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??

Misawa Science and Aviation Museum

Miss Veedol is the name of the first plane that made it across the Pacific. It left from the Shimokura beach in Misawa in 1931. So we have a beach and some street names here in Misawa named after Miss Veedol. So we had a fun Saturday at this Science and Aviation Museum that is about 10 minutes from our house. They had a ton of exhibits, planes, playgrounds, and hands on science stations. Chase even went up with us to the top of this air chamber and they have your free fall a couple of times inside. Chase didn't cry but he was shaking pretty bad. But Chase had fun seeing how fast he could run in one exhibit(6.1 km/hr) and watching himself in slow motion swing a bat. We then hit the Hachinohe Fish Market in the afternoon and picked up some really good tuna steaks that Tig grilled and we got some crab claws to steam for tomorrow. Yum.

This is Chase's latest thing that he has started doing this week. When he doesn't want you to do something he puts both hands in front of his eyes and will hold them their for a couple of minutes. Apparently he didn't want me to get him out of the bathtub, and he doesn't ever want to come in from outside, and doesn't ever want to get his hands and mouth washed after he eats. But he is still the best and we love this little guy to death. And so does everyone else.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Bunny!! We had a nice Easter, although Cole had to work. Chase met the Easter Bunny on Friday at the Med Group Easter Egg Hunt. Chase looked adorable in his Easter outfit for church and then we had a wonderful Easter dinner with a big group of friends. Cole and I then did our own Easter brunch on Monday which also turned out great. Easter was actually the first day it finally started to warm up here in Misawa. We are in the upper 40s and low 50s since Sunday, so that has been a nice change. We are so ready for spring. And we started swim class and kinderjam this past week so Chase is busy.

Visit Home to Utah

Chase and I just got home from a month stay at my parents house. Cole got to meet up with us for a week out there after he went to his medical conference in New Orleans, which was nice. We did have a great time seeing family and friends, and it was also nice to be back in the states. Chase loved all the attention he received from family and loved all his new toys and tunnels at Grammy's house. Wish I would have taken more pictures, but here are some pics that we did take on our trip. Miss you guys already, but glad we have skype. And we are just about over the jet lag, again, a week later:)
Grampy and Chase watching Elmo on the couch. Thanks Grampy for taking me for beep beep rides in my car.
Chase and his favorite playmate, Lola. As long as she didn't bark.
Aunt Luce, baby Coco(still in Luce's belly), Lola, me and Chase after his haircut.
I like my haircut, I really like my haircut. I am amazed how good his hair turned out since he screamed and moved around the whole time she cut his hair. Thanks Grammy for blowing bubbles to help distract Chase. Longest 15 minutes ever.
Future tennis player.
Jumping, jumping, sliding, and more jumping at Kangaroo Zoo.
Grammy and Chase.
Going down the slide for the twentieth time. And after he got to the bottom he would turn around and point to me to come down.
Sisters.
Happy Birthday Luce. Thanks for letting Chase help blow out the candles, a couple of times. That night Chase did the funniest thing. The balloon at one point ended up at the very top of the ceiling. So Derek had to get a broom out and stand on a chair and try to wrap the string around the broom in order to get it down. 5 minutes later once the balloon was tied back to the chair, Chase went and got the same broom out of the closet and had it turned around and was trying to get the balloon down. We all started busting up. He is definitely in the mimic mode.
So sweet. Chase and his dad swinging.
Grandma Dawn and Chase feeding the Ducks.
Chase had a blast going to Discovery Zone at the Gateway with his Grandma Dawn and Grandpa Gary. Thanks for a fun day.
Grandpa Gary and Chase at the Gateway water fountains.
Aunt Luce giving Chase a trim.

Cole's Football Championship Photo

Cole just got a hold of this photo which is hanging in the Misawa Fitness Center on Base. Each base has their own intramural leagues and they break up the teams by squadron. Cole was on the Med Group Squadron and played quarterback. They were the Fall '09 champions. Cole helped lead the team to victory so they wanted him to hold the trophy in the picture.

Hakkoda Mountain

Hakkoda isn't really a ski resort. Most of the ski resorts in Japan are like miniature U.S. ski resorts. They have lifts and lots of groomed runs. Rather than mountains, Japan is full of Volcanos, active and inactive. Think of the ski resorts as resorts groomed out of a volcano side. Hakkoda looks like a huge volcano that you can see for miles. And it really is a huge volcano. In fact, it is an active volcano, with fumes permeating from the sides of the mountain.

There is one very small 2-person lift and then one gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain. Instead of marked runs, there are two "runs" that are marked with a single line of orange poles. But the beauty of Hakkoda is unlocked when you stray away from these runs and find another way down the mountain. This is both exhilarating and sometimes scary. I went with someone who knows the mountain well and we took backpacks, snowshoes and poles just in case we had to do any walking.

We also hit Sukayu Onsen (hot bath) at the end of the day (you can't take pictures there). It is a natural onsen, meaning the hot water comes directly from the volcano. You can tell this by the horrid sulfur smell that permeates the water. But you quickly forget the smell when you bask in the hot springs.

Anyway, I thought I would post a video this time instead of pictures. I know I am not an editing pro, but I did my best. Enjoy!

Happy Valentines Day from my 18 Month Old

Cole surprised with some beautiful flowers for Valentines Day. Thank you sweetie, you're the best. Just realized this was Valentines Day #7 for us. Lucky #7.
Love the Jordan outfit you sent Grandma T. Chase's doctor commented again at his visit this past week that Chase has such an athletic build and to check out his upper body. Which just cracked me up, I guess Chase is doing push ups in his crib before I get him in the morning before he throws out his blanket, bink, and socks over the side.

The Muffin Man right before Church in his Valentines Day outfit. He is getting so big and is in full blown toddler mode(everything needs to be locked or out of reach and sight), but he does still love to give hugs and snuggle up which melts my heart every time. And when ever Cole gives me a hug he runs over and hugs both of our legs to let him in. The guy behind us at church asked me what Chase's name was and after I told him he said that was a great name for someone with a lot of personality(Chase was giving him and the lady in front of us hi fives during church and flirting with them both.)

So here are his 18 month stats:

Weight-25 lbs (40%)

Height-32.5 in (55%)

Head-18.82 in (50%)