Gift #76- Josh's Sense of Humor!

 Josh has the best sense of humor.  As you can see from the picture, he is not afraid to make a funny face on demand.  One day very soon I just know that he will grow into those sweet front teeth of his! :0)  He is quick with a joke.  He remembers funny movie lines and has the best comedic timing.  He makes me laugh every day!

This is the birthday card that Josh made for his dear mother on her special day!  Hank proof-read it and was not sure if I would laugh or cry.  I chose to laugh through the pain.  :0)

Gift #75- Birthday Cake and the Sweet Boy who Prepared It

 Jack loves to cook.   He wants to be America's first professional baseball-playing chef!  I think that he can do it!  A few days before my birthday, he looked through my recipes and asked me what kind of cake that I might want.  I was quick to answer "chocolate" of course!  He found one of my favorites, and made a list of the ingredients that he would need.  I drove him to the commissary and he went in on his own and bought all of the necessary ingredients.  He came home and went right to work.  Before I knew it, my birthday cake was finished.   He is such a thoughtful kid and he makes me proud every day!  He also makes a mean chocolate cake!

Gift #74- Birthday Sushi

Sushi 105

The kids and I went out for sushi for my birthday lunch.  We went to a place called Sushi 105.  We call it Sushi-go-round because the sushi comes by your table on a conveyor belt.  You just pick up the plates as they go by the table.  The cost of each plate begins at 105 yen.  The waitress counts the number of plates at the end of the meal to determine the price of your meal.  Of course we picked dessert first.  It was some type of caramel custard- I think.  :0)  The kids chose chicken and fries.  Big Surprise!  ;0)  But they also got a little adventurous and tried the different sauces.  Both Jack and Josh tried fried scallop sushi.  Josh really liked it.  Jack-  not so much.  But I was really proud of all of them for trying new things.  You should have watched their faces when the raw squid and octopus tentacles came around!  We had a great time together and it was a fun place to spend a birthday lunch.

 Sam said that he was going to take a little break from looking at the sushi.  ;0)

 Octopus Tentacles.  The different types of sushi that came around were so interesting!

 Jack was very willing to try some new things.  He said that he probably does not want to go back though.   ;0)

 This Southern girls favorite sushi-  fried shrimp on rice!

Shrimp in Japanese is "Ebi"

 Macy eating her chicken with chopsticks.  They really did get into the spirit of things.

My first raw sushi-  salmon on sticky rice with onions.  It was not bad at all.  But I think that I will stick with fried seafood.  :0)

Gift #73- Birthday Breakfast in Bed

Hank, Jack, and Josh got up very early this morning to make a birthday breakfast for me.  They brought it to me in bed along with a hot cup of coffee.   It truly warmed my heart!  It was a great way to begin a very Happy Birthday.  It was such a happy birthday, that I am going to spend the next few days blogging about it! ;0).  Yesterday I mentioned that my blessing of the day would probably be cake!  Cake was one of the many blessings of the day and I will most definitely be sharing about it in the next day or two!

Gift #72- Turbo's Girlfriend

Today, I am thankful for our sweet neighbors and their little dog Daisy.  Our neighbors leave on Saturday for the good old US of A.  We will be sad to see them go, but so happy that they will be with their families once again.  Turbo will miss their sweet Daisy girl as Jack and Josh will miss their dear friend Alex. 

PS- Tomorrow is my 38th birthday!  Just a warning- I have a feeling that my blessing of the  day is going to be cake!!!!!  :0)

Gift #71- McDonalds in Japan!

Yea for McDonalds.  It is nice to have a little taste of home when we need it.  The McDonalds here is a little bit different.  The ladies at the counter wear skirts and heels.  They are very friendly.  There is definitely a language barrier.  I need to learn how to say "no onions" in Japanese.  The menu is very limited, but the quality of food is fantastic.  It all comes packaged very neatly and served with a smile.  It is a little expensive compared to McDonalds at home, but it is worth it when we are in need of a McNugget fix.  

Gift #70- Our Church Home

Our Church-  The Marine Memorial Chapel.
Having a church family is such a blessing.  

Sam and Macy got new Bibles!  They took them to chapel this morning and followed along during the Scripture reading.  They looked through the picture stories during the sermon.  Even Sam took extra care to straighten out a few bent page edges before he closed his up and snapped it shut.  It is apparent that they are very proud of them! Thank you Pappa and Ms. Diane!