Enoshima Aquarium

We had some rainy weather so we spent the day at Enoshima Aquarium.  

 The kids loved it!

Calista was blatantly ignoring the rules and way ahead of the line.  We couldn't actually understand what was said but I'm pretty sure the kids were told to be behind the line because all at once they scooted back and stayed still.  Meanwhile Calista ignored them and sat herself right in front.  She got up and ran around a few times before sitting back down right in front of everyone.  I tried to get her back but that was really hard because I couldn't really get to her.

 The dolphin/whale show was the kids favorite part.  We got a close up look before it started.

 I know a lot of families get yearly passes, but for us it just isn't worth it.  It is expensive for so many people and as long as we go two times or less a year it is better not to get the pass. 

   

Pumpkin Run 2019

I love bringing the kids to pumpkin patches and fall festivals back in the states, but that doesn't happen here in Japan.  I really wanted to do something fun that wasn't just buying pumpkins at the commissary so we signed up for the annual pumpkin run.  

It was so fun!  Normally it is a 5k, where you run to the pumpkins, choose your pumpkin, and run with it the second half of the race.  They shortened it from a 5k a little bit because of typhoon damage, but that is ok with us.  I had to walk the whole way back and some of the way there because of Calista and Beatrix.  It is hard to carry a baby and run!

Calista was so happy to pick out her own pumpkin.  Bob was the lucky one who got to carry it for her along with her (she rode on his back most of the race) and his own pumpkin.

We let the older kids go ahead of us so we only saw them in passing, but they were all really happy when we found them at the end.  They kept talking about how big their pumpkins are.   I'm pretty sure they only seem bigger when you have to carry them for a mile race.  And yes that is a lady behind them with a pumpkin in a baby carrier.

Now we get to carve them!

Update

While walking to church one week the kids noticed seven dollars in a drain.  They were actually 100 yen coins, which are about a US dollar.  So I told them to see what they could come up with during church and on the way back if they were still there we would try to get them out.  

After church we had a stick and 3 pieces of tape.  The kids were semi successful and got one coin but ran out of tape.   

It was fun so we went home and I told them to make a contraption to get money out of the drain.  I personally loved Scarlett's straws all stuck together, even though all attempts to suction them out did not work.  The best was just the broom handle with tape on the end.  We were able to get six of the seven dollars out.  Just enough for all the kids to each have one.  The kids had so much fun using their imaginations and being creative with a goal in mind.

Tucker built a little fortress for Beatrix.  She really was liking it until she saw me.  She does this thing now where she will play happily by herself or with others until she hears or sees me.  Then she starts crying until I pick her up.  Babies are the best.

Penelope had a couple away soccer games that she needed to ride the bus on with the team.  She was very nervous about the lunch part.  I guess she has never ordered her own food before.  She can walk to the grocery store and buy her own food, but she says that is easier because you don't have to talk.  So we went to McDonalds and I gave the kids each money to order while I sat down and watched.  They probably need a few more practices to feel comfortable (except Tucker).

Beatrix was not a fan of Ronald McDonald.

Fuji Safari Park

Fuji Safari Park is a pretty fun place.  Totally worth being stuck in traffic for three hours to get there.  It was supposed to be two hours, so whats one more right?  Ok, the drive was long, but we did have fun.

Well hello Mr. Porcupine.

 You could feed most of the animals which was different from the zoo.

The monkeys were cute and would reach right up and into the tubes to get the pellets.

 Calista even found a new best friend.  The ROUS.  She really loved to pet them and we were all ready to move on before she was.

 That's ok though, because I think the Kangaroos quickly became new new favorite.

We didn't let her feed Symba though.  Believe it or not you could actually pay 600 yen to hold a lion cub!  I think we would have done it but they were out of tickets.  Maybe next time.

After the zoo type portion, we got in the car and drove through the park.  It seriously was like Jurassic park.  There were two big gates that would open before we could enter.  And then the bears were roaming free.

The lion section was even cooler.   There were tons of them.  One even brushed up against our car while it waled right in front of us.

Tigers are so beautiful!  It is crazy that we were just driving around in the same exact area as them.  No fences or glass cages between us.

Bob was going to come, but ended up having to work.  We were disappointed about that, but its ok because now we for sure have to go again.

2nd Japanniversary and More

September 4th was our 2nd Japanniversary!  We have been now living in Japan for over two years.  The whole thing has gone by quickly and times and very slow at others.  It has been a huge adventure and I have grown a ton as a person.  Our family has even grown by one over the last year.

The actual day was a perfect representation of our life here.  I did the usual school routine in the morning, full of fun and craziness and lots of messes by Calista (food coloring dumped on our floor).  Then Bob came home for about a minute to grab Tucker and head to young men.  Then I attempted to make a cake.  I put it in the fridge to cool so I could frost it and before I knew it Calista had dug the whole thing apart.  It was super difficult to frost after that and I just ended up dumping powdered sugar over the whole thing to get it to look white.

Bot got home after the kids normally go to bed.  I was frustrated and tired and so we quickly took a picture and ate some cake before going to sleep.

I tried to quickly run into the grocery store with Calista while Bob stayed in the car with the other kids.  The store ended up being so crowded!  It is usually crowded, but this time we were waiting in line partway down the isle.

 Those yellow things in our basket are sooo good!  I don't know what they are called, but if you are ever in Japan you should get them.

 Just had to throw in a Calista picture here.

Here is another little snippet of our lives.  Kids playing and fighting and being crazy all at once.  I love it...except the fighting part.