Crazy Pool Day For Friends

 This morning when I woke up I was not planning to go to the pool today.

I did school with the kids then I went shopping. Tiberias wanted a play date with a new friend in the ward..Julian (Jay) Brown. So I set one up for today. 1-3pm at my house. Then I got home from shopping and looked at my calendar. It read "Daycamp 1-3" and I remembered...today is pool day for daycamp and I am in charge!

So I quickly confirmed that that was still the plan. Then I told my kids we would be going to the pool in one hour. I checked with Julian's mom to make sure that was okay. I was now taking Julian, my kids, Escher and Maggie to the pool. Fine, that's a small enough group.

But then...three neighbor kids came over in their swim suits holding their towels. Brandon, Lumen and Ethan. Danielle was planning to take them and my boys to the pool at 1. That's fine. We'll meet them over there.

BUT then...Danielle was feeling sick so the kids hoped I would take them! I didn't have enough seats in my van for all nine kids! So I sent the oldest to walk to the pool and meet us there. I waited for some children at my house then we drove over to the pool. I was the only adult watching them all!

We played in the water for about an hour and twenty minutes before I made them leave. I packed all of them into my van...two without seatbelts...sitting upon each other. It was a short drive home so I decided to pack them all in there. They appreciated the ride because it was the hottest day that we are suppose to have all year! Killer hot.

The kids had had a blast! I then fed a snack to my kids, Julian, Escher and Maggie at my house before they went home at 3.
I conquered that obligation!

13th Wedding Anniversary

 

This year for our wedding anniversary we decided not to take any trips out into Japan. Instead to save that money and stay home. It is the hottest time of the year and COVID 19 is a higher risk than ever in Japan now.

Our anniversary fell on a Monday, which is convenient because Sterling doens't work Monday anymore. We ended up having a full day of enjoyment. In the morning Sterling and Athena took me to the elementary school to drop off holiday store supplies to the PTO room. I had ordered them on Oriental Trading online and they arrived quicker than I had anticipated. Then they sat taking up lots of space under our stairs. So, I wanted to move them out of my house. I was so happy to get that floor space back for future needs ...or to just leaves bare!

Athena went over to her friend's house (Luke Wolffe) to play with him and his brother in their kid pool. It is a bigger pool than what we had this summer. 

Athena stayed there while the boys stayed home and Sterling and I went on base shopping. Just our typical shopping.

We ended up getting Sterling an unplanned anniversary gift while at the BX. He always wanted a good quality mountain bike. The BX had one that was a good deal. So, I convinced him to spoil himself and get it. He needs it! He bought a cheap bike and it creaks when he rides it. It cant hold his weight, I guess. He feels like he is going to break the bike.  I wanted him to get a good bike so he will be happy to bike from one side of the base to another...or in the fall and winter bike to work! Get more exercise and fresh air.

The bike didn't come with pedals! And the BX doesn't have any pedals in stock at all! Weird.

So Ster has to order some online and wait. LOL

 

We took the bike home and eventually put it under the stairs in that floor space we had just cleared! Of course.

Then we went out to lunch at my favorite restaurant...Dana Chula. My creamy chicken curry was the best thing I have ever tasted. Like Heaven. I couldn't explain it!

The giant nan bread was amazing even though I ordered "plain"! It was anything but plain! Mmmmm.

 

The boys went to the natatorium as soon as we got home. Danielle who lives across the parkinglot took her kids (Brandon and Lumen) and our boys to the pool. Athena was taken over there and left with Danielle as well. So, we had hours of Athena being with friends. And during the pool time we had the whole house to ourselves...Ster and I.

We watched tv, cuddled and more...

Once the kids were home we had to celebrate our anniversary with them as well. We took them to a french pastry shop just outside the base gate we live near. This shop was busy! People driving in and out all the time as we drove up. Luckily they were leaving as quickly as customers were also coming and we were able to get a parking spot.

We each chose a dessert. Got them packaged to take them home. After I paid I was trying to put my yen back in my purse but I dropped 100yen. This is about $1.00 American. It rolled under a pastry shelf and I could not reach it. A little Japanese boys came over looking as if he was ready to help. So I motioned for him to get down there and get it. He did and I was grateful!

Ster had taken the kids out to buckle up in the car while I paid for the treats. By the time I got to the car the kids and Ster all had popsicles in hand. A Japanese man who was leaving the shop stopped to give them all free popsicles...even one for me. That was so sweet.

We went home, ate zoodles for dinner then enjoyed our desserts. It was a wonderful day!

 

In one year we are suppose to be in America with our families celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary (a year early) with a vow renewal ceremony. However, there is a chance that at that time we might not yet be able to travel back to America. If COVID isnt under control by then. We might end up delaying a year and celebrating our 15th actually at our 15th year. I would be sad. I miss our families so much and the children ask to go visit their grandparents.

Sterling and I have had 13 happy years so far together! Traveling and experiencing the world. As well as raising children together. 

We've had "bumps in the road."This year we had hurdles to overcome in our marriage. We've always been happy in our marriage but there were problems beneath the surface that we've faced and dealt with now and then. And it makes it better overall. It's hard to go through. But it's worth it.

We are in love. We have created our perfect world in our family and in our home. We are truly happy.

P.S. The day after our anniversary I saw garden decor that I had wanted ...now on sale. So I bought myself three pieces as my anniversary gift. The funny thing is that we had decided we were not going to get anniversary gifts because we didn't know what we wanted. Then we both got something in the end.

Cakes and Sunflower Fields

Athena at a playdate with her friend Luke Wolffe.

I made the last two cakes of the summer. One was a cake of a man from a Netflix show. The Tiger King he is called. The other cake was a Mickey Mouse cake for a 1st birthday.

I still paint rocks now and then to hide in the neighborhood for rockhunters.

Tuesday Ster went back to work and the kids were forced to go on a field trip with me. A group from our ward was going to see the sunflower fields before they start dying. It was just fifteen minutes from the military gate we will by. And it was beautiful! But...it was hot! The hottest day of the week. Not a great time to be out walking in the sunshine. It was a short trip. We got some pictures and then left. It would have been a little easier if we had brought sunglasses and hats...but...we hadn't.

Beach Day 2020

Sterling's work schedule has him working until 5pm Tuesday-Friday. Mondays he has off.

The kids have been waiting since last August for another beach day. This summer has been wet and rainy! Unusually so for this location.

Summer has finally hit. The rain stopped last week and now it is HOT and HUMID! So Monday we took the kids to the beach! We are worried that the base might limit us on travel again real soon. The number of virus cases in Japan is more than it has been. To avoid bringing it to the base they might say we can only go around the base and not travel at all.

We left as soon as we had eaten and gotten dressed that morning. As we were packing snacks and lunches Tiberias grabbed baby carrots to go with his sandwich and he said "I'm taking the carrots".

I responded happily "Good! I'm glad" then Ty responded with an attitude "I didn't say I was going to EAT it!" Sterling and I started laughing together! It was so funny.

We drove for almost two hours and parked at the same beach area we did last year with the kids. The Southern Beach Chigasaki.

There was hardly anyone on the beach. We love that about this spot.

The sand is clean and the water too. It's a beautiful view as well.

We applied sunscreen and the kids were so eager to get into the ocean. Sterling went in with them right away. But, I guess you are suppose to let the sunscreen sit and dry 15 minutes first. Ooopps. We ended up sunburnt. Like last year Ster ended up the most burnt because he spent the whole time in the ocean and that sun bounces off the water and cook you!

I made a sand castle, as usual. Athena loooved being in the water but also loved playing on the sand running from the water coming toward her.

None of the children were afraid of the waves or sea creatures this time. They acted like pros after that one time we went last summer.

The kept their backs to the waves when they beat upon the children. They closed their eyes and mouths and held their breath when getting water in their face or being under the water.

The kids had the best time! The whole time! They wanted to live there!

More people came as time went on but the Japanese school year is all year. So, it never got crowded. Japan is a crowded place! But not this section ...not this beach. :)

It was hot enough for me to spend half the time in the ocean , which is great. Because I don't like to be in the water (pool or ocean). I like it to be hot enough outside the water that the water feels good to me and then I am with my children and not just watching from afar.

We hosed off near the car and tried to get the sand mostly off us before driving two hours home. The kids ate lunch as we got cleaned up and cleaned up the toys to put in the car. Then on the drive home we snacked.

It was a great trip! And such a perfect day for it! The next day was even hotter...too hot. So, we were super lucky to be able to go the day that we did.