Last Swim Class

Carter's last swim class for the first session was April 24th. He did better with me than he did with Scott the previous week, but still cried for about 5-10 minutes. He graduated and got a certificate at the end of class. It was fun to do the class with the Scaddings, although there's not much we actually did together in the class. Fun none the less! Enjoy these pictures!

Ready to get in the water

Still not too sure about it

Me and Carter and Sarah and Owen

Chasing after a water toy, practicing reaching out his arms in the water

So sad this came out blurry because I thought it was a good one!

Our usual "4 of us" picture

There was no dunking of the babies in the last class, and since we missed getting it on video the other two times, I dunked him before we got out of the pool. He never cried when being submerged, so that makes me very happy. I don't want him to grow up being scared of water and swimming under water.

******Video Coming Soon******

(Blogger is giving me fits!)

Apartment Hunting

I'm excited because I've made contact with a few people in the housing industry, Oakwood Temporary Housing. A gal that Scott went to UC with used to work for, and forgive me because I know I'll get this wrong somehow, a company that helped relocate people and helped them find housing. She no longer works there, but I asked if she could give me any company names to help in our apartment search.

Last night I received an email with a link to a company that will have a few places available during the time we will need it. They are actually nicer than any other apartments I've found online. Japanese places are pretty small and tight spaces, only about 650-700 sq. ft.. The places that are available are only 1 bedroom, which in my mind is a problem because of Carter. I mean Scott and I can get creative on where we, *ehem*, but I'd rather be comfy and not share a room with a little one while doing it. Haha!

The first option is at the J. Res Higashi-Sakura building. It ranges from 350,000-450,000 yen (equal to $3768.87-4845.69 US dollars/month).

The apartments in this building come with the following:

Washer and Dryer, Air-Conditioning, Satellite TV, Internet Access, Refrigerator,

3 Seater Sofa, Region free DVD, Double Bed, Home Theater Stereo,

Microwave Oven, Flat Screen TV, Dining Table + 2 Chairs

The kitchen minus an oven. I guess most Japanese kitchens in rented/leased spaces come without an oven. Sucks nads!!

Each bedroom is different in the pictures for these properties, but here is one option.

Look at how close the bed is to the sofa. It's right behind those shower like glass doors. It's a good thing we all like each other! ;)

TV, sofa, dinette table, bedroom

The second option is at the J. Res Fushimi building. It starts at 350,000 yen.

The apartments in this building come with the following:

Washer and dryer, air-conditioning, satellite TV, internet access, refrigerator, 3 seater sofa, region free DVD, gas kitchen stove, double bed, home theater stereo, microwave oven, flat screen TV, telephone, dining table + 2 chairs

Balcony, TV, coffee table, sofa

Kitchen

Sofa and kitchen

Bedroom, again, one of many different types

Carter and Scott Go For A Swim

Last Saturday Carter got in the water with Scott, and without Tylenol for his swim class. It was NOT pretty! The class is from 11:15-11:45 and he cried and held to Scott so tight for 20 of the 30 minutes. Poor thing! Those darn teeth! Anyhow, they both made it through and I had warm towels and a bottle waiting for him when he was done. Yay, 10 points for Mommy!

Tomorrow is the last class and I'll be taking Carter in the water for the last time. The pictures from this last class will be much better because Scott can be down by the pool. We will not be signing up for session B because we would miss 5 of the 6 classes, so we'll wait until later in the summer. :)

Just Because

I'm calling this his 13 month close up. Oh, and it was taken right before he started pulling on the end table lamp....

What a pathetic look huh? He had just had his hand smacked for pulling on the end table lamp and electrical cord. I can't help but smile when he gives me this look. Wow, disciplining him is going to be rough in the future!!! Hopefully he doesn't always look this pathetic!

I gave him an empty milk and OJ gallon container and you'd think I'd given him the world!!

"Thanks for the containers Mama. They're awesome!"

Carter loves the lion walker my friend and his Auntie Sarah bought him for his 1st birthday. Shortly after he got it, he started going to it, pulling it out, and walking with it all by himself. Before, we were having to help him pull a walker out so he could go to town. Not anymore! Thank you Auntie Sarah!!

(It's not the greatest, most sturdy video because I was recording while crawling on my knees with him.)

My neighbor and good friend, Sarah and I enjoy walking with our boys. We walk to the park and library alot, but sometimes we just walk around our development. I don't know what I'd do without her. :) Here are some of the picture I took of our walk to Wilson park in downtown Milan.

On our walk with Sarah and Owen, on our way to Wilson park.

He is doing great with his sippy cups. I think next week we'll start working on giving a sippy with milk at nap times and have a bottle at bed time only.

"Mommy, I don't...like...these...glasses!"

Hanging out in the swing at the park

Sarah and her son, Owen. I just love this picture of them!!

Carter and Owen enjoy the teeter totter, although you could never tell from this picture!

Mommy and Carter in the park

Just For G-Daddy

I showed this trick of Carters to my dad once and for some strange reason he was floored that Carter did this. He asked me several times if I'd ever recorded him doing it because he thought it was just the funniest thing ever (that's a G-Daddy for ya!). So, Dad, this one is just for you!!

Love you!

Maa nante koto nanda!!!

Translation: Oh my God!! This is what I thought when Scott and I flipped through some "speaking Japanese" books he was able to borrow from someone at work. Ok, well honestly, I was really thinking, "Oh shit, I have less than 5 months to learn this!!!!!" We'll need to be able to speak some of the language to be able to get around AND Scott said we need to know the below Katakana chart.

Katakana (kah-tah-kah-nah) is one of the three common Japanese alphabets. Katakana is made up of 48 symbols/characters that represent syllables, and is mostly used for phonetically spelling words and names imported from foreign languages, such as Takushi (Taxi). Apparently, I'll need to know some basic Kana to get myself around in Japan. Thank goodness McDonald's is pretty much a global chain, but from the image below you'll see why I'll need to know these characters. Not every store and sign/advertisement uses Japanese like French or Spanish, they use Katakana.

A Japanese class is offered at Toyota to people who are going to be in Japan long term, 1 year+, so because we're only going for 3 months Scott will receive no assistance from Toyota on helping to learn the language. (I'm not sure if any ole employee can take the class regardless of whether they're going to Japan) A guy that Scott works with was nice enough to let us borrow books from the class that is taught at Toyota. I think Scott said this guy was going to Japan for a longer stay, so that's why he's taking this class.

Maa nante koto nanda!!! I'm anxious to learn all that I can before we leave because it's been quite some time since I've had to have my nose in a book, but it's a hella challenge I'm up for. Yay!! :)

Home Sweet Home!

This past weekend we spent all day Saturday mowing, weeding, bagging, and mulching. It's hard work, but it does make the house look so nice. It looks even better once I get my flowers planted and my stella dioras are in full bloom. I love it and I love that we take such pride in our home! We did not get both sides of the house finished...we'll work on that this Sunday.


Here are some pictures I took after the front was done! :)

We don't have any blooms out yet, but once we have bright yellow

stellas and red geraniums it looks so nice!

I love this time of year because I can hang my half circle flag and put

out my red bench and watering cans by the tree.

We got half os this side done, but we ran out of mulch.

New Back Packs

The day we found out we were 100% going to Japan we went to REI and bought back packs because some of our weekends there we'll travel and sight see and we'll pretty much be back packing ourselves through different places. It was fun to pick out packs. I'd never even put one on, so it was a different shopping experience.

Anyhow, it would not have been a complete experience without documenting it all. Haha! :)

Rav4 or 4Runner

Toyota Rav4

Toyota 4Runner

The lease on my Camry Hybrid is up June 2011, but we've decided to give it up early in August and pay a termination fee. It actually works out to be cheaper to pay the fee instead of paying for a car sitting a garage for 3 months while we're gone.


We know we need more space because of a future with a larger family, so we're thinking of either a Rav4 or a 4Runner. I wouldn't mind having a Rav4, but I don't think it will be enough space long term. I, personally, have wanted a 4Runner since shortly after Scott and I started dating. I saw one at a gas station in my hometown and have loved them ever since. In Toyota's SUV lineup, smallest to largest, it's Rav4, 4Runner, Highlander, and Sequoia.
The Rav4 would be cheaper than my Camry and is available with optional 3rd row seating...think 2 car seats in the middle and the dog and our stuff in the 3rd row.

The Rav4 dash

This is without a 3rd row and what it looks like with all the seats folded down

This is the optional 3rd row

The 4Runner would be a little more than the Camry, but not an unreasonably amount. (Yes, I'm trying really hard to justify the 4Runner!!) It also comes with an optional 3rd row, but does have a cool slide out tray in the back if we opt for no 3rd row. Oh, and it also has towing capability...just sayin'! (I really, really, really would like to have a 4Runner!!!)

The 4Runner dash

This is without a 3rd row, showing the space in the back

This is the optional 3rd row

The cool slide out tray if you opt for no 3rd row

We have to make a decision and Scott has to send the vehicle info (we'll build our own vehicle like we did with the Camry) in by August, before we leave for Japan. We are going to a dealership tomorrow to look at each of these SUVs. It's fun to think that I'll have family and friends and a new car waiting for us when we return from Japan. So, we have alot going on right now!! :)