Where we live....

This is the view from our patio in our room

This and the following pics are from the view
from our dining room patio.

The netting is on all the patios to keep the birds
(primarily the pigeons) off the patios. But they
are like curtains and you can pull them to the side.

Just beyond the evergreens is the playground.

We use to "moan" about trying to squeeze everything into
the apartment, coming from the house, BUT T's new co-worker,
an American who has been teaching at an International School
here in Japan for 4 years put us in our place....His apartment on the
Japan economy was 400 sq. ft.!!!!! He and his wife say they do not
know what they are going to do with all the space and closets. So, now,
we are feeling blessed that we were told we had to live on base and not off!!!
Anyway, onto the apartment, well, at least part of it.....

E. is ready to show off his room!

There have been some minor changes since
these pics were taken but for the most part -
it is the same (there is actually stuff on his wall now!).
We love the table - the legs fold up
and you can slide it away for more floor space.
Tables like these are all over the place in Asia, because
of their lack of space they use these types of tables
as their dining, coffee, work, and study tables.

E. is telling me how I should take the pic.. BTW..
the "bars" on the window do not go all the way up,
they are more like a patio railing so if the window
were to get opened all the way it would not be so easy
for a child to get out and jump (from any floor!)

CHEEZZZ

Acky spiderman flies through the air

"See him"

D's room is next....

He has since become too cool for Spiderman....
and posters have been added to the walls.

This and the next couple of pics to follow are
of a mother attempting to get a tweenager to
cooperate in having his pic taken!

FINALLY!!!

I uploaded this in the wrong order, but this
the bathroom in our room
(we use the shower for storage - not showering!)

Our Room - quilt by Aunt P.

The bookcase is no longer there and we have
tomato plants growing on the balcony.

The chalkboard is an attempt to keep E.
busy when we're on the computer. So far,
he only wants to write on it if we do it with him!

This is the main bathroom.

the mats were cushions for mommy and daddy's
knees when giving Mr. Man a bath but we've since
moved them cause he has moved onto showers

The fish decorations are constantly
being moved so it is always interesting
to see what new idea has come from the
boys in this family!

Popolamama!

This is the menu from our favorite pasta place.
Don't ask us HOW to pronounce the name!

The menu has a lot of seafood and pasta
(and the calories are listed too)

When you order here - you order your
entree' and then if you want anything else
with you it you have to order a "Drink Set".
Now, everything can be ordered on its own,
the desert, the salad, and there's also one with
garlic bread BUT the difference is in portion size.
So, the cake is about the size of the cake squares
at the Chinese Buffet in Van Wert and the salad
comes in a bowl the size of...a soup bowl from Subway.
The drinks - you can get sodas, iced tea, hot tea, coffee,
iced coffee, cappuccino (made fresh not like the gas station
machines) and water.

Tony and Dakota are the two who will try something
different. Eli always has pizza and my piece of cake. I
always have the pasta dish in the first column, top row,
first one and the drink set w/ the cake and salad.

Someone's front lawn that we pass on our way home.

The Pet Store...or should we say 5-Star Hotel

This is the pet store at the mall!!!!

Our First Field Trip w/ the Homeschooling Group

This is the radar room at the air field (w/ no flash)

This is the radar room using the flash!

Dakota is listening to the guide explain the areas
of the airfield, what the air tower controls and what
the radar room controls - it was very interesting!

This and the following pictures are all taken
from inside the air traffic control tower - lots of
fun! Those are c-130's (Cargo planes) sitting on
air strip.

This is the group! (We're in the back on the left!)

Korean Sushi - KimBop

This is Gobo Root (it literally comes in a package with dirt still on it!)
Our neighbor is Korean and she has taught some friends and I how to make a couple of dishes. One is called KimBop and Miso Soup and the other, translated into English, is Green Bean (Mung Bean) Pancake with Hot Pepper dipping sauce. The KimBop is made all the time using whatever ingredients you choose, but the Green Bean Pancake is normally made only on very special occasions.

Japanese Spinach

The egg yolk and egg white are separated, cooked,
and then cut into strips - giving the KimBop more
color.

All the ingredients lined up ready to start making.
The yellow strips to the left are diacon, it is a white
radish that has been pickled and the brown strips
to the right of the diacon is the Gobo root, which has
been cooked and saute' with hot pepper paste, sesame oil,
garlic, and soy sauce, Japanese spinach (more stem than
leaf), ground beef, and not shown are the egg yolk and egg
whites, and carrots. Note - no raw fish here!

Here's everything on the seaweed and now
it is time to roll...

The bamboo mat is used to make the roll
tight and even....

The finished product!
I almost did not share w/ Dakota and Tony because
they were so good!

Our "backyard"

These are in the "field" in between the apartment
towers where we live.

This is where the boys go and play.

These are another type of tree - I don't
know what they are called but they are
beautiful! After a rain is when they are the
prettiest because then the really bloom. Here
pollen is worse when it rains!

Cherry Blossoms