LUDAChristmas!

Christmas evening was spent with our good friends, the Morans. We invited a lot of our friends over to celebrate. For those of you that haven't seen the 30 Rock episode (season 2, episode 9), our theme for the night was taken from this episode.

"The holidays without drinking is rough!"

Before everyone came over for the party, we had Christmas dinner, which I forgot to take a picture of, but it was delicious. Glenn and I made ham and cheesy potatoes and Chris and Gizelle made a turkey, salad, corn and green bean casserole. It was a delicious dinner with great friends.

Chocolate shots- you even eat the shot glass!

 

Chris is singing is heart out-

Stella was worn out from all the partying-

Happy Birthday Laura!

Laura's birthday was December 28th so I'm sorry a few days late, but I wanted to wish her a happy birthday! Doesn't she look good? Baby Brooke is going to be here before we know it! Only another month or so to go!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was pretty low key for us. We opened stockings, called our family, had breakfast with the Morans, watched the 30 Rock Ludachristmas episode, opened our presents and called more family. It was a very relaxing morning! Here are some more pictures from the morning-

 

 

We made the mistake of opening Stella's presents first so after that she thought every present was for her and would stick her nose under the paper as soon as she could. We really think Stella remembered from last year what was going on. She was all about the presents!

Christmas Eve

After the busy holiday weekend, I finally have gotten around to uploading my pictures. On Christmas Eve, we went to Glenn's boss' house with a bunch of people from the squadron. We played a white elephant gift exchange and sang karaoke. We walked home around midnight and even skyped with our family that night.

Here are some pictures of the awesome presents- princess coffee mug and dress up jewelry!

Bunny ceramic thing (regift from my Japanese friend)

Awesome earmuffs!

Yoyo and Japanese work shoes (even construction workers wear these, they are steel toed though)

A Christmas Date

The weekend before Christmas, Glenn and I headed up to Tokyo to check out the lights near Tokyo station and a Christmas market that I had read about. We got to Tokyo station a little before dusk so we stopped at a cute Chinese restaurant and had a glass of wine and an appetizer. As we were sitting there, all the Christmas lights on the street lit up. I love that the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, but they still decorate for it! I love Christmas lights!

Just down the street from Tokyo station is the International forum (aka convention center). Currently, they are having a Christmas market call Marche de Noel de Straubourg. They had lots of yummy smelling food and drinks and a scary santa you could take pictures with. Glenn would not take pictures with scary Santa unfortunately.

Glenn and I bought a bottle of champagne and a cheese platter as the second course of our mobile dinner, but we didn't have any glasses to drink our champagne. Not wanting to be total hobos and drink from the bottle, we went and got a second sample of the brandy they were letting people taste test, but this time we kept our tiny glasses. Ghetto picnic success!

After our champagne and cheese course, we headed to one of the nearby restaurant areas and found a yummy Italian restaurant. I love our impromptu dates without much of a plan. They always turn out to be so much fun! Love you, babe!

Merry Christmas Machida!

For our last class of the year, my Machida Community Center class decided to have a Christmas party. Like I've said before, the Japanese can't do anything unless it's 110%, so the party was no exception. The Japanese don't celebrate Christmas the way we do. For them it is more like Valentine's day. They have special cake or dessert or a fun dinner together. They might exchange presents, but only because that's what they've heard. Even though the class is only 75 minutes long in the middle of the afternoon, this is what the table looked like:

Everyone brought a snack or something and we played a few games. I went home with a bag full of snacks like it was Halloween and not Christmas. My second class (in the same room, just immediately after) even decorated the small classroom! Seriously, always 110%!

They are all adorable retired men and women for the most part. They crack me up sometimes with the questions they ask. For Christmas, I made them all a bag of cookies that my family makes each year (5 different kinds- I was baking for a week straight!) and gave them a bottle of Leinenkugel beer because they always ask me what my favorite kind of beer is. I thought I should preface this picture because you're probably wondering what kind of class I teach where they are all holding up beer bottles!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Smiths! We hope you all have a safe, healthy and happy holiday!

Happy Burrito Day!

I found out that in Tokyo there is a Chipotle-like restaurant and since Chipotle is Glenn's favorite, I knew we had to make a trip. I told him I had a fun Christmas surprise for him. His first guess what "Wings?" his second was "Burritos?". Seriously? Of all the things I could surprise him with, this is what he thinks of. He loves his wings and burritos though. So it didn't stay a surprise very long because once someone guesses something, I can never keep a straight face.

We headed up to Tokyo for lunch today for lunch at Frijoles and let's just say, it did not disappoint. This face should say it all-

It took about an hour and 4 trains to get to the correct train stop, but we made it and it was absolutely worth it. In the end, each burrito cost us about $25 if you include the cost of transportation, but Glenn said that getting burritos on Christmas Eve was our new tradition and he could now be happy in Japan forever. I think he may have loved that burrito more than me in that moment. :)

Thank you baby Jesus for burritos. They make my husband so happy!

Christmas Traditions

My sister-in-law posted about her favorite family tradition and it got me thinking about my family traditions. I'm not gonna lie, I've mostly made Glenn convert to the Lawson family traditions.

We always start Christmas morning with stocking present opening and mimosas. It's not a holiday if you're not drinking, right? Champagne and OJ sounds like Christmas morning to me!

We open a few presents next. Only one at a time though. Glenn's family always opens their presents at the same time, but my Dad will be happy to know that Glenn and I just open 1 present at a time. I want to see what he gets too!

On Christmas morning, we always have Eggs Portugal and sticky cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Why do all our traditions revolve around food?

We open a few more presents and then this year we'll probably be making a few Skype calls to our family and friends back home. Remember, that's Christmas EVE for you guys. Make sure you have your computers on before/after church, whenever you go!

This year, after a relaxing afternoon on Christmas Day, Glenn and I will be attending LUDACHristmas. Anyone seen 30 Rock? Good friends, good food, karaoke, drinking. We are cohosting the event with our neighbors and who knows? Maybe it will be a new Christmas tradition!

Kelly and Gizelle's Adventure Days - Ebina Onsen

Laura is gone (sadness) now, but adventure days must continue without her. Today Gizelle and I went to a local onsen. An onsen is a hot spring bath. Obviously, I took no pictures today. This particular location Gizelle had been to with her students which was great because there is a lot of etiquette that you should follow when at an onsen. A lot of naked etiquette. Pretty much just imagine that you are at a nice spa, but everyone is naked. Well, only naked ladies. The onsen is split in to two halves- one for the ladies, one for the gentlemen.

So we start off buying our entry tickets from a vending machine because that's how the Japanese do things. I have no idea what most of the buttons meant, we just picked the biggest one. So in we go. We head down the hall and go in to the red curtain. Good thing red/pink is for girls, blue is for boys is universal; otherwise, let's just say I'd be holding it a lot.

We go behind the curtains and through the door and are immediately confronted by a bunch of old naked ladies. We get stares cause we're white lady gaijin. It's like the Athletic Club locker room except for there being one weirdo that likes to walk around naked, everyone does. It's Japan though, that's how they do the onsen.

So we head out to indoor onsen first, we bath while sitting on these little buckets and clean up before we get in the public bath. First we hang out inside in the bubble tub. It actually is like a giant hot tub, jets and all. Awesome.

We hang out inside for awhile and then we head outside. First we go in to the salt sauna. You grab a handful of salt as you walk in and scrub your body down. It's a do-it-yourself kind of spa I suppose. We scrub. We rinse. Then we hit up the mini tubs. They resembled our onsen in Nikko.

Next, we do a little sunbathing while laying on these marble stones with hot water running across them and a stone headrest. Finally, we just sit and soak in the outdoor onsen, trying to keep our wrinkled fingers and toes out of the water so we could stay a little longer.

I always kinda thought that the Japanese going to onsens for vacation or for the day were kinda weird, but I get it now. It was so relaxing and nice to just chat and hang out (and try not to look at everyone's nakedness). It was such a fun and relaxing adventure day, but only recommended for close friends. :)

Who I'll be spending Christmas with this year...

Here is a picture of VAW-115 (mostly, plus a few others). This is who Glenn and I are with most of the time and who we'll be celebrating with this year. I'm so happy to have such a great group of people to be around if I can't be home for Christmas this year. Merry Christmas week everyone!

A Japanese Variety Show

Every couple of months, the AOSA/AWA luncheons occur. I've written about them in the past, like the Kimono Luncheon. In December, AWA hosted a comedy/variety show luncheon. In Japanese, this is called a Yose. Yose is a variety theater that shows popular entertainment. Typically it is just rakugo (comic storytelling) but it can also include many different types of performers.

The first performer was Mr. Ssaiga Katsura which was a narrative story. He called himself a sit-down comedian. :)

He told a funny story and acted out all the characters voices and used just a fan and a towel for his props. He spoke English so everyone could enjoy his performance.

The second performer was a balancing act. He balanced all sorts of things on his face and body. It was pretty impressive. Here he is spinning the umbrella and throwing and catching a ball.

The third performer was a mime and "balloon" artist. Except, instead of balloons he used this plastic wire that he made shapes and things out of. I got pulled up on stage during this part so I don't have any pictures of him. Lots of people left during his performance though- I had no idea people were afraid of mimes! I thought it was just clowns.

Here is my lunch table. Thanks for a fun afternoon ladies. The AWA ladies always do such an impressive job, just like I said about the Mochi pounding event. The Japanese don't do anything unless it's 110%!

Change of Command

Last Friday, VAW-115 had its official Change of Command ceremony where the Executive Officer (XO) becomes the Commanding Officer (CO) and the CO hits the road. I attended the ceremony in support of the wives and family members that I have gotten to know- like the new CO's Wife (COW).

Glenn just has to stand in the back at attention and try not to pass out (he succeeded). The ceremony had the best of all military attention and detail. The hangar floor had been scrubbed, the planes were lined up and shiny. And then they opened the hangar doors.

First, the temperature dropped 30 degrees inside the hangar which made me, in my dress, instantly regret that decision. Second, it made the hanging flags completely distracting. They went from hanging like this-

To practically knocking the cover (hat) off the admiral and commodore on stage-

At least it made a simple military ceremony a little more entertaining for those of us sitting in the back. :)

VAW-115 Holiday Party

On Wednesday night, Glenn and I went to the squadron Christmas party. It is always a fun time to get dressed up and hang out with everyone. Skinner, do you recognize the pink sash? I took sash from an old bridesmaid dress and wore it with a different black dress I had. You have to get creative over here in Japan! Don't worry though girls, the sash stayed in place all night. I didn't have to retie it 50 times like we did at Sarah's wedding, although I could have used Megan's bow tying skills!

Glenn and Chris had similar thoughts when getting dressed I think! This is Glenn's new suit from Hong Kong. Looks good baby!

Here is the VAW-115 Officer Spouses' Support Group (+1 one girlfriend). A good looking group! Everybody in a skirt- including Mike!

Nikko - Day 3

Our last day in Nikko was short because we had a 4 hour trip home that we wanted to start relatively early. We got up early and had breakfast at our hotel and then headed down the street to Kegon Waterfall. Lake Chuzenji is a mountain top lake so the lake flows down the mountain and has a gorgeous waterfall. I'm sure it is even prettier in the spring and before all the leaves fall. To get up to the lake we had to go up a switch back road that has 52 turns. I was getting dizzy after awhile!

Here are some pictures from the top:

And from the bottom of our $5, 93-m elevator ride:

We didn't stay too long cause it was windy and cold, but it was beautiful!

Happy Birthday Connor!

Connor is 4 years old today! Here he is in his new Batman outfit from his other Aunt and Uncle. Happy Birthday Connor!

Mochitsuki

Glenn attended the JMSDF (Japanese Martime Self Defense Force) annual Mochi Pounding event. Unfortunately, the event was the same night as a squadron Christmas party that I had already committed to babysitting for so I could not attend.

Mochi is made from taking rice and pounding it with large hammers (the traditional way) or putting it in a mochi maker. It comes out as a chewy rice flavored sticky goo like substance. It's actually pretty good as unappetizing as my description sounds. Many times it is filled with another substance or coated in a substance to give it flavor. My personal favorite is mochi filled with ice cream!

                                     

Glenn said it was a great event. The Japanese are always so good at putting on events and this was no exception.

Farewell Dragons :(

VFA-192 is leaving soon. Too soon. Annie is already at Narita airport and will be leaving Japan tonight. Laura is leaving on Tuesday. I don't really want to think about it too much. I'm going to miss them so much. It's been a wonderful 9 months having them in Japan. See you in Virginia in 2012. I can't wait!

It's beginning to feel a little kinda like Christmas

Glenn and I put up the Christmas tree a week ago or so after we got back from Nikko (which I still have to write about our final day there...) but it hasn't really hit me that Christmas is just a few weeks away. I guess if we were back in the States we'd be inundated with Christmas commercials and snow and things Christmas-y, but it doesn't really feel like it as much like Christmas here. I'm trying hard; making Christmas cookies, decorating the tree, attending the onslaught of holiday parties, but I could definitely use a dumping of snow like Iowa.

Here's our Christmas tree in our little military apartment. I think I might have to use a few of the ornaments from the squadron Christmas tree for next year cause I like that Christmas tree better. Today is feeling a little more like Christmas except minus the snow we're having a sleety rain storm instead, but Glenn is home (since the Change of Command was this morning) and it's going to be a lazy of afternoon of TV and baking. Sounds like Christmas to me!

VAW-115 Squadron Christmas Tree

Last week, Glenn and I helped decorate the squadron Christmas tree at the O'Club. I planned the theme of the Christmas tree this year and made ornaments for each member of the squadron. They were Cindy Lou-who and Max (the dog) ornaments with each person's baby picture put as the face. I think the tree turned out great. The garland around the tree is actually calculator paper with the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" poem written on it.

We had a great turn out from the squadron to help. It's nice to get in the holiday spirit around here even though there is no snow and we won't be around our family this year. We'll always have our Navy family!

Also, a very special and important Thank You! to my mom who mailed me all the ornaments from the states. They worked perfect!

Happy Birthday Adam!

Happy Birthday Adam!

I hope you have a great 32nd birthday!

 

 

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Last month at my Japanese Friendship Group meeting, we got the opportunity to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. I've heard a lot about the ceremonies since we moved to Japan, but I had never seen one. The ceremony is almost like a meditation technique for those that study it. Many people study for many many years before they are fully "trained". Our teacher was Aya, the daughter of a member of the friendship group, but also a friend of mine. You may recognize her from the Yokohama bay cruise pictures and Octoberfest.

Aya made tea for us and told us when to eat our sweets, how to sit, how to hold the tea cup, how to rotate the cup and wipe it before the next person drinks! So many rules and methods to doing things, but only one motion or movement is done at a time. I think that's what makes it a meditation.

After Aya showed us how to make the tea, she gave me the opportunity to do it as well. It seemed so easy watching her! Pick up the whisk, put in some tea powder, easy peasy. It was not! Each motion had to be exact and with the correct technique. It was a lot harder than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed having the opportunity to try.

At the same friendship group meeting, a few of the Japanese ladies also played the koto for us. It is a Japanese harp like instrument. Mom, you will be happy to know that with those couple years of piano lessons, all I can play is Yankee Doodle. :)

I'm thankful to have all these opportunities to experience the Japanese culture while I'm here!