Can't believe we have been in Japan for almost 2 weeks already!! Beings how this is our 3rd season here, things seem so much more easier this time around. We know our way around the city (well, mostly!), we know where to find things, our apartment feels more like a home, driving on the other side of the street is almost 2nd nature...it's just been such a better transition this year!
My mom came over with me again this year and has totally helped get us unpacked, organized and settled...thank you mom! Brian has been gone on the road for a lot of our first week and half here, which stinks, but has also given us some time to move in and go sight seeing!! We did get to go to a few games before he left, so needless to say, we have been busy! Here's a ton (and I mean a ton) of pictures from all that we have been up to...Brian's baseball games, the park, the aquarium, shrines, ramen noodle feasts, visiting buddhas (the largest bronze statue in the world to be exact!), hanging out, walks to the beach...you name it!! Enjoy!
Brooke being Brooke, insisting on wearing her "hat" at dinner with Dad! She loves wearing Austin's bike helmet!
My mom, Brooke and I on the field after one of Brian's games!! Austin took this picture for us, he is getting good at it!
Grandma enjoying the ballpark with Austin and Brooke!
We sure missed "Lucky 7" balloon time at the games!! Neither kid is scared of all the balloons this year, which makes it much more fun!
Brooke getting right back into the baseball spirit and clapping at Dad's game!
Such a baseball kid...sitting and playing on the bleacher floor is totally normal...and it helps that the Japanese are extremely clean and there's hardly any garbage on the floor!
Austin in awe of the streamers he caught from the victory celebration after Brian's team won the game!
One of our first stops was the kid's favorite basketball game at the mall...they LOVE shooting hoops!!
Ready, set, shoot!
He shoots, he scores!
At our local park, practicing our balance!
This is the weirdest part of the parks here, they have these big cement structures that all the kids slide down...in the past the kids have been too small to really enjoy it (it's a bit scarier in person), but this year they are all about it. We have mixed emotions about this, for A. I am in fear the kids are going to bust something open on it, and B. every time they go down it, it rips the seat of their pants. Why don't they just have normal slides?!!!!
Austin loves this thing!
weeee.....
The Japanese slide!
It's been weird dressing the kids in long sleeves and pants!! It's really not all that cold, the weather has just been so rainy the first few days, it's deceiving!!
Austin is SUCH a great big brother, Brooke wanted to go down the big cement slide so bad, but was afraid at first, so Austin totally took her hand and helped her, it was adorable!
Big bro helping his little sis :)
Come on Brookie!
Yay, you did it!
Austin LOVES having his bike again, and has been riding it everywhere!
Austin tearing up the streets of Fukuoka! That's him on the bottom right, racing towards the Fukuoka Tower!
The kids RUNNING to Brian's game!! They LOVE going to the games and get so excited!! They pack all sorts of stuff for the games in their backpacks :)
Austin getting ready for the Lucky 7!! (Basically Japan's version of the 7th inning stretch, although they let off these crazy balloons during it!)
Brooke having a hard time letting her balloon go! She likes to play with them!
Quite the fan!
Just being Brooke again! Using her clapping sticks as "Nock-u-lars" aka: Binoculars.
Enjoying the game with Grandma!
Happy to see all their toys at the apartment again!
Brooke's hair is finally getting long enough to put braids in :)
Can't get to the game fast enough!
Finally got them some real "Knock-u-lars!"
Trying her hardest to blow up her balloon!
Getting a better glimpse of them game!
I love this picture even though it's blurry...the kids trying to keep up with Brian as he answers questions from media after the game :)
Waiting for the ferry boat to take us to the Aquarium!
On the ferry!
So excited to go to the aquarium!
Having fun looking for whales in the water! Too bad all they saw were boats and buoys!
They liked to watch the waves splash along the boat too!
They couldn't wait to see the seals again!
Hey seal, did you miss me?!
Austin LOVES feeding the seals!!
Even the animals eat with chopsticks here!
Brooke and Grandma!
In awe of all the sharks!
Searching for cool rocks on the beach!
We had fun getting ice cream at night!
Back at our favorite hangout, the Big Banana!
Playing at the beach at sunset!
Having fun on the boardwalk before a dinner on the beach!
Gotta love this place, lots of toys for the kids to play on!
Nothing like running in the sand under the stars!
Austin making a wish at the Buddha fountain!
At the entrance of the Sleeping Buddha of Nanzo-in Temple.
Never knew this place was in Fukuoka until now, and it's awesome!! Not that far from us either, it's located on a side of a mountain and has tons of statues, shrines, ponds, and is home to what is believed the largest bronze statue in the world...cool. Other than the fact we had to walk up hill the whole time and it was blazing hot out, it was well worth the hike!
I spy Austin! Austin trying to blend in with a crop of buddhas!
The kids were amazed at all the shrines and buddhas at this place!
Austin wasn't too sure about this huge guy staring at him.
Austin sizing him up.
Like I said, Buddhas everywhere!
Seriously, it was ALL uphill. But the kids were troopers, they definitely got their workout in!
And there's the sleeping Buddha.
If only I looked that peaceful when I slept these days!!
For once I finally felt tiny in this county.
Funny, my belly seems to be bigger than this Buddhas...what's wrong here?!
Austin the photographer again :)
I love that people knit the statues hats and put them on them :) We found this all over!
The Buddhas feet.
See what I mean about the knit hats ;)
Grandma carefully maneuvering Brooke back down the mountain!
Austin taking in the view of Fukuoka from atop the Atago Shrine!
Brooke, my mom, me and Austin enjoying the sunset and the beautiful views of Fukuoka one night :)
Gorgeous here.
Some shots of Fukuoka!
Love how Brookie is always picking her nose lately!
Being silly in the apartment and hiding from Pirates!
Cooling off from the humidity in the fountains!
Who needs a pool when you can splash in the city fountains?! Hopefully the signs in the background aren't telling is to keep out of them.
Well, so much for those dry clothes!
Trying to dry off!
Austin and Grandma enjoying some DELICIOUS ramen downtown!
Brooke absolutely crushing her ramen. This girl is a huge fan of the stuff! She even mastered the "slurping" too, which they say is polite to do here!
You have to eat at individual stalls at this place and the seats are highly coveted. Needless to say they weren't giving one up to Brooke so they made her sit on my non-exsistent lap to eat. She was basically covered head to toe in Ramen by the time we left here, both from me dripping it on her, and from her gulping it down!
Grandma getting better at chopsticks!
Our ramen.
Leaving the ramen place, it's good!
Checking out the Kushida Shrine downtown!
Brooke and Austin running through the streets of downtown.
Playing some baseball at the park!
Loving having Brian back in town again!! Love watching these two play ball together :)
It's been an awesome first 2 weeks here! Thank you for ALL of your help mom and for all of the fun we had, we are REALLY going to miss you!!
