Festive Eve

The kids were in the play The Pied Piper. Hailey was a Rat and Nathan was a Villager. The kids really did a nice job.

What a cute little rat!!

Kindergarden Field Trip to Mazda and the Fire School

On Tuesday Hailey’s class went to the Mazda Museum. Hailey, Asahe and Semin are having fun in one of the new models.

Monday after the bonfire the kindergarten class went to the fireman’s school just down the road.

Terry Fox Run

Sunday was the Terry Fox run. It is a fundraiser for cancer research. I think there were around 55 entries from HIS. The path we ran on was about a 10 min bus ride from the school.

We had to tell Nathan and Karie to stop at 10.4k I am not sure how far they would have gone if we had not stopped them
The mountains were a beautiful back drop.


Amy, Hailey and Lauren walked 3.5k
After the run we went back to the school for a bonfire and fire works. When was the last time you went to school for a bonfire?

Peace Marathon

Nathan ran in the Peace Marathon last Friday. He ran a 5K in 28min 29sec. He was proud.

Ami-san

Ami-san is our family’s sensei. She teaches all our Japanese lessons and helps us with adjusting to life here.

We feel very lucky to have her!!

Halloween

Halloween was spent quietly at home. We were happy we were able to find a pumpkin at a flower shop. It was the only one we found.

Halloween Party

This weekend was full of Halloween activities. Saturday night was trick or treating and Sunday was a picnic in the park behind our apartment. Hailey was under the weather Saturday so Nate had to collect for his Sister. Nathan was very concerned for his sister, he even shared his candy. By Sunday she was back to normal.


Nathan and Tiger


Waiting for the elevators at each building put a new twist on trick or treating


The weather was so hot that the kids had to change out of there costumes part way thru the picnic


Hailey and her new friend Cannon played together all afternoon


This was the swing that knocked down the piñata


The donut eating contest


Damage from the donut eating contest




The kids splitting the prize

Yuyuan Garden (China)

Yuyuan garden, the Garden of Leisurely Repose, was built in the Ming dynasty. It is the only Ming garden left in the city. The entire compound consists of over 30 halls and is divided into six regions by tall white walls. It was reportedly built in 1559 by the wealthy official Pan Yunduan to please his parents in their old age.




I love the dragon. The ridge of its back ran down the top of the wall all the way around the garden.


Ahgg…It’s got me!!!!!

The tea house in the middle of the garden.




Check out all the coy.

Yuyuan Garden 1 (China)

The main entrance.

Lunch at the Yuyuan Garden (China)

We had lunch on the third floor of a restaurant just outside the gates of the Yuyuan Garden. The food and the view was very good.







The whole crew.

The paper person cut out is Flat Stanley. We agreed to take some pictures of him for another Ford family back in Hiroshima. The pictures are to send back to a school in Kentucky. He still looks a little wet from the race.



This little girl came over to say “Hello”. Her parent wanted some pictures with our kids.