The other night Kalee and I had a girls night out. We took a break from the nearly empty house to say Sayonara to some of our Japanese friends Aya and Eimee. We met them when we lived in Negishi and Aya helped show us around Yokohama. Kalee and Eimee were only 2 at the time and watching them communicate was awesome. Kalee spoke to Eimee in English and Eimee would respond in Japanese. I decided it was time to take then somewhere they have not been in the Yokosuka area. We went to Peppered Lunch. I only wish I could mail the sauce they have on the counter...I'm too honest to pull a Grandmother...not to mention I'm in JAPAN!!!
Yesterday we checked out of housing. DONE! We have 1 day and a wake up left here. Now we are staying with our friend and it's working out great for the kiddies. By the time we leave she will probably go in circles looking for where Bear relocated her belongings. That will be about a years worth of entertainment in itself.
The kids had dental appointments this morning. Bear jumped right up in the chair and grabbed "Mr. Slurpee" the saliva sucker. After all the pig noises he made using that tool, you'd think the hospital was a pig sty. He made me a liar out of me when I explained how I had to straddle over him to get the toothbrush in the mouth. The complete opposite of Kalee. Kalee got the "circle tickle tool" with mint chocolate toothpaste to clean her teeth. As the Dentist saw her she asked if her water gun was still working. Missing 2 front teeth and all makes for a perfect squirting instrument in the bath tub. Bear gets the brunt end of that one. We sure are going to miss that Pediatric Dentist.
One more day and a wake up!!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Yokohama
Yesterday was an exhausting day! Saturdays Tropical Storm passed leaving for a gorgeous Sunday. We decided upon rising that we would head up to China Town in Yokohama. You know what was strange about the day? 
We had Cindy with who took picture of the 4 of us together. YES! It was actually kinda nice. To th
e left is a picture from the top of Landmark Tower (shown to the right) with Mt. Fuji in the background during sunset. What a beautiful sight. By this point Max and I both had piercing headaches. I thought it may have been from altitude sickness (no, I'm not that ditsy). The elevator going up the tower was made by Mitsubishi and was the fastest in the world...or Japan. Since I'm not that fluent in Japanese, I didn't catch all of the speech from the elevator attendant...mostly because during the 40 second ride her eyes were shut with her forehead leaning against the wall. I'll just b
e safe and say - It was super fast and my ears were hurting. Since my friend has told me I have a strange fascination with Japanese toilets I'd thought it would be nice to include a few pictures...you might understand why. The right is a picture of a child's toilet in a train station...that by chance happens to be in the bottom of a mall called MM21. Why 21 you may ask? I don't know! Maybe because it has 21 stories? Honestly, there are so many escalators in that building I wouldn't doubt the 21 floor guess. The toilet is used facing forward 
or backward for children. It's similar to the traditional Japanese style toilet. Also, you will find a picture of a western style Japanese toilet. The arm looking thing on the right is not to brace yourself. No, it's to control the controllable in the restroom. You will find a 'super deodorizer' button for those embarrassing releases, a 'water sound' button to cover up the sound of the embarrassing releases, a 'spray' and 'buddiet' button with warm water and pressure control for use left to your imaginations...and, oh by the way the toilet seats are heated. See why I have and interesting fascination with them? Wouldn't you? By the way, while taking these pictures I could hear the Japanese ladies thinking "Americans think we were born with camera's in our hands". Yeah, so, I can hear people think....I'm talented like that!
We had Cindy with who took picture of the 4 of us together. YES! It was actually kinda nice. To th
e left is a picture from the top of Landmark Tower (shown to the right) with Mt. Fuji in the background during sunset. What a beautiful sight. By this point Max and I both had piercing headaches. I thought it may have been from altitude sickness (no, I'm not that ditsy). The elevator going up the tower was made by Mitsubishi and was the fastest in the world...or Japan. Since I'm not that fluent in Japanese, I didn't catch all of the speech from the elevator attendant...mostly because during the 40 second ride her eyes were shut with her forehead leaning against the wall. I'll just b
e safe and say - It was super fast and my ears were hurting. Since my friend has told me I have a strange fascination with Japanese toilets I'd thought it would be nice to include a few pictures...you might understand why. The right is a picture of a child's toilet in a train station...that by chance happens to be in the bottom of a mall called MM21. Why 21 you may ask? I don't know! Maybe because it has 21 stories? Honestly, there are so many escalators in that building I wouldn't doubt the 21 floor guess. The toilet is used facing forward 
or backward for children. It's similar to the traditional Japanese style toilet. Also, you will find a picture of a western style Japanese toilet. The arm looking thing on the right is not to brace yourself. No, it's to control the controllable in the restroom. You will find a 'super deodorizer' button for those embarrassing releases, a 'water sound' button to cover up the sound of the embarrassing releases, a 'spray' and 'buddiet' button with warm water and pressure control for use left to your imaginations...and, oh by the way the toilet seats are heated. See why I have and interesting fascination with them? Wouldn't you? By the way, while taking these pictures I could hear the Japanese ladies thinking "Americans think we were born with camera's in our hands". Yeah, so, I can hear people think....I'm talented like that!Below are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Moving Entertainment
Moving entertainment....heh, that was an oxymoron. You know, the games of hide 'n seek in the closets and under kitchen cabinets. Watching Mom leap every time a scream bursts because she just knows someone is going to get their fingers stuck. Entertainment while every piece of furniture is packed out and we sit on a cold hardwood floor, to watch the TV on a box. Playing "Who wants to help mom clean the sliding glass door track" game...or better yet, "How long will it take Mom to peel that apple with a knife" game....Thanks to Kalee I mastered that about 4 years ago. Well to take a break from all this, a friend brought over a tree hugging game of Monopoly, no really it was a 60's version of Monopoly. Rad huh? Oh wait that was 80's. What was the 'in' word for the 60's? Mom help! Was it narley...gnarly...? How ever you spell it. Or was that the 70's? I'm lost.
For the record if Max ever reads this....Cindy and I opened a can of kick but on him! Amazing, the game was truly entertaining
For the record if Max ever reads this....Cindy and I opened a can of kick but on him! Amazing, the game was truly entertaining
Friday, October 26, 2007
1 Week To Go
...Well if there are 8 days a week...
Today we all slept in...WOW! Something we have not done in....um, well, uh....I can't remember. Once 'Sleeping Beauty' woke up...man, that girl can sleep, we got cleaned up. Meanwhile, I herd "Mom, brother just pooped in my closet." ...and that's how the day begun. We walked down to the CNFJ (Commander Naval Forces Japan) Fire Station. They had an open house with lots of demonstrations. One in which was using the jaws of life to get an injured person out of a vehicle. I saw the fear in her eyes when they broke through the windows and folded the top part of the car back. After explaining when and why firefighters do that she calmed down. As the dummy was pulled out of the vehicle and layed on the stretcher she asked "Why did that person have holes in him?" I have a very observant child. Beware! Another demo included an aircraft that was on fire. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture (hence the title of this blog)?
Today we all slept in...WOW! Something we have not done in....um, well, uh....I can't remember. Once 'Sleeping Beauty' woke up...man, that girl can sleep, we got cleaned up. Meanwhile, I herd "Mom, brother just pooped in my closet." ...and that's how the day begun. We walked down to the CNFJ (Commander Naval Forces Japan) Fire Station. They had an open house with lots of demonstrations. One in which was using the jaws of life to get an injured person out of a vehicle. I saw the fear in her eyes when they broke through the windows and folded the top part of the car back. After explaining when and why firefighters do that she calmed down. As the dummy was pulled out of the vehicle and layed on the stretcher she asked "Why did that person have holes in him?" I have a very observant child. Beware! Another demo included an aircraft that was on fire. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture (hence the title of this blog)?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
...And a Move to the US!
12 rolls of tape
11 kinds of boxes
10 bottles of water
9 hours loading
8 mouths eating (my family of 4, 3 packers and a FRIEND...to clarify!)
7 days of cleaning
6 weeks of planning
5 crates on the first day
4 days of clothes
3 Japanese packers
2 days of loading
AND a move to the United States!
It's done! We packed out our long term household goods. The Japanese packers were great. I was rather impressed at how efficient they were! Max and I always joked about timeliness here too. When we put a service request in for maintenance and they said 08:00 they pulled around the corner at 07:59 and rang the doorbell at exactly 08:00. Same with the movers! We still think they park around the corner and wait. The kids did great too. When we packed out to move here Kalee didn't do so well with the movers taking her toys and bed. I prepared them properly this time. "The box men that we have been talking about are here to help us move our belongings to our new home. They want to pack everything just right because they know it's special to us. So we have to help them and stay out of their way." Simple as that! Mrs. Cindy took Kalee for a ride to break things up for her. They cruised by the pier to say Sayonara to Mr. Chuck and Daddy's old ship while Bear napped in the 'Do not Enter. Express shipment items' room. Max even wrote it in Kanji....well actually he's not experienced in writing hieroglyphics so he worked his computer magic and printed it. Some 197 boxes later, our house is empty....and it echos....which wouldn't be so bad if my opera singer had laryngitis. How convenient the acoustics in this place are just...perfect for her. And it didn't take me long to figure out that when Bear disappeared, the kitchen cupboards had a familiar giggle. Now we have a TV on a box, air mattress, a pot, a pan, can opener, fine china made by Dixie, few toys and books...until our express shipment goes Wednesday of next week. 10 days left here!
On a side note: Many know we have HHG (household goods) in storage in San Diego. Escondido to be exact. Even though we have (as of 24 hours ago the area was evacuated) our most precious heirlooms stored there we realize many don't have a roof over their head. Please keep the displaced families in your thoughts and prayers. We lived in San Diego during the Cedar fires 4 years ago and I remember how devastating it was when I drove up the 163 to I-15.... freeways well traveled by Max and I. A reporter said this is worse then Hurricane Katrina....wow!
11 kinds of boxes
10 bottles of water
9 hours loading
8 mouths eating (my family of 4, 3 packers and a FRIEND...to clarify!)
7 days of cleaning
6 weeks of planning
5 crates on the first day
4 days of clothes
3 Japanese packers
2 days of loading
AND a move to the United States!
It's done! We packed out our long term household goods. The Japanese packers were great. I was rather impressed at how efficient they were! Max and I always joked about timeliness here too. When we put a service request in for maintenance and they said 08:00 they pulled around the corner at 07:59 and rang the doorbell at exactly 08:00. Same with the movers! We still think they park around the corner and wait. The kids did great too. When we packed out to move here Kalee didn't do so well with the movers taking her toys and bed. I prepared them properly this time. "The box men that we have been talking about are here to help us move our belongings to our new home. They want to pack everything just right because they know it's special to us. So we have to help them and stay out of their way." Simple as that! Mrs. Cindy took Kalee for a ride to break things up for her. They cruised by the pier to say Sayonara to Mr. Chuck and Daddy's old ship while Bear napped in the 'Do not Enter. Express shipment items' room. Max even wrote it in Kanji....well actually he's not experienced in writing hieroglyphics so he worked his computer magic and printed it. Some 197 boxes later, our house is empty....and it echos....which wouldn't be so bad if my opera singer had laryngitis. How convenient the acoustics in this place are just...perfect for her. And it didn't take me long to figure out that when Bear disappeared, the kitchen cupboards had a familiar giggle. Now we have a TV on a box, air mattress, a pot, a pan, can opener, fine china made by Dixie, few toys and books...until our express shipment goes Wednesday of next week. 10 days left here!
On a side note: Many know we have HHG (household goods) in storage in San Diego. Escondido to be exact. Even though we have (as of 24 hours ago the area was evacuated) our most precious heirlooms stored there we realize many don't have a roof over their head. Please keep the displaced families in your thoughts and prayers. We lived in San Diego during the Cedar fires 4 years ago and I remember how devastating it was when I drove up the 163 to I-15.... freeways well traveled by Max and I. A reporter said this is worse then Hurricane Katrina....wow!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hectic times
Max's Commissioning Ceremony was this past week. What a sight! Now only if family would understand what it means to go up the Enlisted ranks, and be one of few Navy wide to get selected for LDO (limited duty officer). Kalee got to put his shoulder boards on, and Bear got to place the cover him. What a sight, I tell ya. If the other computer wernt packed I'd post pictures....go figure huh!
Today Kalee said "Mom, I found the earring from when I was a kid!"....if this dosent make you laugh. When I was putting her to bed I was explaining the next few days. Tomorrow we are going to the Mikoshi Parade. Monday, Tokyo Disney Sea. Tuesday, we pack out....she said "Wait! Is that the day the box men are coming over to our house and making a thousand boxes?" She's right, it seems like a thousand when your unpacking by yourself. "Yup it is baby, and they will put them in big crates and then they go on boats to the States. We will get all our stuff when we get there"...or 3 months later....shhhh.
Duty calls. Hubby wants me to help him log serial numbers. Thing we do to prepare....
Heads up to my regulars, I may not be on for a few days.
Today Kalee said "Mom, I found the earring from when I was a kid!"....if this dosent make you laugh. When I was putting her to bed I was explaining the next few days. Tomorrow we are going to the Mikoshi Parade. Monday, Tokyo Disney Sea. Tuesday, we pack out....she said "Wait! Is that the day the box men are coming over to our house and making a thousand boxes?" She's right, it seems like a thousand when your unpacking by yourself. "Yup it is baby, and they will put them in big crates and then they go on boats to the States. We will get all our stuff when we get there"...or 3 months later....shhhh.
Duty calls. Hubby wants me to help him log serial numbers. Thing we do to prepare....
Heads up to my regulars, I may not be on for a few days.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Proud and Prepping
Daddy's so proud! So ya know we are kinda packing....obviously for a move. During this evolution, Kalee's massive custom made captains bed had to be taken apart into pieces for the movers next week. NEXT WEEK! 6 days from today! Max ran downstairs to grab something and Bear picked up where Daddy left off. He operated a power drill all by himself. Then as I was showering, I herd a woodpecker pecking in my hallway...until I realized he was drilling a hole in my wall. I think he's been hanging around his 3 year old friend that builds his Mom bird houses using his Bob the Builder tools too much.
Moving is stressful for children too. I realized this when prepping to move to Japan. Kalee was about 2 and started crying when her bed and toys walked out the door and onto the large wooden crates. Since this will be her 4th home (Bears 3rd) in her short life we have been working her up to yet another, new room. This time it's exciting. Even though she probably has little to no memory of living in the States, she at least remembers visiting there. I have explained to her how it's different there. Here we fear getting hit by a local bicycle rider....in the states we fear kidnappings. We have discussed many differences and what will be happening so she knows what to expect when the time comes. Another thing most don't realize is Max is headed to another ship. Back to back sea duty. Normally Sailors rotate ship/shore duty...but as you know, Max and "normal" don't belong in the same sentence. Once again we have to explain how Daddy will be working on another ship...a bigger one with a different mission. By the time this girl turns 6 she will have mastered Geography...courtesy of Dad's career. The globe serves for more then just a shelf ornament in this house...all things we have to discuss with a 5 year old that understands and a 2 year old that doesn't.
Bear's vocabulary is blossoming. He repeats every last word. I told him "put that back" he repeated "back-t", then I said "clean your face" he said "base". See the trend. Literally last word. Now I have to get him to say Maximiliano opposed to "ano".
Time to go. I'm talking about my kids too much...again.
Moving is stressful for children too. I realized this when prepping to move to Japan. Kalee was about 2 and started crying when her bed and toys walked out the door and onto the large wooden crates. Since this will be her 4th home (Bears 3rd) in her short life we have been working her up to yet another, new room. This time it's exciting. Even though she probably has little to no memory of living in the States, she at least remembers visiting there. I have explained to her how it's different there. Here we fear getting hit by a local bicycle rider....in the states we fear kidnappings. We have discussed many differences and what will be happening so she knows what to expect when the time comes. Another thing most don't realize is Max is headed to another ship. Back to back sea duty. Normally Sailors rotate ship/shore duty...but as you know, Max and "normal" don't belong in the same sentence. Once again we have to explain how Daddy will be working on another ship...a bigger one with a different mission. By the time this girl turns 6 she will have mastered Geography...courtesy of Dad's career. The globe serves for more then just a shelf ornament in this house...all things we have to discuss with a 5 year old that understands and a 2 year old that doesn't.
Bear's vocabulary is blossoming. He repeats every last word. I told him "put that back" he repeated "back-t", then I said "clean your face" he said "base". See the trend. Literally last word. Now I have to get him to say Maximiliano opposed to "ano".
Time to go. I'm talking about my kids too much...again.
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