Gift #284- Daddy Day Care

Today's the big day.  I am heading to FL!  Hank is keeping the kiddos!  There were a few tears shed at the airport- mostly mine.  But I know that the time will fly way too fast!  Today I am thankful for a husband who has always encouraged adventure, for a big boy who still let's me hug him, for a middle child who held my hand through the chain link at the skate park, for a little boy who waved so enthusiastically from the observation deck and for the a little girl who so willingly pulled my suitcase.  Now on to the good ol' US of A!

Gift #283- Swimming With Dad

Hank took the kiddos swimming yesterday.  He took along the GoPro and got some really fun pictures.  Our favorite picture/video from the outing was the one where Sam's pants came down while he was swimming!  We all watched it and laughed and laughed.  Sam was  a good sport about it so I agreed not to post it on the world wide web!  This was the final weekday of Spring Break.  The kids are getting a little sad at the thought of going back to school.  But there are only 9 weeks left and the time will fly!

Gift #282- Bowling and Bribery

The past two days have not felt much like Spring.  It has been cold and windy!  But we have not allowed the weather to interfere with our plans.  Today we went bowling and had a great time together.  Jack and Josh even decided to grace us with their presence.  I know in my heart that they only came because I bribed them with the promise of pizza, but I will take it!  Can bribery be counted as a gift?  I think so.

Gift #281- Chicken on a Stick!

Whenever we found out that we were moving to Japan, everyone told us that we had to eat at The Chicken Shack.  It took us a year, but we finally made it to the shack!  The restaurant is famous for it's Sanzoku Yaki- Chicken on a stick.  I assumed that it would be little pieces of chicken, but it was actually a big giant piece and it was DELICIOUS!  We also ordered Gyoza and noodles.  Sam and Macy were very adventurous and tried everything.  We sat on a little table outside.  We took off our shoes and slid our feet up under the table and under a warming blanket.  It was a fun experience.   We will definitely go back.  As you will probably notice, Jack and Josh have been absent from many of our spring break pictures.  They have reached the age where they would rather hang out at the skate park with their friends than with their dear mother and father!  I was a little sad about this at first, but am so happy that we live in a place where they can safely hang out with their friends and enjoy being kids!  Sam and Macy are still hang very happy to hang out with mom and I will enjoy every minute of our time together.   And when they outgrow me, there will be one more little one to keep me company!

Sam thought that it would be funny to be the "girl".  It was!  :0)

This picture gives a better idea of the tables.  We were sitting on a platform with a table on top.  We sat on the platform and put our legs under the table.  You will find these types of tables in many Japanese homes.  Sometimes the blankets are heated.

Gift #280- An Impeccable Sense of Style

This is what Sam chose to wear to church today.  We let him.  I think that it kind of hurt his feelings when I asked him if I could snap a picture of his outfit.- hence the pouty face.  I told him that tie-dye didn't match well with green plaid.  He said "I know, that is why I am wearing this button-up over the tie-dye shirt."  He obviously gets his sense of fashion from his dad.  Right Hank?

PS- Notice Josh yawning in the background.