Moving In (Or, HHG Arrival)

Ahh to be out of the TLF and awaiting arrival of your stuff in an empty house with a dog and a baby. . . . . my house smells too new. I hope that doesn't give me a headache. The construction crews literally just left as I pulled into the garage. Brand spankin' new connotes something too old already to be our new house.


The house may be new, but Clara's been wearing that outfit that Grandma Pat gave her practically every day. If I had one to wear I'd be wearing it every day too. This picture also illustrates well how Frankie looks when she goes 4 months without a haircut.









I'm not sure if Clara has a complaint to file with Housing or what, but she was obviously over moving in at the time of this picture. (See video below for more of Clara's reaction to moving in)













Again, to illustrate the 4 month lapse in grooming appointments. And yes, that's a ritz cracker wrapper she just finished making sure was empty.






To give you a sense of the general lay of the land on Move-in day. I'm not sure why my cookie cooling rack was packed with baby hangers. I'm sure the box was probably labeled "Luggage".





The video that you are about to watch is probably the very best videographic timing I've ever had. And it was by complete accident as can be proved by my audio commentary. My laughter is real becuase it came from nowhere and was so total and complete, it was hilarious. I'm not sure what she was so upset about, but it was obviously something.the next. But its still hilarious. : )

Rokkasho Salmon Festival

Right when I got here I hear repeatedly "oh good! You're just in time for the Salmon Festival!" The salmon festival, the salmon festival, the festival, the salmon, the festival of salmon, the salmon festival. Yes I get it. I'm here in time. I bought the hype. I bought tickets.

Today we went to said festival. There were a bunch of food booths. Tyler bought what looked liek a japanese corn dog and turned out to be, in fact, a japanese corn dog. I bought some weird meats on sticks and some noodle soup and an apple. A giant Matsu apple which are SUPER delish.

Anyway, the point of the Rokkasho Salmon festival is that you get to catch a salmon with your bare hands and its suppossed ot be super fresh and ocean caught and wahteve.r It sounds cool. What I dind't realize was there were 50 bajillion people, a million terrified-for-their-life fish, and a long long wait to have your fish fileted while you stand around in wet ocean-fish-water clothes while staring at everybody's dying fish and feeling more awful by the second.

At first it was funny standing in the water with the fish going crazy. I was laughing. Then I realized that they weren't swimming away from me so fast, and I caught one. And I felt awful becuase he was just too tired to swim any faster to get away from me! Then, as I was walking back he was stuggling for life. I kept seeing people's fish: struggling, bleeding from their eyes and gills, moving their little mouths. Oh! I feel SO TERRIBLE just writing about it all now! Then they put them in bags (which I had to becuase i couldn't take it anymore) and the poor little guy was still struggling : (

WHAT A TERRIBLE WAY TO DIE!!! Even for a fisH! BLEEDING! Oh it was so so awful. The whole thing. I still feel terrible (and I"M back posting htis acutally, so its really december nad I still feel awful). But I stood in line and had my little guy fileted. I only hoped I was closer to the front so I could end his pain.

I gave my fish eggs to some nice japanese couple and their little boy who asked for them. Then I bought a cooler box and scooped some freezing cold ice water (most of hte ice had been taken by then) into the box and trekked back to the car where tyler was waiting with Clara. I had to cut my fish up a little more to freeze him and that made the whole thing even more awful. Trying to cut through his little fin. . . . I"M SO SORRY FISH!!! I was apologizing the whole time. Tyler was no help. I feel bad even eating him now, but I feel if I don't, his death was in vain. At least I can say I killed him for a reason, not just for sport.

So, anyways, that's my take on the Rokkasho Salmon Festival. Don't go. They kill fish barbarically there. Although, the noodle soup was really good.FOr the pictures: I ended up buying two tickets for the Salmon Catch but tyler dind't do it becuase we had to hav someone watch clara. So we sold the second ticket to the ANderton's IN the ward who dind't get one in time. He loaned me a glove which is apparenlty the only way you can catch a fish (OR JUST WAIT UNTIL THEY"RE EXHAUSTED FROM SWIMMING FOR THEIR LIFE!!!!) which was nice. His jacket was covered in blood from his fish before we got out of hte corrall area which I dind't hink was nice. Don't be fooled by my smile. I dind't realize what I was doing. MY FISH IS DYING ALREADY!!! ANd look at me smiling like a big jerkface! I'm a fish killer. A killer of fish in a barberic ceremony guised as "fun". I hope he doesn't remeber anything. Mybe he's in a giant fishbowl/ocean up in heaven having a blast with no humans trying to grab his tail and kill him. : ( I have ot go now.

Did I mention we won't be going back to the festival?

Clara Sits Up

She's been able to sit up on her own for a while now, but I went in to get her today and she was sitting up in the pack'nplay. I couldn't figure out why that was odd until I realized that she's never sat up on her own before! She's lied down before, but she figured out how to roll over on her belly, get her legs situated, then sit up. It took a bit of watching, but I finall caught her in the act!
And yes, that is her red "Pollution Stinks" Onsie. Thank you for noticing.

House Orientation

I had to be at the house today for a few hours to receive the Refridgerator and oven from TMO. My oven is teeny, but it does fit my 9x13 baking dish, so I guess I don't have a problem. (but seirsouly, it BARELY fits it!)

Also had to be there for Yukie to explain to me how all the heaters and a/c units and water/gas/etc stuff works since everything is written in japanese. They gave us manuals, but I'm still pretty sure I'll be callign their office (Update: Sometime in February or March my water heater panel--at least I think its my water heater panel--started beeping and flashing up a message in japanese. . . . . I still have hot water and it's now May. Its only done it a hand full of times, but still. ITs somewhat disconcerting even though i am in a rental.)

Clara was just happy to be along for it all. I'm so glad she's so easy going through all this!

Kawayo Green Farm

Karen called me again and invited me out to Kawayo Green Farm. We had a picnic lunch out on the grass with some ladies from church (as well as their children). And by picnic lunch I mean I ate some of Karen's pitas with hummas, spinach and carrots becuase i didn't breing anything despite being told we were going to have a picnic lunch. . . . . >sigh<.

The older kids had fun running around and looking at hte cows and sheep and feeding them. Clara was a little too young, but it was a nice sunny day and it was good ot get out and meet some of the owmen from church.

Afterwards we got some ice cream, so that was good too : )

The Most Awesome Sign Ever

While stopped at a light on our way home from Hachinohe, we happened upon THIS

Hachinohe

We went down to Hachinohe today, or "Hatch" as its referred to. We didn't have any specific plan really, so when we got there it looked like there was something going on at the mall. There were vendors with food and stuff outside and a guy in a mascott costume and some streamers, so I told Tyler to Park and we went in.

I wanted some soup from one of the vendors but didn't know how to order it. So tyler and I stood a few feet away in front of hte booth talking about how to order some until a girl stepped forward and said with a Japanese Acent, "Can I help you?"

"Yes! Um, Ichi. One Please."

She told me it was Buckwheat noodle soup and it was very good. Nice too becuase it was sort of chilly outside. Tyler got one too. Then I wanted to try these little swirly things on sticks. THey looked sort of like Brownies or something on a stick.

Let me just say, Bean Curd covered in some sort of brown paste is NOT a brownie! I think they people wanted to laugh at my face when I took a bite. Tyler told me not to be rude. I covered my mouth and he said "Its not a brownie is it?"

>shake my head no< Tyler: well don't be rude! Smile, don't let htme know you don't like it. Its tofu isn't it? Anna: (now forcing a smile) I don't know, but its not good. It got a little better, but I still couldn't finish the whole thing. I saw a young girl walking behind her mother chomping away on one like it was so delicious. I guess its an acquired taste.

We took a picture with the mascot guy. Then later on we stopped for Lunch at the food court. Tyler went to McDonald's. I ended up getting a Sesame Ice Cream cone. It was surprisingly delicious. I originally thought hte pictured ice cream was chocolate, but when I pointed and asked "Chocolate?" the girl said "no no no!" like chocolate was gross or something. Then she said "Sesame." I thought for a second and said, sure, why not. Ichi please.

I can't find the picture of us with the mascot guy. . . I'll have to figure out where they are then post it. (found it)

The house!

We visted the House today. Its going ot be awesome! We still can't move in yet, but soon. Look like there will be plenty of space for all of our stuff except for our kitchen table. There's no place to put it. We might have to buy a new one.

We also went to the BX today. It seems pretty good. I can't remeber if we had a purpose for going (since i"m backposting this) but it was nice to get out with tyler.

Also, Whitney Zolna came in today! Woo hoo! She felw al lthe way here form LA by herself. Aaron didn't even meet her in Tokyo! I was impressed. They apparenly have the house diagonal from us, so that shouldb e really nice to have neighbors.

Running Earrands in a Stoller

Whoever said the Commissary was in walking distance of the TLF was crazy. Well, I take that back, becuase I guess technically it is in walking distance becuase i walked it today. . . but they're just not really someone I'd go back to for walking distance advice.

Clara fell asleep in the stroller Karen loaned me while we're still in the TLF. she's 7 months old but she' still a little small, so yeah. I just think her hands are funny.
She didn't nap for long like that. Just enough time for me to put away the groceries and take a few pictures of her. Then she was happy as a clam sitting on the couch with her ice cold teething ring. Hahaha this picture cracks me up with the ears and closed mouth grin.Note the onsie. She's got more! : ) They say "Pollution Stinks" "Life is Beautiful" and "Lil Tree Hugger" (that last one is my favorite, its pink too! But don't tell anyone i got them from Wal mart, it seems extra hypocritical.. . . but again. . . at least I'm honest! : )

Lunch at Cafe Live Forever

Places have weird hours here. And apaprenlty Cafe Live Forever only serves pasta on Tuesdays and Fridays. I find this odd.

Maggie Kuntz (Tyler's sponsor's wife) took me and Sarah Marshall and Megan (sorry don't remeber her last name) to lunch. Clara was pretty good for it. Most places seem to be very kid firendly around here. All the stores have stroller carts and the resturaunts had high chairs. Its pretty nice.

I got a crab pasta. It was good except I figured out why crab is so excpensive. You can't freaking get the meat out! I asked how I was suppossed to do it, becuase I'd never had crab before acutally. One response was just the crack it open. I felt that to be a little too violent, since hte legs were still sort of attached to a part of hte crab's body.

I just ended up putting hte legs aside, eating my pasta, and feeling bad that I killed a crab for no reason. However, for some reason, I htink I'd still be fine ordering Crab Cakes. So long as I'm not the one breaking the crab, I think I'm ok. Hypocritical? Perhaps. But at least I'm honest.

Out and About in Misawa

Karen Higbee took me out today and we went lots of places.

First we went to the 9 day fruit market. I bought some nectarines, a giant jar of honey (**In Feb. I found out that the honey was "sugar honey" and was 60% sugar and 40% honey FROM CHINA! grrr), and she bought a basket of Noshis (apple pears) and gave me some. They're pretty tasty.

Then we went to a Bakery and I bought a loaf of Maple Bread. Its basically just bread with maple syrup swirled through it. I bought it for Tyler and he likes it.

Then we went to the Baby Bunny Store (Or just the Bunny Store), so named because there's a giant bunny on the sign and no one knows what the sign says. Its pretty cool. TONS of stuff for babies and SUPER cute clothes! A lot of them have random English (or french) on them. I'm sure I'll be shopping there a lot for Clara. I bought her some knee socks (which are way too big for her and look like leg warmers, but they're still cute, and she'll grow into them) and a little hat with an embroidered face and ears. Its so cute!Then we went to the 100 yen store. It would be the "dollar" store but the exchange rate is sucking right now so its more like the "dollar and a little" store. But its still pretty cool. There's so much stuff in there though, that it'll take a long time before I get to see everything. Its a little hard getting around stores when you can't read signs or aisle markers. But I think I'll manage.

Clara Sleeping

Today iis monday, the first full day we've had here in Japan. Clara seems to be doing very well and tonight, after I put her to bed I fould her like this
HAhahahahahaha! It cracked me up! All wound up in the blanket (good thing I brought a spare!) with her big bubble butt up in the air.

(Update: she slept just fine last night. I think we're over jet lag already! she's so awesome!)

Clara's Teeth

Clara started getting teeth and I finally was able to get a picture of them. They're just barely poking through, but you can definitely see two teeth on the bottom!
I put her in a really cute outfit my friend Bree bought her. Its double layered and really thick though, so she couldn't wear it until we got here and now she's practically too big for it! : (










I guess she wanted to watch some AFN TV too.













Here's a better shot of the whole outfit. Complete with matching beanie and socks!

japanese google?

I'd just liek to say, that in the Misawa TLF lobby there is a computer.

This computer is linked to the internet.

When I go to blogger, everything is in Japanese except for the "B" logo of blogger.

Obviously, sicne i have loggedi n and posted, I can read Japanese.

I think I'm turning Japanese I think I'm tunrnig Japanese I really think so!

: )

St. George

I drove up to St. George for the week to visit Erika. I brought Frankie along. The ride there was fine, but I left in the evening so clara would sleep the whole way. And she did until I got off the freeway and hit construction. And by construction I mean about a mile stretch of road that is completely torn up and woke her up at midnight. She went back to sleep though once I got to Erika's place.

The kids really liked clara. Jake was so sweet the whole time. Here he's showing clara his video game. And Lucy just wnats to sit next to her. She was constantly wanting to help and be near clara. While she was eating, while she was peeing while she was sleeping. Clara needs blankie! Baby eating? Baby go pee! Clara! Clara!

I acutally loved it. It was really cute.




Here she's giving Clara her teething toy.








Shortly after she shared her drink with clara. clara just chewed on the lid.

She had one tooth when I left for St. George and she got another one on wednesday while I was there.


I watched the kids while Erika and Nate went out for their anniversary. Erika looked terribly cute!








But we mostly spent the whole time sewing. We sewed a Hooter Hider (which we found hte pattern for online but apparenlty hooter hider the company is mad that people know how to make them and are posting instructions online, so some people had to take them down, but we still got a copy : )

Isn't this fabric super cute? Wal mart. Erika picked it out.





She taught me how to make the fly so I can sew some pajama pants like she made me. These are jake's new flame boxers. I told him to pose and this is what he came up with. He's hilarious!





BUT!! the Big main project we sewed was a shopping cart seat cover! (Can also be used as a high chair cover in resturaunts!) We picked out the fabric from a super cute fabric store in town (which I went back to later for a great sale and bought a ton of fabric I had to pack in my bags to japan--probably not the smartest idea but SO worth it! Fabric is sort of hard to come by over here)


It has chocolate brown polka dots on teh underside and a minty/brown gear sort of design o nthe top.

There's four toy loops so I don't ahfve to constantly pick them up off the ground for her, and a little side pocket from other things. Snacks, perhaps, when she gets bigger. As of now it holds my water/juice/odwalla/whatever

We were suppossed to get compliments on it, but we didn't. I think because utha is lame and babies are a dime a dozen out there. (remeber how kendall and I got started out with the kids in CA? I bet you we would have gotten comments in CA! The fabric is SO CUTE!!)

We did other things, but that's all I have pictuers for. It was nice of them to let me bring Frankie and to stay so long. Erika will be opening up an Etsy shop soon so stay tuned for that! She'll have sewing stuff and her fabulous chocolates/candies too. And in case you're not sure which one she is, here's a nice photo of her.
HAHAHAhahahaha!! O hcome on erika! its a great shot! Plus it makes me understand where Jake got his posing skills from : ) heh heh heh