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.}

Nanbu

Over the 4th of July weekend we wanted to go camping with some friends.  They suggested we go to Nanbu.  We said, "yes, of course, Nanbu was exactly where we were thinking of going too." So we ventured down to Nanbu.  Marie made friends with the slide, clouds, and mountains at our little picnic lunch we had when we got there.  You may not be able to tell from this picture, but unless we've posted any embarrassing bathtub photos of Marie, this is the first blogged photo of her diaperless.  Yeah!!! Great job, Marie.

We then stopped by a Shinto temple shrine complex and Marie peed all over.  So the rest of her photos she has diapers on.  It's too hard out in the wilderness, away from the little froggie potty.  Anyway, in this next picture you can see the fam sticking it out for a great pic standing on a red bridge.  Marie kept looking at the large fish in the pond and would say, "Let's go fishing with a fishing pole!"  She has a little fishing game she likes to play. I just went to see what it was called and turns out its called, "Let's Go Fishin' Game." 

Mina found this great fake turtle.  She snapped at it with her jaws, just like the turtle would have tried if he wasn't made of stone.  These two turned out to be pretty good friends in the end. 

We then found the Hokoji Temple.  It was built over 750 years ago and was very quiet.

And then Brett and Marie ran up the steps and made a huge embarrassment out of themselves.  But they really wanted to have their Rocky moment after running up the stairs.  We'll behave ourselves better next time sacred temple.

Then Rachel finds these stairs, climbs them, and proceeds to embarrass America with all of her looking around respectfully, enjoying herself.

We made it to the campsite.  Check out all the mini-treehouses in the background.  I don't know who stays in them, either ninjas, samurais, or smurfs.  We opted for the traditional tent, what with it being the 4th of July and all.  We went on top of the hill and Marie played with her Mickey Mouse ball and Brett played with a wiffleball. You decide who the mature one is. 

In the morning Marie and her friend shared an inside joke around the campfire.

Mina was great throughout.  She earned infinity kisses from Mommy.  See you next time Nanbu.

Little Pig

This little pig built a Japanese house out of sticks and rice patties.

Down will come Baby Donald

Marie's always loved story time.  From day one she's taken it pretty seriously.  Most nights she would read all night if we let her, so we limit her to half the night.  She loves to go to her bookshelf and pull out all the books she plans to read that night.  And when there are little song parts to the books she doesn't let me sing them because, "No daddy, I don't like your voice." 

rockin and rollin

National Big Sister Day

Today I offically declare Big Sister Day.
It's an ode to all the big sisters (and brother's too) who consistently make life better for the younger siblings in their  life. I've been meaning to give Marie her own official "Marie Celebration Day" for a while, but today she really earned it.
We were driving home. Usually when I'm driving it's a pretty constant chorus of Mina crying. But  half way home she stopped crying. Automatically I just thought it was because of my awesome parenting skills I somehow taught her to self soothe. But then Marie says, "Mom, she's got a bag on her face!" I pulled the car over, whipped open the passenger door and sure enough somehow Mina has a plastic bag on her face. A minute earlier I had rolled down the windows and I think a plastic bag from the road flew in from the side and landed on her face. She was enjoying eating it and tangling her face up in it. Once I removed it she was actually pretty mad. I however, was speechless. Marie- you are a hero.  

But the real question is, how do I celebrate a two year old? Tokyo Disney, anyone?

Here is Marie a week earlier when I caught her gettin' down at the park.

Marie, you are awesome.