Time out!

Wow, I can't believe we have been in Japan for entire year! Stop the clock!!! It's going by too fast! Everytime I get a "must see" or "must do" checked off my list, I add 3 or 4 more...and now I've got one less year to get them done!

Here are a few pix from our first week in Japan, exactly one year ago. The day we arrived, the first place I went was my old house, which we lived in from...1977 - 1981-ish (not real sure of the dates). Little did I know at the time that we'd end up living just 4 buildings down!

Gabi in front of our first home in Japan. This is where all families live when they first arrive at Yokota. We were there for about 10 days, in a 3 bdrm apartment, while waiting for a house.

Gabi and Ethan in front of my old house.

Our first train ride. The trains are exactly the same as I remember them 30 years ago! And are still incredibly efficient and always on time!

Otis in Tachikawa, his first of...........a whopping 3 train trips!!! So sad, I know, fortunately I don't wait for him when it comes time to explore!

Waiting for a call from the PBA

Megan has been begging to go bowling for months (years acutally, but I really don't enjoy it so we've just never gone), I was craving some Pad Thai yesterday, so we headed over to Tomadachi Lanes for lunch and 2 games. Ethan won the first game, he rolled 4 strikes his first 4 turns, using the little rampy thingy of course. I lost with an awe-inspiring score of 41. The next game we put up the bumpers and I came out on top with a 99.

So, so far behind!

Wow, I haven't posted in nearly 3 weeks! No excuse, just haven't managed to sit quietly long enough to focus on anything! I've got about 10 posts to add, bear with me while try to get them organized and remember where all the pictures are!

To get you up to speed: Both girls started cross country practice last week. I honestly didn't think Meg would stick with it, it's SO hot and the coach really runs them hard, but she seems to like it, and she's a good runner. They'll be going to running camp at Tama from Aug 17 - 20.

School starts Aug. 25, they're both a little nervous about starting middle school and high school, but they're also really ready to get back to school.

I'm now a member of the West Pacific Girl Scouts Overseas Committee. We had a 3-day training workshop at Atsugi Naval Air Station, about an hour from here, with all the other GS leaders in Japan. It was pretty fun, one night we drove to Outback Steakhouse for dinner, oh how I love the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under!!!!!

Otis leaves on Sept. 1 on a 6-week TDY to Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, AK. The kids and I are hoping to join him for a week in October, depending on the flight schedules.