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!

Australia!!

I will apologize in advance for the numerous pictures, but as always I can't choose and since this was such a great vacation I couldn't help myself.

So, since my husband was deployed for 5 months, was home for a a few more then left for another month, home for a few and then gone again for another month, I decided we needed a well deserved vacation and without the kids. We went for 7 days and had and awesome time and I didn't get half the pictures I wanted.

We went on a tour of the rainforest and the outback...

We got to throw boomerangs...

A wombat, which Craig insisted we could take home. I took too many pictures of it and it charged the enclosure it was in trying to eat me, so I vetoed his choice.

Roos everywhere!

A great place to eat, firestone pizza!

Delicious

Yummy breakfast...

Craig went golfing and I tagged along to drive the cart and read, wonderful relaxing day!

The most awesome part of the trip.... One day spent diving. We weren't able to get certified, though we tried. Craig went on 2 dives and I went on one. I am still not sure about the whole diving thing, we will see.

Huge and slimy fishie..

Starfish...
Awesome instructor....


Absolutely beautiful....

Giant Clam...
Nemo, Austin thought that was the coolest!
Sting Ray....
I was looking into the WIDE lens trying to look good in the pic because I could see my reflection....
Didn't help at all!!!