New store

Japan has lots of interesting places to shop, you never quite know what you will find in any given store. They have stores called “Hard off,” “mode off,” “hobby-off” really anything-off. They are thrift stores. Today we went to one that was recommended to us by a friend, so that Emma could spend her chore money. It was a small adventure getting there, as the GPS loves to redirect us if there is heavy traffic, even for a minute. And I mean it will take us on roads that we are not really sure are roads. But we made it, and even found free parking! It took us a while to find the toys...multiple stories, multiple stores connected....but while we were looking she found the baby section. After finding the toy section she wanted to go back down to the baby section, apparently here was a toy down there that she wanted. So she bought it and we went home. We had a pretty good day...didn’t do hardly any work, but we have been needing fun days. We played at the park a couple times, and even got rained on when we had walked to a new park. She made us tea this evening and we drank it in the recliner. “Isn’t this relaxing?” she asked. 😊 Only one more week until she is 6! 😁😭😊

Hey new toy. If you press the rainbow the star lights up.

Tea Party

Today Emma and I went to a Victorian Tea House with some friends. We had a lovely time. I had mentioned to my friend that Emma wanted a tea party for her birthday, but I just could do a party. So she offered to take us to a tea house. We got all dressed up, and discussed proper manners for having tea. In the word of Emma, “It was delightful.” (And then she asked was delightful meant.) 

All ready to go!

We sat on the balcony outside overlooking the river.

The girls checking out what was going on below.

Bridge

She liked the lemon bread and lemon cookie. 

She had peppermint tea. I had a Godiva tea.

We each had our own little tea kettle and cozy.

Such a delightful afternoon.

Videos

Here are some recent videos!
This was at the Japanese festival...when it was 105 degrees or something like that.

Swimming lessons, round one. She still won't put her head under every time she is supposed to. 

Singing at VBS.

Playing Catch-up

We are still here. VBS has knocked us out for a while. It was two weeks ago, but last week we were recovering. I have decided that I just need to say no when anyone asks me to do something. My brain is just fried. But here are som updates from our last couple weeks:

VBS

This week is VBS at chapel. The theme is Shipwrecked...which is appropriate since there is another typhoon that is supposed to hit tonight. (They have actually cancelled tomorrow because of it.) We have done a little better than last year...Emma waited until Thursday to go crazy. VBS is exhausting. I am not a crew leader this year...they put me in the sound booth! 😳 It has gone ok...it’s not a lot to manage, but technology does not always work the way it is supposed to.  I have enjoyed the breaks in between sessions for sure. 

They ended up putting everything in their worship software so it’s easier to manage...not double screens and switching programs. Much better, when it works.  But why oh why did I not pay attention all those years my dad was in the sound booth?!

I happened to see Emma in her group. I haven’t actually seen her much, but I think she is having fun.

Trying out her toy. 

I am documenting that she doesn’t always act crazy. Last night we watched a show and then did the dishes together. Then we had tea. And yes, I know I only have one earring in...it was getting in her hair on the couch. Daddy was at his Japanese classs.

Hot Weekend

It is HOT here this summer. Super humid. Not fun to be outside. On Thursday we went to a friend’s house to play in water. It was fun, but even the kids were done being outside after an hour. I will take dry heat any day over this. Thank goodness for AC. Friday we went to a Japanes festival that wasn’t too far from base. But, it was HOT. When we were leaving I checked the temperature and we had a heat index of 105. And there isn’t much of a breeze walking in Japanese urban areas. No wonder we were so hot and tired and not hungry. Emma just wanted anything cold. Today were exhausted and decided to stay inside. Steven was at work, but Emma and I played with Paris most of the day. We colored, played a new card game, ate lunch, and watched Pioneer Woman. I think Paris likes to come over here and do girl things. There are only boys in her house right now. Emma likes it, too. It works out for everyone. 

On a side note, our weather has not been all bad. Last night we had a real thunderstorm!!!! You have no idea how excited I was. It just kind of popped up on top of us and so we had some pretty close lightning strikes, lots of loud thunder and good rain. We agreed with our neighbor that it was better than the typhoon. There were even power outages on base, not for too long though. I tried to take a video, but the cicadas steak loud you can barely hear anything. (If it’s not posted then check back,  I will post the videos tomorrow.) watch till the end...or fast forward to the end. 

Our friends set up swings on thei porch. The baby swing was the favorite. 

Running through the sprinkler.

You know, just kitty and caticorn.

Emma loved the decorations at the festival.

Eating her shaved ice.

Float

Yokota had a float

HOT. Early sun. And another typhoon on the way.

These were a hit Papa Steve! 

Playing the new card game...it involves spelling words and adding pints up. Both of them need practice on both.

Tired week

I am not a walking zombie today, so will update you on what we have been doing. Our typhoon was a disappointment, at least for me. It rained hard for a little bit Saturday afternoon, but other than that, not much. Most of the bad stuff went south of us.  We have been tired around here, for various reasons. Emma was so tired Sunday that I made her come home and take a nap after church. The kids led singing at church, but she didn’t hardly do any actions, I could tell she wasn’t herself. Then we all went to the bowling alley afterwards, but we came home after eating because she was super whiny. Steven was also having a desk delivered that afternoon, so it worked out. I was tired because, well I’m always tired. I was so tired last week I was having trouble keeping my eyes open in the morning. Friday I went for a run/walk to wake up, and it helped. So Saturday we ran the stairs 3 times, as it was raining. I was awake. However, I have also not been able to walk without pain or sleep much/well since. ☹️ Yesterday was so bad I had to let Emma watch the iPad in her room while I went back to bed. Today I finally felt more normal. (Note to self: no more stairs.) They have recommended me for a sleep study, and I need to go by the clinic to set it up. 

This morning I noticed that Emma had obviously dumped out some salt on the floor, so I told her she had to vacuum it up. Well, as sometimes happens when I make her clean..she enjoyed it! Today she and Paris had to clean up their mess in the hallway, and I had to stop her from using all our Swiffer wet pads to mop the entire hallway. 

This is from the weekend, it was warm and super humid outside, while we had our AC and dehumidifiers running. Foggy windows happen occasionally. Sometimes you can’t even see out of it. It was worse in the evening. Steven and Emma had fun drawing in th condensation.

She did the actions for a second at the very end of one song, that was it.

But she did sing!

Steven’s new desk. I think he said it’s from the 1920s. Another firefighter was moving and gave it to him.

All ready for swim lessons! Thanks for the cover-up Grandma Joy! 

This turned out not to be punishment. 

Chillin with Daddy and Green Dolly in the hammock after dinner. 

She is getting so big! Can’t believe she will be 6 soon!