Soccer and Dance

It's that time of year again, well in Misawa anyway. Soccer time! It seemed like Arizona always had outdoor sports going on because the weather permitted it, but not so much here. In the past Soccer has been Rayce's favorite sport.

The first couple of games were so windy I didn't even get out of car, crazy Misawa weather, but we've lucked out this last week, it's been beautiful.

And, Avie started ballet with Ms. Chiyuki. Last year in Omaha when I put her in dance she took one step in the dance room, started sobbing, and didn't look back, but, this time, she was ready. She loves Ms. Chiyuki!

Or maybe she just loves putting on the leotard and ballet shoes...not sure.

Karumai Tulips

I have been trying for a couple of weeks to get my family to go to the tulip festival in Karumai, without luck. So, today I decided to take a day trip while the big kids were in school and head down myself before the tulips withered up. It was a little drizzly and overcast, but the tulips didn't disappoint.

We didn't make it for it's tulip-ed prime but it was still really pretty.

Then we made our way down to a beautiful red suspension bridge nearby.

We had a fun morning, I'm so glad everything is green again!

Birthday and Shrines and Festivals

Dan's birthday was on Monday!! He had the day off from the busy clinic so we could go and hang out. It was such a beautiful day, gorgeous weather, very relaxing. I'm lucky Dan enjoys seeing new things in Japan as much as I do. He only had two requirements, one was eating at Kappa Sushi and the other going to the Oirase Gorge. First though he indulged me a bit by stopping by an Azalea Festival in Shichinohe.

The Azalea festival was just a hill covered in Azalea's leading up to a local shrine. But beautiful and worth the stop. Have I mentioned the Japanese have festivals for everything?! We're really lagging behind in the states.

The birthday boy was not posing for any pictures.

And then onto the gorge, it is lovely as ever.

My camera battery died shortly after we got to the gorge, darn. I didn't charge it again before we went to Kappa Sushi but I'll have to bring it next time. The sushi is on a conveyor belt that goes throughout the restaurant and you just take what you want. The kids thought it was awesome but didn't really want to try anything. Danielle tried her first real sushi but not sure if she liked it or not. What a fun day!