"Goonies never say die!"

We went on another adventure this weekend. And if you are a Goonies fan, you would LOVE this place. There wasn't a big ship full of gold at the end of the tunnel, but it was still an amazing adventure. The name of the place was Mikawa Mu Valley, and it was about an hour away. They give you a map and clues as to what you are suppose to find with solar powered flashlights to help you on your search. I am not sure that we actually did the treasure hunt correctly, but the kids had fun none the less. :)

The "goonies" found the crystal skulls..a guide to where the first clue was located.

Rob is being a good sport about carrying around Coop!

A face in the wall.

Bella taking pictures.

Cute group of kiddos!

Old mining tunnel...if you look close, you can see the tracks.

This is actually water. It is so clear, you can't even tell.

A very pretty waterfall...may have been my favorite part.

See the cutie peeking thru the hole?

They finished the hunt and completed their cards.

I just love all the running water around here, and with the snow, it is even prettier!

 

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Off to The Mountains We Go

We decided to take a trip to the mountains to take the kids sledding. Let me tell you, this takes a lot of preparation when none of us had cold weather gear...we came from Texas where we didn't need it! So, our family and another family loaded up with the gear, sleds, and  kids and took off. We were using google maps on our phone to get there, and that turned out not to be a very good idea. We traveled on roads that were barely big enough for one car and were actually two lane roads. There were major drop offs and no guard rails. I was seriously scared for our lives! Then, we found the tunnel that would lead us to the sledding place, and it was closed. We tried another route, and it was closed! We were stopped in the middle of this town where they had fake people sitting everywhere reenacting real life events. It was so creepy! These older Japanese people came up to us to try and help, but we had no idea what they were saying. We loaded back up in our cars and took off again. We finally found it, and the kids were so excited. It was a lot of fun, and I'm glad we went. In fact, we are headed back there now as I write this....only we are going a different way this time! :)

This was on the way up the mountains. There is so much running water here, and it is beautiful! 

These are just a couple of the creepy people. At one point, I looked over and Parker was punching one in the face. Lord, help me! 

My handsome little man!

My only girl! She is beautiful! 

My other little cutie!

My amazing hubby and I with a little photo bomber in the corner! :)

My most favorite picture of the day!!! I love how Parker is concentrating on stopping with his tongue out and everything, and Bella is just screaming! Haha! 

A Visit to the Children's Museum

We were off on another adventure....as it always is when we leave the comforts of the base. This turned out to be a good one. We drove to Hiroshima, parked in the first parking garage we could find with space, and took off walking. Thank goodness for google maps to get us where we want to go. We had quite a walk ahead of us, but there is always so much to see. We happened upon a festival. I have no idea what it was for, but there was a lot of food that smelled really good. I do believe we stood out like a sore thumb there, but that's ok...we enjoy the sights, and we don't know if they are talking about us anyway. :) We finally found the museum, and the kids LOVED it. There is a planetarium on the 4th floor that I thought the kids would really enjoy...even if it was in Japanese. Looking at the stars and the planets is always fun, right?! We bought our tickets and found a seat. A lady came up to tell me that we couldn't leave once the show started (well, she didn't quite say it like that, but I got what she was trying to tell me.) The show started, and it was off to a good start. There were lots of stars and constellations. Parker was digging it, and then all of a sudden it turned to a cartoon of a little boy in his bed and this rabbit talking to him. From then on, it was all down hill. We didn't see anymore stars...only pictures of these cartoon characters and photographs that looked like they were from the 70's. Everyone had lost interest. Did I mention it was 40 minutes long, and we couldn't leave? Rob, Parker, Bella, and myself could have enjoyed a paid, 40 minute nap, but Cooper wouldn't allow it. It was a VERY long 40 minutes. As soon as we heard music that sounded like the end, Rob was standing up and putting his coat on. I am sure glad that it was really over, because it would have been embarrassing otherwise. We left the museum and went on the search for food. Parker won't anything in Japan, so we stopped at a McDonalds and got his and Cooper's food. Then we found a restaurant everyone raves about...Molly Malones. It is a pub, and the food IS good. Our waitress spoke English also...such a  nice change not having to try and struggle with communication. We left there, grabbed a Starbucks, and started our trek back to the car. On the way home, it started snowing and all 3 kids fell asleep...perfect ending to a perfect day....

This is in front of an outdoor shopping mall that we ran across on our walk to the museum.

Parker wanted to have his picture taken with this cat, but he didn't want to get too close.

This was part of the festival that we happened upon.

This smelled so good...like a good ole' west Texas BBQ!

Parker spotted this train from far away!

All aboard!

Inside the train.

I thought that this little girl was so adorable. The Japanese sure do have their own sense of style.

We found the museum!

Cooper thought he knew what he was doing up there!

How a hologram works!

Boys and trains...

and passage ways...

I am not real sure what this was describing, but Bella enjoyed it.

Soooo...many Parkers! I love them all!

A good dinner with my beautiful family. I am missing two in this picture!

Short and Sweet

We went to a store here today called You Me Town to get some fruits and vegetables. My friend brought me some strawberries from there last week, and they are seriously the best I have ever tasted. They make your mouth water bc they are that good! I had to share these flowers with you that we saw in the store...sooooo pretty! They also have fresh breads you can choose from. The garlic bread is pretty delicious. I'll post more later...promise. 

Aren't they amazing!?! I want one but not sure I could keep it alive, and the big ones are around 98.00. 

Remebering my Thanks

I read a blog from a very smart girl this am as I was lying in bed. She reminded me of the reason behind this holiday. The holiday blues have already begin to sink in as I knew they would. Being so far from family really is awful when the holidays and special occasions roll around. However, today I am going to remember to give thanks for what I do have and not dwell on the things that I do not have. Get ready because the list is long....
Thank you, Mom, for always being there for me and for listening to me complain about this place. Thank you for stressing out over us getting our gifts in time (even though I told you not to worry.) Thank you for picking up the phone and for missing us as much as we miss you!
Thank you, Rob, for putting up with me. This place has brought out the worst in me, and you have been right there telling me it has to get better. Thank you for giving me your coat on the walk home from the ball only to be punished for it later. You are a true gentleman! Thank you for being an amazing dad to our three kids. Who would have known that in 2001, we would be here now?? You are my rock here, and I am forever thankful for you. Parker told me this am that he is thankful for the marine corps, because they defend our flag. You are a part of that, and I am thankful for your bravery, courage, commitment, honor, loyalty to your men, and patience with the military.
Thank you, Erica, for being an amazing sister. Thank you for running to Wal-Mart to score a bargain for me since I don't have access to those stores here. Thank you for being a great aunt to my kiddos and for giving me the most beautiful niece ever! Thank you for coming to see me in March!!! I am counting down the days!
Thank you to my kiddos who literally keep me going and busy on a daily basis! I can't imagine my life without them, and I love watching them grow! They are amazing and bright and beautiful! Bella is so smart and always full of interesting, crazy facts. Parker loves to run outside and always notices the little things, and Cooper is just a happy little man who CAN throw some crazy tantrums! They love me unconditionally, and I love just them the same!
Thank you, Joy, for the kind heart and soul that you have! You put together the most amazing packages to remind us that you love us and are thinking of us. We all get excited when a box comes in the mail. It makes this place a little more bearable. I try to pay it forward as much as possible as a thank you for all that you do!
Thank you, Amber, for keeping me in the loop on everything and making me laugh! It can feel very lonely here, and I often feel out of the loop on things. However, you always catch me up on the happenings. I am thankful that you stay up so late...it allows us to visit! I am also thankful for those 2 precious girls who my kiddos adore!!! I can't wait to see them again!

Thank you, Rick, for being an amazing stepdad and loving my kids as if they were your very own! You are the perfect match for my mom!

Thank you, Gin, for your witty comments on our facebook chats! You always make me laugh!
Thank you, John, for always thinking of us. It makes me happy to know we are in your thoughts even when we are so far away.
Thank you, LuLu, for just being an amazing lady!!! Plain and simple..hands down...class act!!! I also love that you are on facebook also and leave sweet comments all of the time!
Thank you, Amanda, for letting us use your HBO GO. lol. I know you are so busy with work, and yet you use your spare time to do for others. I love your two beautiful kids and love watching them grow...even thru pics! Can you please work on posting more? :)
Thank you, Bob and Sylvia, for raising an amazing man. He is more than I deserve, and I know that it is all because he had two great parents.
Thank you, Dad, for the man you have become.
Thank you to all the rest of my family, who I am sure I have forgotten, for being supportive on this move and always looking out for us!
Thank you to my new friends I have made here. It is crazy how fast you make friends when you are in the military, and some of these friends become like family to you! Thank you, Michelle, for being the friend here who understands and never pretends that this place is amazing! I am blessed to have been invited to one of these friend's houses today, and she is even doing most of the cooking...as we all know, I don't cook! Thank you, Jennifer!
I am thankful, God, that you have given me all of these blessings and more that I know I have left out. I am healthy, my family is healthy, and we are provided for all because of You. I know there is a reason You have sent us here. Although, I am not sure what the reason is yet....I will try to embrace it and make the best of it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and may you all have a blessed day and remember your "thanks."

Hiroshima Trip

Well, Rob finally had a day off so we went to Hiroshima to do some shopping. We started at Costco. I went to get a membership, and the lady helping me spoke English very well. It made the process very easy. When I went to pay for the membership,  I had a Japanese guy but the lady that had helped me was standing next to him. He was talking and I was shaking my head saying yes like I always do. Afterwards, she said did you understand anything he just said, and I said no, not a word. She started laughing and said she was the same way when she was in the states. It turns out she was married to an American and lived in Idaho for 7 years. Interesting story. Next, we went on the search for a Starbucks and ended up in a very cool area that I can't wait to go back to. There were lots of American stores and some neat Japanese ones as well. Towards the end of our trip, these Japanese girls came rushing up and wanted to touch our kids hair. The kids were good sports until one asked for a hug from Parker. He refused and went to hide behind a sign. Cooper waved and did his cute Cooper thing, but he got tired of it after about two minutes also. Lol. Bella was with a whole different group of girls who wanted to take their pictures with her. I missed all of this bc I was with Cooper. She was a good sport. She said they put their arms around her and she flashed them the peace sign for the picture. One girl asked her where she was from. When she told her Texas, the girl said oh cowboy. Lol. It was a good day, and I made some fun purchases. 

There were some amazing arrangements. 

We found it, and it was soooo good!!!

This recently opened. It was soooo...crowded in there that overalls only looked on one floor. I got some cute sweaters though. 

Bella found her favorite store! 

The following are pictures of a display in one of the shopping centers. All of the pieces are made out of Legos. 

These tell what the display is a replica of. 

Sweet brothers! 

We found some really cool stores, and I bought this Togo in the kid's playroom. 

Cool Ferrari parked on a random side street.