BIG BUDDHA NEAR AOMORI, JAPAN

Wednesday, November 4th

Since the guys had a big exercise going on the first week of November, a few wives decided to go to Big Buddha near Aomori. I had no idea what to expect. It could have been a restaurant, park, or temple for all I knew.

After about an hour and a half drive, I discovered it was a little of all of those things. We walked through a forested area, and up a hefty hill to a zen garden and on to see the biggest Buddha I've ever seen.

I love the changing colors of fall. It is by far my favorite season.

These little windmills were placed in the ground as a small memorial to children. 

Here was one of my first looks at the Big Buddha. He towered over the trees.

That's a BIG buddha!!

What were we doing here, you ask? Sumo pose? Squatty-potty pose? You'll never know! :)

After viewing Big Buddha, we drove on to Aomori for lunch at Tony Roma's. The girls were craving American style food. I had just gotten back from the States a week before, but I didn't mind another taste of America. It didn't disappoint! 

I was surprised, however, by the size of Aomori. It's a small Tokyo. Hopefully, Nick and I will be able to go back one day to explore. 

MUTSU PENINSULA, JAPAN

Sunday, November 1st

There was a big squadron party Halloween night. I made an oven out of a big box that could open to reveal my "bun" in the oven. Nick was the "bun maker." I'm so sad that after all the hard work I put into making that darn costume, I didn't get a single photo! Doh! Oh well! And to top it off, we left the party at about 9pm. Haha! 

We got up early the next morning and drove straight up to the tip of the Mutzu Peninsula, or "hatchet," as we American's like to call it. 

We were greeted by these wild horses. They were so big, and furry! I think the black one was pregnant.

I had thought ahead to bring some carrots with me. The horses wouldn't leave us alone after they discovered them!

We drove a bit farther to check out the Shiriyazaki lighthouse. It was quite windy, and Nick only had summer clothes on; so we didn't last very long.

On our way back to Misawa, we stopped at a beach in hopes that we would find glass floats. We stopped at the "deserted jellyfish beach" recommended to us by some friends. We never found any glass floats, unfortunately, but we had a good walk on the beach.

Nick had fun chasing the large flock of birds.

Nick also found a starfish! Maybe we should rename this starfish beach. :)

We had fun exploring and can't wait to explore more of Japan!

SHIPWRECK BEACH, JAPAN

Sunday, September 27th

One of our first weekends together in Japan, Nick and I decided to go on an adventure to Shipwreck beach on the Western side of the Mutsu peninsula. American's around here call it that because there's a partial shipwreck still left on the beach.

After driving about an hour and half we reached the beach. What we didn't expect to see was the mountain of seashells before we reached the beach.

Nick thought it would be fun to climb, until the shells started cutting his feet. And he noticed there were literally hundreds of spiders covering the mountain of shells. Eew.

We walked down the beach in hopes that we would find the shipwreck and some glass floats!

We found the remains of the old boat, but never did find any floats.

We did collect a bit of sea glass. It's all over Japanese beaches! 

We loved our first visit to the beach. We couldn't wait to make more trips to the local beaches!

BACK TO 'MERICA

October 3rd -25th

After moving across the world from Italy to Japan in mid-September, Nick and I packed our bags again two weeks later and headed to Iowa for his twin sister's wedding. 

I hadn't been back to the States in over 2 years! I was so ready for a little slice of 'Merica. 

After a train ride and two long flights, we made it to Saint Louis, Missouri. We spent a few days there visiting our college, college friends, and old stomping grounds. 

It felt so good to be back at our college. Nick and I have so many great memories from there. 

Since we're expecting our first baby (yay!) we decided to have a gender reveal sonogram done in STL before driving up to Iowa. I was 99.9% sure I was having a boy...and I was 100% wrong.

When we arrived to Mt. Pleasant, I ordered some cupcakes with the appropriate color frosting inside. We presented the cupcakes to Nick's family after lunch one day. We made them all guess what we were having before they bit into the cupcakes. Everyone said it was a boy except Susan! She was right! It's a girl!! Hearing their shrieks of joy when they saw the bright pink inside the cupcakes was so fun! 

Frederic helped us capture the moment outside on the farm.

The family spent the week preparing for the wedding. (Well, most of the family did. I spent a bit of time sleeping.) :)

I didn't hardly keep my camera on me either! I wish I had taken more photos, but I find that I don't tend to take photos of places I've been before. It's a bad habit.

The wedding went off without a hitch thanks to Emilie's thorough planning. I got to walk down the aisle with Nick and Ebony, Emilie's dog. She was very well-behaved other than letting one "rip" in the middle of the ceremony. We couldn't contain our laughter. :)

After the ceremony, we rode down the street to a barn for the reception. 

Can you spot the French man in the corn field? :)

These were the people-movers for the day. The tractors pulled guests to and from the the reception.

Cousin Benjamin and Aunt Blandine

This cute little girl was the flower girl. She's holding onto Ebony, aka "tootie."

We couldn't take any photos during the ceremony, so I snapped a few during the rehearsal. Emilie was wearing her mom's wedding dress that she had altered to be more modern for the rehearsal. It looked amazing on her!

The rehearsal crowd.

Ebony wanted to be right at Emilie's feet. She was so confused with all the action going on!

It was a perfect wedding! Loved getting to see family and share in all the joy!

Nick flew back to Japan, and I stayed with family in California for two weeks. It went by way too fast! That was my last trip back to the States before the baby will be born. That's exciting to think!

MISAWA WELCOME TOUR

Friday, September 25th

Misawa offers a free tour of the local area when you first arrive. It's actually mandatory for everyone to do, which meant a date-day for Nick and I! (and a bus full of people)

We started with a cultural briefing in Misawa, then headed south to a shrine in Hachinohe. 

We learned a few lessons about the cultural process to enter a temple. Tori gates, like the one pictured, mark the entrance to temples.

We learned the process for prayer by ringing bells, throwing coins, and clapping. Not everyone on the tour got it right, but it was funny to watch.

We couldn't take too many photos because it was considered rude to take photos of the temple.

Last, we stopped at the Hachinohe fish market. 

Nick was the only one brave enough to try some of the foods that were offered.  

These were like little dried sardines. Nick didn't mind these. 

One of the tour guides kept describing a sea pineapple. Nick thought it would be fun to try. There was a crowd of about a dozen Japanese gathered to watch the funny American guy try the sea pineapple. Without flinching he ate it. Afterward, he said it tasted like an ocean-flavored bugger. 

The Japanese laughed and laughed! It wasn't nearly as good as it sounded. 

We ended our tour with a green tea and bean frosty. It was so good! 

The best part of the tour was Hachinohe; I would have skipped the part through Misawa. It did make me more excited to see and explore the rest of Japan.

FINI FLIGHT AVIANO

Friday, September 11th

Nick had his first fini-flight ever! It was his last flight in the squadron in Italy. Unfortunately, we didn't find out about it until last-minute, so I didn't think anyone would show up.

We celebrated by meeting him out on the flight line and spraying him down with sticky prosecco.

He didn't mind at first, until it started burning his eyes.

I couldn't believe how many people came out on such short notice! We'll definitely miss this squadron and Europe!