Shibori festival

this was one of my favorite days! my friend Windy took me to the Shibori festival. In an area where tie-dying is an amaizing art form! it can take a master almost a year to complete one kimono! each detail is hand tied. imagine the patience! all the vendors set up along the street and there was music and food and fun all over! ancient 300 hundred year old floats entertained people with their puppets, as tradition dictates they are carried by the men in the families and the oldest sons work the puppets, there are musicians hidden inside to play along to the story. rickshaws and giants wander the streets. and some lovely little japanese girls did traditional dances. so cute! a woman also did shadow box story telling for the children. so much to see, so much fun and such beautiful art! it is very expensive so i will go back many times to decide what is my favorite before i buy! but a wall hanging is in my future! i did find a summer kimono for 500 yen, ($5) what a wonderful day, just Windy and I, and no kids! thank you Windy!

Tsumago to Nagome

We visited a wonderful little town called Tsumago. It is where preservation started here in Japan. the streets and buildings have been maintaned for over 3oo hundred years! it is so picturesque and beautiful! we hiked about 1/3rd of the way along the old cobblestone road leading to Nagome. we hope to finish it in the years to come. but for now with a 4 year old and a 6 year old we were happy to get as far as we did. there were beautiful rice fields, and rivers along the way.

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! the boys had a great time exploring the old town, getting traditional hats, and fans, and eating stuff on a stick!

from Jaxon and Ghett

Jaxon and I were playing hunting and Jaxon shot me and shot himself. He is a very bad aim. Mommy bandaged us up.

Me and Jaxon holding our favorite stuffed animal and lovey. we have had these since we were tiny babies.

I love Blanket, she is my bear. Jaxon loves Lovey his blanket.

Me, Jaxon and mommy slept outside on the deck on the futons. We saw a little bit of stars out last night and made wishes. We went to the water park yesterday. It is really big and has lots of places to play and fountains everywhere! Me, Ghett likes the deep pools best, and I went in the river too.

there were lots of people there and we had lots of fun!

First we hiked in the forest at a big park. We saw lakes and ponds, and a really big playground with a really cool slide that had rollers you came down on. Daddy did it too!


We went to the beach at Shin-maicho and my friends came too. Daichi came first, then Kelyan, Lisa, and Kaise and their families.

We had a big party on our deck with my friends too. Mommy teaches the other moms English.

I have a new Violin. I really like it and take good care of it.

We went to the amusement park and went on the ferris wheel and merry go round. Me, ghett liked the Seal ride best. Jaxon likes the scary rides.

We went to the circus and saw a ballerina, funny clowns, lions and tigers. And we saw the trapeze act and dancers too. It was fun!

Jaxon and I collected garbage at the park on Earth day!