Sasebo

Spencer currently serves as a counselor in the District Young Men's Presidency at church. One of the branches of our military district is in mainland Japan. At the end of August, Justin (the District YM President) told us the church would fund airline tickets and hotel stay for him and one of his counselors to do their district conference in Sasebo. Since it just so happens that they are some of our very best friends, we decided it would be fun to make it a couples weekend! The President and counselor of the Young Women's Presidency went with their husbands as well, so it was basically a party. We hired a couple in our branch to house sit and watch our kids. I had a series of minor panic attacks working up to leaving our kids, and they didn't go away until we were at the airport. And our experience there was a little crazy. We were able to check into our flight, check bags, and go through security without ever having to show our IDs. It felt really bizarre!

We landed in Fukuoka, where we spent one night and got to attend the temple. It was a mini temple set up exactly like the one in Columbus, so just being in it made me feel a little nostalgic. 

Fukuoka Temple- Justin and Spencer were being "hirarious."

Our hotel was strategically located next to a big shopping center with legit stores (H&M!), so we got up bright and early the following morning to shop around before getting on the bus to Sasebo. Turns out we spent ALL of our shopping time at H&M, and it was so fun! It made me excited for the day when I regularly get to go to American stores again.

At the bus station with our loot: Me, Spencer, Justin, Stacey, Heather, Jared, Tyler.

The Branch President's family, the Small's, hosted us while we were in Sasebo. Blythe picked us up from the bus station and took us to the base. It was pretty little, but it had some cool buildings and was right on the water.

Heather, April, Stacey,  & Me.

After we got our rental car and hotel worked out, Blythe took us up to a lookout point that was absolutely incredible!

What you can't see in that picture of Spencer and me is the "behind the scenes" crew responsible for blocking the sun from our faces.

Tyler & April, with Blythe & Heather on sun-blocking duty.

On our way back down the mountain, we stopped to see this statue of a fertility goddess. Stacey and I were coaxed into taking many a cheesy picture near it while flaunting our pregnant bellies.

The next morning we drove down to Nagasaki to visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. It was really sobering to be there and learn more about the terrible effects of the war. 

Nagasaki Peace Park

I can't remember exactly what the sign said about this fountain, but it talked about how after the bomb hit many people died searching for water. The fountain was made to look like angel's wings to signify angels carrying water to the souls of those who suffered. Or something like that.

During WWII, local governments had citizens dig tunnels into hillsides to give them protection during air raids. These ones were only a short walk away from ground zero, but for those who were able to make it in there before the bomb hit, it saved them from being burned to death.

Ground zero.

Next to the monument at ground zero was a portion of a Christian church that survived the blast. It had been relocated from its original location.

I certainly left there feeling grateful for my peaceful upbringing!

We met Blythe back in Sasebo, where she took us to some antique pottery shops. It was fun perusing through all the cool dishes and stuff. I got a few of cute little blue dishes… then promptly broke the lid of one like two days after we got home. Blast.

Driving around, we got to appreciate the Japanese countryside complete with "real" Japanese houses. They are definitely more of what I pictured seeing everywhere in Okinawa when we first found out we'd be moving there, until we arrived and quickly learned it was the land of concrete buildings.

"Real" Japanese houses in the background.

Of course the main purpose of our visit was for the district leaders to train local leadership and have fun with the youth in Sasebo. They did a pretty cool angry birds activity, followed by a fireside. 

We all had to speak during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday morning, and I pretty much bawled through my entire 5 minute time slot… typical. We left feeling so impressed by the resilience and faith of the teenagers in their branch. It always gives me hope for my own kids when I see teenagers today choosing to hold onto the gospel of Jesus Christ and testifying of how it has strengthened them.

We had to bail early from church to catch our flight home. It was such a fun trip, and I'm so glad we got to connect with some wonderful people and enjoy a little more a "big Japan."

Sleepy Head

One Sunday after church, Shawn was extra tired. Instead of eating lunch, he asked for his binky and wanted to sit on Spencer's lap. A few minutes later, I looked over at Spencer and saw that Shawn was totally asleep. Such a sweet little guy, and he sure loves his Daddy.

First Day of Preschool

Sydney was so excited to start preschool at Kuwae again this year! She gets to attend for a few hours every morning, which makes her feel like a big kid. On her first day, I was able to talk her into actually styling her hair, and she chose to wear her very favorite outfit- a dress that goes almost all the way down to her feet. She pretty much wears it at least once a week :)

My sweet Sydney.

Shawn wanted to get it on the first day of school picture too!

Now that she's several months into the school year, she still absolutely loves it. She happily walks into her classroom each days and gives Miss Kamrin and Aya San a big hug. They've learned lots of songs this year, including songs about each letter and its sound, songs about how to spell different colors, holiday songs, etc. And since she loves to sing and put on shows, we've enjoyed getting to learn them too. Syd has also been very into writing notes, constantly asking us how to spell different words. She is such a smart little girl, and I love seeing her learn so much!

Gala Salt Factory

Feeling the need to do something new in Okinawa, we spent a Saturday morning checking out the Gala Salt Factory near Cape Zampa. After doing a very small self-guided tour, we went to make a little salt of our own. We started with ocean water that had already been boiled down to be very concentrated. We poured it into a ceramic bowl, put it on a mini stove, then set to stirring.

Sydney and Shawn each got a stick for stirring and some cool gloves. Ever the copycat, Shawn was imitating all the same silly moves that Sydney was making for the camera.

Their interest in stirring the water was pretty short lived, so Spencer became the designated stirrer for the bulk of the experience. I was on picture/chase Shawn around duty.

My handsome boys.

Apparently Syd thought playing in front of this fan was more entertaining than making salt.

Slowly but surely, our boiling water went from this:

 To this:

Once the process was complete, we got to sample our salt on some popcorn, which the kids thought was super cool. Then we bottled up the rest in a cute little clay pot to take home.

Free Entertainment

The week before Spencer left for Mongolia, Shawn started refusing to nap in his crib. He would be totally asleep in my arms and I'd lower him into his crib, then he was wake up wide eyed and just start screaming and grabbing for me. For a few days I tried to just let him cry it out, but that turned out to be miserable. My new napping solution was to just give him his binky and blanket and let him lay on the couch with Sydney while she watched a quiet time shows, hoping that he would fall asleep. 

On one such lucky day (i.e. when he actually fell asleep), I had lots to do and needed something to keep Sydney busy after quiet time. The answer: an empty box. We decided to decorate it like a car, and for a solid week Sydney spent time coloring, taping, and driving that car. And of course filling it with one million toys when going on said drives.

Although it was rare, sometimes she let Shawn go for a ride with her. I snapped a few pictures of them looking cute while enjoying a snack together in her car.

Saying "cheese," which never seems to prompt actual smiles from Shawn.

Their "deer in headlights" look.

Just being silly.

Shawn's 2nd Birthday- Times Two!

Since Spencer was in Mongolia for Shawn's birthday, and Spencer happens to be Shawn's favorite person in the world, I kept the day-of birthday celebration simple and saved the big celebration for when Daddy was home. We started off the morning going bowling with our neighbors. 

This boy loves bowling!

Looking cute in the car. He was so excited to hold those sprinkles.

We made cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday that evening. And when I say "we," I also mean Shawn. He loved singing Happy Birthday to himself :)

Sydney, our neighbor Jack, and Shawn

Such a big boy!

Celebration number two took place the weekend after Spencer got home. This time the morning started with presents.

The lawnmower was totally his favorite toy.

Spencer got Shawn dressed that morning, and kind of loves to match him. Shawn thinks it's pretty cool too… nerds.

Shawn pointing to their clothes: "Mom! Same, same!"

After presents we went bowling again. I think it's hilarious how excited he gets about bowling. He especially likes to help carry his own ball to the ramp.

Wohoo!

Someone decided she was not interested in participating. She watched cartoons the whole time the rest of us bowled.

We got some udon for dinner (which Shawn calls "udon lunch" every time we drive by it), then went home to do cake and ice cream. I decorated his cake with the map from Dora the Explorer since he's kind of obsessed with it. Every time we're drawing or coloring, it's pretty much a guarantee that he'll ask us to draw a picture of the map.

When we started singing "Happy Birthday," Shawn cheerfully joined in. It was pretty hilarious as he was very into it. And he blew out his two candles like a champ!

Singing "Happy Birthday" to himself again.

We seriously love this little boy, he has brought so much laughter into our home.

Mongolia

In June, Spencer told me that he volunteered his name for a two week humanitarian deployment to Madagascar. Less than a week later, he reported that he was selected for the trip, and it was actually to Mongolia. On July 30, he flew into Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, and after several days of mishaps (e.g. no one to pick them up at the airport, his dental supplies not making it on the plane), prayers were answered and they were able to get to work.

He was introduced to the atrocious barracks that would be his home for the next 2 1/2 weeks,

Spencer's room, complete with flies, spiders, and creaky doors. The electricity in the barracks was also inconsistent.

The shower. It was chilly in the morning, and the water was super cold.

The highly sanitary looking stove where meals were prepared for them.

Their adopted pet Sparky, who would wait for them by the door to their barracks every day. 

 enjoyed various welcoming ceremonies,

ate some disgusting Mongolian food,

He described this dish as "Beef, but with a sheepy taste."

Five organ soup plus (left to right): liver, intestine, heart, kidney, stomach. 

pulled a whole lot of nasty teeth,

The dental crew.

Army, Navy, and Mongolian army dental group.

This one was so disgusting I had to include it!

and photographed the landscape.

Spencer said it reminded him of Rohan from Lord of the Rings. 

Holding a vulture.

Getting nervous when it started crawling up his arm!

The hawk proved to be a little easier.

Hanging out by some Gers.

One of my favorites.

They also got to make some touristy stops,

and had plenty of time to mess around.

Shopping. Fur is so hot right now.

Playing nightly games of Eucre. 

No one we've ever played with has heard of being "In the barn," but Spencer said they all thought it was really funny.

One weekend they got special liberty, so a bunch of guys decided to escape the barracks for a few days and get hotel rooms. They opted to go to a totally expensive five star hotel. It was at least nice that Spencer had consistent Internet access there, so we got to Skype with him several times.

The Blue Sky Hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

The highlight for Spencer was not only getting to ride home in a C-130 (a day earlier than planned- wohoo for me!),

but also getting to fly it! The pilot goes to church with us, and he called Spencer up to the cockpit and let him take the controls for about an hour. Autopilot was off, and Spencer was in total control. Our friend was obviously right there the entire time just in case he needed to take over.

Spencer, in heaven.

Now whenever a C-130 flies over our house (which is often), he likes to remind us that he got to fly one.