Kyoto Day 1

We are finally posting photos from our trip to Kyoto. Kyoto was the Imperial Capital of Japan from 794-1868. With 2000 religious places, including 1600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, palaces, gardens and other architecture intact, it is one of the best preserved cities in Japan.

This is the thousand Tori site. I don't know what the historical significance of this place was, but it was sure cool. Tori's usually mark the front of a Shinto shrine, and symbolically represent the transition from sacred to profane. This place in Kyoto had at least a thousand Toris. The walk goes for at least 2-3 hours if you do the whole thing (we walked for about 30 minutes, and then turned around as it was getting late).

This was To-ji temple. The pagoda stands 55 m tall and is the tallest wooden building in Japan. The temple itself dates back to 796. This was one of the many places I wish we could read Japanese. The temples were filled with Buddhist statues that looked like they were over a thousand years old. When we walked inside the pagoda, it smelled "old" if you know what I mean. It was surrounded by beautiful gardens with ponds filled with koi and turtles. The rain was a little bit of a bummer on the first day, but otherwise it was really awe inspiring.

This was the food I envisioned before moving to Japan. We found a couple of places where no one spoke English where Bre would duck her head inside of some wood doors and ask if we could eat there. Everyone was so nice and they loved Chase. We are sitting on the ground here with our shoes off of course. Chase is playing with his belly button in photo one while I am trying some tofu (the only thing I didn't like). The tempura, Spanish Mackerel, udon noodles and ramen were all delicious!

Few things in this world make Chase happier than birds. A nice Japanese man gave Chase some seeds to feed the pigeons.

The Japanese have "dry landscaping". This practice began centuries ago and is used to symbolically represent the environment. Zen priests often rake the sand to help their concentration.

This was the love stone at Kiyomizu-dera, another Buddhist temple. As the story goes, if you can walk between the two stones (18 m apart) with your eyes closed and find the second stone without help, you will soon find love. Chase cheated!

Some of the sites from Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto. The temple was built in the 700s, but the current buildings were restored in the 1600s. Still sounds pretty old to me! This was a gorgeous temple tucked into the forest in the hillside.

Chase Baseball Video

Here is Chase at a 21 1/2 months, showing off his baseball skills. He throws right handed, but seems to prefer batting left handed.

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival

Gate to Hirosaki Castle Park.
Yummy, apple ice cream.

Right as we were crossing the bridge Chase says "ooh ooh" and then I said, "Tig, get the camera, get the camera". Out of no where a Swan appeared and was paving a path through the cherry blossom petals. Breathtaking.

Smells so good.
Now you smell it, Dad.
All the fallen cherry blossoms were turning the ponds a pretty pale pink.
Love this photo.
Tig caught me off guard "Enjoying the beautiful" as my Papa would say.
Nice picnic lunch, Dad napping, and Chase putting together his own cracker, cheese, and pepperoni sandwich.



The beautiful Hirosaki castle. Didn't make it inside since Chase was hungry for some lunch, but there is always next year.


Hirosaki was a 2 hour car ride from Misawa. Chase watched his Elmo videos the whole way there, but he was a little restless when we first got to the park which was understandable. So below is him giving us a "you've got to be kidding me" picture face when we first got to Hirosaki.

Cherry Blossoms - Shimoda Park

Chase has turned into a soccer player in the last couple of days.


Trying to get his bread ready to feed the ducks.
So Cole and I have now made it 6 years. We celebrated our 6th anniversary on the April 24th by going out to dinner at Yoshino's (our favorite restaurant with mouth watering steak and only restaurant we like here in Misawa), flowers, and a new camera. We finally had our first 60 degree weather in Misawa so I took Chase to Shimoda Park (Swan Park) and had fun looking at the cherry blossoms, feeding the ducks, and trying out our new camera. I love it.

Tig's 30th Birthday

Cole and Chase blowing out candles on his mini cookie cake. Cole said he had a wonderful 30th birthday that was full of suprises. I had decorated his office with balloons and banners the day before and had a card sent around for all of his colleagues to sign. And then he ended the day with his favorite meal of meatballs, mashed potatoes, and peas. (Never would have made that meal till I met Cole, but it's his favorite.)
Nurse Stovall brought in a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cake to Cole at work from Baskin Robbins. Yes, we do have a BR's here in Japan and they seem to have them scattered throughout the Japanese malls. The Japanese love their ice cream.
One of the Japanese translators gave this kimono to Cole for his birthday.
Birthday card that was signed around his work.

Cole's new ipad from his mom, dad, and Chase. Notice I took a picture of it on the couch, cause that is now how Cole checks his internet. What was I thinking??