Heating Up

Things are unfortunately heating up here in Japan.  I am not a fan.  At all.  The awful mosquitoes are popping out, too.  Time to bust out the short sleeves and bathing suits.

This is our new reward/behavior chart.  We have been having some 'issues' with LC and her behavior at home and school.   So we are giving this chart a try.  So far it is working well.

When Daddy is gone, we like to send him pictures.

They can be so sweet... when they want to be.

Silly, too.

Selfie Sunday

The first 'reward' the girls earned from their Star Chart.

We just finished up Japanese Golden Week, in which LC didn't have school.  We had to get creative with how to fill our days.  This was all their idea.  And they played in there for 45 minutes!

I also signed Leyton up for ballet.  I know, I know.  I can't believe I did that either.  But she LOVES it.  And it's great exercise.  And she really is adorable in her little outfit.  Ellis will start in September, when she turns 3.

Hello Kitty visited the Atsugi NEX, so of course we made the trek to visit her.

Ellis wouldn't stand next to Kitty for the photo, but she enjoyed all the Kitty swag they handed out.

I bought a few tomato plants and the girls some gardening gloves.  I already see bugs on my plants though.  I am not very hopeful about my crop.

We recently discovered the indoor pool at the nearby Army base.  The girls have a blast.  My only regret is not going sooner.  I am still trying to get the girls into swimming lessons, but it is difficult.  I have a Japanese friend who is going to help me get them into Japanese swim school this fall.

Daddy is still out on the boat, but they pulled into Shimoda for the Black Ship Festival, and they girls and I made the three hour drive to see him.

We rented a house on the side of a cliff, which was interesting, but it had a great view of the fireworks.

Day 2 was rainy, but we still visited the beach.

Day 3 was sunny and beautiful

The water was FREEZING.

But that didn't stop these two from trying to go swimming.

They had so much fun.

It was a beautiful beach

Daddy's ship

I am not generally a beach fan, but I hope we get to come back here for another visit.

So brave/crazy

Makes me a little sad we don't live as close to the beach as we usually do

Checking out the sea life (and check out that hair!)

It was a lovely weekend trip.  The best part was sharing it with Daddy.

Moving On

No I didn't finish the last post, but too much has happened for me to wait for time to get around to that.  So.. in other news.  Getting back from our trip.  Leyton got a 'nasty bug in her tummy' and threw up for 2 solid days.  Most of the time she made it into the bowl, but a couple of times she didn't.  So I had to wash the rug.  And the floors.  Several times.  She missed the first couple of days of school, which is probably just as well because it took her about a week to get back fully on Tokyo time.  Ellis, on the other hand, adjusted right away.  The second night home she slept all night.  Unfortnately I was up all night with a sick Leyton and then up all day with an active Ellis.  It was as fun as it sounds.  AND, Ellis learned how to crawl out of her crib, which was the biggest and most difficult hurdle to jump.  After several weeks and trial and error (and sitting outside the door until they fall asleep) I am happy to announce that LC and E now share the 'big girl room.'  The other room is now the guest/playroom.  Sooo many other things have been happening, but I barely have time to write.  Ryan was home for 5 days, then gone, coming back, leaving again, coming back, leaving again and finally coming back the end of June.  His schedule changes ALL THE TIME which is neither stressful nor annoying.  But we are happy to get what we can of him.

Easter gifts from grandparents!  Which is nice because we landed in Tokyo Easter morning.  Therefore the Easter Bunny didn't come.  But the airline did give both girls giant Kinder chocolate Easter Bunnies on the flight.  I was tempted to feel bad about the lack of Easter celebration, especially following the lackluster Christmas, but then I remembered I just took them to Europe.

Still make lots of park rounds

Once every few months we have lunch or dinner at McDonalds on base.  Japanese McDonalds have AWESOME kid toys!

New big girl room!

Matching toddler beds.  When we move next summer, I think I will leave these behind and get them true big kid beds.  LC is already almost too big for hers.

Playing Helo Pilot

Daddy's Homecoming!  Leyton wanted to wear her flight suit and bake cookies.

We also got to tour the ship and the helos

It was a short but sweet visit.

It's been a rough few weeks, but we are still kicking.  Literally, unfortunately.  I've had several discussions with LC's senseii about her actions at school.  Not fun.  But I am realizing we Campoamor girls are made of tough stuff and we WILL survive this last year in Japan.