Holiday Bottle Monument

Locals may have noticed holiday trees near the Main gate on White pole road and if you look closely they are made of plastic bottles. 15K bottles were recycled to form this tree 10 meters.

Holiday Bottles

These bottle monuments were made by city employees to wish for a successful renovation of the site into an American-style shopping area in 2008, and for continued friendship between the U.S. and Japan. We stopped on New Year's Eve to take a look at the site. MB and the kids are about to walk into a tunnel that leads to the 10 meter tree below with a star on top.

Have a Happy New Year 2007!

Bottle Tunnel

Here is a good shot of the tunnel with the 10 meter tree in the back.

Swiss Miss

I just liked this becasue Grace has pig tails and MB called her Swiss Miss.

She seems dainty but can down a juice in about 12 seconds.

The Cheer Sensation and Snowballer

Grace V models her Cheer Sensation Tee from Uncle Matt. I messed with the picture size so Grace looks a little distorted.

Brock shows his perfect "Snowballer" form as he prepares to throw a snowball down the lane with his blue fire stocking hat with Ms G in the back cheering him on.

Japanese Donuts

We went looking for the New Years Japanese Apples (ringos) but we did not see any at the Jusco market. We decided to peruse the pastries and other miscellaneous produce instead. The Japanese donuts are very fancy and mostly in different shapes and characters. We enjoyed this one the most due to its pig like shape with a raisin eyeball. Not sure of the reason for the pig unless it is the year of the pork like creature in the Asian new year calendar. That's all folks.

Fashion Show

Grace shows off her new non boy belt with sparkly pants

Here is her lacy top that makes her look like a teenager.

I'm a Very Important Princess in Pink.

STRAWBERRIES & Ariel Barbie

Santa flew in and picked up some Japanese strawberries at the Universe Market. It was just want Grace wanted for her "Bresbest" (breakfast!).

The see through Aerial Barbie that sings in the tub made Ms G very happy. If you push her back then she talks and sings to you and her tail lights up. Its a pretty neat trick if you are a bath tub mermaid.

I got a TWENTY!

Grace got some money from her Aunt Susan along with some American Girl books and some bubble gum lip gloss. The money burnt a hole in her pocket until she bought a Pixel Chix hand held video game at the BX yesterday. I tried to convince her to save it for a rainy day but there was no way that was ever going to happen with Ms Body Butter Bubble Gum Pants in charge.

BV's Best Christmas Yet

Brock was in his happy place with his gifts. His Grandma Cone got him a "Jacques Vaughn" Spurs Jersey which is hard to come by since he is not a starter but the boy was pleased and quickly threw it on. Santa brought him a camouflage Swiss Army pocket knife and a Timex Sports watch. He also added some Lego sets to his collection with his favorite Star Wars and city vehicles to be blogged later as he builds them. Also, pictured in his lap is Kia Mansberger who got to open some gifts too from her family.

Grace V fashion show

Grace V opened her gifts like a rabid model going to runway show. On Christmas Eve she declared that she was no longer wearing any more pink clothes but then that was thrown out once she opened her Very Important Princess sweater jacket. Another funny thing she said was when she opened the box with her jeans and gold belt was "Oh its a belt that is not from the boys department" MB has been buying her boy belts from the BX because that is all they have in the store. She is now happy to so fashionable and thinks she looks like a teenager with her lacy shirt.

Favorite blowup Xmas ornament

Here is our favorite Xmas blow up lawn ornament. Santa on a motorcycle is a new one we have not seen yet since the whole giant snow globe craze. We just attended the 7PM Christmas eve service and Biscuit and Gravy have visions of sugar plums already dancing in their heads.

End of new Year Greetings

Kotoshi mo osewa ni nari mshita! This is the end of year greeting in Japan. It means Happy holidays and Happy New Year! My secretary Junko-san gave MB & I (Maj & Mary-Beth Vaughn-san) some Japanese New Year celebration ornaments to hang in our car window. Celebrating the New Year is big in Japan. They make various sizes of these that you can put on your doorway to your house or in a pot. We wish you much happiness and wealth in the new year.

Big fat snow flakes

Today is Christmas Eve and its snowing big flakes outside. Good thing is that it is not enough to shovel and the reason they flakes are so big is that it is relatively warm out so they clump together before they come down. We are having a nice lazy day and about to go see Santa Clause III. Nothing else on the to do list besides Christmas Eve church service. Also, Grace demanded that we have to go get eight Japanese carrots for Santa's reindeer.

BV likes to Ski

Here is Brock in his happy place after doing several morning powder runs with his mom and dad. He just ate his favorite Ramen soup with wantons and is ready to hit the slopes again. This is a different chair with a cover to block the cold wind and snow. He got a fat lip from the bar hitting him on the way up at the end and then fell under the chair getting off. He was not hurt but it was scary to see his legs discombobulated while the chair went over his head; thankfully the ski chair dude turned it off.

I took this one while skiing backwards which Brock does not like me to do right in front of him but I liked the top of the mountain with the sun peaking out of the clouds.

The Gondola Rider

Since Ms G does not ski she bummed a lift ticket and rode the enclosed gondola to the top of the mountain. MB and I felt silly getting on without skis but the locals did not seem to mind. It is a 15 minute ride to the top. Not sure about meters up but it is probably about 800 meters.

At the top it was blowing and snowing pretty good. Grace took a quick look outside and was ready to ride back down.

The quirky Japanese thing of the day was them pushing the Christmas theme. There was Christmas music playing with many christian type songs. We found this Christmas sign on the lift. Have a APPI Kiss Kiss Kiss Christmas. Grace does her smile pose with two fingers.

Skiing at APPI Ski resort

We went with an outdoor rec trip to Appi ski resort. It is one of the best Japanese ski resorts near here with many runs and lifts. It also has an onsen and some hotels for the tourists to stay the night. Brock likes the enclosed Gondola (pronounced Gone-dolla). Note this is a happy face right before Mike took him up to the 5K run at the top of the mountain. It took an hour and 15 minutes to go 3 miles down on skis with many wipe outs and only 15 minutes to go up on the lift.

Grace V is a declared beach bikini girl and will not even try the skis. She played in the snow and the cafeteria while Brock skied with a parent.

Mike and Brock on an open lift. It was very snowy and cold so the scarf helped block the ice cold wind.

Candy Cane Earring Model

Ms G strikes a pose with her Christmas with her Candy cane earring.

Yes, yes, yes...sassy, sassy, sassy

Do you like my candy cane earring with the golden necklace?