Yochien (Kindergarten/Preschool)

The school year in Japan starts in April, so Cailey just started a new year at yochien, and Bryant started going too. There are 3 years of yochien. Nen sho (youngest-3 year olds), nen chu (middle 4 year olds), and nen cho (the oldest, 5 year olds). This year Cailey is a nen cho san and the first day she came home and told me "Mom, they don't call me "Cailey chan" anymore, now I'm "Cailey san." Which basically means that she is really cool now. Kind of like the senior class verses the freshman. Both Cailey and Bryant are doing really well so far this year. Cailey seems to really like her new teacher and is making a lot of friends. Her Japanese is starting to flow naturally, so I think it is easier for her now. Bryant also really likes it so far. The best news for me is that he magically became potty trained when he started going. Thank you yochien!!

Here is our very handsome Bryant in the uniform on the first day school.

This is a picture of Bryant sitting with his class for the opening ceremony on the first day of school. They wear the color coded hats to tell which class they are in...very stylish I think.
Cailey and Bryant posing together.
The kids walk to school in a walking group with other yochien aged kids that live near us. One of the teachers comes and meets them and takes the group to school. The meeting spot just happens to be right in front of our house, very convenient for us! Each morning before they leave they say a morning greeting (asa no goaisatsu). Here is a video of it.

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Trip to Sendai

Our trip last week to Sendai was very nostalgic for me. This was a business trip for Shane, so he worked the whole time, but the kids and I had a great time visiting friends and driving past old places. We stayed in a small town called Funaoka that is close to Shane's work. It is about a half an hour drive from where we used to live, but we were only about 10 minutes away from where our friends, the Shepards, live. We spent a lot of time hanging out with them, which is always fun. Our kids have so much fun together. (We will be very sad when they return to the U.S. this summer.) We also got to have dinner with the Karlinsey's, a senior missionary couple for the Sendai mission office who were in our ward. I didn't get a picture of that, but Sister Karlinsey is in the picture of the Nagamachi ward friends.

On Thursday, Imano shimai from our old ward invited us over for lunch with several other women from the ward. I can't express how much I love these people. I just feel such a bond with them, even though I can't communicate very well with some of them. It was so nice to be with them again.

On Friday, the kids and I went to Shane's office and had lunch with him there and met some of his coworkers. Afterwards Katie Shepard and I took our kids to Michinoku park. This is another thing I really love about Sendai. I LOVE this park. The picture on my blog sidebar of Josh and Teresa and the amazing flower garden in the background is of the same park. The kids love this place too, because it has some very fun things to play on. There are a few pictures of the kids playing on the slideshow.

We have lived in Japan for over 2 and a 1/2 years and I have never been to a karaoke joint. On Friday night Katie and Lane decided take us and show us how it is done. Mine and Katie's version of "Material Girl" was definitely the best of the night! I got a great picture of Bryant singing with Shane. Like father, like son.

Saturday morning before we headed home, I went on a great run. It was one of those runs that I will probably always remember. There is a big hill in Funaoka with a huge buddha at the top. I have great memories here because for the last two years this is where we went cherry blossom viewing. It is really beautiful. From the top of the hill you can see a river. A road runs along the river that is lined with cherry trees and the road has been closed off to traffic. This is where I ran. The perfect run: nice weather, beautiful scenery, no traffic to deal with.

So now we are back in Yokohama. It is strange, but as much as I love Sendai, this really does seem like where we belong.

さくら - Cherry Blossoms 2008

When the cherry blossoms (Sakura) in Japan are in bloom it is absolutely beautiful everywhere you go. They are planted all over the place. I took my kids to Mitsuzawa park, which is about a 5 minute walk from our house, to take some pictures. They were taken on March 28th. Notice how my kids are doing the peace sign in every picture....they are becoming Japanese!