Plum Park in Ome, Japan

On April 1st, we visited a Plum Blossom Park in Ome with my Japanese teacher, Tomoko-san and her 3 children and the Davis and Joyner families. It was a bit of a climb to the top with strollers but we made it. The kids enjoyed eating Japanese snacks and playing baseball and soccer. Of course Quinn attempted to wander off a few times but the big kids kept him in line.

Showa Park with the Boys

We headed to Showa Park in Tachikawa with our friends Jack, Sam, baby Erik, and their mommies. This park has a roller slide, and lots of fun equipment to climb in the children's area.

First Cook-Out of 2008

Last week-end it was beautiful out and we headed to the sand park and grilled out to eat, drink and be merry with friends. The pictures are Quinn with our friend baby Erik and Quinn trying out the Davis' scooter.

Easter

Quinn awoke to an overflowing Easter basket thanks to Grandpa, Grandma, Grammy and Pepere. He even managed to get a chocolate egg into his mouth before we could say No.

The Bunny Cake

Quinn's friend Jack came over this week and we made a Bunny Cake. It was fun to watch the kids try to frost the ears. Quinn tended to frost then take a lick, frost then take a lick. He had trouble with the putting the candy on the cake and not get to take a bite. Jack tried hard to keep Quinn in line.

The Story of the Orange Pepper

On one of our trips to the Commissary, Quinn decided he wanted an orange pepper. He proudly carried it around the store and brought it home. As I was putting the groceries away in the kitchen, I didn't realize Quinn was in the living room with his pepper. Suddenly Quinn came into the kitchen with orange around his mouth and said, "Ut Oh Mommy" "Come on" and pulled me into the living room. When I got in the room the pepper was in a hundred pieces on the floor. I have no idea what he did with it. I'm guessing he stepped on it. In the end Quinn tried to force feed the pieces to the dogs. Poor Ramses and Nemo.

Hiking Mount Takao and the Firewalking Festival

On Sunday, Neal, Quinn and I joined our friends TJ and baby Erik to hike up Mt. Takao and watch the fire-walking festival. Quinn and Erik had the luxury of hitching a ride up the mountain. Unfortunately, the rest of us hiked up a trail that included lots of roots of very old beautiful trees and through streams and finally up a butt load of killer stairs to make it to the top for a hazy view of Fuji-san. But we did have some great tempura soba and beers(not me) on the way down. We took the cable car down. Now for the funny part.... the fire walking festival was actually at the bottom of the mountain and by the time we got there the fat lady (actually the Buddhist monks/priests and other participants) was chanting and singing for the closing ceremony. I think we will pass next year.

The first picture is Quinn on the train ride home. He had a full day running half way down the mountain and eating ice cream.