Clams Anyone?

Curtis, Avery, and I went clam digging with the Murata Family Tuesday. This is a Japanese tradition that occurs starting in June. It was quite and experience! We went in the morning when the tide was fully out. We spent about 3 hours digging. Once you've collected the clams, you must put them in a container of sea water so the can breathe and expel the sand from their shells. You have to change the water every hour for about 4 hours.

The Muratas were so gracious to make us homemade clam chowder, clam pasta, curry and rice, salad, and tea pudding. It was all so wonderful....especially the chowder! I learned that during cooking the clam shells will open up. If the shells don't open, then that means the clam died in transportation and they are not good to eat. How cool is that?!?!?!? It was really neat to watch. We had a great time with the Muratas and are so blessed to have had that experience. Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to take a moment to recognize a few special people in my life. No Japan stuff this time, just a moment for the dads that are important to me. To my dad, thank you for your love, support, discipline, and education. You are the only man in my life that I enjoy bickering with. You and I have a special bond and a way of communicating on a level of understanding that no one can relate to. I love you daddy!

To Phil, thank you for the comedy you bring the family, your endless knowledge of "stuff", your support especially while we have been in Japan, and most of all...your son!

To my husband... thank you for being a wonderful father to our daughter. Thank you for your love, your knowledge, support, playing with her even when you've had a tough day, and just being you. You are an excellent leader to this household and I love you! Thank you for choosing me to spend the rest of your life with.

Last but certainly not least, I want to give thanks to our heavenly Father. Without him, none of us exist. I give thanks for His love, support, forgiveness, and grace.

Happy Father's Day!!!! I love you all!!!!!

Let's Have Some Family Fun

Friday night we went to see Nissan's baseball team play the Mitsubishi baseball team at Yokohoma Stadium. It was free and we had a really good time...although Nissan lost by 1 point in the bottom of the 10th.

Saturday night, I taught Curtis and Avery how to make gyoza. We made them and ate them. Mmmmmm!

Today was "Family Fun Day" with Avery's school at the local club YC & AC. We had sooo much fun with the kids today! It was like field day in the US except the parents participated in activities too. Check it out....

Avery with fellow classmates and friends, Gloria (left) and Riko (right)

I let Curtis participate in most of the activities with Avery...you know him, he's a BIG kid. I took most of the pictures...which was fine with me of course. So Curtis and Avery won MVP of the games today! Above is a pic of Curtis getting his "medal", which was too small to go over his head, and below is Avery getting her "medal". I was so proud!

Look at my girl run!!!! She was trying so hard to beat her daddy in this foot race of parents vs students....she won of course!

And I had to throw this in to show that I did participate some. This is of me and Avery doing the Hokey Pokey....and you turn yourself around.....need I sing anymore!?!?!

Returning to the States Soon!

Well, the time has come to start planning our trip home to the states. Our visas expire September 26th and Nissan has decided to not extend them so we are in the process of getting things in order to come home.

We now have our plane tickets so we can give you all a day and time of our arrival. We will be leaving Japan on September 24th and arriving in Hawaii on the 24th...my wonderful husband has decided to take us to Hawaii for our 10 year anniversary that was in May!!!! Wooooo Hooooo! After having some fun in the sun on the beaches of Hawaii, we will make our way back to Nashville. We will leave Hawaii on September 29th and arrive in Nashville September 30th at 10:00am!!!

Next Thursday we have our pre-move survey. This is where the movers come in and find out what items will be going by sea and what will go by air. They will also tell us how long they need to pack us up. This will tell us how long we have to stay in a hotel in Japan before leaving.

We have so much to do between now and then and we are very excited to be getting ready to come home.

We will keep you posted on our continuing adventure.....stay tuned!

Food, Fun & More

This entry isn't really in a chronological order, some things happened this weekend and others happened in the past couple weeks...so here goes. A couple weeks ago, 2 of my Japanese friends taught me how to make gyoza, aka "Asian dumpling". They were soooo good!

Last week I went to Kevita's house, one of the moms from Avery's school, to learn how to make Indian food. And boy was it HOT!!!!

Saturday, we went to an outlet mall that was located at the Yokohoma Marina. Avery got to play in the water some and we got to admire some of the local yachts. We thought about buying one..then we remembered that Curtis gets sea sick...oh well.

Yesterday we went to a flea market in Shin-Yokohoma and found some nice things. In the middle of the park where the flea market was held, there was a water fountain for the kids to play in. Avery had a blast!