Japanese Beetle

 
 
We now have a pair of Japanese Beetles. Brock got a boy named MJ and Grace has a girl that burrows in the mulch named Midnight. It was an interesting experience just trying to communicate with the Japanese pet store staff on what I wanted or needed but they sent me home with a little case, some fruit flavored beetle jelly, & some mulch. We are not sure what any of the directions say but MJ likes to sit at his strawberry jelly and place his face in it for several hours. They are very strong and sort of hard to pick up. We are not sure if you take them for walks or give them baths but they definitely are not very cuddly.
4Vs 

Japanese Movies

Mike and I got to go to the movies today. Saw Mission Impossible III at the local Japanese mall movie theater. Tom Cruise and company were just the same as in the states...if you just ignore the Kanji subtitles at the bottom of the screen. For two hours, it seemed like we were back in the US!

Things are just a tad different here..... First of all, and I already knew this but forgot, Japanese movies are most expensive in the afternoon and have discounted tickets at the later evening shows. We had to pay 1700 yen per ticket for the 3:30 movie (about $15 each). The shows after 8pm are only 1000 yen (about 10 bucks). Mike and I were able to pick our seats for the theater. We picked two seats at the bottom of the main section so we would have the most leg room!

One of the strangest parts of the experience is your fellow movie goers. When Mike and I were walking into the movie, we thought we went into the wrong theater because we knew the movie would be starting, but we couldn't hear anyone at all. Once we came into the theater, we could see that the whole place was packed with Japanese folks....they were just absolutely silent. I have to tell you that there were times when it was so quiet I worried about chewing my popcorn too loudly!

In the end, a good time was had by all. Mike and I enjoyed our date and the kids enjoyed playing with the sitter.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

4Vs

LALALA

 
This is a new Karaoke and restaraunt bar that is being built on the corner just outside the main gate. The city of Misawa is building what the call American Village as an effort to spruce up the area outside the gate and stimulate the ecomomy. So the shops and landscape is being refurbished and renovated. There is talk of new American shops and restaraunts coming later. Grace V wants a Build A Bear shop. Brock wants an IHOP. MB wants a Starbucks & I would like a good Tex-Mex restaraunt.
MSV 

...more Fireworks

 
 
 
 
more fireworks... 

Fireworks

 
 
 
 
Here are some shots of the Fireworks. Our favorite was when the speed boat cruised by and dropped some very loud and colorful fireworks into the water. I missed the shot of the little red heart but got the Mother of all fireworks at the end.
MSV 

Yasumiya Manhole cover

 
 
 
This one is for Mom Cone. She likes the different man hole covers that each city has. On the east side of lake is Yasumiya where one can find the tour boat dock, bus station, and busy souvenier shops and hotels. The best way to enjoy the pristine beauty of crystal clear lake Towada is aboard excursion boats that cruise the waters April to November. About 27 miles of coastline put on a spectacular autumn show.
MSV 

Lake Towada Fireworks Festival

 
 
 
The kids had fun waiting for the fireworks to start. Brock ordered his mystery meat on a stick and I confused the ladies at the food stand trying to figure out if they were cooking scallops over a fire pit. It was warm and sunny when we left Misawa but when we got to the lake 2 hours away it was cool and rainy so we bought some one size fits all raincoats.
MSV 

The Maidens of Lake Towada

 
 
We went with a bus load of base folk to the Lake Towada fireworks festival. There is a statue of women with hands reaching toward each other. It was created in 1953 and serves as a symbol of Lake Towada. The creator was a poet and sculptor and his wife was said to be a model for the statue. There is more of a sad story about this lady but Janet and Mary Beth-san want you to be happy in the thought of them as maidens of the lake.
MSV 

The Confused Hydrangia Plant

 
 
 
Our rescured hydrangia plant from condemned base housing was supposed to be blue but it can't decide to go white or blue. Some of the flowers are a mix of lite white-blue. We have another one blooming between our porches that looks like it will turn pink so that will make princess Grace happy.
MSV 

Viva!

 
3Vs finished up Vacation Bible School 2006 this week. This year they had a Fiesta theme and the kids loved it.

Mary Beth got to spend the week doing the bible story. We set up a fisherman's warf, a cave for Christians to hide from the Romans, brought Lazarus back from the dead and healed Saul's eyes. All in all, a pretty busy week!

Brock and Grace enjoyed their classes and I think we will be singing the VBS songs for many months.

Biggest news this week is that it hit 90 degrees here yesterday. Quite a surprise for us considering it has been in the 50 and 60s for so long. I guess summer finally got to Northern Japan!

Love,

4Vs 

Fiesta Girl

 
Little Ms Grace shows off her Fiesta VBS T shirt. She was in a good mood and excited about going to VBS all week. At the end of the day she was tired from running around with her girl posse and needed some rest.
MSV 

Polynesian Night at Misawa

 
 
 
The club hosted a Luau dinner and Polynesian show with dancers. The kids really enjoyed it and the food was very good. Grace was decked out with her coconut top and grass skirt. Brock was obsessed with trying to order a blue Hawaii with red punch. Thankfully the fire dance toward the end from the Island of Samoa did not burn down the club. Hopefully the next Luau we go to will be in the Island of Hawaii.
MSV 

Little Slugger

 
You should see Grace V smack the ball off the tee! Before this camera shot she hit the ball so hard it hit me in the head. That's what I get for standing close thinking she would hit a blooper in the dirt. It's fun to watch her run or sashay with her long legs down to first base after a hit.
Only 1 more practice and 1 more game for this coach and the pee wee T-ball season is over. I don't think I will miss repeating their names a jillion times but they sure are cute and have had a lot of fun.
Coach Mike 

4th of July Girl

 
Grace was very excited on July 4th. The first thing she asked after getting out of bed was "is it the nations birthday?" Then she immediately ran to get in her red, white, & blue sparkley shirt/outfit of the day. Later in the afternoon the base had a celebration at the club with pony rides and games for the kids. I played coverall BINGO for a Harley Davidson bike but the BINGO gods were not smiling on me. I guess they want me to focus on running & playing golf for now. Later in the evening the annual fireworks were postponed until Labor Day as usual due low visibility and sea fog.
Hope you had a Happy 4th of July,
MSV 

Hey Catcher!

 
 
Here is Brock dressed for his game. I never knew the catcher had to work so hard! Of course, since our pitchers are still really learning to throw strikes, much of our games are a strange game of catch between Brock and the pitcher... Very few hits in any given game.
He is enjoying this season and learning a lot.

More soon,

4Vs 

Coach Mike!

 
Coach Mike shares some inspirational words with The Fightin' Blue Jay t-ball team!

It takes Coach Mike, his assistant Mary Beth, Junior Coach Brock and about three other parents in order to get the game to run smoothly. There are almost as many grown-ups in a game as there are kids....and the kids still find chances to sit down in the infield, dig and even eat dirt!

Never a dull moment.....

Love,

4Vs 

Blue Jay up to Bat

 
 
 
 
Grace E Vaughn practices her T-Ball hitting skills prior to her game on Saturday morning. She is a very intense batter and works hard on her form and mechanics. I will try and get a shot of her running down the baseline.
MSV