First day of School

Two weeks ago Sophia started school for the first time. She is going to pre-school three days a week and is loving it. On her first day of school I was really worried because she does suffer from separation anxiety. As we drove to her school I talked about how fun it would be and how nice the teacher was, just so she would be happier about going. I even asked her what toys she wanted to play with and she said," Mom stop talking to me I don't know anything." So I stopped talking with her. When we got there we walked to her class room and she walked right in and didn't look back. She didn't even say good-bye. I just wanted to cry. She didn't need me any more. I couldn't believe that I was starting to have separation anxiety. She did so well her first day and continues to do well. I am so proud of my baby.
Then just two days ago Grace started school as well. She attends a Montessori school. We opted for different pre-schools because Grace's school is 5 days a week and Sophia's is only 3 days week. Grace is really enjoying her school as well. With both girls attending school I find myself not knowing how to make the most of the two hours of free time that I have. Its great.
*sorry for no pictures my computer is in the shop. I will post their first day of school photos later.

Our travels are finally coming to an end and reality is about to kick in. We are currently in California visiting my parents and are getting ready to drive back to Utah this afternoon. We had a really nice vacation here. My mom and dad took care of Sophia and Grace all week while Lane and I just sat back and relaxed. It was very nice. Here are some pictures highlighting our journey back to America.

Our Last outing in Tokyo with the Griffins. We went to Ueno park in Tokyo on the hottest day of the year. The kids were so miserable by the time we took this photo.

On one of our last days in Japan I was able to order my two favorite Japanese dishes in the same meal. Curry and Soba noodles. MMM so good. This picture is for Dave really.

And of coarse we couldn't leave Japan with out going to Tokyo Disneyland one more time.

We finally got to meet mickey mouse this time around. The girls were so excited.

After leaving Japan we went directly to Hawaii. Here are Grace and Sophia with plumeria flowers in their hair at the United States most southern bakery on the big Island of Hawaii.

We got to go see the live Lava flow from Mauna Loa volcano. Although we couldn't see the red Lava flow it was neat to know that we were so close to it.

After a few days of the big Island we went back to Oahu and when we checked into our hotel the girls got Lei'd. They loved the flower lei. They did their own version of the hula dance for us.

This became our favorite beach on Oahu. The beach was empty and the water was so warm. Much better the Waikiki beach I think.

At the beginning of our scary flight to Minnesota.

Blue berry picking in Canada. Sophia would put one in her bucket and then eat one. She loves blueberries.

Grace was wrapped up in Aunt Jenny's shirt for bug protection.

Dave, Kenny, Katesy, and Grace swimming in the cold Moose lake.

Everyone who went to Canada this year.

Back in America!

Wow, I am just going to say it, I am so tired. We just arrived in Mainland America two days ago and this is the first computer time I have had since the 10th of July. We moved out of our apartment on the 10th and headed to Tokyo the next morning. We spent four days in Tokyo before catching our red eye flight to Honolulu. Lets just say, Tuesday July 15th was the best day ever. First of all we spent it at Tokyo Disneyland which was so much fun and then when we arrived in Honolulu the next morning it was still Tuesday July 15th. We had two Tuesday. We spent the second Tuesday swimming at the beach in Hawaii. What could get better then that. The second day in Hawaii we boarded another plane and went to the big Island of Hawaii to catch a glimpse of the volcano there. I didn't realize how diverse the big Island is. We started calling it the Continent. It had every climate you could have. From the rain drenched coast of Hilo, the freezing cold volcano basin to the black sand desert beaches of the south. It was quite the trip. We went swimming at one of the most beautiful beaches on the west side. The water was so warm. After spending four days there we boarded another plane back to Oahu. Since it was July it was so crowed in Honolulu and thankfully Lane's cousin lives there and she took us to the most beautiful beach in Kailua(I hope that is spelled right). Waikiki beach was just too crowed. We had a wonderful relaxing time in Hawaii. Then tuesday the 22nd we left Hawaii to head back to the mainland where we had a over night lay over in Seattle. Our plane got in late, but we were on Hawaii time so we were not too tired. The next morning we had to catch to separate flights to SLC where Lane's flight terminated and Grace and Grandpa Shepard caught a flight to Minnesota. While Sophia and I left later in the morning from Seattle to SLC and had a nice 5 hour lay over. By the time we landed in SLC, my Jet lag finally kicked in. I couldn't keep my eyes open. By the time we boarded our flight in SLC to go to Minnesota, I was ready to sleep and low and behold, I fell asleep. This never happens. For some reason I can't sleep on a plane. Then about an hour into the flight we got drinks and I woke up to get one and I finished right away. We then hit really bad turbulence. So bad I thought we were going to die. The plane jerked really hard and it immediately dropped 200 feet in elevation. It sent every one's drinks and other stuff flying everywhere. People screamed and I got into crash position along with others around us. I was so scared, because when planes crash I don't think that anyone ever survives. The rest of the flight was so shaky and nerve recking. I was just great that this was the last flight of our trip. Sophia who was with me was just fine and didn't realise that it was a pretty scary situation. After the flight the pilot told everyone that we were flying through a lighting storm and that the plane which is flown on auto pilot the whole duration of the flight, switched to manual drive and she had to take over. I am just grateful she knew what she was doing. We are now safely in Minnappolis visiting with Lane's older brother's family. We are going up to canada in a few days. So I probably wont post any picture until we get home from Canada. I am happy to be back in America and I can't wait to see all of our family and friends. We will be back in Utah on the 5th of August. I am sorry if something in this blog doesn't make sence, My jet lag is really bad right now.

Saying Good-bye

With just two weeks left until our departure from Japan we have started to say our goodbyes. Our first farewell party was last Friday the 27th at our Japanese class in Kawasaki.
We had a nice dinner of building your own sandwiches. Our class only consisted of about four students, but there was a hand full of babysitters to watch Grace and Sophia each week. While this party did make it seem that we were leaving so soon, the party we went to next day made the whole reality of leaving Japan so real. On saturday the 28th Grace's Yochien class had a going away party for her. It was the sweetest thing that nearly brought tears to my eyes.
(Grace's whole class and in the picture below is Hitomi Sensei from last year and Grace's current teacher Yumi Sensei.)
All the kids participated in group games and then we had snack time and learning how to make Onigeri time. Grace and Sophia had lots of fun. Her class also made her the greatest present ever. They made a photo album. Each child had one page in the album to put what ever they wanted in it about them self. It was the perfect memory book. As I am sure Grace wont remember much about her school days in Japan in a few years.
Then tonight we went to a dinner hosted by Murata High School (where Lane teaches english). It was at the Italian restaurant in town. The teachers that attended where ones that have known Lane well over the last two years. We had a very nice time with them. Even the kids from the English club showed up.
Last Sunday we also took some picture of some of the people that I know Grace and Sophia will miss. While this was not our last sunday, it was our last time at our church building. They started construction on it this week to expand it.
This is the our church building. We attended the Nagamachi ward which is just south of Sendai.

Sophia with her Nursery teacher. She was so great for Sophia. She learned a lot of english for our little girl.

This is Grace and Sophia with Chiba Kun. He joined out church about 1 1/2 years ago at the age of 16. Sophia and Grace just loved him. He would play with them after church each Sunday. And even though he can't speak any English, the girls always got him to do what they wanted him to do.

This is Mion (Me-ohn) on the left with her sister which I can't remember her name. The girls would play with them after church as well. Mion was so nice to them all the time. She would take them to their classes and pick them up from their classes when church was over and would play with them until we went home. She is also the one who watched our little girls while we went threw the temple in Tokyo. She was almost like an after church babysitter, better yet, like an older sister. We will really miss her.

I also got to say goodbye to my Japanese class. I stopped going about two months ago and I came back Thursday to say goodbye to my teacher and there were only two students there that I knew. Luka is sitting on the left and Menchi is on the right. They both were very good friends to me and they spoke English. Kawamura Sensei is the one standing and I am so grateful to her for putting up with my horrible Japanese. I will miss these three dearly.

I still have next week to say some more goodbyes. I am not looking forward to it.
While I am very happy to be entering into a new chapter of our life, I am very sad to end our chapter in Japan. I have really grown to love the friends that We have made in Japan and I am very sad to leave it all behind. I know we must move forward, so I am glad I am leaving Japan while I still love almost (I will never love natto- fermented soy beans) everything about it. I just want to say thank you to all the friends who have made our stay in Japan wonderful.
We have a song in our Hymn book at church that is called, "God, be with you till we meet again." I feel so strongly about that statement. I know I will see all of the friends that I have made in Japan sooner or later in this life and If not in this life then the next.

The Real Office

I saw this clip on saturday night live the other day and I think that it is the funniest skit ever. First of all I love the television show The Office and two I live in Japan so it makes it even more hilarious. I just had to share this with everyone.