Snow in Utsunomiya - February 2010

This winter seems to be more cold this year in Japan. We certainly have received more snow, although still no where near the amount that Ohio has received. Last year it snowed once and it melted once it hit the ground. This year I think it has snowed maybe four times so far and it actually stuck around for a day or two each time. The girls love the snow and were excited to see our neighbor had built a yuki daruma, snowman. The girls added the broccoli eyes and carrot nose.

This is a picture of Rylee after school. It was her favorite part of the day to get off the bus and run to see if our snowman was still standing.

Our neighborhood in the morning with a fresh dusting of snow.

This is the view from our bedroom window, not the prettiest scene, but at least there are a few trees.

This is the view from our balcony looking down on our neighborhood.

Hana-chan B-day Party - February 2010

We shared a fun morning at one of our favorite parks to celebrate Hana Cabral's 5th birthday. Hana is from the U.S., her family will return this summer after living here nearly 3 years. Hana attends the same yochien as Rylee and they are good friends.

Avery having a blast playing at Wanpaku Koen.

Rylee and Aimie enjoying birthday cup-cakes!

Avery and Aimie

Happy 5th Birthday Hana!

Hana and Rylee

Origa-chan and Ieri-chan

Ghibli Museum - February 2010

As the winter continues in Japan we continue to seek activities that are fun and interesting and most importantly indoors. We took a day trip to the Tokyo area to visit the Ghibli Museum. Ghibli is a famous animation studio in Japan and we as a family have become fans of several of their films. The girls were excited to take the train for our day adventure!

Our shy and timid Rylee has really grown in her confidence and comfort ability in Japan. A year ago she would not have left our side in most public situations and here she eagerly takes her seat between two strangers on the train. It is so fun to watch the girls grow, in more ways then one!

Walking to the museum from the train station, very excited!

We had some time to kill before the museum opened. Luckily it was a beautiful day and there was a lovely park located right outside the museum.

Avery just chillin' eating her donut.

Once again seeing a new more confident side of Rylee. On her own she went up to this group of Japanese children and asked if she could play with them, speaking Japanese.

Unfortunately no pictures were aloud inside the museum, Chris snuck this photo. This is a picture of a huge cat bus for kids to play on. The girls were in heaven! The cat bus is a character from their favorite movie, "Totoro."

Exploring the outside of the museum. The architecture of the museum was really beautiful and unique.

The iron giant from the movie "Castle in the Sky"

Inside this ticket booth is Totoro, from our favorite movie.

By the time we walked by to the station Avery was done.

We took the local train to Tokyo station to catch the shinkansen back to Utsunomiya. But before getting on the shinkansen we stopped for kaiten sushi in the station.

Yummy tuna!!

Cooking Class - February 2010

Mioko and I took a cooking class with my friend Kwan and her sensei. We learned to bake some delicious chocolate cup-cakes.

Kwan and her sensei

Some how I'm thinking they won't look quite like this when I attempt to bake them at home?

After our cooking class, Mioko and I went to a shabu shabu restaurant. This was my first time to experience shabu shabu and it was delicious!!

Tokyo Tableware Show - February 2010

In September I started taking porcelain painting classes and have really been enjoying learning this new medium. This February my teacher, Yoko Mohri, exhibited her work at the Tokyo Tableware Festival, held at the Tokyo Dome. I, along with my sensei, Mioko, and friends, Kwan, Kaiko, and Ekumi, attended the show. We shared a fun day in Tokyo!!

(above, Mioko, me and Kwan)

After shopping in Harajuku, we ate lunch at a Turkish restaurant. I was so excited to eat hummus I had to take a picture of it!!

Kaiko and Ekumi


The Tableware Show was a huge variety of displays ranging from table-scapes, artwork and crafts. There were so many beautiful things to see, I had so much fun!

My painting teacher, Yoko, and her display. It was lovely, she is so talented!

Yoko's work