World Traveling Military Family

Our first winter here in Misawa consisted of LOTS of snow.  One of our friends has been lucky and experienced 2 mild winters so far and I've been meaning to show her pics of our first winter, so here they are C.  Of course our first winter we didn't yet have a snow blower and after a morning with the sidewalk pic, Mr. B decided we'd better get one.  So it was great for the rest of the winter but the past 2 years it has been hardly used because there wasn't enough snow.  This was a year when we actually found out why they put all the snow poles in around the base, because when they plowed the snow as so high you needed the poles to keep on course!  Luckily we don't have another winter here so if this year's is another big one we'll be riding it out in good ole' AL :)    

View of the backyard and the Little Tikes table

View down our street one morning

Another view

Sidewalk and front yard pic #1

Sidewalk and front yard pic #2

Hotokegaura is located on the 'hacthet' part of the island in the Shimokita Peninsula.  They are rock formations that have been carved by the wind and nature.  They are said to resemble Buddahs.  We've only seen them from a birds-eye view and this is one place I want to go back to and walk around before we leave Japan.  The first we seen them was on a 12-hour day trip around the whole hatchet part of the island, so by the time we got here our friend was feeling carsick and the sun was starting to set shortly after.  Here are several pictures from the birds-eye view of the rest station coming down the mountain.

Tonami Clan Park is a nice little park for a family visit.  It has a museum, playground, go-carts, putt-putt golf and a small 'zoo'.  I use the term zoo loosely because when they say zoo here I know that means a couple of small animals.  The 'zoo' here had several small goats, some chickens, peacocks, and some ducks.  There were also some type of antelope to look at.  Bea got bit by a duck, her face was priceless (which I failed to capture).  The other freaky thing about this place is that it was COVERED in spiderwebs which we could clearly see because it had rained that night.  There is also a museum but we did not go in it.  There were also some statues spread out throughout the park. 

Huge spiderweb in front of building

Miss Veedol beach is close to Misawa.  It's kinda confusing because there is Miss Veedol beach and Miss Veedol Swimming beach, this is NOT the swimming beach.  Unlike in the states you can't just go to the beach and go swimming here due to strong rip tides, we are restricted to only swimming in swimming beaches where they have large concrete barriers to prevent you being carried away by the rip tide.   It's a nice beach to go let the kids play in the sand or look for shells.  There is also a plane statue of the Miss Veedol plane.  The Miss Veedol flight is a great historic story.  In 1931 Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herdon Jr. made a 5,000 mile flight across the Pacific ocean from Misawa, Japan to Wenatchee, Washington.  Interestingly enough I've been to Wenatchee, of course way before I know about the Miss Veedol flight.  There is a neat movie and book at the Air and Space Museum.  There is also a tall tower there you can climb and take pictures, I'm not sure why they have towers everywhere but they make for some nice picture taking.  

View of the beach

Can you tell she LOVES the sand?!

Pictures of the Miss Veedol Plane, the one from above taken from tower

Scenic shots taken from tower

Beach shot taken from tower

This Sunday was a special day for our family as Boo got Baptized today.  After recently joining a new church here in Misawa it was the right time, the right place, and the right group of people and it all fell into place.  Needless to say Mr. B and I are very proud of Boo for making the decision to get baptized as an outward symbol of his Salvation.  This is something I've been praying about for quite some time and it was a great moment to see it actually take place.  

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Boo entering the water with Mr. JW

Affirming his decision for baptism

Going under

Rising from the water

As part of the American day festivities that the base puts on for the Japanese is a parade.  While the Japanese do have parades we add our candy throwing aspect into it, which is something they don't normally do.  It's interesting to watch the costumes that people think represent America like Elvis and Marilyn Monroe and of course the Japanese go crazy over anyone in costume!  You should see them at Disney!   Here are a few pics from the parade. 

Good Ole Uncle Sam leading the parade

Edited to add:

After I ran downstairs with Bea in my arms and Mr. B with the boys I was thinking three things: 1) When the heck is this earthquake going to stop!? 

2) Should I stay in the doorway or run outside, my instinct was to get out of the house away from possible falling objects

3) I wish this wasn't such a terrifying moment so that I could appreciate the sensation and amazement of the earth rippling beneath my feet.  It's so hard to describe what standing in the middle of an earthquake feels like.  Picture just getting off the spinning teacup ride and trying to walk and yet feeling like your swaying...it's a bit like that only with an added bit of terror.

I've decided (after seeing it on other blogs) to start doing  a Wordless Wednesday with a Twist post showcasing some of my favorite or interesting pics.

We've been able to participate in a really neat program here in Japan called the Japanese Homestay program.  We did it 2 years in a row through the base the first time when Boo was 9 years old.  During the homestay program Boo stayed a weekend with a Japanese family at their home and the next weekend we hosted the Japanese boy(s) here.  I have to admit the first year I was nervous sending Boo off with a Japanese family who spoke little English for the whole weekend, but he survived and had a great time.  The weekend hosting the Japanese boy for us was a bit stressful because Mr. B ended up going to a class at the last minute and I was left to entertain a Japanese boy who spoke little English as well as my own 3 kids.  The next year Mr. B was back and wanted to be ambitious and host 2 Japanese boys at our home.  He got to experience how much work it was and we even had one of the boys (who was 10) want to go home on the last night at 10 pm so Mr. B had to drive him to meet his mom.  Overall both times were a great cultural experience and I'm glad that we participated in them.  This year we've decided not to do the base Japanese Homestay and are instead hosting 2 Japanese students through our church for a Youth rally in 2 weeks.  

Stuffing Ryo with Pizza Hut & Coke!

Mr. B and Boo were lucky enough to be able to take an Itt trip to Tokyo to climb Mt. Fuji.  They had a great time and made it almost to the top of Mt. Fuji.  Unfortantly the weather wasn't very cooperative and it ended up being rainy and chilly and they had to stop because Boo was getting too cold and another member on the trip became hypothermic, so Mr. B decided they'd gone far enough.  Boo was 9 years old in these pics.  They each got the walking sticks (seen in pics) and every station you made it to you got the stick marked, this is a great keepsake.

Boo on the path headed up the mountain

View of the mountain

Boo with the walking sticks

A view of people hiking up the mountain

Mr. B with the 3000m marker sign

View from the mountain

Boo with the 3100m marker sign

View down

Mr. B and Boo on their decent down the mountain