Lake Yamanaka

This weekend we had a chance to get away for the holiday. We went up to a place called Lake Yamanaka which is at the base of Mt. Fuji. We stayed in some cabins right off the lake with 4 other families from church. The weather was a little crummy--rainy and foggy, so unfortunately, we didn't get to see Fuji--this picture is off of the cabin website. However, despite the crummy weather, we did have loads of fun and can't wait to go back again.

They have tons of these awesome swan boats that you can rent and go ride around the lake--we plan on doing that next time we go up!

The kids and Eric roasting hot dogs one night for dinner.

Walking along the path that goes beside the lake

There were tons of fishermen out one morning--it was kind of cool to see.

I thought this was a cool picture with the fog over the lake

Sunday morning while we were there we looked out the window and saw thousands of runners--they were having a race around the lake (it is about 13 km). It was so fun to watch all of the runners and especially those runners that dressed up in costume. We saw people dressed up like characters from Toy story, a man running with a cape, a man dressed as a bird with a bird puppet on his hand, etc. I was sorry I didn't have my camera with me.

You can't really see, but all those little dots on the other side of the lake are the runners.

This isn't the best picture, but driving up we passed a ton of rice paddies. I thought it was just the most fascinating thing--this is a quick picture I took out the window.

Grandma and Papa's Visit--Part 1

My parents have been here for the past month, well my mom has and my dad came for the last two weeks of that and it was WONDERFUL!! Let's just say that we went into shock when they left last week and are barely coming out of it!! We had a blast while they were here and went and did a ton of fun stuff. We went up to Tokyo for two days, Yokohama, Kamakura, the roller park, etc. I have tons of pictures, so I have broken it up into installments. Here is the first installment. These are pictures from when we took them to Kamakura.

Dad and Mom in front of the Giant Buddha

Mom and I harnessing our inner chi

Another temple

Looking at koi

More pics of the kids!

I have to say that Cade is the best baby ever--he just rarely cries and we are LOVING having him here. The kids can't hold him or touch him enough--the little guy is going to be tough! My sister has been begging me for pictures of the kids, so here are a couple of the kids--they are just so cute and so much fun!

Easter Pictures--Eric's mom sent the cutest outfits for the kids!

My adorable little Cade--the best baby ever!!

Kailey in her cowgirl outfit

This is a typical Kailey--half dressed, but always has to have pretty shoes on!

It's a Boy!

Cade Takahiro (貴浩) Nelson born April 9th at 3:01 am in Yokosuka, Japan.

All four of the above pictures were taken Saturday morning when he was about 30 hours old. He's asleep in the top three. Yawning in the fourth (not crying - even if it looks like it). Heather and I took the camera with us to the hospital when he was born, but didn't bother to take more than a couple of pictures and neither of them turned out too well. I'm sure we'll get plenty more pictures over the next few days.

Takahiro means "abundantly filial / widespread nobility." We knew that we wanted a Japanese middle name and didn't decide until he was about 12 hours old that this was the name we wanted. Seiji ("admonishing/pure second son") and Takeo ("warrior") were strong contenders, but Takahiro felt right.

The kids are very excited about their new little brother. Heather and Cade are coming home tomorrow.

Ethan is a COVER MODEL!!!

The catalog that Ethan modeled for is out and guess who is on the cover??? Ethan--talk about making a great modeling debut--I think I have a little moneymaker on my hands!! He is also in TONS of pictures in the catalog and I think he looks SOOOOO cute (I am a little biased however!) The website to access the catalog is: http://combimini.jp/. The site is all in Japanese, but if you go to the bottom you will see 4 catalogs and click on the one with Ethan on the front and then you can click through the catalog and see all the pictures he is in. Anyways, we are just so proud of how well he did and so glad that he enjoyed this experience. Hopefully we have many more catalogs and modeling gigs in our future. Now I need to start working on his poses!!

Painting, Sewing...keeping busy before it's baby time!

As my due date gets closer, Eric and I have been staying very busy getting things done. We are still organizing the house and putting pictures up, etc. I do have to say it is looking quite nice. Last week my friend came over and painted most of our main floor and then I finished up the hallway. She ragged the walls and it turned out so nice. It is amazing how much of a difference painting a room can make. We also painted the baby's room a nice bright sunny yellow. It looks so nice. Here are a couple of pictures of my recent projects.

I made this new dress for Kailey--I thought it turned out very cute. In the picture you can't tell but it has the cutest sleeves.

Baby's room--I still want to find something to put on the other wall. I have been looking at the huge vinyl wall stickers and think I am going to get one of those--I just have decide which one.

This sign I actually finished a while ago, but we just finally hung it up. I owe my dad big time, because he helped cut everything out. Also, the wall in the background is what color our downstairs is--it looks so nice.

I have a couple of more weeks before my mom gets here and hopefully the baby will come a little early. I still feel like I have tons to do, hopefully it will all get done!!!

Baby Shower or rather Mommy Shower!!

Last weekend, two of my good friends, Kendal and Rachel threw me a baby shower. I had told them I didn't need one. I mean, it is my third, we don't know what we are having, we don't really need anything, so I saw no point in having a shower. However, they ended up throwing a "Mommy Shower" and it was fabulous!! I got a lot of gifts for me (beautiful necklace, spa gift certificate, great new diaper bag, etc.) and some great necessity items for baby (diapers, food, japanese baby stuff, etc.). It was also such a fun shower, because we just sat around and laughed and talked. We had a great time and I am SOOOOO lucky to have so many wonderful friends here.

I had never seen this before, but thought it was such a great idea. Rachel and Kendal bought onesies in all different sizes and then people decorated them for the baby to wear.

Some of the fun japanese baby stuff. I especially LOVE the grey and white striped leggings for the baby. I also can't wait to try out some of the japanese baby food for the baby.

Moving + Valentine's Day + a birthday=one BUSY WEEK!!

So we have had a VERY busy week the past week. We started off the weekend moving into a townhouse on base. We had been living in a high-rise apartment on base and moved about a block away into a 4 bedroom townhouse--it is still small, but we LOVE it!! I have to admit it was a pain moving. Eric and I figured this is our 7th move in our almost 5 years of marriage. Also, I look at Kailey and in her short 19 months of life, she has now lived in 4 different homes in 2 different states (Connecticut and Missouri) and a different country--I guess we aren't very good at giving our kids stability!! The good thing is that they don't seem to be fazed at all by moving and Eric and I are getting very good at packing ourselves and moving. We should be in this house for at least the next 2 1/2 years--so come visit us, our guest room is waiting!!

(The movers decided it was easier to walk our couch down to our new place instead of putting it in the truck, so here they are wheeling it down the road!)

(The kids in our new backyard--they spend hours out there digging in the dirt--I LOVE IT!!)

Monday was Eric's birthday and I felt bad because it was a pretty crummy one. To start off, the weather was nasty--cold and rainy. We also had to finish moving a couple of things and clean our old place and then Eric had to go into work--what a way to spend your birthday!! We did end up going out to eat and opened presents, so the night ended on a high note. Here are a couple of birthday pictures.

Since we moved this past weekend, we decided to celebrate Valentine's Day a couple of days late (mostly because I couldn't find where I put any of the valentine stuff I got for the kids and Eric). So Wednesday was our Valentines Day and the kids got spoiled, not by Eric and I, but by their Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. I swear our kids are so spoiled by their grandparents!! Eric's parents were very nice to send the kids some new outfits and new jammies, books, they each got a new valentine's pillowcase among some other things-they were in heaven. Of course Kailey got 2 new pairs of shoes and she wore one of her new pairs of shoes all day--in fact I had to pry them off of her feet during naptime--she is such a little girl!!

(Kailey in her new Valentine's outfit and her new pretty shoes!)

Touch a Truck!!

Friday we met up with some friends and went to an event the base put on--"Touch a Truck!" They had a bunch of different trucks/cars that the kids could sit in and of course, the kids LOVED it!! Here are a couple of pictures of the kids on some of the different cars and trucks!

So nice to let Kailey drive--watch out!!

Plowing up Kailey

A lot of machine for such a little girl!

Kailey in the fire truck

I think the ambulance was their favorite, especially Kailey's--they loved playing in it!

So our house is covered with these green boxes. We are moving yet again...only a block away, but another move!! We are living in a high-rise apartment on base and are moving into a townhouse--it will be nice to have a yard. Anyways, we have been packing up the house with all of these boxes and the kids have had a blast playing in them. Here is Kailey looking like a gangster with all of her bling!!