Volleyball and a Birthday

Volleyball season is upon us once more and it's been especially competitive this year. There are only three teams so they just keep playing each other over and over. Danielle's skills have improved so much and she's hoping to try out for the high school team next year.

Team Holy Guacamole greeting the competition!

We're a little biased toward number 6.

She's been working hard at her overhand serve, but until she gets it she has a pretty mean underhand.

Danielle got on the same team as her good friend, Julianna.

We also celebrated Avie Jo's 7th Birthday!! Yikes, this girl is getting big.
She had a big friend party at the craft store to paint ceramics and holy cow it was crazy! I told her she wasn't having another party for the next three years!

They had fun though. Thanks to big sister for the awesome cake!

Minute to win it games, these were popular. We should have done this the whole time, entertaining for the kids and for the adults watching them!

Sunday Chillin

Because why not hang out in an armoire if you can.

Hirosaki Lantern Festival

This is our last half year in Japan and it's met with mixed emotions. My family and I will be forever grateful for the experiences and adventures we've experienced in our time here and amazed by the people we've met. We've truly felt this is where God has wanted us the last three years. Leaving will be hard but life is going on and we know we're not meant to live here forever. One thing we will miss about Japan immensely is their festivals. There are festivals all the time, in every season, in every weather. Yesterday we went to one of the winter festivals. On the grounds of Hirosaki Castle is the lantern festival. It was cool, and I love the way the Japanese embrace every season.

Hirosaki is a couple hours drive away, we got their about an hour before sunset.

In the springtime it's a cherry blossom filled moat, in winter a frozen moat.

Tubing hill.

snow sculptures.

We will also miss the festival food at the festivals.

Hirosaki Castle is in there somewhere.

Lots O lanterns!

This was a pretty area with lights on the trees and lanterns everywhere. They were giving the lanterns for guests to put out to display. I wish I would have asked what the lanterns represent.

My sweetheart and I! I'd say we'd be back to this one but we wont, we're moving before we would get the chance. Lots of changes coming up, we're going to enjoy our last bit here. We love Japan!

Winter Wonderland

Now that our winter wonderland is melting at a rapid pace I need to share my pictures from when it wasn't.

A couple of week ago we had a pretty big storm. It snowed for the better part of two days. I get a little antsy when I don't take pictures or blog for a while so I took some of the beautiful snow.

Then the sun came out and wow!

Winter in Misawa is pretty darn pretty.