Yokohama Oktoberfest

Japan celebrated its 150th year anniversary of relations with Germany this past weekend, and, the venue for the Oktoberfest recognized its own 100 year anniversary. Prost!

Big sisters

Ericka took this photo of the girls yesterday.

Dormitory Girls

We recently visited Vancouver Island to complete our Canadian citizenship process and our accommodation was the 16-room dormitory on the campus where I used to work. The girls loved it! Bunk beds, long hallways to run down and multiple rooms to explore.

Here a few photos from the top bunk and breakfast in the early morning sun.

"Oh, Canada..."

Wow, been a long time

Hi. I apologize to all of you who were regularly following this blog. Ever since Ericka and I got iPhones and began uploading photos to facebook, I completely neglected this site. Well, this is just to say that I'm back. Starting this week I will get back into a routine of posting photos and news here.

On Tuesday of this coming week we are flying to British Columbia to complete the last stage of our application to become Canadian citizens. On the 29th of September Ericka and I are scheduled to participate in a swearing-in/oath ceremony that will finalize our lengthy (almost 2 years!) process to become dual citizens. I will be sure to take some photos and post them here, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, Ericka snapped these 2 shots this morning with her iPhone and a photo-editing app. That's me, tea in hand, reading books to the girls; the laundry can wait.

Mihoko -kampai!

Arigatou. Thank you. Namaste. Che-che.

Glad you and Haruka are back, safe and sound.

Mata ne...

Montessori Natsu Matsuri

Yesterday evening there was a Summer Festival at Miki & Sami's school. The girls (including Ericka) had to wear a traditional summer ensemble called, "yukata". There was music, dancing demonstrations by students (and mothers!) and watermelon.

Summer Festivals in Japan are ubiquitous and this was the first of many we will attend. Stay tuned...

More photos from the actual event to come later.

Sam's first day of school!

Sami started her first day at Montessori school this morning! She was very excited. She is in the "Pink Class" 2 days per/week, about 2.5-3 hours each time. Beginning in September she will increase to 3 days per/week.

And beginning next week both girls will be speaking Japanese far more fluently than mama & papa!

Zelvia Soccer Game

We went to a soccer match yesterday afternoon. The team in question, Zelvia, is a local (Machida city) team sponsored by my school and Saturday's game was designated a "Tamagawa match". Recently, the founder's son of my school, Mr. Tetsuro Obara, passed away and the game was played in his memory. Needless to say, there were hundreds of Tamagawa staff and employees present (my colleagues!).

It was a great game, the weather cooperated and Zelvia won! Whoo hoo!

Ice pops

This last week of June here in Tokyo has really started to heat up. I don't even want to imagine what the middle of August is going to be like. Ugghh. At least the ice pops are bringing the girls some temporary relief.

Blonde Monkeys

Hanging around at the local park.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and papas we know out there.

Spent a fantastic day with my girls, had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, rode the trains, played and laughed. The fact that we were all in the same country again was the best thing I could (and did) wish for (many times).

iPhone photos

Just playing around with the camera feature and some photo editing apps.

Run Sami, run

Trying to prolong their jet-lag before dinner. The rain stopped, albeit briefly, for a quick play outside.