Our Worker Bee

Scarlett loves to help doing anything and everything and it's usually with a great big smile.

MONKEY PILE

Last week-end we had our friends, The Coopers, over for dinner.  My kids were so happy to have Emily and Charlie to play with because with everyone evacuated there are not many kids to hang out with in our neighborhood.  Fun was had by all.

The Newest Jedi

Neal has recently introduced his love of Star Wars to Quinn.  They have watched the movies and built the legos etc.  Well Quinn is hooked with the whole thing; asking lots of questions about Darth Vader and Luke.  And as every boy does, he immediately gravitated towards the awesomeness of the Light Saber.  Our toy store on base is having a massive clearance that includes a whole lot of Star Wars items.  Quinn earned himself a set of Light Sabers.  Quinn never gives up the blue Jedi Saber, of course.

Fashionista at Two

I can't even imagine what Scarlett will be like at say 10,  let alone as a teenager.  Because now she cares what she wears at TWO!  I mean she cares about what she will wear right down to the socks ... which she independently changes at least three times a day.   Every night she takes out what she wants to wear in the morning.  I applaud her independence but she doesn't always consider color schemes (which is OK in Japan) and weather.  So the picture is of her latest ensemble:

I just love her sense of color!

Sunflower Class

Scarlett's school year ended on March 31st and she has moved up to the next class.  She was a "Tulip" but now has moved on to the big kid "Sunflower" class.  To be honest I was a bit worried because she does not like change, at all.  Luckily one of her teachers stays the same and the other changes.  The Japanese are smart about that kinda stuff.  So Scarlett did fine on the first day back.  But I am wondering if it's beacuse she got to make a super cool sunflower necklace and received a graduation present (traditional Japanese sweet filled with sweet bean paste) from the Head Mistress.  Guess we'll see this week.

Plum Park 2011

Yesterday was our first true day out as a family since the earthquake.  It was Neal's first week-end off and the weather was sunny and beautiful, and we all woke up ready to get off base and be out in nature.  Basically let the kids run around in the outdoors ...  Oh and try to geocache, of course.  We headed to the Plum Park where all the Ume trees bloom (they bloom first and then the cherry blossoms are next).  We had no luck with the multi-cache but had a great time walking around and having a picnic.

Picnic lunch: onigiri, dried edamame, and juice

Quinn's Mickey Mouse impression.

Neal hiding a cache (photo by Quinn)

Scarlett doing what her brother did... of course

Quinn just loves that Nemo.

Checking out the koi pond

Captain Goggles and His Sidekick Goggle Girl

One of the few things on base not cancelled or closed is the inside pool. So we have been taking full advantage of it and have been going to free swim every week. When Scarlett got her first pair of gogggles she wouldn't take them off. Quinn had the great idea to be Super Heroes. I could barely stop laughing long enough to take the pictures.