Amazing to catch up with my old neighbor from Osaka in town from Brazil.....what a world I live in!

Shakujikoen! (park)



Kakigori! (shaved ice)



swiiiiing!

Yuki and her little angel Kiko.  Nykolas can always make those little ones laugh.

waiting on the train....

 Impromptu date with my boy....I had an appointment in the city and I dragged poor Nykolas along.  He was a trooper.  On the way home we had to change trains in Ikebukuro....kind of a fun place to explore.  We had dinner at TGIF, got immersed in the crowds, took in the sights from the top of Sunshine City....what a great city, Tokyo. 

Nykolas is getting big so so fast....I loved these too few hours just being with him......

Loving our new friend.  She wakes up daily with a "Oh Hello" like she doesn't expect him to be here still.  She gets his name confused...her favorite show is Charlie and Lola and the characters have a dog named 'sizzles'...so Onigiri is often called Sizzles too.  Whatever works.

Spotted this little beauty on the train today.....the Japanese version of my Lili....'heel heel' shoes on and her own little stroller and baby.  Too cute!!

Grocery shopping for this crew and a bike is a challenge but oh so good for my waistline!

First sight and walk....

I had a hard time catching in unblurred photos the kids first reaction when Giri-chan woke them the first morning.....but these will do.

This is actually onigiri, a Japanese snack made of sticky rice shaped into a triangle (they can also be shaped like balls) wrapped in seaweed and a little surprise of salmon or tuna tucked inside.  Nykolas in particular loves this treat for lunch.  The kids have been contemplating dog names, well for forever!  Mia figures that our sweet companion has a black nose that looks like nori (seaweed) and the body that is the colour of rice.  And it always makes our Japanes friends smile and such a silly name.  It would be like Japanese in America naming their dog twinkie.

Meet Onigiri! (sounds like onagiddy)

We finally have our long awaited for pet!  Chad and Mia met him at a shelter in Osaka.  After our 'homestudy' (the shelter wanted to make sure we were actually set up for a dog) I drove to Osaka in a day and picked him to the surprise of Chad and the kids!  I enjoyed the day of quiet in the car and the anticipation of the surprise.

Continuing our river fun!  Although we have slowed a bit as Nykolas got the river grunge from a wound and is on antibiotics now.....

Art at a real studio!

Found at the park!

The newest Higashikurume Flipper!

Oh yes she did....it had been a long day of fun!

Yummy!

Finally she is a ballerina!...and she is teaching her little sister everything she knows...much to her sister's delight!

So much for my lovely Bobbi Brown makeup.....

and can I tell you how difficult it is to get greasy make-up off clothes!

Walking in the newness of life!

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   Romans 6:3-6

We were so privileged to be a part of Jesus Community's baptisms by the river.  Cool water, bar-b-que and faces shining with the newness of life!  Perfect day with the bride!

We came across a summer matsuri (festival) in our neighborhood.  Nykolas and Mia were able to hit the taiko with a little instruction from the local expert.....he was a little on the tipsy side (I am being generous) we were off to shaved ice quickly....

Matsuri are usually sponsored by the local temple or shrine.  As was this one.....my mind was on all the Bible says about idols as the temple's kami was paraded through town.  I John 5:20-21 says: "And we know the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."   

 Thanks to some friends we have found several great summer haunts....shady and/or cool.  The storm drain is our favorite.  The fence might indicate that we aren't supposed to be there but with all the Japanese kids slipping and sliding too surely they won't notice us  :)