So Thankful that Daddy is Home!

Daddy's ship in the background

Last Friday, I pulled Leyton out of school and we made the drive to beautiful Yokosuka to meet Daddy as he got off his ship.  It is not a far drive, maybe 30 kilometers, but it took us an hour and 20 minutes thanks to traffic.  By the time we got on base, found the ship, parked, and walked to the correct pier, I had about 60 seconds to snap the following two terrible photos before Daddy walked around the corner and I put the camera down.  There is a time for photos and a time for hugs and kisses :-)  Funny that this post is about Daddy being home, and he is not in a single picture.  It's for the best, though.  He has his annual nasty mustache for Movember.  I will spare you.

Another reason for no pictures- behind the girls is a drop-off to the bay and very close behind me is a busy street.  Not the safest place to two active kids.

I found these at the NEX.  The girls love dressing up like Daddy.

Ryan's 'stache looks just as ridiculous

Ryan's 'honey-do' list was to put up Christmas lights.  I made the mistake of complaining about his technique and therefore landed the job for myself.  At least they look nice now :-)

Leyton's friend from kindergarten, Erin, let Leyton borrow her 'hifu' for a photo shoot.  In November in Japan, parents and children celebrate 'Shichi-go-san'.  It means '7-5-3' and on November 15 every year, Japanese parents take their children to a temple and pray for health.  Girls go at age 3 and 7 and boys at age 3 and 5.  Erin wore this last year and her little sister will wear it next year, when she is 3.  For most little girls (including Leyton), it is the first time they get to wear a kimono.  Little girls add a vest, called a hifu.  The socks are 'tabi' and the shoes are 'zori'.  There is a matching bag to carry the offering to the shrine and a matching hair piece.  Most parents just rent the outfit, but this is Erin's personal kimono.  For this reason, I was VERY nervous about Leyton wearing it and harming it (you can imagine they are not cheap).  So we didn't go to temple.  We took a few shots in the yard while Ellis napped.

So fun to celebrate both Japanese AND American holidays :-)  We did our Thanksgiving feast last Saturday to celebrate Ryan's homecoming and because we are spending the actual holiday at Tokyo Disney.  Time to learn 'It's a Small World' in Japanese!  Happy Thanksgiving and Shichi-Go-San everyone!

In case you need a smile....

I can manage some beautiful pictures of my girls... separately.  At first glance it appears my latest attempt at a good picture of the two of them failed -again.  But look closely and you will discover some comedy gems in this batch.

Cute solo picture...

No problem.

Problem is they keep running away from each other.  So... I immobilize them.

I stick them in a tree and give one simple request. 

 "Smile and look at the camera."

And... I give up. 

Tick Tock

We are totally counting down the days until Daddy gets home.  Though I haven't circled the date on a calendar.  If my 10 years as a Navy spouse has taught me anything, it's that cruise dates are ALWAYS subject to change.  But he's coming home soon, just not sure how soon.

The girls and I have been keeping ourselves busy.  Last week Ellis had an interview with Hosen (Leyton's kindergarten) to see if she would be ready to start next semester (in April).  I personally thought she did terrible.  She cried when they took her away for mock classroom time, though most of the kids did, and she came back smiling.  Then she wouldn't sit still for the interview with the teacher and she wouldn't answer the questions the teacher asked her.  Despite all that, they want her to come for a couple of trial days next year, in January and February.  Then they will make the final decision.  I was very surprised that they offered this.  I assumed Hosen would not let her in until she turned three next September.  I think perhaps they are just being polite by giving her a few chances to make the early cut.  The Japanese have interesting customs on politeness, one of which is that's it's rude to come right out and say what you want to say.  Instead, they talk all in circles before finally reaching their point.  So I am not sure if they will actually let her start that early or not.  If they do, I feel sorry for her sensei.  And I know they won't let her in until she is potty trained, so we will have to revisit that again very soon.  I would love for them both to go to school and be able to speak Nihongo to each other.  

As I mentioned last post, Leyton's Japanese is better than I expected.  She will toss out phrases all the time and is getting better and better at answering my quizzes on 'how do you say ____ in Japanese.'  She also randomly turns English words into Japanese.  Japanese words only end in a vowel or 'n'.  She will say words like 'ice creamu' and 'cupu.'  Totally rocking the Japenglish.  

It's true the last true 'Fall' season I had was in 2010, when I had a newborn and therefore don't really recall much of anything other than being so tired.  So really 2009, which is 5 years ago in Memphis, is the last Fall I recall.  But I really thought it would be sooner.  The leaves are just now really starting to be beautiful here.  The cherry blossom groves are a lovely orange and it makes me very happy to walk or drive by and watch the leaves scatter.  Below are a few pictures I tried to take of the girls at the park the weekend before Halloween.  You will notice it's still nice and green.

I tried and failed to get a picture of both girls just looking at the camera, much less both smiling.

Maybe we can try again for another photo this weekend

And last but not least, thank you to all of the Veterans and for the freedoms we enjoy every day.