Summer festivals

The last two weekends Rokko Island has been host to summer festivals.  Two weeks ago was a small, almost impromptu, festival and last weekend was the Obon festival, celebrating the end of summer.  There are food booths, games for the kids and entertainment.  The first festival was very small and had some unique entertainment.  There were multiple bands that all seemed to play hoe-down music, which is the best way I can describe it :)  There was even a Japanese man singing Backstreet Boys songs, well actually only one song and he sang it two different times.  That was by far my favorite part of the festival!  

Callie playing with Lily

Carter enjoying some grilled corn!

During the Obon festival we all got into the spirit and dressed in Yukatas.  I didn't get any good pictures of Callie and me, she wasn't really in the mood to sit still for pictures, but we did have a good time.  There were three different stages for performances, a Japanese fire truck, a bounce house, kids games and LOTS of people.  It was a little much for Callie, but I think she ended up having a good time :)

Getting ready to head to the festival.  Lily had a great time pushing Callie in the stroller, she is such the little mama :)

All the girls walking to the festival

Trying to get a good picture of Callie in her Yukata . . .

More corn, all the kids loved it!

Caden, Lily and Drew eating corn

Even Sean joined in on the fun!

Callie and her friend Riley the dog

The only pic I got of the two of us together

Callie worn out after we got home from the festival

Silly Callie

This past week we have been doing a lot of hanging out with friends, lots of playing at the park and in the water.  It's been really hot and humid so we have been trying to think of things to stay cool.  

Callie enjoying some corn on the cob

Having a good time on the potty and playing with the toilet paper

Look at me Mama!

Callie really likes her rice!

It was sticking to everything!

Last night we had a little picnic by the water.  Callie was enjoying a pre-dinner sucker and crawled right over to this big intertube and made herself comfy :)

Friends visit recap

My good friends Megan and Greg visited last week and we did some great tourist stuff.  I'm just getting around to posting it now, they kept me and Callie busy so I had to have a week to recover :)  

We had lots of adventures including a trip to Nara Park and the Todaiji Temple where the Great Buddah is, a Bullet Train ride to Hiroshima and Peace Park, the Bird & Flower Park, the Osaka Castle and a Tigers Baseball game.  Scott was here for two days of their trip and then he left on the road so it was just me and Callie.  Megan and Greg were such a big help.  They were always there to offer a hand with Callie and got really good at pushing the stroller while I helped Callie walk everywhere!  Callie loved both of them and was saying each of their names by the time they left.  It was so nice to have good friends visit and I'm so glad they were able to make the trip.  

Todaiji Temple and the Great Buddah Hall.  We walked around forever trying to find this huge temple.  It was a very hot and humid day and once we finally got here we were relieved!

The Great Buddah

Callie about to crawl through the Lucky Pillar.  Legend says that if you can crawl through this pillar you will have good health.  I think I remember reading that it is the size of the nostril of the Great Buddah.  It took a little encouragement to get Callie started, but she loved it.  She even crawled through twice!  Looks like she will be having extra good health :)

She made it through!

Getting ready to feed the deer at Nara Park.  They are considered a National Treasure, not sure why, but they charge you money to feed them.  You would think the deer were starving the way they chased everyone around.  

Megan and Greg getting chased by the deer.  Megan even ended up getting bit on the butt!

Scott letting the deer know that he was out of food!  They didn't believe him and kept following him around and nudging his pockets!

 

Feeding the ducks and fish at the Bird & Flower Park

Our little duck buddies.  They followed us everywhere!

Greg feeding the Toucans.  He was a little nervous . . .

Megan was a little more brave :)

Callie had a good time watching Megan & Greg and the birds

We also made a trip to Hiroshima on the Bullet Train.  Greg is going to be teaching a High School history class on the Pacific Rim so he was really excited to visit Japan and some historic landmarks.  I'm sure his classes will really appreciate his unique take on Hiroshima since he has now been there first hand to see it.  It was a very moving and educational experience to visit Peace Park and the Memorial Museum.   

The Dome Memorial.  It was the only building that survived the Nuclear Bomb and they have decided to keep it standing as a reminder to everyone that visits.

Part of the Paper Crane Memorial.  All these pictures and words are made from lots of tiny paper cranes.  

Hiroshima before the bomb

After the bomb . . . A 2KM area was reduced to ashes, except for a couple of buildings.

Every time a country tests nuclear weapons, the Mayor of Hiroshima sends a personal telegram protesting it.

On a lighter note, there were lots of Monks in the area promoting peace, this guy was on his cell phone :)

Birthday party

Okay, I am seriously loving this new camera and I haven't even begun to explore all of it's capabilities!  So far it is really impressing me!  There are too many pictures to post!

This afternoon we celebrated Carter's 1st birthday!  Carter is the son of one of my good friends here on Rokko Island, Kiley, and we went over to their house for the party.  It was a bug themed party and Callie really loved looking at all the butterflies and playing with all the bugs around the house :)  She even dressed the part with ladybugs on her dress and a bee on her hair clip :)  We played with sidewalk chalk, cars, trains, played games, and even had a great time in the sand.  Carter loved his birthday cupcake and the adults enjoyed some good food, laughs and a couple of Chu-hies (Japanese drink) :)    

Callie playing with the flowers from the beanbag game

Callie with her new BFF Andrea :)  Lately Callie has really been into hanging out with the other Mommies.  While Carter opened presents she cried very time Andrea got up, to chase her own two children :)

The proud parents!!

Carter really enjoying his cupcake :)

Callie didn't really like the cupcake until I ate it and gave her the empty wrapper.  Then she went to town!

Yummy!!

Feeding her new frog friend a treat 

Playing in the sand box.  Callie loved this, and even after all the other kids got bored and came back inside, she stayed and played by herself!

New camera!

I am finally starting to get the new camera figured out!!  Callie was quite the subject this morning and afternoon, providing some pretty funny picture taking opportunities . . .

Callie found this new hooded towel in her laundry and insisted on wearing it while she played this morning . . .

I don't know how she can see with it on her head . . .

Still playing with the towel.  I don't know if I will ever understand her fascination . . .

Eating breakfast with the cow towel . . .

At lunch time we moved on from towels on our heads to bags . . . (if you look close, the cow is still hanging over her high chair, she did not want it moved)

She wanted me to have a turn :)

Happy 4th of July!

Well, our July 4th is winding down to a close here in Japan.  This holiday always makes me miss home, even if we weren't in a different country . . .  Wish I could be at the beach having a BBQ while Robbie and Colin shoot fireworks at each other (or Robbie just shoots them at random women :) ).  Or just hanging out with family celebrating a great summer day.  So, needless to say we didn't do too much celebrating today, but Callie did have a great Red, White and Blue shirt on :)  We played with the water fountain at the park and fed and chased birds with Daddy in the morning, then after nap we swam and played with Caden.  

Loving the water fountain!

Trying to figure out how to turn it on herself :)

Feeding birds with Daddy

Saying "cheese" for the camera

We also had a great road trip with Scott earlier in the week.  We traveled to Nagoya which is about a one hour ride on the bullet train.  Callie did pretty well on the train and seemed to really enjoy herself the whole trip.  We had adjoining hotel rooms and it was great!  Scott and I didn't have to tip-toe around and whisper because Callie was sleeping next door.  There was also a great park pretty close to the hotel and Callie and I had some great fun playing there one day while Scott was at the field.  We didn't go to any games, mostly because the Nagoya Dome has a history of being way too warm and I didn't want to hold a squirmy, sweaty child the whole game :)  It was a great trip and fun to get away from our normal routine on Rokko Island for a couple of days.

Callie loved laying on the pillows on the bed.  Here she is enjoying some morning cartoons with Daddy before breakfast :)