The Roundy Adventurers: Cherry Blossom Season

On the American military base is a great number of Sakura tree. Sakura trees are gorgeous for a week or two each year. When the Cherry Blossoms bloom and dwell here it feels like magic. The beauty creates a magical scenes and fills one's soul with joy.

Tiberias doesn't agree. He doesn't see the big deal. hahaha

About a year ago my family arrived in Japan. It was snowing and raining at the same time when our plane touched the ground and we stepped out. It was an unusual day, we were told. The next day was beautiful and the Cherry Blossoms were a joy to us. It was the end of the Cherry Blossom season. We arrived just in time to appreciate it before it was over.

This year we get to experience this season start to finish. I didn't realize it was so short!

At the beginning of the week the blossoms appeared. All week there was a good number of people out walking down the two streets that are lined with these trees. Despite the COVID19 threat around the world. You see, here at Yokota Air Base the threat is just barely starting to put us into quarantine.

Whereas, in America, our family and friends have been doing at home school and self quarantine for weeks.

The evening we went to do our kids' portraits with the cherry blossom streets there were others out doing portraits with the same background. So many people were walking up and down the streets just to enjoy the beauty. And many cars were heading home or out for the evening. So, it was busy. Next year we need to remember to do morning portraits when the street is calm.

Some people have these trees in their yards! The two streets lined with them are just down the road from us...an easy walk. But there are Sakuras spread out throughout the whole base. So you can see the beauty everywhere.

Athena wears her Japanese dress, sash and shoes for these portraits. She has fun wearing the wooden shoes.

Luke is doing great. He has friends and is doing much better in school than a few months ago.

Tiberias discovered that evening that he is allergic to the Cherry Blossoms or the pollen. His eyes got read and irritated for this shoot.

Also during this week my family took a bike ride off base to see how far it is to get to Showa Park that way. It took us close to an hour, I think. It is farther than I thought. Some of the ride was scary for the kids because we were on the street or really close to cars. But some of the ride was very safe and beautiful too.

At Showa Park:

Cherry Blossoms:

We rode back and Athena was exhausted. She did not like so much exercise. That was also the day we started at home school. It was Wednesday.
Saturday the flower petals started fall down from the trees. Any wind could make them fall. They floated slowly down like snowflakes. Athena enjoyed playing at the park in the falling petals.

Then Saturday evening it started to rain. It rained all night. Sunday morning the rain turned to snow and the snow actually stuck to the ground. It went from warm Spring weather to Winter in just a day or so. In fact, today is giving us more Winter than we have seen all Winter season. Now that it is Spring we have snow?! haha

This is the first time since we have lived here that snow has stuck to the ground. And it has fallen all morning creating a winter wonderland outside.

My kids went out to play before we dressed for church. We have not had the sacrament in a month or so. Today we are going to the Kartchner's house to partake of the sacrament with them.

We are also fasting today. There is a worldwide fast for those who have caught COVID19.