Spring Break: Miyajima

 Since we had guests who needed to enjoy the awesomeness that is Japan, we went to Miyajima on Tuesday.  I did not want to drive there, so we took the train.  It was so much nicer!  We walked, we roamed, we shopped, we devoured okonomiyaki (every plate was licked clean!), and we went to the aquarium.  It was a gorgeous day and we had a most excellent time.

Enjoying the local JR train.

Train is more fun than driving! 

Marian was bored, but Adrian enjoyed it. 

Hanging out on the ferry. 

Of course, Callie brought a bag of grass to feed the deer.  They love her. 

My "I was there" photo with the iconic Torii Gate behind me. 

Rylee wanted a photo. 

And she wanted a picture with this deer. 

Delaney and the Miyajima Torii. 

We got to see this wedding couple, which was much cooler in person. 

Rylee's face in this cracks me up.  I do not know what was going on here! 

The obligatory ice cream.  Because Japan has amazing ice cream and it makes the hangry go away.

And Josh wanted a steamed bun.  It was so cute to hear him order in Japanese. I was so proud.

My delightful offspring, waiting at the okonomiyaki restaurant. 

Silliness. 

And delicious okonomiyaki!

The aquarium was fun. 

The fish are pretty cool. 

Hee hee hee! 

I love this one of Rylee. 

And someone has a photobomber! 

Enjoying the fish. 

Impressed with the starfish pool. 

You were allowed to touch them and hold them. 

The penguins were fun and the one in front put on a show. 

We also saw the sea lion show, which was good. It was a lot of walking but the kids were amazing and trucked along without complaint.  

Spring Break: Bunny Island

 On Monday we headed out to Bunny Island.  It is a 2 hour drive- past Hiroshima.  And then a short ferry ride to Okunoshima Island. Joshua and Delaney opted to stay home, which was fine.  Two less bodies in the car for a long drive is good!  The weather was gorgeous and perfect.  We walked around the entire island and got to see the historical stuff, which was cool.  It use to be a facility for testing and storing poison gas during the war.   And, of course, there were bunnies!  Lots of bunnies who were happy to get some goodies.

We brought bags of chopped veggies- cabbage, broccoli, carrots and parsnips.  The bunnies were thrilled for all of it but the cabbage.  Most of them were still happy to gobble down the cabbage, but several turned their noses up at it and wanted the other stuff.  That they devoured.  We took 4 gallon zip lock bags filled with food and ran out just as we were ready to go.  It was a good day.

Taking the ferry over.  We got on the big one this time, which I prefer to the tiny boat. 

Callie is in her happy place. 

 Marian found some friends.

 Rylee really really wanted a bunny on her lap.

But Marian had the best technique to lure them over. 

After seeing some friends post "Bunny Ninja" photos, Marian has been dying to try it.  I gave her 5 seconds and she did this.  The bunny was not harmed, and gave a single huffy hop when she put him down.  Then the bunny sat there and ate some carrots. 

See bunny, must pet. 

The kids were actually more excited to find this long tailed lizard. 

I love this cute girl! 

Rylee loved the bunnies so much!

She managed to get three at once! She was in heaven. 

 Rylee posing, and Callie not, at the gas facility.

 Cool old buildings.

Explanation of what it was. 

A barracks area. 

 Still looks cool.

Description of the stuff. 

This was a giant old abandoned building and would have been spooky if it were not all windows.

Marian and Adrian and the ocean. 

Marian, the bunny whisperer. 

And the lizard collector. 

Hee hee hee!  Looking over the day's photos.

Spring Break: Kintai

Back in Second Grade, Marian had a best friend named Adrian.  She has stayed friends with Adrian throughout the years and we have put in the effort to get the kids together whenever an opportunity presented itself.  The summer we moved here, we met up with him and spent the day together, and then it was just FaceTiming for the last 2 and a half years.

Adrian and his mom came to spend Spring Break with us and they arrived on Friday.  We planned out some day trips, but we spent Saturday shopping and took no photos of that!  Sunday after church we took them out to Kintai, because.... Kintai!  The Cherry Blossoms are just starting to bloom, but they weren't in much glory.  It was the best day for us to go though.  So we went.

I didn't take many pictures because we have seen it before, and the blossoms were still in the early stages.  But I did get a few.

Marian and Adrian on the bridge.

A little better closer picture.

Rylee, with the castle in the background.

Levi came with us and had a fabulous time.  Callie thinks she's out of the picture.  Heh heh heh.  Except, I can't really see her anyway.

Rylee wanted to pose with the samurai statue.

Sewing blankets

 I love making my beautiful baby blankets.  It is my happy place.  And I love making these super-soft blankets from repurposed old kimonos.  As we did our taxes and I was told I can use donated blankets as a write off, I went over to get a statement from the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, as I have donated a bunch to them.  Apparently I gave them 31 blankets in 2016!

If you sew, you can guess that it ain't a cheap hobby! The old kimonos are inexpensive, but fabric is not.  So a few months ago, I applied to the base to have a Home Business, so I could sell them.  It is a small niche market, and I do not sell a ton, but between the blankets and scarves, I have probably made enough to support my habit.  I love making the Infinity Scarves as well and have a good collection of those.

This weekend I had a table at the Home Business Expo and I was pleased to do some good business.  Which is good because I just  bought some more kimonos.....

Here are some of my lovelies.

This is my scarf model.  The girls dressed her up and named her Sasha.  And those are some of my pretty scarves piled next to her.

Random

The Japanese American Society held their annual cultural event and we went.  Rylee was happy to make this Pikachu. 

They have a lot of cool things, but I got busy and forgot to take more pictures! 

A sweet little doggie.  Levi is the best! 

One of the teachers gave this hat to Rylee after the school play (Peter Pan).  I believe it was a hat for one if the Indians.  She loved it.

And I don't know what this is.  But I don't have a lot of photos of Delaney, so it's going in here.