Scarlett's First Day at Zenrin Yochien

It is hard to believe, but Scarlett started yochien today.  She is in the Medaka class, which is the same class and teacher, Shibata sensei, that Quinn started in September 2008 (weeks before Scarlett was born). Unbelievable in my mind.

Scarlett was so excited to have a backpack and "uwabaki"(indoor shoes); just like her big brother.  She has been talking about going to Quinn's school for weeks.  Scarlett tends to be very shy and a big Momma's girl, so I  thought she might hesitate going in or cry.... But nope, she went right in with the sensei.   And you can tell by the smile on her face in the pick up picture that she had a great day.  Sorry the pictures are so bad, but we were in a hurry this morning and we are expecting a typhoon so the weather isn't so great.

Big Girl at Drop Off time

Later in the day, Quinn told me the sensei came to get him to come down to see Scarlett in her class for a small dose of reassurance.  So proud of our "Big Girl" Scarlett!

Moomin Valley

On a geocache adventure, we visited Moomin Valley park.  "Moomin"  is a Swedish story about a family of trolls (that look like hippos) that live in Moomin Valley in the forests of Finland.  It was a popular cartoon in Japan in the 70's.  

Maybe this is clearer.

Do you understand this warning sign?

Gotta do what her big bro does.

The park has different buildings including the Moomin's house that kids can climb all around in and find hidden passages, etc.  Great fun!

Cookie Decorating Party

Today, the kids and I went to the Diamond City Mall to participate in a cookie decorating party with friends from the yochien.   It was mostly girls but Quinn-kun didn't mind a bit.  Each child is given a small sheet of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla cookie dough.  One whole 

wall of the place is covered in cookie cutters of every 

imaginable shape 

and size that the kids can pick from.  The cookies are then cooked in small ovens and returned to the kids to decorate with sprinkles and icing.  Great idea and so much fun!

Tanabata Festival 2011 (with Kids)

Sunday was the last day of Tanabata and the kids were itching to go to play games and hopefully catch a goldfish to take home.  It was HOT and humid for us all.  Of course there was eating and game playing.

We, as parents, worry about what Quinn will win and rightly so on this day.  Last year he won a squirt gun and a cross-bow (toy versions).  This year Quinn chose to play a dart board that spins and you have to throw a suction ball on it and try to hit the small 1 or 2 areas to get the best prizes.  His first two throws didn't even hit the board but the last ball hit bull's eye on the 2 area.  His choice of prizes included a squirt gun, a sword, or an air gun.  Before we could speak up, Quinn chose the air gun which looks like a real gun and clearly stated in big letters on the box "18 years or older".  Sometimes I just wonder what the Japanese are thinking offering a 6 year old an air gun.  The kicker is those guns are illegal on base because they look very real.  In the end we changed it to the squirt gun and later told Quinn about it.  He wasn't happy but got over it (with a shaved ice prize thrown in).

Do you think they meant "Def Jam?"

With their prized goldfish.

The last game of the day was the much anticipated goldfish catch.  You are given a paper net that weakens every time it gets wet and usually breaks by the second try.  This year Neal had it mastered and had at least 4-5 fish in each of the kids' bowls.  Quinn and Scarlett were thrilled to bring home their own big goldfish.

We sure are going to miss the street festivals in Japan.  Fingers crossed Anchorage has some equally fun festivities.

Tanabata Festival (without kids)

In the 6 years that we have lived in Fussa, Japan. Neal and I have never been to the Tanabata Festival alone.  This year was our last chance to enjoy the Sake Tent without the kids.   We rode our bikes down and back.  Nothing quite like Japanese Festival Food ...yum, yum, oiishi!   We ate lots of stuff on a stick: pickled cucumber, corn on the cob, and yakitori (meat on a stick).

Cooking the yakitori.

Microbrew from Fussa Brewery..the Best!

about to enter the sake tent

Pouring our sake.

Crazy drunk girls at our table.

Taking it all down.

Sake Tent

Bike parking

This years festival was smaller than in the past.  There were less stalls selling food and it was not as crowded as in the past. And most surprising to us, it closed at 9:00pm.  I'm guessing it is because of the Earthquake.