Quinn's Last Photo Shoot

Quinn did his last photo shoot in January for Isetan's "White Day" Flyer.  It won't come out until March 7th so we won't get to see it because we will be gone.
Quinn has become such a pro.  He sits right down in the make-up chair and gets his hair done

without even lifting his head up (too focused on the DS).  This day when he did pick up his head, he was shocked to see all the curls.  All he could say was, "I look like my friend, Sam!"

Bagel Cafe

In January, some Japanese friends from yochien invited me to go to the Bagel Cafe.  I learned how to make bagels and then ate a yummy lunch.  The owner's name is Junko-san and she is so happy, sweet and bubbly.

At lunch, Rumi, Sumi, and Maki, along with Junko, surprised me with a delicious birthday cake.  Thanks ladies for such a great day.

And now I can make my own bagels at home.

Moving On Up..

On January 31st, the moving company came and packed up most of our stuff.  It took all day and we ended up needing 9 crates to fit it all (including the Harley).

What is staying with us for the trip... yikes!

That day we dined on MRE meals found in the back of our pantry.  The kids thought it was great fun. I didn't have the same feeling.

Here's Hoping the Third Time is the Charm

We made two attempts at getting sealants on Scarlett's back teeth.  They even tried using "happy gas" but it did not seem to have much affect on little Miss Scarlett.  We will try again this summer.

Hanging With the Band

On February 7th, Tiffany Cooper and I headed into Tokyo for a Los Lonely Boys concert.  They were playing in Shibuya at Club Quattro.
We walked around Shibuya and checked out the local clothing trends and had a good laugh because it was like we were sent back in time to the 80's .... neon, cut up shirts and even ones with fringe.

The club was small but the perfect size to see a show.  We made friends with a couple who had just moved to Japan because the husband worked for Honda.  We sang and danced our butts off and had a great time.

In the end, Tiffany was determined to get one picture with the band.  We hung out at the exits of the club way past most of the other people.  And Tiffany kept asking workers about the band.  Finally someone came out to talk to us and offered us an autograph.  But Tiffany wasn't willing to settle for that.  So I said tell the band, we are from Abilene, TX (they are from San Angelo, which is the next town over).   Well it worked!  Before we knew it, the manager came out and welcomed us backstage to meet the band.  They were so nice and friendly and even invited us to hang out and have some drinks. But being nice girls, we said thanks but we got to go.  Another successful girls night out.

Hanging backstage with the Los Lonely Boys

Ukai Toriyama Restaurant

Last week, Sueko-san, Keiko-san, Hiroko-san, and Michiko-san, my English students, brought me to a fabulous traditional Japanese restaurant called Ukai Toriyama.  It is located at the base of Mount Takao.


The restaurant is made up of small private cottages in the middle of a Japanese garden with babbling brooks, small ponds, and moss-covered water wheels.


The waitresses wear kimono and balance trays with the food and drinks and deliver it to your cottage.  Then you cook your food over hot coals in the center of the table.

Walking to our cottage.

Our cottage

The gardens were beautiful and the food was delicious, but nothing beat the company of these wonderful ladies.

Sueko, Michiko, me, Hiroko

Keiko, Michiko, Hiroko

And she swam and she swam ...

Scarlett completed her first session of swim lessons in January.  She went with the teacher by herself and participated in all the activities, and never once cried.  She did great and we are so proud of her.  Check the photos of her mad skills.

Ueno Zoo

During winter vacation (which seemed extra long this year), the kids and I headed to Tokyo for a few days.  We stayed at the New Sanno and went swimming in their pool and visited the panda bears at the Ueno Zoo.   First off let me say, Scarlett was excited just to ride the train in and stay at a hotel.  So the swimming and zoo were icing on the cake for her.  We had lots of fun together.

My favorite part of the trip was Quinn singing, "I like to move it, move it" to the lemurs in hopes they would sing back (like in the movie, Madagascar).  Too cute.  The kids really enjoyed the petting zoo with lots of goats and sheep.  We even timed it right that the kids got to feed the animals, which was a little scary for Scarlett.  No one likes 10 goats charging at you for the 4 pieces of grass you have in your hand.

New Year's 2012

Yes I am way behind and I need to catch up because we are leaving Japan in exactly 2 weeks .... yikes!

This New Year's was a quiet one and involved simple little day trips.  The Martyniak family did a little hiking,

Toasting the New Year with some Sparkling Cider

 a little geocaching, a little playing at the park, ate some ramen, gyoza, & sushi, and visited the Haijima Shrine for the Daruma Festival.    And for some reason, I felt the need to buy a big ole Daruma.  I was caught up in the  moment and the saleman gave us a great deal.   In case you don't know the story of the Daruma, you make a wish/goal and color in one of his eyes.  Then once you reach the goal or the wish comes true, you color in the other eye.  Finally at the end of the year, you can bring him back to the shrine and they burn them, (but that won't be happening to my big guy).

People waiting in line to pray for the New Year.

"Oni" at the 7 Eleven

geocache