Quotes...

"Um, Mom, do you know where soap comes from? [pause] Starfish blood."  - Lola

"Mom, I love you more when you are away." - Maximo 

[after I came back from two nights away, I hope it's his take on 'absence makes the heart grow fonder']

Summer Photos

From Summer 2014

Two Fun Videos

It's that time of year, full of events, meetings, writing comments and trying to get outside because it's beautiful!

We are counting down (4 weeks!) until we fly to SAV.

Here are two videos.

The first one of Lola singing her Onigiri (Japanese rice ball and her favorite lunch) Song.

The second one is the 7 inning stretch at a Hanshin Tigers Baseball game!  So much fun.  Lola was a bit sad about not getting her balloon back, though.

Happy 2014

Hakuba, Japan - In Review

We went to Hakuba (which is part of Nagano Prefecture where Japan has hosted the Winter Olympics twice) for about a week over break.  While I wasn't begging to go skiing for our winter holiday, the moment the kids stepped into the snow, I knew John had made the right decision.

Growing up in Connecticut, I had always been around snow.  Not big beautiful, mountainous, there-is-snow-on the ground for five months kind of snow, but still, I definitely had many experiences in the snow as a kid.

Maximo in lessons using his "idgy widgy" or "pizza maker"

Lola catching snow on her tongue

We find that beach vacations are really easy with the kids, they love to swim and play all day and all four of us are content.  But, with only a tiny annoyance of having to pull a newly potty trained kid out of all of her ski gear, this ski trip maybe was just as easy.

"This is going to be the best day ever"

We stayed at Alpine Ski Chalet which was great for our family.  We always appreciate a place that we can make simple breakfast and/or snacks and a place that the kids can go to sleep and we are not stuck in the dark at 8 pm.  The owner, Kevin, really helped us out in planning for our trip and recommended that we ski at Iimori and take lessons at Hakuba Snow Sports School.  They had MANY English instructors which was great for us.

Maximo took three mornings of lessons and was skiing semi-independently by the end of the three days, John's skiing level improved greatly over the three days.  After the first day of lessons (and my third time skiing), I decided to not put Lola into daycare again and hang out with her and sled and play in the snow.  I really don't love skiing.  It does not come naturally to me and as an (has -been) athlete, it is frustrating.  I don't love the sensation of going down the hill, although it is beautiful.  So, I'll try again some other time when Lola is older and in her own lessons.

Hakuba, to a foreigner living in Japan, is kind of Bizarroland.  There are SO MANY foreigners, especially Australians.  There are many direct flights from Australia straight to Hakuba and it's definitely a destination vacation.  There were many times we didn't even feel like we were in Japan.  There was English everywhere, even taxi drivers spoke good English, everyone around us could actually understand everything we were saying and I only saw chopsticks at one of the restaurants we went to (or they just automatically offered us forks and knives).

Dinner with the Welbes Family every night.

That being said, it was a great family holiday.  John may even convince me to go on another ski holiday while we are living in Japan.  He is taking my place on the middle school ski trip in a few weeks, and I know he's excited about being able to go skiing again soon.

Christmas 2013

Maximo prepared a snack and wrote a letter to Santa this year...

Maximo's note and snack for Santa
He even colored his stocking, so Santa would know which one is his and which one is Lola's.
He also wrote his whole name because there "may be other Maximo's in the world".

I enjoyed baking this month - but now I'm done for a few months!

Opening up her stocking!

 Maximo asked Santa for fruit for his stocking.  This is due to the fact that he doesn't see commercials and has been watching some of our old Christmas specials where good kids get fruit in their stockings.  At least Santa was fancy and brought him a dragonfruit and a persimmon.

'Tis the Season

The weather is now cold.

We've eaten some delicious turkey for Thanksgiving.

...And now it is time to start the holiday cheer at Casa de Los Lemleys.

I've started a new photo album for Winter 2013-2014:  (Here is the completed Fall 2013 folder).

Today, we've also started the Christmas Countdown with Christmas stuffed animals and Snowman pancakes.  Maximo has the extra special treat of the Lego Star Wars Christmas Advent Calendar to open every morning too!

Christmas countdown activities2013 from Julie Lemley

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 7

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

Tiny beers

#7 Teeny Tiny Things

When we first moved to Japan, I was amazed by how tiny things were - tiny apartments, tiny refrigerators, tiny packages of meat/fish at the grocery store, tiny portions at restaurants, and more.  After a while, you really get use to it, and now when we go back home I'm shocked by how big everything is - cars, meals served at restaurants, stores, etc.

Tiny Taco

 It's hard in these images to really get the perspective of how tiny some things are, but when you'll get here you'll see.

You get used to the tininess.
A large house isn't needed.
A massive meal isn't necessary.
Everything is cute.
While many things are tiny... they are really efficient and/or of the best quality.

A tiny moving truck

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 5

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

This has nothing to do with the post, other than it's in Japan.
Ikuta Shrine, Sannomiya, Kobe, Japan - Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season

#5 A few simple words

We've lived in Japan for four years and as many of you know, Lola has the best Japanese in the house.  It's a bit embarrassing to tell people how long we've been here when our Japanese is so poor.  It's true that it is a difficult language, we are busy with work and our own little Lemleys, and our days are mostly filled with work which is all in English, but it's no excuse.  

The younger the Lemley, the better their Japanese.

Kawaii - "Cute" in Japanese

You will only be here for two weeks, while you shouldn't go out in your spare time and get the Rosetta Stone program for Japanese, here are the most important phrases you'll want to use when you are out and about.

Sumimasen - "Sue-me-ma-sen" Excuse me or I'm sorry.  #1 most used word by foreigners.

Konnichiwa - "Ko-Knee-Chee-Wa" Hello. (used about 10 am - 6 pm)

Ohayo Gozaimasu - "Ohio Go-Z-eye-mas" Good Morning.

Arigato - (Please leave off the "Mr. Roboto") - Thank you.

Wakarimasen - "Wa-car-ee-ma-sen" I don't understand.

Most important thing - Bow A LOT.  

Japanese people are lovely, friendly and very forgiving, more on this later...

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 4

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

#4: Sushi Go Round

This is Maximo's favorite fast food option.  If we give him choice to go out to eat, he always asks for sushi-go-round.

There are many different sushi-go-rounds, but the premise is the same:

You sit down, order your drinks, and the sushi just rolls by and you grab what you want.

The color of the plate indicates the price of the sushi.  You can also order sushi from the menu and it will arrive to your table - either directly from the sushi chef, or it notifies you by sound when it's arriving, or there are even ones where a little train delivers it right to you.

It's a great way to "load up" on sushi.  They also have some non-sushi options like edamame, tempura, miso soup and other things.

When we're done stuffing our faces with sushi, the lady counts up all our plates by color and then we get the bill.

This will be a fun meal out for all of us!

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 3

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

# 3 Vending Machines

Vending Machines abound in Japan.  The most are filled with drinks, but there are many others - filled with food, cigarettes, souvenirs and many other "needed" items.  As you can see in this article, 24 Vending Machines You Won't Believe Exist, Japan takes credit for most of the vending machines.

It's great to be able to grab a coffee, water, juice or my favorite, Lemon Tea, whenever you're feeling a bit thirsty.  By the time you get here, most machines will be switched out to match consumers needs as the weather changes and have hot and cold options.  So, when you are out and about, and are thinking about using a machine, remember that blue means the drink is cold and red means it is hot (see picture below). 

There are all sorts of fun (and sometimes weird) drinks to try.  Most of them have things like corn soup, so make sure you really study the picture on the can (as you will be almost completely illiterate here).

I even found some Pepsi for Carrie close to the house, although it's a super tiny can, so it may be more of a "Red Bull-type" Pepsi product.  It may be just what you need on your first jet lagged mornings.

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 2

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

#2 Weird & Wonderful Toilets

You just don't know the pleasure of sitting down on a warm toilet seat when you've had to get up in the middle of a chilly night.  Our bums are spoiled.  I never knew what I was missing.  We are seriously considering getting a Japanese toilet for our US house.

Toilets are heated.

They have all sorts of cleaning options.

They can play music/fake flush to mask unpleasant sounds in public restrooms.

You sometimes have an option of a strong flush & smaller flushes.

Some have sinks on the back for more efficient water use.

In homes, toilets are in separate rooms from the rest of the bathroom - there's no waiting to take your shower while your brother (let's say Tim, here) is reading the morning paper on the toilet.

Japan has a mix of "seat" toilets and squat public toilets.

Japanese public bathrooms are normally very clean, which makes it nice when you're out for a night on the town, sightseeing, at a concert or any other place that usually has questionable bathrooms.

What may be the most uncomfortable part of the trip is that that there will be 7 of us (well, 6 1/2 - Lola only uses the toilet when she wants to) sharing one toilet for two weeks.

So when you finally make it into that closet sized room - enjoy the warm seat and try one of the features (please make sure you are sitting down if you are playing with the buttons).

A sink that does it all - lather, wash, dry

Regular buttons on a toilet - most do not have nice English translations

30 Things You Should Know and/or Will Love about Japan Series: # 1

These posts are written for Carrie, Pete, and Elvia for their imminent trip to Japan, but of course, anyone traveling to Japan or dreaming of traveling to Japan can enjoy.

#1 - Safe, Efficient, Clean Transportation

When you arrive, you will land, breeze through immigration, customs and baggage within 10-15 minutes.

Buses and trains are PUNCTUAL.  They leave when they say they leave and arrive in the same manner.  Besides our bikes and our feet, we use public transportation to get everywhere.  It is clean and very quiet.

There are many rules to traveling on a train - being respectful being the over arching rule.

You should take up only one, bags should be in your lap or at your feet.
You should be quiet.
You should not eat or drink.
You should not talk on your cellphone.

So many rules... but the train is peaceful and one can relax and "people watch"

First Day of School 2013

This picture looks a lot more joyous than our morning really was, but we did get a nice first day of school picture.

Comparing it to last year...  

Our babies are getting big!

Flower and Bird Park Morning Out

This morning we went to the Flower and Bird Park on Port Island.  We wanted to get out as a family, but it was a bit cold to do something comfortably outside (for me, anyways).  As soon as we walked in, it was like walking into Spring.  It had a warm, flower and soil smell - one that brings me back to my childhood, of walking into our green house or Smith's Flower Shop with my parents.

We haven't gone to the Flower and Bird Park since Maximo was about Lola's age.  It was a really nice morning.  We need to remember next time to pack a lunch.  They have a large buffet, but it's a bit too much, and there's plenty of seating under beautiful flowers.

I forgot how nice pictures can look when you use a real camera.  I almost only use my iPhone due to the ease of posting and because I always have it with me.  I need to take out our "real" camera more often.

Here are some pictures of our day:

Daddy getting dive-bombed by birds

Playing "choose which hand" the snack is in"

The rest of the album is here.

Christmas Countdown - Day 8 & 9

They were SWEET!

We made Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees on Saturday:

and Gingerbread on Sunday:

Taking care of the flour explosion
... Just like his dad

And we'll leave you with Lola singing Jingle Bells.  She was singing (and talking) ALL day.  This isn't the best recording of her doing it, because she was more interested in watching the video of herself.

A Very Merry Birthday

The day started with a Happy Birthday sung over pancakes.

Then she enjoyed cupcakes with her friends at Yume Club (I wish I had pics of this).

Then Maximo couldn't wait for Lola to open her presents, so he helped her get out of her shoes and jacket when we got home.

Then helped her open her presents... and play with them, of course.

We had a nice family dinner of homemade spaghetti and meatballs.

And then we enjoyed chocolate cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday, Lola!  We love you!