Isaiah's B-Day Party

Adam and Sho-sensei in concert!

Ferry trip to Chiba

On Saturday the 17th we went to Chiba with our friends the Tamuras. They showed us a place where we could drive our car right onto a ferry that goes to the peninsula (it`s just east of us, a rural area that faces the Pacific on the other side of the Tokyo bay). The kids had a good time on the ferry!

Black Falls Trail

Kohichi and Shirley showed us a hiking trail on the other side of the peninsula... we found a waterfall and skipped some rocks.

At the beach

After a beautiful hike in the woods, we walked to the Pacific ocean. The kids jumped right in!!

Washed ashore

Is she a mermaid? A baby sea turtle? I think we`ll take her home with us!

Isaiah hits the shore

Isaiah loves being chased by waves, finding creatures, and enjoys the company of his friend Amelia.

Adam`s Antics

Adam interacts with vines, seaweed, and waves in interesting ways

Some more of Chiba...

Sarah and Emma wait for a wave...







































Pretty things on the beach












Turtles in the sun












Dwight enjoys the ocean, and remembers the Jersey shore!


















Yummy sushi after a day of hiking and swimming

Our Darn Cats

Yes, we have become "Cat People", specifically Maine Coon cat people... Boone, named after the explorer, and pictured with Sarah and Isaiah, is a stately, good-natured, put-together kind of guy. He lets the kids do what they like with him, and in Isaiah`s case that may mean being pushed across the floor like a toy truck, being laid upon, or enduring many other loathsome forms of torture, but after a hard day he simply gazes at Isaiah with a look of mild chagrin. Mika, on the other hand, is a somewhat frantic yet very playful being, who taps at cups of water until they spill, doesn`t like to be held, but follows us all around the house like a white shadow, poking her little pink nose into whatever we`re doing. Her name means "intelligent raccoon" in native American (Hopi). The kids love both additions to the family... so let the cat hair fly!

Bedtime Story

Sarah and Isaiah were getting into "The Pokey Little Puppy" after bath time a couple of weeks ago. Despite the appearance of bedtime tranquility and repose, a few minutes earlier these two were hyped up in the tub, splashing water up to the ceiling!

Our favorite books lately are, well, Isaiah was laughing at one of the Peter Rabbit books the other night-- when Tom Kitten`s buttons all popped off his clothes because of his fat little belly. It reminded me of Isaiah! Sarah and I are into the 4th Narnia Book, "Prince Caspian" (I think there`s a movie of that book coming out soon) and Adam and I are on the third Lord of the Rings book, all about orcs and dwarves and elves. Sarah and I liked "Ferdinand the Bull", which we read at her school this week. Let us know what kids` books you like!

Not everyone is demure on the train...

On the way home from the food fair, Adam and friends Miki and Kai entertained fellow-passengers.

Trip to the Salon?

Who would know it`s not his natural color??

(Ok, this was at the kids` school food fair-- and Isaiah was willing to wait in line 30 minutes to get this doo. The bathwater looked interesting that evening!!)

Adam and Sho Sensei

Adam and his teacher played some duets at the International School food festival last weekend.

Faces of Isaiah

Welcome to our blog!

Hello friends and family!  We have re-started our blog since 2009 when we lived in Japan...now it's 2013 and we're back in Ohio.  Here are some pictures to share.  Love and peace to all who visit our blog.