I would like to thank Mike Smith!

Most women my age spend their craft  time making cute hair bows for their girls, or really cool photo albums. I choose to make reasonably priced fabric into "newish" looking couches.
It took only 3 months, but I coverd 2 couches and a large chair. Yee haw! All with a cheap sewing machine.

I would like to take a moment to thank Mike Smith, for giving me practice on making him couch cushion covers several years ago, and my dad for driving me to JoAnns, and all the ramp agents who had to unwittingly carry a 75lb bag of fabric onto the plane that got me back to Japan last May.

I'm not sure how I feel about how the smaller chair turned out.
Let's just say it's a conversation piece.

Mina Tomadachi

 Check out these two little cougars. They are just getting ready for the weekend. And as a side note, you might want to notice the couches in the background, because you...won't...see...them...AGAIN!  Rach has been a little busybody, acting all Martha Stewartish, whipping up new couch covers. Also, check these girls out.

We decided to go boating again. And it was super fun. This time we discarded the tube and strapped on the skiis. Rachel popped right up, much to her surprise. This was the first time we've ever been water skiing together, and I was quite impressed. Plus, CHECK OUT THE PANTS!!! That's my Rach, rocking it with pants on.

Okay, we didn't really discard the tube. He's our lovable buddy that takes no skill to own AND it is super fun.  We both hopped on the tube and decided to let Marie drive us around.

Then we put on our little japanese outfit, walked out the gate, and checked out the latest festival.

Mina tomadachi. It means, "everybody's friend" in Japanese. At least it means something sort of along those lines. And she is mina tomadachi.

These aren't the most exciting videos, but whatever, that's all we got.

I'm on a BOAT!

If Brett were typing right now he would give you a witty, short update on our weekend.

If Marie were typing right now she would probably mention she went on a boat, but also mention that she "had no toys on the boat." Then she would probably sing the Wonder Pets theme song and then mention the phrases "sixty-six pounds" and "wad you say?" Something we hear alot of lately. I know, I don't get it either.

If Mina were typing it would look like this: oiueoru#@#$WERDCddj (and then nothing because she has a tendency to knock the keyboard off the desk). But if she could formulate her feelings it would go something like this: "Bananas are great. I want milk. I'm trying very hard to take off my diaper at all times. I'm naked most of the time because it is so hot in this cruel world. I will try and sleep in Mom's bed until I am 100 years old." Good luck with that Mina.

But none of the above are blogging. It's me, Rachel. And I will tell you how hot and stale the air is tonight. How Marie is probably sweating a little in her room and bugs are sneaking in because all the windows are open in the hope that it will rain tonight. Mina has a heat rash on her back. And I officially, unequivocally hate AUGUST.

Oh Air Conditioning, let me count the ways how I love thee...

But I will interrupt this pity party for a picture break:
I


Brett got certified to rent a boat!
Marie approves!

Sharing a secret.

Good Times!

I will go dream of cool water. If anyone wants to send me a $700 air conditioner you have my blessing.

kinda boring...might want to skip this one

We were lounging around too much on Sunday afternoon so we decided to to take a little family walk down to the lake. We kind of missed the sunset, but the lake wanted us to still take a couple of pictures. And when Lake Ogawara talks, you obey.  He's a fun lake to have right around the corner, and hopefully we can keep him on our side. I finally got certified (or whatever) to take one of the boats out on the lake; we're planning our first run next Saturday. Hopefully all nearby fishing boats quickly recognize they have an amateur behind the wheel.

On the way home we raced our shadows...AND WON!!!

Miss Marie, You Are THREE!

Yep. I'm gonna say it. I can't believe my baby is three. I'm sure you, the reader, can totally believe it.

But I just can't get over how far we've come!

Last year we celebrated Marie's 2nd birthday with jet lag and a store bought cupcake. A single, store bought cupcake. It was sad.

So this year we gave her a shiny new birthday party. Dad worked on her real birthday so we got two; one on her real bday and one on a Saturday.  I love two birthdays!

We had SIX three year olds over. Uh... no one told me the "age rule," that is, no more children than the age they are. Hence, I should have only invited 3 kids. Yikes! But it was fun, some of my nice friends stayed and help "herd cats" with me. It was really fun though. However, my favorite part was that before the guests even arrived Marie sat alone at the head of the table,  "waiting for my party to start!"  What a ham!

We decorated Mickey Mouse ears, face painted, played pin the tail on the my little pony, and played duck duck goose. Apparently that game is super complex because no one really got it. Next year I'm renting a bouncy house ...for myself. Just kidding. For just Marie. HA... actually she would love that...

A few days later we celebrated with Daddy by going out. Mina loves spicy curry!

We then went to "Children's Land," a sort of pay-as-you ride park. This fun contraption cost Y200 for a few minutes. Not bad as long as you only have one kid.

Afterward we raced home (did I ever mention we moved?) to have cake with a few close friends. I almost gave up on making Marie a cake. It's so much work. But I got a new cake book for my birthday last year and had to try out, "Santa Fe Cornmeal Cake" -spicy and yummy and "Cream Cake with Peaches." Yay. It was fun.

Thanks for everyone who reads and tries to keep up with us. I know it's probably not very interesting seeing as we hardly even talk on the phone to anyone, let alone see people. Life with two kids is never not busy. Holy cow. How am I even blogging? I have to create at 30 min workshop for Young Women camp on Thursday.... oh yah. I love procrastinating.

Other things I want to tell you, but may not get around to blogging are:

We moved. YAY This townhouse makes me feel like a "real" person. Ironically, it was a day after I had given away a bunch of furniture and bought tons of storage containers so that we could really fit in our old apartment. I also declared myself at peace with anyone who is allowed to live in a house off base (something they no longer allow).  The next day, Housing called and offered us this little beauty. Our new neighbors are so nice. And having a backyard is magical.

I also started "teaching" (if I can call it that) English in a town 20 minutes away. It's once a week for an hour. I love it. I just read books to them and teach them primary songs (I try to ease up on the religious ones...;) ). It's a good help for me to try to learn Japanese. Which I know none of. The best part is that I get to take Marie and Mina and they watch them for me (it's at a daycare I that I teach at).

Brett and I got new callings. I finally left primary teaching after 5 years. Maybe it was because they realized I was playing "heads up 7 up" for the last half of the class. Who knows?

I feel like burying some important information in the bottom of this post. Couch cushions are half way done! Hmm... not juicy enough. I discovered Brett hates popsicles after 5 years of marriage. That's weird. Hmm.. well it looks like I am lacking in juicy gossip so I will just tell you that if we're related that I love you very much and you have no idea how much we talk about you. If you're a friend, thanks for being mine. That's all from the land of the rising sun.

Tanabata Festival

Tanabata (七夕^?, meaning "Evening of the seventh") is a Japanese star festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar.  The celebration is held at various days between July and August.

There was a festival outside the gate this weekend.  Marie and her friend loved walking down "the fun street." I never knew streamers were so fun.

Here you can see the bamboo trees which lined the streets. In the story of the lovers, they were to meet every seven years between the bamboo trees.

Hey! I know that guy!

Japan is so great. You should come. However we did have an 6.5 aftershock about an hour before this picture was taken. It was pretty cool, seeing as no one got hurt and most people didn't notice it.

Mina, we love you.

The story of the Tanabata Festival.

A young farmer named Mikeran discovered on his farm a robe which, unbeknownst to him, belonged to a goddess named Tanabata. Soon after, Tanabata visited Mikeran and asked if he had found it. He lied and told the goddess that he hadn't but would help with her search. Eventually the pair fell in love, were wed and had many children. However, one day Tanabata noticed a piece of cloth which had once belonged to her robe on the roof of Mikeran's hut. His lie discovered, Tanabata agreed to forgive him on the condition that he weave a thousand pairs of straw shoes, but until that time, she would leave him. Mikeran was unable to weave the shoes in his lifetime and thus never met Tanabata again. However, it is said that the pair meet once a year when the stars Altair and Vega intersect.

It is said that Tanabata asked Mikeran to weave one thousand sandals and bury them under the bamboo tree and they'd surely meet again. Mikeran wove the sandals and buried them under the bamboo tree as Tanabata had asked. When the tree grew, Mikeran climbed up to find that he was one step short. In his haste, he had used one sandal fewer than necessary, causing the tree to grow one step short. Mikeran called out to Tanabata and she came and lifted him up. Mikeran's father wasn't pleased so he gave Mikeran the difficult job of watching a melon field for three days and nights without touching a single melon. Mikeran however grew very thirsty watching the melons that he touched one. The melon immediately turned into a flowing river forever separating Mikeran and Tanabata. Tanabata pleaded with her father to let her see Mikeran again. Feeling sorry for his daughter, he allows them to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th month. ^{Or in this case, July 23rd... because that's when it was held this year. Does this story make sense? No, but the streamers were still fun.}