Konami

Tucker started a new job a couple weeks ago and it is perfect for him.  He is saving money so he can buy a dog when we move back to the states so a dog job is just what he needed.  Everyday he goes to our working neighbors house and takes their puppy, Konami, outside to go potty.  He plays with Konami for about a half an hour in their yard and then comes home.

 The dog is really cute and very tiny.  I think they said he is a toy puddle. 

Calista and I go with Tucker quite a bit and she loves it as well.  She isn't scared of him even though he does softly bite.  In fact she learned to go and get her shoes to put on around lunchtime everyday to go see Konami.  She gets sad if we don't go.  If we are busy Tucker will go alone, or with Leon.  Leon also does a great job with Konami.

I'm not sure how long this job will last.  I assume that once Konami is older he will be able to stay home all day without someone taking him outside.  But for now it is a lot of fun.  Tucker hasn't even spent any of the money he made.

Le Soleil

While in Japan we are trying  hard to do some sightseeing on all of our American Holidays.  It normally works out really well because places are usually pretty empty.  On Columbus day we decided to check out Le Soleil.  It is a park about a half hour away that we have heard tons about.

 Calista loved the play area.  She was thrilled walk up and down this ramp over and over again.

A Japanese playground wouldn't be complete without it's very own zipline.  This one was a circle and a little different than the usual.  The kids even had to wait in line.  Unfortunately Columbus day lines up with a Japanese Holiday, so the place was pretty crowded.

That first park was probably the main attraction for our kids.  They also had a small petting zoo and a couple other rides that you could pay to go on.  We decided not to do any of those.  But the big pirate ship playground was also pretty enjoyable. 

Calista loved the slide.  We had to make her stop after about ten times down it.  It was just getting annoying for me to keep bringing her up the stairs.  She refused to go up them herself.

I wanted a fun fall picture of the kids.  Well, what I really wanted was to take them to a pumpkin patch, but that didn't happen for us this year, and it doesn't look like it will as long as we are in Japan.  Maybe going to this park can be a new replacement tradition for us.

 We had Tucker take a picture of Bob and I before we left.  Just to show that we came too!

On the way home we stopped at this cute bakery we saw on the side of the road.  It wasn't anything spectacular.

Dentist in Japan

I've been putting off taking the kids to the dentist since we moved to Japan.  I loved our old pediatric dentist in Washington and I just didn't know what this would be like.  We have to pay for all our medical upfront and then file our own insurance claims to get reimbursed, so that is a hassle.  I also wasn't sure how the language barrier would go.  But I have to say everything went pretty well.  In fact we had a 4pm appointment for four of my kids and we were out the door by 4:30.  It was amazing.

The waiting area was small compared to the states but it was cute and had the perfect little play place.  They also had a cartoon on that didn't require any speaking.

The staff spoke english to us and was very helpful with the insurance forms.

The kids were nervous this time for cavities.  I kind of was too.  We only have preventative insurance so any fillings we pay for 100% on our own. 

 Thankfully all their brushing and flossing paid off and they are still cavity free!  Whew!

We are watching, and budgeting,  to see if braces will be in their future and for now the jury is still out.

Notice how Calista has her shoes off?  That is normal in Japan.  This play area is carpeted and it was expected that anyone going on it takes their shoes off.  They even had courtesy slippers you can put on if you prefer not to be barefoot.

Because of the dentist location it is easier for us to just ride the train there.  Once finished we walked around a little downtown and found the yummy bread truck.

Now that the kids have gone it is time for me to stop procrastinating my own appointment.

Basketball

Basketball season is over!  It pretty much took over my life for the last two months and so I'm so ready for a break.  Seriously with four kids all on different teams we had basketball five days a week, add in their swim and gym class and that makes six days a week.   It was insane.  On Mondays and Wednesdays we left the house at 4:30 and didn't get back until about 7:20, making dinner pretty much impossible.  I need to never sign all the kids up like that again!

Anyway, Leon's practices were very low key.  He didn't have games or anything and him being almost five he was the biggest on his team.  They spent most of the time lining the kids up for things.  Regardless of that Leon had lots of time to practice dribbling while we watched everyone else's basketball practice.  He improved so much over the two months.  He even learned to dribble under his legs and behind his back.

Scarlett cried through her entire first practice and her entire first game.  Other than those two times she did ok.  She ran out and tried each time, although it didn't seem like she was able to get the ball very often.  She didn't really like basketball and we aren't planning on signing her up again. 

Her games were hilarious to watch because half the kids didn't dribble at all.  It was pretty entertaining.

Tucker's practices were so much more serious and intense then everyone else's.  They played positions and had strategies, he now knows more about basketball than me.  Tucker absolutely loved it, and I think he did well especially since it was his first year playing.  He got so much better and braver during the last few the games   It was great.

Tucker made a few baskets but only during the last couple games.  I think my favorite part of the whole season for him was when the opposing coach started shouting, "WHO'S ON 53?  SOMEONE GAURD 53."  Tucker's favorite part was during his last game he got to shoot his first ever free throw shot, and he made it.

Penelope also had a rough start.  She was the only girl on her first team and it was a real shock because we thought it was going to be an all girl team.  She gave it her best try but after the first practice we switched her to  a different team.  This was the best decision!  The other team had three other girls who were friendly and she quickly started playing with them.  Her coaches were also great.

My favorite part of her season was the game when the coaches put in all four girls at the same time.  Before this the boys wouldn't pass to the girl, so they just put all the girls in.  The girls did great and passed it to each other a ton.

Scarlett's team wasn't organized enough to set up a snack schedule so instead she got four separate treats after the last game.