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!

into mischief…

Stone loves to take tissues and wipes out of the box and on this particular day I turned my back for little too long and he had a heyday with a new box of tissues... oh the simple pleasures of childhood!

The look of guilt on his face when he realized I was watching him was priceless!

No better way to enjoy another rainy day...

than to play in it!

little man's weigh in...

I took Stone for a weigh in today at the health center...he is 50% for weight and 95% for height... so I guess when Japanese people tell me he is big they must be reffering to his height.

here are the stats...
weight 9.94 kg or about 21.9 lbs
height 78.7 cm or about 30.9 in

Next month, we will go for a tooth check... hopefully by then his little molars will be in and not bothering him so much!

かみね どうぶつ えん。。。KAMINE ZOO

Yesterday, we went to the Kamine zoo with Charity& Freedom, Laura & Dj and Laura's friends, Chiharu & Yuan. Stone loved watching the animals...he got to see elephants, monkeys, tigers, donkeys, lions, rhinoceros, penguins and he even got to pet a bunny but... mommy made him pass on petting the snake! It was a great day... even though we did not get to spend much time with Laura and Dj... there was hardly anyone at the zoo so we did not have to fight crowds or feel like we were the ones on display. Stone has already told me that he wants to take daddy there soon.

Stone petting the bunny.

Playing hide-n-seek with the elephant.

Charity, Freedom, me and Stone posing for the traditional souvenir photo.

The giraffe.. Stone thought he was funny looking with his loooong neck.

Taking a break... Laura and Dj enjoyed ice cream while Stone and Freedom enjoyed some water and being free.

We love Saturday!

Saturdays have become a family day... and every Saturday morning at 7:15 it is like Stone knows that we are going to go out and have some fun. Last Saturday, after a McDonalds breakfast of puchi pancakes we headed to a park near here to join some friends in a round of disc golf. Stone had so much fun running and playing in the grass and trees. After one round we headed home and Lj cleaned out the car while Stone tried to nap then in the evening we headed to the mall to get Stone his "first" pair of shoes... which he is still trying to decide what he thnks of them. I can't wait until August when every day will be like Saturday...but hopefully Stone will sleep in later than 7:15!

I love this smile!

Look at this face...

Stone loved disc golf!

Playing soccer with daddy!

Father and Son

Happy 4th of July!

Thank you Auntie Holly for the t-shirt!

Play Date with Ayano!

Today Stone and I met Ayano and her mommy at the park. Ayano is one of the cutest Japanese babies ever... She has the most precious little curls and the sweetest smile.

Stone has been into giving hugs lately... He made sure to give Ayano a few hugs today...It was so cute to see him go to give her a hug because he would get all excited and almost always managed to push her over... but she took it in stride and even hugged him back.