Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Tuesday-10:15am: pictures from Japan and a video

Good Morning!  
I'll get the "local" news out of the way first--LOL!
We did have some 70s and sun the last week.  Even hit 80!  And yet yesterday I saw a few snowflakes dancing in the updraft beside the building.  Yoyo weather still prevails.
Clouds teased us...
...but never produced moisture until during the night Saturday night.
Just light drizzle, but we'll take anything we can get.  Instead of our annual flood watch up here we've been on a fire watch instead.  Karma loves snoozing on a rainy day...well, any day, let's be honest.
I went to drive over to McFamily's on Sunday and discovered that the automatic windshield wipers don't work at all on any setting!  The manual button on the end still works for a swipe...but then you have to press that button all the time on your entire trip (which you can't really do while taking corners--awk!)  Luckily for me it was just drizzle most of the time and I made it there and back.  But I am due to go back today and this is what it looks like this morning.

Hope there's nothing but light drizzle or no rain at all.  I know.  I'm being very selfish.  We need rain so badly.  
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I had another evening video hangout with my favorite people in Tokyo. 
Can you tell they were a little tired that morning?  LOL!
I love the video chats!  
Even get Gramma-smiles.
The bit of rain has caused...can you see it?...
...the grass to finally start turning green!  TaDa!!
Last but not least...Dagan and Leah both sent me all their pics and videos yesterday!  OMG!!  I spent yesterday going through hundreds of pictures!  What fun!  (Not that I know where they were all the time or what they were looking at--LOL!)  
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There was this stray picture of Ian before they left home.  He's standing by their coffee table and (in weird large perspective) that's his new water bottle he took on the trip.  
I realized I forgot my coffee mug shot so I am counting the water bottle and shots of them eating and drinking in Japan for T-Stands For Tuesday over at Elizabeth's.  :):)
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Don't worry--you're not going to see hundreds of pictures today--LOL!  Just the beginning of the trip and one extra place they stayed that fascinated me (because I have a video).
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Ian did a lot of napping on the long flight.  Mama has on her nursing coverup, in case you're wondering.
Someone took this picture of McFamily on the plane.
And here they are...back on the ground in Japan!!
Leah's brother, Aaron, met them at the airport.  The first night they were totally exhausted so Aaron went and picked up some food and they crashed.  But the next day they were off wandering about Tokyo.  Here's Leah with Ian in the stroller and Aaron out on the sidewalk ready to roll.

Remember the one picture I got of Ian in the bouncy bee?  I thought this was funny--Dagan taking a picture of Leah taking a picture of Ian.
They wandered the busy city.
There are, quite literally, hundreds of pictures.
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But I wanted to share this video Leah made for me of their hotel room when they went on one of their two-day tours.  (She said I could.)  I'm not sure if this was when they went to Mt. Fuji or Kyoto, but I was fascinated!!
Here they are all dressed in their special robes (I can't remember the name of them, either, Leah) and ready for dinner.
Ian LOVED this room with the furniture that was just his size--LOL!
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Nice family picture before dinner...
...and, yes, they did set up the beds on the floor while they were eating their meal.
Anyways, McFamily will be home in less than a week!
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I'll include more pictures here and there along the way.  What an adventure!!  But I will be so glad to see them home so I can hug Dagan and Leah and hold that little Ian in my arms again.  Doesn't Ian seem so much older already?  I know.  He's only been gone 2 1/2 weeks...and he's just now turned 10 months old...but baby time passes much faster than gramma time.  ;)
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Have a wonderful week!!  :):)
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“Love is the substance of all life. Everything is connected in love, absolutely everything.” 
Julia Cameron  

27 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

ian is a cutie pie. glad they're still having fun over there! and 80 to snow is a big swing. :)

carol l mckenna said...

Lovely series of home shots and Karma doing the 'naps' ~ Delightful photos of your family in Japan ~ Technology is great for keeping family close!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, dear Rita! 80 degrees in Fargo? That's the equivalent of 180 in the rest of the country! :) Looks like you snapped some rare photos of Kitty Kat Karma worrying himself sick about the weather (and nuclear proliferation treaties and other weighty world affairs). I thoroughly enjoyed these pictures and the video of Ian and family in Japan. It's fascinating how everything is scaled down and every square inch of space taken into account. I stand over six feet tall and would probably feel like an awkward giant in such accommodations. Thank you very much, dear friend Rita. Enjoy the rest of your day and week!

Linda Kunsman said...

What a weather roller coaster you have ridden recently! Love all the family shots and that amazing city view. Thanks for sharing the video. Loved seeing the way everything is set up. I must say though I'd have a heck of a time constantly sitting at floor level and having to get up and down so many times:) Happy T day-and enjoy going through all the vids and photos!

GrandmaG said...

Thanks for sharing all the pixs and the video. Isn't it wonderful how affordable pictures are now? It's just so easy to take 100s of photos. But make sure Leah makes a scrapbook and/or actual photo album of at least some of the shots. That's the downfall of digital. Too many people never print them. Thanks, again!

~*~Patty S said...

What a great quote Rita.
AND that video is so interesting and enlightening and too cute about Ian feeling so at home with the 'short' furniture LOL.
Super photos too!
They truly are on a fantastic adventure and troopers traveling with a baby.
Nursing is always a good choice. It has added benefits when flying as it helps keep the ear pressure more comfy for baby.
Thanks for sharing and Happy T Day!
oxo

Anonymous said...

Arigato gozaiamus for your lovely post today!!

Halle said...

We've had snow flurries on and off all day. So strange after record highs in the mid 80's. We've gotten a tiny bit of moisture so our grass is beginning to show signs of green as well. So windy though!!!!
Loved the photos from Japan. My BIL and GF are heading there in June for the second time. It's fun to see life across the globe...even if it's just virtually. :)

Jenny Woolf said...

How lovely it all looks! I enjoyed the video. It really made me want to be back in Japan. Those toilets though, they are something else. I never knew which button to press! :D

Divers and Sundry said...

I found the photos from Japan fascinating. Thx!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I think we are done with snow, the trees seems ready to put on their leaves, and we actually have gotten warmer. I really enjoyed the video and thank them for allowing you to share it with us!

DJan said...

He will seem so big when you see him again, but in reality three weeks in a huge portion of an infant's life! Love all the great pictures, Rita. Thank you. :-)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm SO sorry I haven't been here sooner, but I've been sick most of the day. Fever, flem, headache, and the chills I don't need when I welcome in my bEARTHday tomorrow.

That is my size room, if I lived in Japan. I can't believe how many things we Americans cram into room. I know I'm at fault, that's for sure.

Thanks for sharing the photos AND the video with us for T this Tuesday. I promise to come back when I feel better.

ChicagoLady said...

Sounds like they're having a great time!

Darla said...

Enjoyed the chance to see Ian and his adults in Japan. You must be thrilled looking through all the pictures. What tales the will have to tell you upon their return.

Darla

Anonymous said...

Have you seen the movie Divergent? They could be in the cast with those outfits.
What a great travel baby.

Carol said...

Thanks for sharing all of the photos and video of Japan. I feel this is as close as I"ll ever get to being there. I'm with Linda on the lower furniture. I would be stuck on the floor needing a crane to help me get up. HOpe you get the windshield washer issues worked out. That could be a real hassle...been there before. Thanks for sharing.

Intense Guy said...

Looks like you are almost traveling along with them! Which is nice since your lawn isn't quite green yet!

I hope you find out what sort of robe they had on! I was thinking kimono - but no, that's not right... maybe Shinto?

Zue said...

It really is a holiday of a lifetime.
They all look very fetching in their 'kimono' garments and
Ian seems very adaptable and a happy little soul.
Sue x

Victoria Zigler said...

Glad you're getting enough rain to make the grass green, but not enough to cause problems with you going to visit Sammy and Annie!

Sounds like McFamily's trip to Japan is going well.. Thanks for the share of the video!

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

I loved the video of the room, I have wondered what rooms in hotels in different countries look like, not sure I would like sleeping on the floor or sitting on the floor all the time.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I enjoyed the video of the room, Leah was great at explaining everything! Where did Ian sleep..since there were three of everything! Hope we warm up soon:)

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous room! I'd love to visit Japan.

Friko said...

I missed all the excitement because I’ve been away from the computer for weeks; here’s hoping that your lovely family is having a great time but that they’ll be back with you before you miss them too much!

Feral Turtle said...

What a great video and a beautiful room they have! Ian is really getting around these days....soon he will be running!

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

ian is such a cutie-pie!! it's too bad he won't really remember any of this exciting trip as he gets older. but he sure looks like he's enjoying it now...as they all are!
but i bet you just can't wait for them to get home!! video chats are cool in the meantime.
sleeping on the floor is good as long as you're in good enough shape to get back up!!
it's sure easy to take LOTS and LOTS of photos when you're away on vacation!! that's just one of the great things about going digital!

take care rita!

AliceKay said...

Loved seeing the pictures of the travelers. The video was interesting. I don't think I could handle staying in one of those rooms, tho. But it was fascinating. And that picture that showed the busy city traffic?? Oh my word! LOL I couldn't handle that traffic.

Ian looks like he's enjoying himself, exploring the room with all the short stuff. ;)