We took the local train to Ueno, a "suburb" of Tokyo to see the sights at the Ueno Zoo.
The girls really enjoyed the train ride!
Petting the goats in the petting zoo.
We shared a fun filled day in Nasu at Rindou Swiss Family Farm. Rylee's Yochien had taken a field trip here in the spring, but Chris and Avery did not get to go. It was fun to experience the farm and amusement park as a family.
Avery's first time to ride on a horse.
Shinrin Koen is a wooded park with great hiking and biking trails. This where Chris often comes to train on his road bike. We took the girls there one day for an evening picnic. It was beautiful!
Just relaxing enjoying the sunset.
Living in a big city is a new experience for me. I grew up in a small town of about 4,000 and then moved to Marysville, OH which wasn't all too different. Chris is used to the city life having grown up in St. Louis. I must say I have enjoyed being in Utusnomiya during our stay here in Japan. Although we don't have a yard and I can literally see into my neighbors living room our houses are so close, we are fortunate to have a lovely walking path and fish pond just minutes from our house. I jog there often and as a family we have enjoyed many bike rides in the summer evenings down the path and back.
This the entrance to one of our neighbor's front door, very pretty...very Japanese.
The fish pond, the fish are very large and fun to feed.
September 2009
We shared a fun more grape picking with our good friends, Michael and Kwan.
The farmer, our family and a 56 year old grape tree. 
