Sunday, January 9, 2011
A day of exploring
On our first Saturday in Japan, we spent most of the day exploring shops around the base and bought a smaller stroller on base that will be easier to take on the train and up and down stairs. I really liked being on the base, it was like a mini-America. We were able to speak to others around us and order a hamburger in English. We walked so much that I got a huge blister on my foot and Ben's ankles have really been hurting him. By the end of most days, he is hobbling around the apartment like an old man. Hopefully our bodies will get used to all this walking.( I guess we are just getting old. hehehe!) Then on Saturday night we were invited to someone's house from the project that Ben is working with. They have been living here for about 2 1/2 years and will be here for 2 1/2 more years before they return to the states. We had sushi, which was my first time eating it, and it was actually pretty good. Lucy enjoyed it as well. We used chopsticks and realized how much we stank at using them. So, we bought some at the store to use at home and practice so we won't be too embarrassed the next time we ate in public. I met quite a few other women who have come with their husbands who are about the same age as us. Some have kids and Lucy was excited to see some friends her age. (She has been asking for Melanie and Collin since we got here!) It was a fun day, but of course I forgot our camera, so no pictures from that day. But I do have a picture of a drink that we bought out of a vending machine while on our ventures. It is a corn drink, which is warm. It tastes just like the juice from a can of corn and while Ben was drinking that last sip, there was a mouth full of corn at the bottom! Kinda gross!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
First trip to the Grocery store
Today was Me and the kids first trip to the grocery store. There is a small shopping complex about 3 minutes from our apartment that we can walk to pretty easily. There is a drugstore/ 100 yen store (like a dollar store) on the bottom floor and the top floor is a grocery store. I found a few essentials like milk and bread and some other non essentials like pepsi and ice cream. As I got to the check out to pay I couldn't find my wallet and started to panic. I thought for sure someone stole it from out of the bottom of the stroller as I was looking at different things trying to figure out what they were. My heart was pounding and I felt sick. But then I found it on top of the sunshade on the stroller. PHEW!! what a relief. Note to self: put wallet in a safe spot.
... just a cute picture of my little Jack all bundled up and ready to head to the store.
Our Japanese Digs
I was so worried about where we were going to be living here in Japan. I know that everything here is smaller and I expected something close to a sardine can.... BUT was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at our apartment and found we had TWO bedrooms and TWO full bathrooms. Which makes for a good night sleep for all! Lucy likes to have her own room and has made special spots for her books and barbie doll. Jack is currently sleeping in a suitcase, which is actually working out rather well. We really like it so far!
Here are some pictures of our place.....
The Living room where we try to watch Japanese television....
...our quaint kitchen with two fridges. The top and very bottom drawer are fridges and the middle drawer is a freezer. Luckily we have a small oven and 3 burner stove, a microwave, toaster oven and DISHWASHER!...
...Washer and Dryer, which I haven't used yet but will try to figure out in the coming days.
...and this is why I can't figure it out....
...Hallway leading from the living room/kitchen to the bedrooms. Lining the walls are tons of cupboard space which is where all of our clothes are...
...This is our bedroom and jack's "bed"
... Lucy's bedroom...
...one of the two bathrooms, they both look the exact same, hence one photo...
...the view from the balcony....
That is our home for the next couple of months!
Here are some pictures of our place.....
The Living room where we try to watch Japanese television....
What time is it? WHO KNOWS!!
FYI- it is 17 hours ahead of Seattle time here in Japan. So at home it is 8:04 pm Wed. night and it is 1:05pm Thursday afternoon here. Pretty crazy and our bodies are still learning to adjust. Lucy woke up at 3:30 this morning asking for her breakfast... hopefully this doesn't last too long!
I think we're turning Japanese... I really think so!
We are officially American tourists in Japan. Let me tell you how the journey began...
Jan. 3rd 6:00am- I wake up to shower and get ready to finish packing the last of our bags before we head out to the airport.
7:30am- I wake up the kiddos and get them dressed and fed and ready for the plane ride. by 8:30 we are all ready and waiting for our dear Marcie to come and pick us to take us to the airport.
9:00ish- we are off to the airport which takes approx. an hour to get there. We enjoy good company and chit chat as we drive.
10:30am- Arrive at the airport and check in at the desk. One of our bags was 65 lbs. so we had to move some things around a bit to get everything to the weight limit of 50 lbs. (i brought an extra, small bag just in case... good thing!)
11:30ish-We make it through security with minimal damage and head to the gate. we got to ride the subway train thing because the gate was so far away! We have Burger King for lunch as we wait for the plane to board.
1:45pm- We are on the plane! Relaxation from here on out..... NOT! But seriously, the trip over to Japan was not too bad. Lucy watched Aladdin and Cinderella alot and didn't sleep a wink! Jack slept on and off, but never got fussy. He just liked that we were constantly holding him. I got to watch some movies that I had really wanted to see- Easy A, which was pretty funny, and Life As We Know It, which was funny and cute and I would recommend it. The food on the plane wasn't bad either. Lucy had some vegetarian pasta, which was surprisingly good and Ben and I had roast beef and mashed potatoes. It was alright, MOM-yours is SOOOO much better! ;) They also served us some lunch right before we got off the plane in Tokyo. We had turkey and cheese hot sandwiches. Also, quite tasty. Man, airline food is just getting better, or maybe I was just really hungry. Anyways...
Jan 4th 4:30ish pm(japan time)- We deboard the plane and head to immigration and customs which was a breeze because we didn't have to wait in the hour long line, thanks to the kids! We are all tired and grouchy by this time.
5:30pm- We meet some people holding PSNS signs and they tell us we are waiting for all the 150ish shipyard workers to come and then they will put us on a bus or train depending on where we were headed.
6:30pm-We are finally herded to the buses where they take everyone's luggage and put in on this mini semi and we get on the bus and are headed to the shipyard, where we will take a taxi to our apartment.
8:00pm- We arrive at the shipyard and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our luggage, which doesn't come for about half an hour. We all stand around and wait for off base taxis to come and get us. And once again we don't have to wait in line for the taxis because we had kids and it was chilly outside.
9:00pm- We arrive at our apartment and scope things out. Much better than we had anticipated, which is always a great thing. We find Jammies for the kids and ourselves and crash for the night. After over 24 hours of being awake we are exhausted! and Ben had to work the next day... what a trooper, sure do love that guy!
Jan. 3rd 6:00am- I wake up to shower and get ready to finish packing the last of our bags before we head out to the airport.
7:30am- I wake up the kiddos and get them dressed and fed and ready for the plane ride. by 8:30 we are all ready and waiting for our dear Marcie to come and pick us to take us to the airport.
9:00ish- we are off to the airport which takes approx. an hour to get there. We enjoy good company and chit chat as we drive.
10:30am- Arrive at the airport and check in at the desk. One of our bags was 65 lbs. so we had to move some things around a bit to get everything to the weight limit of 50 lbs. (i brought an extra, small bag just in case... good thing!)
11:30ish-We make it through security with minimal damage and head to the gate. we got to ride the subway train thing because the gate was so far away! We have Burger King for lunch as we wait for the plane to board.
1:45pm- We are on the plane! Relaxation from here on out..... NOT! But seriously, the trip over to Japan was not too bad. Lucy watched Aladdin and Cinderella alot and didn't sleep a wink! Jack slept on and off, but never got fussy. He just liked that we were constantly holding him. I got to watch some movies that I had really wanted to see- Easy A, which was pretty funny, and Life As We Know It, which was funny and cute and I would recommend it. The food on the plane wasn't bad either. Lucy had some vegetarian pasta, which was surprisingly good and Ben and I had roast beef and mashed potatoes. It was alright, MOM-yours is SOOOO much better! ;) They also served us some lunch right before we got off the plane in Tokyo. We had turkey and cheese hot sandwiches. Also, quite tasty. Man, airline food is just getting better, or maybe I was just really hungry. Anyways...
Jan 4th 4:30ish pm(japan time)- We deboard the plane and head to immigration and customs which was a breeze because we didn't have to wait in the hour long line, thanks to the kids! We are all tired and grouchy by this time.
5:30pm- We meet some people holding PSNS signs and they tell us we are waiting for all the 150ish shipyard workers to come and then they will put us on a bus or train depending on where we were headed.
6:30pm-We are finally herded to the buses where they take everyone's luggage and put in on this mini semi and we get on the bus and are headed to the shipyard, where we will take a taxi to our apartment.
8:00pm- We arrive at the shipyard and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our luggage, which doesn't come for about half an hour. We all stand around and wait for off base taxis to come and get us. And once again we don't have to wait in line for the taxis because we had kids and it was chilly outside.
9:00pm- We arrive at our apartment and scope things out. Much better than we had anticipated, which is always a great thing. We find Jammies for the kids and ourselves and crash for the night. After over 24 hours of being awake we are exhausted! and Ben had to work the next day... what a trooper, sure do love that guy!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Big Sis, Lil' Bro
Slowly, but surely, Lucy is beginning to get used to her little brother!! This morning Lucy was sitting on the bed with Jack and she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and said to him, "I love you." I knew it!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Trick or Treat
This year was a great Halloween. Lucy was old enough to figure out the whole candy situation and she was super excited about dressing up! I think she is the cutest Ladybug ever, if I do say so myself! On Saturday we spent most of the day in our jammies carving pumpkins and eating candy and just hanging out together. Then Saturday night was our ward trunk or treat, and that was so fun for Lucy and us! we got to see good friends and chit chat the night away! Lucy got a bucket full of loot and we all went home happy! On Sunday we went to Ben and Marcie Cozzens for a delicious roast meal and once again enjoyed great company! It is so nice to live around great friends, even though our families are far away!
Now for Thanksgiving!
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