Trip to the park

Saturday morning was cool temperatures and overcast skies, the perfect day for the park! We headed to the "rolly slide park", which we don't visit very often and Callie was really excited. Once she saw all the slides she wanted to get out of the stroller right away. She walked around for awhile talking about all the play equipment at the park before finally settling in the sand pit. I had to scrounge in the diaper bag for some toys and she had a great time. At one point a group of older girls were playing tag and it looked like Callie wanted to join in the fun too. There is also a school right next to the park, and even though it was Saturday there were kids playing at the playground. Callie walked right up to the door at the gate and started trying to open it. She wanted to go to school!

Showing Daddy the sand pit!

Swinging!

Walking me over to the school

Climbing up the stairs to the school

Let me in!

Well, since I can't go to school I guess I'll play at the park some more!

Steering the ship!

Trying to climb up the slide

Trip to the baseball field

We made a family trip to Koshien Stadium, where the Tigers play, on Friday. I had made Callie a jersey and wanted to get some pictures of her with Scott and playing on the field. The morning started out a little rough, with a crabby baby, and it didn't get much better once we got to the field. I think Callie was nervous and a little shy with all the new people paying attention to her and the new surroundings. We tried to make the best of it and got a couple of good pictures. It was the first time that I had been on a field, other than Cheney Stadium as an intern, and it was pretty cool. The outfield is much bigger when you are actually standing in it, as oppose to watching as a fan. Hopefully next year Callie will have some more fun at the baseball field and we will be able to take her more. She did enjoy carrying her new bat around the whole time, even if she didn't want to be there :)

I got a close up picture before we left, anticipating that it might be the best pic I got all day :)

Scott's locker with his name in Japanese

Callie hanging out in Daddy's locker

Running to me on the field, crying for me to pick her up!

Family pic!

Daddy and Callie

A snack and a drink once we got home made it all better :)

We have a walker!

Callie has started walking all on her own!!!!!  Yesterday she just decided that it was time to do it without holding onto my hand.  We had been at the store earlier and I had walked away from her.  She was a little upset because she wanted to "walk with Mama" so Scott picked her up, set her on her feet and she walked the five or six steps toward me.  She did it a couple of more times when we got home and then we sat down to eat lunch.  Once lunch was over she wanted to walk, and boy did she!  I think we must have done the walk to Mama thing again and then she just kept going!  It was so exciting and you could tell Callie was really proud of herself.  After nap we went down to the park to play and she kept showing off her new skills.  I was worried she would wait another month to walk on her own, but she kept right on going.  Then after dinner we took a little trip down to the lobby of the apartments and she was doing even better!  We even ran into her friend Caden and she just about ran to him.  She was so excited to see her friend and sort of keep up with him!  Now I am officially chasing a toddler and am so worried when we are outside since Japan is the land of concrete!  I see many scraped knees in our future, but I doubt Callie will mind.  She seems to already enjoy her new independence!

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 :)