A year already!!!

Has it really been a year?! Oh my, I guess it has! So sorry to have been away this long, thankfully I have kept up in pictures. In fact, at the start of the year I decided to do a picture a day. I know I won't get every day but will be close. I'll post some of my favorites on here and also will try to be much better about getting this updated...

Ok so lets go back in time... We left Japan in April, which was pretty hard for us. We loved Japan and the people there. I think I cried off and on the whole way to the US. These pictures are of our favorite things in Japan. I wish I had been able to take more of my favorites but with everything going on this was what I got.

Craig's last flight in the F-16 (for now.)

Curry, oh how I miss the curry there!!!

Yummy-ness!

Komaki onsen- this hot spring had a hotel built around it. It was so pretty with the pools inside and out and it also had a massage parlor and restaurant.

Austin's japanese school, such wonderful teachers and students!!

Our all-time favorite restaurant. Aburi-An

Where has the time gone?!

I am not sure how many of you out there are keeping tabs on this blog but here we go, I am so far behind on this thing it isn't funny. We have been enjoying the last little bit of our time here. We have been spending the weekends ice skating at the local rink and skiing as much as we can. I have been on three trips and love it!!!

This is us at Appi ski resort. They have child care which was great, so I could learn how to ski and take a few runs before we took Austin for a turn.
I decided to chop off my hair and I love it... not sure hubby does but he also doesn't have to maintain it long. :)
THis was from our last ski trip of the season. We went to Hakkoda. The 2 hour drive is beautiful!!
I am amazed at all the snow.
The kids had a lot of fun sledding on the hill right next to the lodge where we ate lunch
Bailey trying on the cool goggles.
As most of you know we got out assignment and will be leaving here pretty soon. We are sad to leave but also excited to see what is in store for us at our next base.

I'll try to keep this updated while moving. I will probably be making this private again because of us moving and me not wanting to share my life and the info I post on here with the rest of the world, so keep on the look out for an email letting you know when I make it private.

Sayonara

Three month catch up

I should just name all my posts catch up...

So Craig and I went hiking a week or two before he had to go to Alaska for some more training. We went to Mt Hakkoda and it was beautiful!!

The gondola ride up...

The marsh...

View from the top.

The kids have been busy going and going. Bailey is walking like a champ and is into everything! She is a great climber and loves to pull out chairs and climb onto the kitchen table.

Austin and I had been playing the Wii, I went to put something in the microwave and when I came back this is where she was! She wanted the Wii remote and wouldn't take no for an answer.
Crazy curls
Austin just turned 5 in October. It was a great day the only one missing was Craig. He got back the next week. Austin and made his cake and we decided to take it over to our friends house to share with her and her son.

One Saturday a month, Austin's school has a birthday celebration for all the kids whose birthday is that month. They sing songs, pose for pictures and blow out candles on a fake cake.
A squadron hat we bought at the Air Show.

Bailey LOVES her Daddy and was pretty upset when he had to go back to work.
Pretty in pink
Carving the pumpkin...
Half ready to go Trick-or-Treating
All ready!

Dad's visit

At the beginning of September, my Dad and a family friend made the long trip all the way to visit us in Japan! It was so good to see them and in my own home! I met them in Tokyo while some awesome friends kept the kids. Craig was in the middle of an exercise and didn't get to go with me or go on any of our adventures.

Tokyo Tower... We rode in an elevator to the white band and could see all the way to Mt Fuji which my Dad and friend hiked! They said it was amazing!

One side of the tower...

We got to explore Tokyo, which we hadn't had a chance to do. I was able to navigate the subway and trains without too much trouble and was quite proud of myself. We went to the Imperial Palace's West Gardens which were beautiful. Though we didn't get to see much as we had been running around all day and they were hiking Mt Fuji the next day.

Imperial Gardens

I took them to the fish market one of the days they were here,which they loved. We took home a bunch of yummy treats and some crab. They sampled some dried minnow looking things and tried to get me to try it but I wouldn't bite!

Squid heads

Craig and Bailey on a long train ride

We took them to the Samurai Village about 2 hours by train. Craig actually got to come with us!

Straw roof...

The gate next to the gate. Austin size!

Sake barrels

outside a ramen shop



Samurai tea room...
Samurai garden/backyard. It was beautiful!


Austin and my Dad
Sleepy baby. :) I tried my best to wear them out with outings which think I succeeded in doing. They also went to a town where they wanted to see some snow monkeys. They made it there and back without getting lost, which was great because I wouldn't have been able to get them back. They got to see a bunch of moneys and spent the night in a hostel there. It was a true Japanese style home and they got a great japanese meal out of it too. When they were walking back to the bus they saw a monkey throwing fire crackers!!!

It was a great visit and we were all sad to see them go. The time was way too short!