Happy 2012!

Happy new year! We visited Futenma Shrine on new years day and then went shopping for "lucky bags." It was a great day and a great way to begin the new year.

Prayer cards at the shrine.

The fortune wall at the shrine.

Mika wanted to take our picture.

Mika got cotton candy after our visit to the shrine!

The Hello Kitty lucky bag had a giant pillow in it! Yea!

What's inside??!

We got Mr. Donuts in a lucky bag. Yummy!

A chanchanko.......(it's the Japanese version of a dressing jacket or bathrobe)

New years eve 2011

Celebrating new years eve with friends and family. It was a great way to end the year and we had so much fun. We made japanese food (tako yaki, kon yaku, and fish cakes) and American food (salad and pizza) and everyone had a great time. It was delicious!

We ended the day by going to Awase Grace (a home furnishings store) and they were decorating for the big celebration the next day.

Photos for December....

Sorry that these photos are being posted so late! We've had a very busy month since coming home from Hawaii. (Christmas, new year, anniversary etc) Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was very nice this year!







Out of all the "fancy" toys she received, she loves her new slinky!! Go figure. The classic toys are still great!

A happy Christmas morning!



I bought this funny tshirt for Max when we were in Tokyo and kept it hidden until Christmas. He loved it.

Another funny tshirt I found in Tokyo.

Max got lots of new clothes, video games and some history books that he wanted. Mika got a violin, some new toys and clothing also. (And a scooter!)

Valley of the Temples in Hawaii.

I would like to take credit for these beautiful photos, but I can't. Our VERY talented friend, Eric Matsuzaki, took these photos while we were at the Valley of the Temples in Hawaii earlier this month.

I know this looks like it's staged, but it's not!

Mika and Lexie playing with the rocks. They're always so sweet together and share everything.

Mika is always drawn to Buddha's when she sees one, and she sat down next to this one and closed her eyes. She says she's "relaxing and praying to God."

November/December in Hawaii.

We spent four weeks at the hospital in Hawaii with Max and just got home on December 16th. Here are some random photos that were taken while we were there.
I took Mika to the mall to see Santa the day before Thanksgiving. It was the first time for her to see a "regular" Santa in a store and not on base. I was very proud of her because she was a little nervous, but went up there anyway.

Thanksgiving lunch on the beach. It was very good.

Max took this picture in the street!

This big Buddha statue was at a restaurant close to our hotel. Mika thinks it's very pretty.

Mika and Lexie ringing the bell at "Valley of the Temples."

Our dear friends-Eric, Michelle and Lexie. They live in Kaneohe and we were able to spend time together during this trip.

Mika and Lexie.

The Koi pond at Valley of the Temples. Koi fish are very special to us because we visited a park in Changhua County where she was living in Taiwan and fed the fish the first day we met Mika.

Valley of the Temples-a beautiful and peaceful place.

Mika playing around with Lexie and Eric. She was telling Lexie "hang on, don't fall off!"

Max was with us, but not in these photos.