Cherry Blossom Festival

This year we went to Mt. Nakajin for the cherry blossom festival.  The girls picked out matching outfits and even asked me if I would wear a polka dot shirt to match.  Unfortunately I did not have a polka dot shirt so they settled for my pink pull over.  It was pretty cold so I grabbed a vest just in case and well my matching crew all grabbed one also.  Somehow they couldn't get Jon to join in the matching fun - but he was still allowed to come.   Once we arrive at Mt. Nakajin we started the hike to the castle ruins - but not with a lot of stops for pictures.  The girls love getting pictures taken and regularly pose saying take my picture, or as Kelly screams "cheese me!!!"  The festival was beautiful and we enjoyed walking the castle ruins and looking at the trees in full bloom.  This site also does a night time illumination but we did not stay that long.

 

"cheese me!"

"Mom take my picture with the ice cream"
Couldn't pass this up since smiling face and looking at the camera are rare with this one.

Fun cut outs

The double faced queen

Cherry Blossom

Why not take bridal portraits in the middle of a busy festival!

Trees lining the stairs

This is fun!

No ice cream cone - so no smiles

I love my daddy's back

I have never said I was good at taking pictures but this was my attempt to get a good picture of the beautiful blossoms

Me and the girls

Tried an artistic approach - yep I'll stick with good old goofy shots!

Just take the picture mom!

Cheese me already!

Daddy!!

Riley took a picture of us while we watched the sunset.

2015 - The year of . . .

So one of my original resolutions was to update the blog weekly.  Well its now Feb and I am on my second entry of the year.  Let's hope this gets better throughout the year.

Last years resolution - invite a new family over for dinner each month, write a personal note monthly, stick to a budget and read the bible.  I was able to accomplish 3 of those 4 last year. 

 

Since the year has started Jon and I have both done a little crafting, Riley has learned to write her name and we have had some fun family fun.

 

Coco's nail time with my Bunco Babe Friends

The cornhole board getting its Green and Gold

Making growth chart rulers

That was fun!

Riley made a giraffe with daddy.
Once she explained it to me I totally saw it.

Jon sporting his Bali shirt to preach at Torii Chapel

Life is always more fun with friends.

Loving the roller slides

Sleeping Beauty crashed!

First time to write her name on her own!!!!

Nightly ritual - Daddy carry me, No me, No me.
Ok girls come here.

Bali with the Dunn's

After Christmas we traveled to Bali to see some our friends the Dunn's.  During the trip we played at least 7 rounds of the game 5 Crowns (it is a game my parents brought and we played nightly with them also), swan a lot, ate some awesome food, laughed a lot and had a great time just hanging out with old friends.  The last time we were around the Dunn's - Shawn was the Children's Pastor at our home church and Jon was his assistant.  We laughed at how this was the first time we have gone somewhere with them that they weren't in charge of at least 30 kids.  Between the 4 of us we brought our own mini camp of 6 kids.  We stayed in the touristy area for a few days and then headed up to the mountains for the last few days.  Bali was a beautiful country and we enjoyed our time there however we are glad that we live in Japan the land of rule followers because the driving was a little nerve wracking at first and the 14 hour firework show put on by our neighbors was a little long.  Our last day there we decided to go to a waterpark instead of getting a hotel room since we would have to leave it by 8pm for our 1am flight.  Waterbom was fun and the girls even got a nap in our lawn chairs during the rain storm and finished out our last day in Bali swimming and hanging out in the Discovery Mall then sleeping on the floors of the airport.

 

The computer is not letting me put captions on the pictures - Bummer!