Day 7- Route 66

Today we decided to hit Route 66 for a while...

 

First stop POP's... they have over 500 different bottles of Pop... 

non- Okies that is a carbonated beverage.  It was really neat idea for a convenience store! 

 

They even had ラムネ (RAMUNE), a favorite drink from Japan.  　

 

Our next stop on the "tour" was the Round Barn in Arcadia.  It was built in 1889...amazing that is it still standing and in such great condition!  

 

While in the Round Barn we met an 80 year old man who shared a wealth of information with us and he told us to head a little further east down the road and we would hit his property and on his property sat an old filling station... WOW!  The architecture was amazing... and it is still standing after all this time! 

 

Day 6- Sunday Afternoon Tee Time!

Day 5- Last Day of SONshine School

Today was the last day of SONshine school.  Stone has one year down and many more years of school to come!  He had a great year and enjoyed SONshine School so much... he loved his teachers, friends and driving the bus with mommy.  His teachers, Mrs. Nicole and Miss Chelsea, were great with him... they were patient as he adjusted to school in America and as he learned how to get along with his new friends.  It is such a blessing that he can attend school and I can work... it worked great for both of us!   

Stone on his first day of SONshine school

Stone with Miss Chelsea on her last day... she will go to Japan next fall on PacRim

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Mrs. Nicole and Stone together.  

Day 4- Happy Birthday, Yamato!

Stones bestest friend, Yamato turned three on May 12th.  

Yamato celebrated his birthday at the Anpan-man Museum. After seeing the photos Stone said he wanted to go there with Yamato for his birthday... he really still can't grasp that Yamato lives so far away.  Stone will just have to settle for a Anpan-man party at home.  

Day 3- Enjoying the Zoo

Stone, Reiko and I all headed to the zoo on Monday.  It was a great way to spend the early afternoon... it was sunny but breezy and most of the field trip groups were winding down.  Stone riding the Elephant... he loves these bronze animals!
Stone and his friends; Joe and Jake.  Joe introduced himself to me in Target one day and Tyna, their mom, and I hit it off.  We try to get together once a week or so to play and chat!  

Day 2- Fun in the City

Friday, Lj had a field trip with his students so Stone and I tagged along.  The field trip was to the Oklahoma City Bombing Site, dinner and a Redhawks game.  Since the bombing museum does not have a children's area I figured Stone and I would head to the library to play in the fountain. Well, the fountain was being worked on so we headed back to the bombing site to hang out and wait.  While we were waiting Stone decided that it was too hot to wait so he did the one thing all kids love to do... he played in the water at the drinking fountain.

I enjoy baseball but keeping true to Oscar's comment last year, Baseball is slow! So I think next time we got to a game we should arrive during the 6th inning!  Of course, Stone loved the nachos, peanuts, soda and the Redhawk bird.  

Day 1- Bathtub... Friend or Foe?

The bathtub was the happening place last week at The Ljs...

Soon after I arrived at work on Monday; Lj called me to tell me that Stone has fallen in the tub and cut his chin and he thought he needed stitches!  So, I told my shift supervisor and she sent me on my way telling me not to worry about coming back that they would get my shift covered! I loved my job before but I love it more now... on top of the fact that they went to the trouble of covering my shift I also received a few texts from co-workers saying they were praying for Stone. Anyway, we made our way to the ER... a few awesome doctors, nurses,  4 stitches and 3 hours later we were home. 

On Wednesday, in keeping true to the Oklahoma weather we had a few small tornados touch down near our house!  I was keeping Tyler and Molly when I heard the Tornado sirens go off!  I called Lj to see what the deal was  and he said that he was on his way to get us because the tornado was heading our way... we were going to head to the "safe place" at OC.  He then called a few minutes later to tell me that we should all head to the tub... and they were all heading to the vault in the center of his building. So I told Tyler and Stone get their shoes on and all four of us got in the tub... Molly- 10 weeks, Tyler- 3 1/2, Stone and I!  It was a tight fit but the boys were troopers and did amazingly well! The tornado started heading north about a mile from us and we were all safe!  Praise God!  

a new leaf?!

My goal is to try to keep up and make a few posts a week... they will most likely include pictures more than anything else but at least my blog won't be still any more! 

First night in Japan...

We tried to surprise Marianne and Holly... Port did a great job keeping it a secret but somehow Holly figured it out... Here she is telling them, "I told you so..."!  

It was so great to reconnect with them... and enjoy our first of many cups of Starbucks beverages in Japan together! 

Trip to Japan... Day 1

Stone knows how to make the most of a three hour layover in the Chicago airport... PLAY!  

Friends Reunited!

I love this picture of Stone and Yamato walking together... they acted like it was old times ... they are best buds!

My college roommate and friend, Karen, lost her mom suddenly to a heart attack over the weekend. My heart breaks for her... I know her mom was like a rock to her!

I am coming back...

I can't seem to figure out all Lj has done to our site... so I am going to start posting here again! 

Moving on...

With a little prompting from Lj I am moving on from blogger...for updates please check out http://www.ljandkari.com or http://www.theljs.com. I will be posting updates from there for now on! Thanks!

水戸 黄門 まつり

Mito was buzzing this weekend with festivals and celebrations!

The festivities started last night with a spectacular firework show honoring, the Mito Koumon, the second lord of the Mito clan.

Mito puts on a wonderful firework show lasting 90 or so minutes! I had never seen a show like this until we moved here.

Stone hanging out with his Uncle Aaron and buddy, Freedom!

Stone always is so happy and excited to see Erisa and Reiko! They spoil him like crazy!

A family photo... Stone has decided that smiling for the camera is no fun!

Today was the "big" day of the festival... there were parades, floats and dance shows! Since we have lived in Japan for 7 years and have never really attended the festivities on a Saturday we decided that we would brave the heat and head downtown to see what was all the hype! I am so glad we went...

Safe in his daddy's arms Stone enjoyed watching all the action!

Stone had a great view from daddy's shoulders!

What better way to spend the first weekend of summer vacation than with family!?

I'm afraid this might be Stone one day...

**Shamelessly stolen from Jason's blog

He is already learning how to navigate the mouse... he just can't figure out why it does not work like Daddy's!

Uncle Aaron

Stone really wanted to see his Uncle Aaron today... he actually called him from my cell phone...I heard it ringing and Aaron being a good sport about it told Stone to call him anytime. So this afternoon when Stone and I went for a walk to Daidarabo Park we called and asked Aaron to meet us... since his school is so close he was able to sneak away for a few minutes. Stone really loves all the attention Aaron gives him... God has blessed our family with Aaron's friendship for over 10 years!