Day 7 Tokyo & getting home

 We woke up at the Temple housing and couldn't come up with a plan.  This was the first time we were having a difference of opinions and couldn't decide what to do.  Finally, we decided we were worn out and the city sites weren't what we wanted to see so we found a flight home and then went our for a final day of sites.

We started at the Tsukuji Fish Market.  It was so busy and crazy and SMELLY!

Everyone was standing in line for fresh sushi (for breakfast?) I saw the prices and thought, NO WAY ($30+ per plate)!  but then the longer we were there the more I wanted to see what all the hubbub was about, so we shared a plate.  It was so amazing!  Melt in your mouth deliciousness!  The chef prepared it right in front of you.

We took the subway back to the temple to pick up our bags.  Without our train passes(they expired yesterday) travel was expensive and Tokyo was a bit confusing.  We took our bags to a stop and checked them into a locker we were so afraid we would never find them again, the station was SO busy and big.  Tokyo is really a city you have to experience to understand the busy-ness.  

We walked to the Tokyo Metropolitan building for a view of the city from many stories up (5th tallest building in Tokyo).

We walked to the Meiji shrine in the middle of the city, but after the many amazing temples in Kyoto, this one paled in comparison.  Maybe if we saw it first...

A traditional wedding

We did a bit of souvenier shopping and then headed to the train to get to the airport.  We were planning on getting our last meal at the airport, but there wasn't really any Japanese food there!  We were so disappointed!   

 Here are the MANY tickets we had for train rides and entry passes.

 We were able to fly to LAX (on United) and immediately catch a flight to Utah.  

We were tired, but slept a bit on the plane.  The kids didn't know we were coming home (neither did Grandma and Grandpa!) so we just showed up and they were SO excited.  I loved being squeezed and hugged and seeing the happiness on their faces.  

The souveniers we brought were a HIT.  We bought them all at dollar stores!  BEST IDEA EVER.  These fans were selling for $15+ and we got them for $1.  We also got parasails, oragami paper, bento lunch boxes, candy, umbrellas, stickers, bags,  etc.  

We didn't get anything for ourselves (we never know what we want).  But we got magnets from all the major sights.  This was such a great trip!  Couldn't have gone better.  I love Japan.  The Food, the people, the culture, I love it.  I will forever have a place in my heart for this wonderful country. I thank God for the opportunity to serve there and love so many people.  

Day 1 & 2 Hiroshima   Day 3 & 4 Kyoto  Day 5 & 6 Himeji & Takayama   Day 7 Tokyo

Utah in June

Our only trips planned for the summer were many trips to Utah.  I'm not mad about this at all!  Utah is SO beautiful in the summer, temperate with gorgeous and cool evenings.  I couldn't get enough of the mountains and scenery, not to mention friends and family in abundance.  

Our first trip to Utah I went out alone to go to my little sister Marcie's bridal shower.  

On Thursday we met the Bluncks at the museum of Natural curiosity.  The kids loved each other and played so well.  It was nice they stuck with their 'buddy'.  I'm glad they can still be friends even if we only see them once a year.

Marcie's shower was so great!  Kacey, Kim, Melinda and Carly were there.  It was fun to be with sisters and give Marcie advice and shower her with stuff and hear her story more and more.  I'm so excited for her.  Grant seems like an amazing guy!

It was a quick weekend trip and Jackson, Mariah and I came home Saturday night (with help from Marcie's fiance's friend thank goodness ... we didn't land until 2 am!)  I was telling my mom how scared I was for this summer.  Jackson and Hallie tend to fight a lot and it is draining for me to help them navigate these fights.  So my mom said she would keep Hallie for the week (since I was coming up the next weekend).  It was a LONG time to be without my girl!  But I think as a middle child she thrived with the extra attention and individual love from both grandma and grandpa.  We had a great week in Texas.  Jackson had art camp every morning and we did school and piano and I got to give Jackson enough attention he was happy... but he missed Hallie miserably.  She is his go-to for playing anything.   We went to eat with Dave for his birthday lunch.  Then I went to Olive Garden for dinner with him.  We stopped by home depot (our favorite way to end our date) for a new rug for the living room floor. 

Dave was planning on taking the kids back up to Utah on Saturday while I prepared for Girls camp.  I was going to have a weekend alone.  I was mostly looking forward to having lots of time to catch up on projects I hadn't been able to do.  Last minute on Friday night a flight opened up with some seats and Saturday was looking worse.   We had just finished swimming and weren't planning on going until Saturday.  But Dave wanted to see his family, so we made a mad rush to pack and leave.  As I was helping my kids pack and rush to the car, I realized that I didn't really want to spend 3 full days alone and I missed Hallie, so I quickly packed a weekend bag for me.  On the way to the airport I was still going back and forth on whether I should go or not.  I kept hoping the flight would drop seats and it would make the decision for me, but more seats opened up, so I decided to go for it.  I am so glad I went because we had a fabulous weekend.  We spent time at the Harper's house.  I went to the Draper temple and picked up Hallie from Lehi.  

I came back to Texas on Sunday night with enough time to pack and prepare for girls camp.  I spent nearly the whole day on Monday deep cleaning and de-cluttering.  It is so rewarding to clean without kids making a mess as you are cleaning!  Monday night I spent time with Mori and Adrienne, my good friends in Texas.  It was a perfect day alone.  I couldn't go to sleep though, so I stayed up way too late.  

I went to girls camp as a stake leader of the 4th year girls.  I don't work with the youth in my ward and I am new in the stake, so no one knew me.  I felt a little lost, until I decided to stick with our ward and get to know the girls.  It rained for the first 2 days.  It was muddy and miserable.  We did get to zip line and that was fun!  I did it with Abby Hickson (she is the stake young women's president and she is my age).   

Finally, the tropical storm Bill pass by and the weather cleared up (although the ground was muddy the whole time).  We got to canoe, fish, do archery and enjoy our last day.  It was a different experience from my camp days, but I'm so glad we had cabins.  

As I checked flights Thursday night I was really discouraged because we weren't going to be able to get out of Dallas.  I was scared I would never get back to pick my kids up and felt guilty for my length of time gone.  I got home from camp at 12 and cleaned up a bit.  I was so tired, but really wanted to make it to phoenix to do a birthday date with all of our old friends.  The flights were full, full, full, but since I wanted to go enough Dave and I headed to the airport.  The flight was slightly delayed, so we sat in anticipation.  Luckily, that meant that some people changed planes and we were able to get seats!  So unbelievable!  We rented a car and went to a birthday dinner (FREE MEAL) at Rubios.  We met up with friends from our M

esa ward and went to Jesterz, an improv group ( I got in free since my bday was the next week and Dave got in half price for Fathers day!) .  It was hilarious.  I haven't laughed that hard in a while!  It was so fun to be with Stacey and Lacey and Heather and Jessie, Cheska, Megan and Cecilia.

 I miss my girls there.  We went to eat after.  We were going to crash on someone's couch for a cheap trip (since I was planning on leaving early in the morning) but decided to get a hotel and enjoy being together as a couple without kids.  I was stressed about getting up early for a flight so I decided to just wait until later in the day and take a flight with Dave.  Dave was suppose to go back to TX, but his flight filled up so he came to Utah with me and spent Fathers day with us.  It was SO nice to spend time together.  We woke up late, worked out together, I went swimming in the blistering AZ heat.  We walked through our rental home there and it seems they are taking really good care of it!  We shopped a bit, grabbed lunch and headed to the airport.  We missed the first flight we tried for (only needed 1 more seat!) but made the next flight easily (and got to sit in the lounge area while we waited, thanks American Airlines!)

We got to Utah in time to put the kids down and head out shopping at Kohls to find some fathers day gifts for Dave (he didn't pack church clothes since he didn't think he'd be out of town.  We got such a good deal (you know I love deals!)  He got 11 pairs of socks, a white shirt, slacks, a tie and a belt for $60.  PLUS, $10 Kohls cash to spend next week.  I love a good deal.  

We made Daddy a good breakfast and tried to treat him right.  He left early for a flight, only to find out it was delayed 4 hours!  We wished we would've checked so he could hang out longer with us. 

I was planning on following right behind Dave in a day or two, but flight were full and traveling alone with 3 kids, I wanted a direct flight... so we stayed nearly all week.  We filled everyday with fun activities

Monday we hiked with my mom's activity day girls to a waterfall.  

I'm so glad I carried Mariah.  Then we met my Ahlstrom cousins at Chuckie Cheese for pizza and arcade games.  We went to Sandra's to play for the rest of the afternoon. Then for FHE we made s'mores up the canyon.   

Tuesday, I went to the beautiful, new Payson temple with Marcie.    I met up with my mission companion for a few minutes before Marcie's 2nd bridal shower where I got to catch up with our old friends and ward from when we lived in Lehi. 

Wednesday was my birthday.  Jackson and I went to Denny's for my free grand slam (I wanted his meal more). 

 We met up with the Blunck's again at the highland splash pad (no pics)

Then we went to Cafe Rio for lunch with Sandra and the movie Cinderella.  Mariah fell asleep in my arms which is very rare and I cherished the moment.  

We went to grandma Louines and the kids LOVED the swing in her yard.  I had such a great time making them happy.  It wasn't an exciting moment, but it was one where I stopped and lived in the moment and fully enjoyed myself and my kids.  

 I went to another shower for my little sister and caught up with all my friends from the Lehi ward.    Dave sent me a text every hour telling me he loved me and then something specific he loved about me.  I was in heaven!  Such a great guy!

Thursday I was ready to go home,  and we finally made a flight home.  Landing in Texas it was overcast, but extremely hot.  The house was boiling (Dave turns off AC when we aren't home) and the kids were crazy (lots of night staying up late).  The house was a disaster immediately despite my deep clean last week.  I missed Utah! 

Japan Day 5&6 Himeji & Takayama

We rode the shinkanzen 45 minutes out of our way to see this newly restored castle in Himeji.  It was a great choice!! It is the largest castle in Japan.  We ate the most delicious breakfast of pastries on the train and then walked out to the castle before it even opened.  It was bright white and up on a huge hill.  A magnificent sight.

We toured the whole castle (no photography) and then the halls and walls all around.  The interesting thing about the Japanese sites, is they don't tell you much about WHAT was done there or how they really lived.  In this castle I finally got a feel for the purpose of the building and how the people lived.  

 We took a quick trip to the gardens next door which were beautiful, but not much in comparison to Kyoto.

 This day was very different from the past couple because after we saw this castle we were on the train for 3 hours.  We were hoping to see cherry blossoms and the only place they were still in bloom were up in the mountains pretty far away.  As we planned the trip I was worried about 'wasting' 3 hours each way traveling to Takayama.  This was NOT a fear I needed to have!  Sitting for 3 hours after days of walking and biking was SO rejuvenating, but it was also the most amazing train ride I've ever taken.  The train windows were huge so it was like you were right out in nature.  We crossed over a brilliantly blue river several times as we weaved our way up the mountains and canyons, with vistas of little cities.  The train only stopped a few times and the other hours were so enjoyable.  I was planning on napping, but was riveted to the scenery the whole way!

The first of many cherry blossoms!

When we arrived in Takayama our Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) came to pick us up at the train station.  We checked in and saw our futons on the tatami floors (we left our shoes in the lobby).  I could tell it would be just like living in Japan 

We walked up the street to the Hida Folk village museum.  This was a gem of a find!  We had the place to ourselves and it was amazing.  They have taken a little hut from each of the major villages in the area and placed them here with a little information about the village and what they did there.  The villages were vacated as close as 20 years ago!  I had no idea that people lived like this in my lifetime! 

 Every city in Japan has something it is famous for and Takayama had these red babies.

The pond and setting for these homes was so quaint and amazing.  I loved the detail they shared about how real families lived. It was so different from the empty castles and temples we toured before.  This showed what life was like.  I loved it.  Each village specialized in something, like silk worms or making paper by hand or making sleds, etc. 

We were free to enter and examine each home at our leisure.  

This was the woman's spot at the fire (can you believe they had open fires IN their homes?)

We walked back down the hill to our hotel and ate at the restaurant just outside (Teddy bear museum restaurant... random, right?)

The hotel had an Onsen (Bathhouse) I had looked everywhere for a private onsen but couldn't find any that were in our price range, so I figured we would just have to split up to experience the public baths together.  However, our hotel (without even advertising it) had a private couples onsen.  It was perfect to relax together.  The only problem with onsens is they are REALLY hot.  Your energy is zapped after and you sweat for hours after.  We donned our yukata and slippers and crashed on our futons on the floor.  Such a great Japanese experience.  

Still up early every morning, so our plan was to take the first train out to a  Cherry-blossom tree that was 1,100 year old!!  We couldn't believe any trees lived that long, but apparently there are 1500 year old ones as well.  It was in full bloom and was a spectacular site.  We ate our McDonalds (we had to do it once) as we sat under its delicate blooms.  

and watched the sun rise and the morning mist rise off the quaint little town.  Such a quiet and peaceful morning.

Back in the town of Takayama, I was feeling I wanted to stay all day to keep enjoying the peace and quiet area.  We rented bikes and went around the entire city in 2 hours...  We saw so many blossoms.  We went to a couple of street markets, a park,  a temple on the hill and tried to bike a giant mountain.   It was a bit chilly here (see our jackets) which was why the blossoms were still out. 

 Our favorite view as we biked along the canals.

 Ended our stay in Takayama with Yakisoba.  We tried everything on my list of foods to have and liked it all!

 Since we had seen everything the small town had to offer (including the foot bath on our way to the train),  we decided it was time to head back to the city.  

We took the train back into the main civilization of Japan and up to Tokyo.  The ride down was just as beautiful.  We couldn't get enough video hoping to capture the beauty.  

We found a bus to the temple (after much confusion and searching).  The big city was in such contrast to the little town we had just experienced and we realized once again that we love the beauty of nature and small and uncrowded gems of sights, rather than big cities.   The temple is smashed right in the middle of a bustling city it is amazing they could find land to build it on, but there is a beautiful and peaceful park right accross the street that adds some peacefulness to the scenery.  

We checked into our room at the Tokyo temple and got ready to go to a session.  I originally brought my expired recommend despite working hard to get my interviews before going to Japan.  Luckily, I also had the new recommend and we went to the temple.  We had to rent clothing and were 30 Y short (this is like 20 cents) and they hunted us down after to make sure we paid it.  It was so Japanese.  They make sure everyone keeps the rules, but in a kind way.

Day 1 & 2 Hiroshima   Day 3 & 4 Kyoto  Day 5 & 6 Himeji &Takayama   Day 7 Tokyo

May 2015

Hallie joined a preschool in January from the NRH rec centre.  She loved going a couple days a week (despite protests at first)

These are pics of pics her teacher took.  I got to come to her Easter party

 Cowgirl day

 Presidents day

 Wacky Wednesday

 Jackson got some loose teeth at the end of the year and lost his top 2 teeth in June.

Jackson went to Taekwando in May.  He improved so much in his strength, balance, confidence, and ability.  I really wanted to keep him going to this and hopefully we can make it work!  I loved seeing him succeed and improve. 

I watch a little girl named Ade and her and Mariah like to play together.  She is a bit younger, but as she grows up they are learning to laugh and play together.  

 We met our friend Adrienne at her new house and ate Thai food.  So delicious!

 Last Day of school Car party!  I ripped Jacksons shoes off and put flip flops on and sunglasses and then we sang in the car... only problem was the car wouldn't start and we had to be jumped.  Just a bit embarrassing.