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?

Japanese Toe Socks

Here is probably one of the Top 10 quirky things you will see in Japan; they are toe socks. Brock got a pair when we went to Tokyo with a sumo wrestler on them. Most of the houses off base have wood floors and the locals don't wear their shoes when they enter the room so these are either a comfy fashion statement or a different way to keep your feet warm on the cold wood floor. 

The FIrst Snowperson of the season

Well it dropped about 2 inches or snow of big wet snow over the last 24 hours which was enough to build the first snowperson of the winter. Grace says its a boy and his name is Mr Frosty and is getting married to our neighbors snowperson named Ms Frosty. Mr Frosty is a work in progress as he does not have any arms or facial features. Behind him you can see the base blocks of Brock's snow fort that he plans to defend our yard in case we are attacked by a rogue army of snowball fighters. 

Happy Wipers

This is another potential Misawa unique snow event that one learns as snow and ice scraper in the early morning. It is known to some veterans as happy wipers. The seasoned scarpers pull their wipers out at night so they don't freeze to the windshield in the morning and it makes it easier to push the inches of snow off with them up. Have a happy commute to your job and home this week. 

Dance Recital

Ms G gets ready for her dance recital last weekend. She enjoyed getting special treatment with the hair curlers.

Here is the dance class before the big show. Everyone is all ready and smiles with their poofy skirts and spray glitter on.

Grace's class did a tap dance routine to the sleigh ride song. She did very well considering she did not want to do all the moves in the dress rehearsal and slipped and fell down on her face when trying to do the shuffle toe-ball change maneuver. MB said this week Grace declared that she has quit her dance class and wants to play soccer. We are not sure if it is because you don't get a trophy for dancing or any snacks and drinks after the recital. Either way it will be fun to see Grace show off her moves with her long legs and flailing arms. 

Red fish net stocking hat

Grace V models the new red fish net stocking hat that your eggs come in when you buy them out of a vending machine. You can tell there is not too many more of these photos that the young model will be willing to do any more. Stay tuned in the future for a blog on the adventures in Misawa for buying eggs out of a vending machine. We will seek the mystery of whether or not they keep the chicken in the machine to lay eggs and what does it mean when you get double yolk eggs. 

3rd Grade Christmas Concert

The 3rd Graders put on a Christmas concert and play with the 2d grader and the band this week. Brock dressed up in his new navy pants and white shirt. They sang the 12 days of Christmas and a neat rendition of Rudolph that I have never heard. Brock is now officially the tallest kid in his class now that Emma's hair is laying down. We are now almost ready to relax and enjoy the Holidays. Only 2 more parties to attend. 

Hispanics in America: Making a Difference

This is a poster Brock made in school last month I assume to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic Americans. In Brock's world Nachos are the greatest invention next to Playstation and ESPN. Unfortunately I think we've failed him because I don't think it was a Hispanic that invented Nachos and surely there are more worthy accomplishments to put on a poster. Feliz Navidad y perspero ano.
- Miguel Vonzalez 

Big brother and Little sis

Here are Biscuit and Gravy on their way to school. Does not look like the boy was very happy to have to stand next to the girl.

The kindergartner poses in the snowball war zone. Kids were already making the first snowmen of the season. The temperature was rising with the sun and the snow was melting and just right for making snowballs. 

Holiday cards military style

Each unit on the base puts up holiday cards around the circle for the season. This is one from the Fourteenth Fighter Squadron. Their mascot is the Samurai. They will be deploying to Iraq next year and will be supporting the ground troops and patrolling the skies in Iraq. 

Snowball targets

The Sollars Elementary teachers have a no snowball throwing at persons policy...so there are targets on the playground that kids may throw their snowballs at. Who would not want to throw a snowball at the creepy snowman?

Looks like by the time the bell rang that some kids had already scored some points on this one. 

The first angel and Snowball...

Grace was so excited when she woke up that she fluttered and jumped in the air like a hummingbird going after some nectar. She threw on her snow gear and helped me clear off the snow on the cars. She quickly declared that she had made the first snow angel of the season. Doesn't she seem tall? She sure seems different than last year.

Brock was just as excited to go out and play. He made the first snowball in Misawa. He seems like he has grown a lot too since last year. One Colonel who saw him later that night for the Christmas tree lighting thought he was thirteen and did not believe us when we told him he was nine years old. 

It has arrived!

Well, we woke up on 1 December to about two inches of snow. The kids were very excited and went right out in it to play. Thankfully the sidewalks and streets were clear and easy to shovel off.

December has an average snow fall of around 20 inches and it snows on average 10 days out of the 31 days. 

Snowy Mountain tops

We are having some very nice November weather in Japan. It is very clear and sunny today and we can still see the mountains with some snow on top of to the West. The temps are down to 26 up to 44 degrees F. Mike may have played his last golf game of the season yesterday depending on if it stays nice; otherwise, we will be getting out our snow boots soon and getting fitted for our ski gear.