Miyajima in Photos

Family Photos

Yesterday we went out to Miyajima to take some family photos with the lovely Danielle Caceres-Bricheno. Miyajima is such a great city to visit. There are lots of historic shrines, cute shops and deer roam around like they own the place. I've been very excited about going and had hoped to spend a little time there after or before the photo shoot. However, life is always a bit chaotic with the Hatfield family. We didn't allot enough time to get to Miyajima to start off. We've been there before and always took the train which drops you off right in front of the ferry that will take you on to Miyajima. So we weren't exactly sure where we were going. Always exciting. We finally found a sign and pulled into the first parking lot we could find. Lucky for us (sarcasm) it was 1000yen flat rate (which is over $10). Dangit! We sprinted to get on the ferry. At this point we had 20 minutes to get to our shoot and it was a 20 minute walk from the ferry to the bridge where we were taking the photos. The gate was being pulled up on the ferry right when we got into line. Just missed it. So while we waited for the ferry I got a chance to put Cora's shoes on her. That was a joke. Shoes on babies are cute but they just don't work with their littly squishy feet. We finally got on the ferry. Thankfully it moves faster than you would expect. We got to the island and sprinted through the streets to find this bridge where we were meeting Danielle. The Japanese are so gracious. The signs arn't all in kanji. So we made it to the bridge a little over 20 minutes late. Danielle was no where in sight but we eventually spotted a little American boy. She had been shooting a family before us and they were running late as well. So the timing ended up working out perfectly. We found Danielle and the photos began. We started with taking pictures of Cora alone and she was adorable. Then right when we started the group photos she started getting fussy. And this girl would not smile for anything. Three adults doing the craziest things to make a baby smile and NOTHING! Not even a smirk! We were shooting near a creek and of course her shoe fell off into the water. It's freezing outside so she couldn't wear a wet shoe. Ah... thankfully I had some socks in the diaper bag. Danielle was very patient with us as Cora was fussing and flailing about. Hopefully we got some good photos. We'll find out in a week. Danielle has a great eye and I think her photos are beautiful so I have lots of faith that she'll make us look amazing. Here's a link to her site. http://daniellecaceres.squarespace.com/



Fresh out of the shower...getting ready for the photo shoot!

Always a mess!

Those were organized papers...!!!

a beautiful mess.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was a big success. There was a big turnout and everything was super delicious. After the feasting everyone went out to play some football and then of course the men had to play video games. We ate our first meal around 2pm and then our Japanese friends came over and we had round two at 6pm. I think this is the first year that I didn't eat until I needed to pass out. I was proud of myself. I only gained two pounds, so I think I'm going to start this day of with a breakfast of champions...pumpkin pie! Our Japanese friends hung out for a while. We drew hand turkey's with the girls and then had Masa translate the Thanksgiving story to Madoka. The girls were having too much fun pillow fighting with Peter to care about the Pilgrims and Indians! After we escorted them off base we went back to our neighbors for some poker. They had friends coming and going all day so we got to meet some new people. Even though we weren't with family, we had a great Thanksgiving!

Mmmm...delicious! Mac n cheese, green bean casserole, potato salad, deviled eggs, corn, mashed potatoes, salad, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, apple pies!!! Broccoli, cheese, rice casserole. I made it and it was a fail...just can't make it like my mom does. Cornbread stuffing, gravy and the turkey way over there.
Yummmy ham.
Turkey...no pretty before picture!
Playing some football after the meal.
Round two with our friends Masa, Madoka, Minori, and Tsugumi.
They brought lots of goodies. Gyozo (filled dumplings) being one of the treats.
The girls showed us that their ears look like gyozo. Too funny!
Why can't men smile? haha
Masa reading the Thanksgiving story.
And then they busted out the sake!
Cheers!!!
Some of the other stuff they brought us. Sake, cream puffs or shoe cream as they called it and more fishy cheese. Not pictures was some ice cream, beer, and green and oolong tea. Notice the cheese...I luve cheese. Yeah I really do love cheese, but not when it is fish flavored. Ick!
Cream puff mustache! Yummmmy.


I started this post this morning and 6 hours later I finally had time to finish it. Oh and I managed to eat a whole pumpkin pie by myself!!! Yay me! Only during the holidays is it okay to eat a whole pie by yourself. Right? Well, I'm okay with it! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope it was wonderful!!

I'm Thankful For...

Giving thanks always for...

family

friends

health

love

laughter

and

security in where I'll spend eternity

Thank You Lord for the many blessings You have given me.

A dinner with Masa

Once again our Japanese friend Masa entertained us for the evening. He teaches a lady and her two daughters English and asked if we would come over with him this past Thursday. We got to meet a lovely family and they got to practice their English. She had made a great spread of food and we of course drank wine! The girls all played together while the adults chatted. We had such a nice time we invited them to experience a traditional Thanksgiving with us. Can't wait for this Thursday to spend time with them again!

delicious food and wine...

of course there were a few interesting things like this fish cheese stuff. i tried it but it is not for me!
This is Madoka. Such a beautiful and sweet lady.
Peter is so tall he is like a theme park for the wee ones. YAY!!

the girls being silly!

Fall

It is beautiful here in the fall. All the colors of the trees are changing. We live in a mountainous area so when we go for drives we get to see lots of this...


Thank you Amanda F. for the photo. I was too busy sprinting for the bathroom to take time for the photo opportunity! :)

Why didn't I think of that?!!

I read lots of blogs. I currently have 24 in my favorites. One blog usually takes me to another blog, which takes me to another blog. Mainly they are about crafts and I just drool over things these women have made. I aspire to make pretty things. It is easy to look at other women make pretty things while Cora is nipping at my toes or hanging on my hip...it is not so easy to sit at a sewing machine or drag out paint and glitter. One day I will. Until then, I'll just keep adding blogs to my favorites, checking them daily as my puddle of drool gets bigger and bigger. As I was reading one of the blogs I came across a list that this lady had made. 30 things she wanted to do before she turned 30. I need to make some kind of bucket list...but that is not what this is about. On her list she mentioned writing in a journal to her kids every month. Hello! Why didn't I think of that. Well, I didn't think of that but I think it is a beautiful idea. I wish I would have seen it 11 months ago when Cora was first born. Children grow so much in the first year and I would have loved to have written to her every week telling her the amazing things she did. But alas, it is never too late. I'm starting now. And until I find a suiting journal, I'm going to write on here. It is kind of personal, a love letter from mother to daughter... but I think she won't mind that I share.

My sweet baby girl-

Tomorrow you turn 11 months old. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I'm sorry I didn't start this journal earlier. Every day you amaze me more and more and I wish I could have told you how you made me feel from day one. I could have told you how excited I was when we successfully breastfed for the first time, or when you could hold your head up and Papa got to see, or how silly it was when you found your toes, when you rolled over allll by yourself, how I cried a little with joy when I first heard you laugh (it is such a sweet laugh), when you said momma and dada, or when you sat up, when you started crawling (we won't tell anyone that you really really wanted that beer bottle that was just out of reach), getting teeth like a champion (no complaints at all with any of your six teeth), watching you play and learn, speaking of learning...you've figured out some naughty things to do and you love to do them (digging in the trash...messing with the computer cords) and now you're walking. You are such a big girl!! No matter what is going on you can always make me smile. You make me want to be a better person. You are beautiful inside and out and I always want you to feel happy and loved. I'm so sorry you are sick right now. I hope I am doing everything I can to make you better. I love you very much. Until next time...

Your biggest fan,
Mommy


so serious with your baby bird hair!

Random Things

We have 7-11s! Aka Seven & I Holdings. I have no idea why they call it that.
A super delicious meat plate....Mmmm...
Cora snacking and using her big girl cup. (Thanks Robyn)
This is a jelly energy drink. It's not coming through as clear as I hoped. It says "A special jelly drink designed to supply carbohydrates equivalent to a rice ball. It's a energy resource for anyone facing a challenge or task". Thanks. They have some interesting drinks.
I saw this on a website of some interesting drinks you can find in Japan. Yup, that's breast milk. I haven't found it in a store yet....but I haven't really been looking either.

Barber perhaps? I love some of the silly translations you see!

Aquas Aquarium

Yesterday we wrapped up a long weekend with a day trip with our friends to Aquas Oceanarium (aquarium)in Hamada, Japan. I was little on the fence if Cora would enjoy something like that yet. I was told she would but for the most part she had more fun just chewing on her toys! Oh well. We enjoyed it! (Lots of pictures)