Yesterday we started the day with popsicles and a bicycle ride. We took the train to Kyoto and our first stop was Toys R Us. We had no plans for the day, and I told Gabriela she could do whatever she wanted. We walked around Toys R Us for almost two hours looking and playing with toys! The next couple stops were stores with displays to play with. It was so much fun not rushing and just letting Gabriela play. I love living a slow paced life here. When we get back to The States we will have to make a few changes and not be on the go all the time! I cherish these days and memories!

Aquarium

We took Gabriela to the aquarium in Osaka. When we woke up that morning I told her we had a surprise. We gave her clues and kept asking if she knew where we were going. After a lot of clues and seeing pictures of fish she said "were going to the aquarium." Her favorite thing she saw was the sharks. My favorite thing she said was "look its colossal squid!" She learned it from watching Wild Kratts. Now I can feel less guilty for letting her watch t.v.

Japan's Earthquake

March 11 was the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake Japan had last year. Nichy had a game and during the game they stopped for a moment of silence. Gabriela, Jenny, and I went to the Japanese Gardens and Temples in Otsu. There were a lot of people out paying respects to loved ones they lost.
Gabriela loved running around outside. They had two monkeys in a cage and one got really made at Gabriela. Not sure what happened, but it was the first time I saw a monkey growl and show his teeth. We were glad they were caged up. Below is a picture of Gabriela trying to drink the purity water.

The flowers in the background are trees that are over 100 years old!

This is Jenny and I at The Gardens. We have become great friends,  and I cherish our friendship. She is the coaches wife, and they are from Australia. Alan her husband coached for the same team for 26 years and this is their first time out of the country. I couldn't imagine beginning this lifestyle after being with the same team for that long. She is so sweet to Gabriela and I. We are so lucky to have her. and I dread the day I have to say bye.

Valentines Day

Daddy came home from practice with gifts for his girls! He had flowers, bath products, and chocolates. Gabriela was so excited. We spent the day baking Valentine cookies in our fish oven. They turned out good considering we didn't have a real oven. I let Gabriela take them to a few people that live in our apartment complex. We only had one left and it was for Nichy's teammate Josh. Gabriela discovered it was the last one and decided she didn't want to give him one! I reminded her she had already eaten hers and wouldn't be able to eat another one. Later in the day she had a change of heart and gave Josh a cookie!

Bad Day

Every year during basketball season I have "one of those days." Once a year  I tend to dislike every single thing about the country I am living in. A few days ago everything was bugging me and not going well. My apartment has a lobby door that locks automatically. It had been breaking a lot, and I always get locked in or locked out. The end of my "bad day" I got locked out in the cold for 30 minutes with Gabriela. My key was stuck in the door, and I kept trying to get it out and unlock the door. Gabriela told me she had to use the restroom, and I bent down to try again. When it became apparent my key was not coming out I let out a frustration kick!! Never again will I kick a glass door. My foot went thru it and I shattered the glass door. Needless to say my husband was not very happy with me. We are waiting for the bill, and I am praying it is not very much. It is now the family joke and we have been laughing about it. Not sure how much we will laugh when we find out how much my temper tantrum will cost!! I have learned my lesson....no more kicking doors!!

Lakestar Kids

I love being on a team where the players have children. This year we got lucky, and they were all close in age. Gabriela has gotten really close with Hina and Haruto despite the language barrier. It is funny how kids play and can overlook the fact they don't speak the same language! Gabriela has learned a lot of Japanese from Hina. They come over every week and we also go to the play room with them. Today I was watching Gabriela play and she was repeating everything Hina said. She learned a song and later I found out it was Head Shoulder Knees and Toes.  Nichy and Gabriela are doing great learning Japanese phrases and songs. My vocabulary is still limited to three words!

Hina's Mom is pregnant and they are leaving this Sunday. She is going home to have the baby and get help from her Mother. It is very common for Japanese women go to the city their Moms live and have their babies. The husbands do not go and are not present for the birth. We are going to miss them so much. Today Gabriela asked "when I grow up am I going to be Japanese like Hina." I thought that was pretty funny!

Monk's Vegetarian Lunch

Here are a few pic from lunch. The top two plates were all vegetables, tofu, and other things I had never eaten! Below is a big pot of water where we boiled the food. It was pretty good and I was surprised I was able to eat so much!

The next two pictures is the lunch that Michi made for Gabriela. This is a typical children's Japanese lunch. A few rice rolls, egg roll, sausage, 1 piece of chicken, vegetables. and 1 shrimp. They are actually really tiny and the pictures make them look bigger than they are. Much healthier than McDonald's!!