Summer Sunshine

Summer is the best, and July brings fireworks, festivals, and barbeques we tried to be outside as much as the heat let us. Yokota had a great celebration for the fourth. We all enjoyed the juggling show that they had, we rode Thomas the train, did paddle boats, rock climbed, met a robotic man, and ate yummy food.

Here in Tokyo we had an early hot summer, 90ies in early June. So we made the most of it and tried to beat the heat with lots of water activities. Our friends set up slip and slides, we turned a sprinkler on our trampoline, got out kiddie pools, and we visited a water park (Tokyo Summerland). We also went to a fun pirate party.

Also, summer is PCS time so we had to say farewells to many families that we love. Our good friends the Neilsons moved to Sacramento, luckily we had a fun farewell dinner with them (and some of our other friends at the most amazing traditional Japanese restaurant, Black Tea House. We had several courses of the most elaborately plated and delicious food. Some of it was new to me (like eating from a whole fish), so it took me some courage to bite into it, but it was so good. The experience was so fun and to share it with such great company was even better.

Not pictured, but just as important we had a farewell bbq with our good friends the Larsons and Parks. We've loved knowing them, and wish them the best on their future adventures. We also did a last taco tuesday with our good friends the Andersons, before they head to Georgia.

And going back to June a little bit we hiked Mt Takao again with my good friends Michiko and Hiroko. Hiroko showed us a new trail to go up the mountain, it was steep, but we felt special going on a trail that wasn't even on the map. She also trated us to some delicious kakagori (aka shave ice).

And of course we've been finding ourselves procrastinating chores, eating things we shouldn't, trying on fun outfits, lazing around and having fun with friends.