Showa Park

The beginning of November we went and stayed at Yokota Air Force Base--it is about two hours away, on the other side of Tokyo.  They have this really awesome park called Showa Park.  The kids and I had gone last year without Eric, so this time we took him with us and had a FABULOUS time.  Japanese playgrounds and parks are unlike ANYTHING you would find in the states--they are so much better and more fun.  Here are some pictures:

Ethan and his new friend!

Kailey being silly!

They have this awesome thing called the "Sea of Clouds" and it is like a giant pillows you can jump on--it is awesome!

Having more fun on them!!

Kailey climbing on top of the dragon

Ethan in the dragon's mouth

Kailey growling like a dragon

Climbing on the nets

Kimono Dressing

During the summer, my friend's spouses' group had a kimono dressing event and luncheon.  It was one of the most fun events I have done here.  I took my other really good friend, Kendal with me, and we decided we wanted to host a kimono dressing event and luncheon for our JAG wives group.  So last month we had our event and it happened to coincide with Granny's visit.  There is a group of Japanese women who donate their kimonos and time and they come and dress us and then stayed and we had a luncheon.   Here are some pictures

All the kimonos lined up

Japanese ladies getting everything ready

These next couple of pictures are from the summer when we did it--they do our hair.

Back of the kimono--the obi

Kendal and I

This was from last month--my ladies getting me dressed--it literally takes like 30-40 minutes to get dressed--there are more layers than you think.

Granny looking gorgeous in her kimono

This is my favorite picture of Granny

All of us walking outside in our kimonos for group pictures

Our group dressed up in kimonos

Flashing the peace sign

Checking out our backsides (the obi)

Us with the japanese ladies that helped us

Kendal and I with Takeko, the japanese lady that organized everything with us.  She was so nice!

My friend Mia and I

Kendal and I

Getting dressed

I don't know how they learn to tie the obis and put kimonos on--it is definitely an art!

My friend Tracy and I

Meiji Shrine, Asakusa and playground

The last couple of days Gramps and Granny were here, we went and stayed up in Tokyo and took them some of our favorite places.  The first place we took them was the Meiji Shrine, which is one of my favorite shrines (and we have been to TONS!)  It is in a really fun area--Harajuku--a really famous area well-known for their street fashion.  If you go on a Sunday you see people decked out in CRAZY outfits.  Anyways, we were there on a Sunday at the Meiji shrine and there was a wedding going on so we saw tons of people in their kimono-best!  It was so fun to see.  

In front of the main torii gate 

 He is telling us that he is 5.

Ethan and Kailey with the cute japanese girls.  Kailey was fascinated by the kimonos and told me several times that she wanted to dress up in a 'mono'!

The wedding party

The next day we took them to Asakusa, which is another big temple.  We took a river cruise on the Tokyo river to get to where we were going.  Here are some pictures in the park where we caught the cruise.

In front of Asakusa

This picture isn't very good, but at the end of the street is the temple, but along the sides are tons of fun stalls selling everything you can think of--japanese shoes, lucky cats, swords, etc.  It is fun to walk along and look.

The main temple

Every time you enter a 'holy' place, like a temple or shrine, you always have to wash your hands.

Playing at the park

We had such a fun time with Gramps and Granny and hope they can come visit us when we move to Spain next summer!!