500 metres; only about 400 metres are now open to the public.

The ceilings and walls of the cave are elaborately carved with Buddhist representations. The cave contains ventilation openings, drainage, and even a drinking water system! All built by hand!

Tama Hills

We went to Tama Hills at Yokota a week or so ago. We had a great time golfing and hiking (despite the mosquitoes). We're pretty good at the hiking but are goofballs on the golf course. Fortunately, no one minded! We plan on going again - soon!

Mt. Fuji

We hiked Mt. Fuji on July 16th. Ric made it to the top along with three friends. Danny and I made it to the 7th Station (there are 10 "stations" on Mt. Fuji; most people start climbing from the 5th Station, which is the last station at which there is parking).

Unfortunately, on the day we went there were gale force winds! Poor Danny kept getting knocked down by the winds -- even I was "pushed" by them. It was rather frightening. The next day, one of Ric's co-workers went with his family and conditions were perfect. Another co-worker went over the weekend and, in addition to winds like we experienced, there was sleet! That's Mother Nature for you....

As you can imagine, the winds caused the volcanic dirt to fly around a lot. Most people wore goggles of some sort and had masks to help keep from breathing in the dirt. As it was, our nostrils, ears, scalps, and backpacks were filled with sand. I even had the sand on my torso under the five layers of clothing I was wearing (sports bra, long johns, long-sleeved heavy T-shirt, button-down hiking shirt, and heavy jacket)!

But, we were all glad for the opportunity!