Poor Levi

 Poor Levi started licking his hind paw a little obsessively.  I checked it out and he seemed to have a tiny abscess in between two of his paw pads.  The next day he had about licked the bottom right off his pads in his attempts to make it feel better.  I was worried about my poor doggie, so off we went to the vet.

They concurred.  A tiny abscess.  But they didn't do anything. I'd kind of thought they might lance it to relieve the pressure or something, but nope.  Didn't even wash the over-licked appendage. Just gave topical antibiotic, oral antibiotic and an oral anti-itch pill.  And a cone of shame.  Apparently the one we bought back when he was a mere 6 months old was no longer big enough to fit his burly neck.

Having a good time at the vet office.

Not so fun now.  He's hoping the door will open and he can escape. 

Fitted for his cone. 

And feeling quite depressed about the entire situation.

And now, some follow up.  The cone was demolished in under 3 hours.  Not because Levi even tried to break it, it was just that cheap and crappy. It disintegrated on contact when he ran into the side of his kennel.   

He licked his paw for the next two days and I think the abscess did it's thing, and he's been licking less and less.  He hasn't limped at all the last 2 days, and we took him on his usual Sunday walk and he was delighted.  No limping or discomfort at all. Yay!

Kendama Class with Rylee

 Rylee and I went on a Cultural Adaptation trip last Saturday.  We met at 8:45am, took a bus over to the Yuu Elementary School and got our culture on!  We got to participate in some Ice-Breaker games.  They were very Japanese.  The first one was called "Look up.  Look Down", where you stand in a big circle.  The guy in charge would say, "Look down!"  and everyone looked down.  Then he would call, "Look up!"  and you looked up, and tried to catch the eye of someone.  If you made eye contact, you walked towards each other, shook hands and introduced yourself.  You were suppose to say something about yourself as well.  Then you traded places and did it all over again.  Not a great way for the Americans to really get into it because there was a lot of awkward eye-avoidance!

The best ice breaker was a hula hoop game.  Still in the big circle, everyone held hands.  It was awesome to see how the Japanese men were perfectly comfortable holding hands for this, and the Americans were really uncomfortable with it.  Anyway, the hula hoop was hung over someone's arm. At the whistle, you tried to get the hula hoop all the way around the circle, without letting go of hands.  That meant everyone had to climb through it and work together.  It really was fun.

Then the Kendama instructor came out.  The Kendama is the ball and cup game that Japan apparently has taken to a whole other level. The instructor was very fun and entertaining.  He joked around as he pulled out a bunch of  different kinds of kendamas and showed off his mad skills.  We got to practice and try everything.  He showed us a couple different games and things to do with them.  The "unicorn" was the favorite, and we got a group shot with everyone doing it.  Very fun.

Next was lunch.  They told us to bring a lunch, so we did.  But they also brought out some fruit and  okonomiyaki for us to try.  It was pretty good.   We were delighted with their fresh and delicious strawberries.  We cleaned up, went outside for photos and then loaded up and went home.  It was a good excursion.

Ryle trying to master the ball.

Master Instructor showing the tiny kendama after theatrically pulling out increasingly larger ones.

Showing her kendama.

Well, not the best trick. But a cute little face. 

This was a really fun one.  A super long stick made it really difficult, but the oval shaped ball was painted like a chick.   

Doing the "unicorn"! 

Selfie with my partner in crime. 

Loving the sweet strawberries for lunch. 

And being silly with her apples.

Finally- Star Wars!

We do not get first run movies.  We have to wait about 6 weeks for them to arrive here.  Usually, it's not a big deal, but was a long wait, for this movie.  The base did a great job.  They showed all 6 of the previous Star Wars movies, in order, for free the 2 weeks leading up to the premier of "The Force Awakens". Then they showed the movie for a week, twice a day, and they had R2D2 and the storm trooper out to do pictures and entertain before each showing.

Callie and I went to see the movie and Callie grudgingly agreed to pose for a picture for me.  She was unenthusiastic.  Storm Trooper guy made her hold the weapon and she did great.  She pretended she didn't want to, but I know, secretly, she loved it!  We both loved the movie.  (Dan saw it twice.)

Daddy Daughter Dance 2016

This year Callie and Marian refused to go to the Daddy Daughter Dance.  Marian hates that sort of thing, and that wasn't a surprise.  Callie has reached the point where she worries what others think and she was not going to go out in public wearing a dress; where people might see her.  So no way was she going.

Fortunately, Delaney and Rylee were very excited about the event. Unfortunately, I was sadly negligent in taking pictures... as in, I didn't really take any.  Oops. The event had several photo op areas, and they had a couple photographers there.  I went through the website where around 500 of the pictures were posted, and it was astounding that there was not a single one of Dan or the girls.  I found all our friends, but none of my crew. I'm pretty sure that was intentional by Dan, but it was depressingly impressive.

Delaney wanted a braided bun.

Then she needed a picture of what her hair looked like. 

 Her dress is a size larger than necessary, but she loved it.

Rylee hung out with Milly at the dance and Milly's dad took a few pictures.

Such cute little friends!

Sumo Wrestling!

 Callie is getting suited up and ready to rumble!

She's having trouble in the giant suit.... and she doesn't want me taking her photo. 

 In a face off against Jarron, Callie went in for the take down, and veteran Jarron just hoped back.  Down went Callie!

 Lorisa managed to flip Callie onto her back, and Jarron promptly smooshed them both.

Ready now for round two. 

Callie turned the tables.  Jarron went in for the press, to knock her down with his weight, and she hopped back.  So Jarron went down.

And Callie went in for the smoosh! 

Ryle wanted to wear the Sumo headpiece.  This is her game face.  

(P.S.  Those are her brand new glasses, had for 2 whole days, that we lost at this party and found broken.  So sad!)

Good times!

My friend Shelli, in the front, is leaving.  It is very sad.  She took me and April out to Miyajima to shop.  Just shop.  And we liked it!  It was nice to meander through all the shops with no kids or husbands hustling us out!

I was introduced to the Honey Store.  And this is the delicious ambrosial I discovered.  Lemon honey.  Who knew?!!  It is divine.  In warm water or cold, it is so yummy, I have nearly consumed the entire container... and it has been less than a week!

I truly hope you can play this video clip.  It is a fascinating squirter we found at the dollar store.  You pull the legs apart and it "pees" on you.  SO funny!

Stuff that's Happened

 Rylee was so mad last week she had a major meltdown and nearly fell asleep here on the floor.  Poor little pickle!

I have been on a quilting spree!  Such cute fabric here, I must use it! 

Why is my photo vertical?!  Well, look closely at it.  Yep, it is horseradish white chocolate.  What' the Heck, Japan?!! 

In case you are wondering, yes, I did sample it, and no, I would NOT recommend it!

I do not know what this dog was doing.  He was standing in the laundry room peering at me from behind the door. It made me laugh. 

Okay, so Rylee has an eye patch to help strengthen her bad eye.  But this picture isn't about her pirate look. What she wants you to see is this cute hat she demanded I take a picture of her wearing. 

Who needs toys when you have a box?!  Ryle and her friend Noemie had a blast playing with this box together on a play date.

Making Goals for 2016

My sister in law is amazing and makes these great lists every year of her goals.  I love it.  And I love that she reports back at the end of the year on how well she did.  I think it is such a great idea- some accountability, but no shame in not making it.  The focus is on the improvement, not a magical transformation.  And her goals are not huge life-changers, just things she wants to do, or improve.

So, I made some goals for me, and for FHE last week we did some family goals.  The kids were cute. I asked what was on our bucket list for Japan, and what we wanted to do as well as do better. Here is what we came up with:

My Goals
1.  Try 1 new restaurant a month (I'm already 1 for 12 since I ate at a delicious Okonomiyaki place on Monday!)
2. Get my Visiting Teaching done each month, even if it is a call or a letter.
3. Go on 6 Cultural Excursions- either in a group, with friends, or by myself.  But get out, move away from my comfort zone, and see Japan
4. Sew and finish a quilt for my bed. (I'm on a huge sewing kick right now, but o far, only baby blankets are coming out.)
5. Volunteer at the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society twice a month.
6. Have a lunch date with Dan twice a month.
7. Visit Hiroshima Castle
8. Go to the Motonosumi Inari Shrine- the 122 Torii Gates shrine.

Bucket List Goals for 2016
1. Climb Mt Fuji
2. Do Karaoke
3. Visit Cat Island
4. Go to Universal Studios.
5. Go to Kuga Park (when it is open!!)

Family Goals
1. Media/Tech-Free Wednesdays
2. Do our Saturday Chores diligently (as opposed to not often, which is the current status quo)
3. Do a better Job of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.
4.  Kids cook dinner once a month.
5. Go out and do more things as a family.

I see that the Family Goals are a little vague and maybe should have had some more measurable details in them.  Perhaps when I write them on posterboard to post on the wall I'll do that.  And I shall try to report back at the end of the year on how well we did.

Family Fun Day... Fail

We have been slovenly this Christmas Break.  Which is really not so bad, because I have lots of things I can do and I enjoy not having to do anything.  However, it seemed a terrible waste of an opportunity to go and DO something, so we planned to have Mandatory Family Fun on Thursday, Dec 31.

The day was doomed from the start.  The sky was gray and the forecast was for rain.  We persevered. I wanted to check out a big park that sounded fun, so we printed the directions and drove out into the mountain, raindrops notwithstanding.  I was excited that we managed to not get lost and we were able to find the park.

However, it was closed!  Who closes a park?!  And by closed, I mean, barriers around the parking lot so you can't go in, and the road closed off so you can't keep going.  What was up with that?!!  We were sad.  We drove across the street to a parking lot, and discovered a random little park right there.... within eyesight of the giant fun (and CLOSED!) park.  We had a little fun while planning our next move.

We decided to go out to lunch at the Udon Noodle place that the kids love but Dan has never been to. So off we went.  We got to the noodle place and I was absurdly pleased because we took a different road and it was faster and we didn't get lost.  Alas, being New Year's Eve, the Udon Noodle place was closed!

Okay, new plan.  We decided to go to the "Italian" Restaurant that has these amazing breadsticks.  It is right nest to a market, so we could get garlic breadsticks and find something Japanese-y in the market.  Unfortunately the parking lot there was so full, there was no parking and with a car full of kids who were now losing patience, we kept going.

As we headed back home, we discovered that the delicious BLT place was open.  So we divided and conquered. Callie and I went there for lunch, Dan dropped Joshua and Delaney off at the Food Court, and Dan took the rest to the bowling alley and everyone was happy.

Now I have to tell you, I was really impressed by the great attitudes the kids had.  It could have been a horrid whiny disaster, as things did not go as planned.  However, they rolled with it all, stayed cheerful and we actually had a pretty fun time.

Fun on the Teeter Totter at the little park.

The girls wiped down the twins and had a lovely time.

Neither rain, nor park closures can stop us!

Ryle practiced her balancing and did great.

And the swing got some more use.

We enjoyed fun signs like this one on our drive.

And who knew there were JWs in Japan?!!

Callie opted for Yakisoba for lunch and was very happy with it.

I devoured this giant slice of heaven.  BLT with avocado.  Yum!

Merry Christmas!

 Well, it just wouldn't be Christmas without a post of the loot.

But first....  It was a lovely Christmas.  The kids got up around 6 and went to check out their stockings.  I got to sleep in till after 7.  Dan and Callie went and delivered cinnamon rolls to the 2 guys locked up in the brig and they guys who had to be on duty with them.  The presents didn't get started till close to 9, which was fine.  It was a leisurely morning, and no one complained.

Much fun was had while opening gifts and many were the exclamations of "Just what I wanted" and "Yay"!  It seemed that all were satisfied and delighted with their haul.  The kids did a great job of putting their stuff away and the house was fairly clean by bedtime.  I proclaim it to have been a delightful day.

The poor tree was squeezed into a corner, just barely big enough to fit it. I thought it looked perfect.

Levi had to be a part of it all. 

Rylee's favorite present was this mini-harp.  Our neighbor plays the harp and Rylee is obsessed with it. 

Marian is happy with this, and I know her hiding spot so I will be ...ahem....helping her to share. 

Someone made this same face for all his photos.  I shall save them for his future girlfriends. 

 One of my favorite gifts of the year!  I can't wait to start trying the recipes.

Marian was happy to get a shirt that met her specifications.  Joshua was jealous. 

I can only assume his face indicates an overwhelming feeling of joy. 

Delaney's face is overcome with joy.  What spectacular gift has moved her nearly to tears? 

She got a sewing machine.  She is super excited to learn to use it and she already LOVES sewing. I'm pretty sure she can already hand sew better than me.

Mmmmm.... Mexican cocoa. 

Could she be any cuter? 

I was rather excited about this, and then was rather disappointed that it did NOT contain actual moose munch. I think they got me twice on that trick.

Love this kid.  Love the sweet gifts the kids gave to each other. 

I can't even tell you how much fun has already been had with this!

Merry Christmas!!