New Bike!

For quite some time Gabby has been crazy about bikes, she points them out whenever see them- which in Japan is all the time!  We have to visit the bikes when we go to one of the stores, all the bikes are too big but she sits on them and loves it.  I found a bike that would work perfect for us.  It is more like a plastic tricycle but it can convert three different ways.  I have the handle on it now so I can push it (or she can) until she actually learns to pedal (or can reach them better.)   We have been on the lookout for a helmet, but all that seems to be available are ones for big headed kids, I mean the 3+ crowd.  Today on our adventure (more to come on that when I have energy) off base I found one that pretty much fits her curly haired head.  Gabby was excited as can be, which is thrilling b/c other kids I know refuse to wear helmets.  We took the bike to the elementary school across from our house and had a pretty good time. Our neighbors who are moving next week joined us so that was even better.  I also brought a new bubble gun that all the kids went wild over. So here are pictures off all things having to do with the new bike in our life!  Oh and we do having something else new in our life, a goldfish we have named Dorothy (yes, just like Elmo's fish.)  The neighbors that are moving gave her to us and Gabby is so excited that she HUGS the fishbowl, and also wants to feed her numerous times a day!  

Sunday Scene 2

This week I took a friend out and about on "Blue St." This friend of mine hasn't done all that much in the year she has lived here. It is my mission to get her out and have her experience a little bit of what Japan has to offer.  Our first stop was the Gap, but that is just b/c we both have little kids that are pretty stylish.  We walked around and I showed her a few of the places I go, and eat.  

We were hungry and she was wanting soup.  I don't go out for soup that often, so I don't know very many places to go.  We headed to Ten Ho, a soup shop that I have been to a handful of times in the past.  One thing we needed that Ten Ho had was enough room for two strollers and a place to sit with the kids.  We ordered, and got the same thing: Wonton soup.  It was full of noodles, green onion, half an egg, sliced pork (pretty sure that is what it is) and wontons of course.  The bowls are HUGE, and more than I could eat.  We also got a side of rice for the kids to split, if you haven't heard this already Gabby LOVES rice and asks for it by name.  Oh and the best part of our meal was the gyoza- which are pretty much pot stickers.  

  The meal was good, but ended up being messy due to Gabby insisting on feeding herself.  Yes she is little Ms Independent when it comes to eating, I no longer get to hold onto the spoon.  The Japanese soup spoons are great for holding a lot of liquid, lets just say by the end of it there was probably more soup ON Gabby than in her belly!  Little girl also was very interested in trying to use chopsticks too, there were noodles all over the place but at least she tried!  

Walking back to base we went through the Mikasa walkway and I stopped at one of the little shops to get some fresh produce since we were low.  Sometimes I feel like the amount I take home costs so little!  A miniature watermelon, 4 carrots, a bag of edamame (uncooked so I had to try and do it), 4 bananas and a medium sized zucchini. All of that cost me just about $8.  

By the end of the night Gabby was tired out from our busy Sunday.  That morning I took her out on a run, then the park and after her nap we went to a birthday party for a boy who turned 4.  Even though she was SO tired a bath was very necessary!  Japanese soup from her head to her belly button was not something that smelled the greatest!  No big plans for this week, and the way it is raining tonight along with the thunderstorms we will have to see where we adventure to next.

8 years!

I still am having a hard time believing it, but 8 years ago yesterday (June 17)  Clayton and I had our very first date!  Since then we have been inseparable~ well besides me spending a year at CWU, and all of the time Clayton has been gone on ships and school for the Navy.  He wasn't home to celebrate it, but we did spend the evening emailing back and forth and talking about the memories we have of our early days together (to email almost like chatting is a rare thing these days so it was extra special that we got to do it last night.)  It really puts a smile on my face to think of all the things the past 8 years have held for us.  

We were introduced by his coworkers at Foot Locker, also known as my big Sis.  The day I graduated from high school he sent me a dozen roses which was a big surprise because we really didn't know each other.  Lets just say I was a tad giddy!  I called to thank him for the flowers and he asked me out!  Our first date he took me to the Olive Garden and a movie.  I should have gotten a clue about him when for our second date he invited me to his softball game!  

 So to the man who swept me off my feet 8 years ago I say thank you and I love you!  You give me so much happiness and joy.  I feel blessed to have you as my partner and who I get to share my life with.  Without you there would be no us, and without us there would be no sweet Gabby Jean!  I Love You Clayton, Hurry Home To Us! 

Running

Since joining stroller class in February I have gotten better at running.  I am not in fantastic shape but I am able to run longer and with more ease than months and even weeks ago.  The ladies, and one token man from class have all started to participate in the runs that the base puts on. We have done a few 3K runs and in the past month have done two 5K runs.  Friday MWR put on a 5K, so we signed up.  I hadn't run in a week due to Gabby being sick, so I was a little worried how I would do.  Start time was 11:30am. Gabby was really tired and ready for nap. It was over 80 degrees.  The route took us UP pool hill.  I stopped to help a friend and her son who was feeling the heat. I ran to the finish.  I got sunburned. My time was slower than last race.  I feel like I want to run more.  I feel accomplished!

Sunday Scene

To get me to blog on a more regular basis I am going to start writing on Sundays about 

an adventure we did during the week, most likely off base.

This week took us down "blue street" (named so b/c the road is BLUE).  Pam and Geo our neighbors were with Gabby and I.  We park on base at one of the gates and push our strollers out into real world Japan.  We stopped at Paseos, each floor filled with something different. Our stop was floor 3, children. We each bought a yukata (summer kimono).  100yen store was next where you can ALWAYS find something to buy. I ended up with a banana keeper, elmo toy, head band and some fruit (yes they have recently started selling produce). We ate one of the peaches for breakfast-sweet deliciousness!

Gabby and Geo needed a break from the strollers so we headed to a little park a few blocks away, across from City Hall.  They have a little fountain there that a handful of Japanese kids were playing in so we figured it was okay to partake.  Gabby's dress came off and she splashed and danced in the water wearing her shirt and bloomers, plus sandals for traction!  It was a great time, understanding spoken language with the others there wasn't necessary when you have the common language of laughter!  I even had a young boy come up to me and instruct me to roll up my capri pants so they wouldn't get wet.  Since Gabby and Geo got their clothes all wet (I could have put her dress on her since she didn't wear it in the water) we put their new yukata's on them. Now that makes for an adorable picture- too bad they wouldn't both look at the same time for a picture!

For an early dinner I took Pam to Pepperlunch- my favorite spot to eat. I am still amazed that it has taken her three years to eat there, and does it her last month here. Oh how I will crave it when we do move! I usually get the same thing, beef pepper rice.  It is only 640yen and is plenty of food.  It is served on a scorching hot iron skillet, white sticky rice with corn and some sauce piled in the middle.  Outside the rice lies raw beef.  Cook it right there at your seat and wait a bit for it to cool down and then you savor the taste.  Gabby loves it, no surprise there- I took her there when she was less than two weeks old. Nowadays she insists on sitting on her own stool, yes she is getting that big!

 

Since Clayton is away for Father's Day, we emailed him a special greeting to wake up to.

Sweetness!

This little girl of mine is amazingly sweet!  Putting her to sleep a few times this week she asked me to sing to her, "hush little baby!"  We say grace before dinner, and hold hands.  During dinner she has put her hands out and wanted to say grace again!  Tonight we said it three times!  Oh and after we were done brushing our teeth in the bathroom mirror she said Momma was cute!

...happened this week!

I really am not sure what we do always, but we stay busy and have fun!  Here is a recap of a few of the things that filled our week:

 * Used our new "finger" paints that are gel, I wasn't too fond of them although Gab seemed to enjoy using a brush with them.  

 * Went out and about in town with Clay in tow and shopped at the Gap, only to find a few super cute things on SALE for the fashionista.  Big plus was the gold sandals I had been wanting to buy since they came out.  

 * Dropped Clay off at the ship.  Waved and blew kisses from the balcony as the ship sailed out of the harbor for ??? Too Long!

 * Took our first outdoor swim of the season!  It wasn't as warm as projected and the wind made it a bit chillier but we had a good time.  Gabby loved to splash and kick, even with her teeth chattering.  Going to the pool this summer is totally different than last year.  I just held Gabby last year, bouncing her in and out of the water.  This year she is VERY mobile and thinks she can do more than she really knows how, she isn't scared of the water which is good but she tries to run off and falls down in the water.  That scares ME, I have to be right next to her to make sure she is safe.  Oh and for the picture you can only see the back of her b/c she was so excited she didn't want to stop playing so I could capture the moment!