Summer Vacation--Nagashima Spa Land!

Our cousin Tony has been visiting us for the month of August, adding a new dimension and personality to the wild mix of our home. For our first big event we took him and our friend Emma to Nagashima Spa Land, about 3 hours from our house. We spent half the time at the Jumbo Pool, which I didn't get any pictures of, and the other half at the amusement park which I did get lots of pictures of. Enjoy!

Outside the entrance

Taking lunch break at the pool

Lunch was onigiri, fast and easy

Ahhh, true pool looks!

In line for the go-carts

The boys were ahead of us

Julia's new favorite camera pose

And Julia on the go-cart

The 'very scary' haunted house

Waiting to be thrown straight into the air on the Space Shot


In line for the water jet coaster

The water jet coaster hill

Soaking wet! nice on a hot day

Waiting for Tony's first ride on an upside down roller coaster...we had fun getting him on different stuff

Janina and Emma waiting for Emma's first ride on an upside down roller coaster!


Tony and Emma had never been on any really scary rides, but they were brave and tried out everything! Here is the super duper frisbee twister ride..

The super duper frisbee twister as it takes off

And there it is up in the air, it almost goes upside down, but not quite

They took a break on the kiddy swings

Notice the flying rocket in the background? That's the one ride none of us will go on, besides the tea-cups...nothing that goes in complete circles

Just a nice group shot

The kids are somewhere up there!

And now we're waiting for the Steel Dragon!

The top of the Steel Dragon

And that was our last picture for the park, but check again for some videos of the trip, including the entire Steel Dragon ride!

Loveliest of Quilts

Grandma made this lovely lovely summery quilt for the summer birthday girl, bright pinks and greens, polka dots and flowers, Julia has slept with it every night since it arrived!

Morning of the Party

Here we are the morning of the birthday parties for Julia and Papa. Took us awhile to get in gear, but we finally pulled ourselves together and had a wonderful time!

Jason reading Jordan a book, a book on both their levels, hahahaha!

Julia doing her favorite thing right now, chatting online with friends..

Jordan and Julia watching a video we took of Jordan being silly, he is quite vain...loves to see himself on video..

Jason and our stinky dog, who desperately needs a bath, a shave, a nail clipping...poor thing..'who's my mother?'

Me, pre-makeup, pre-tea, pre-anything..self portrait, wow, wonder what I was thinking??!!

Birthdays--again!

Birthdays birthdays--wonderful stress that they are! We have 2 in July, Julia and Papa, a week apart, and at the beginning of summer, perfect time to celebrate! I hosted 2 parties on the same day, the first for Julia and her best buddies, pictured below. We made sundaes, played Bingo and opened lots of fun presents--Julia has enough stationary to last her till she's a grandma!

Present stash!



Later in the afternoon we had a BBQ with our local friends for Papa and Julia, lots of food, lots of deserts, lots of drink! Oh, and presents too!

Renee and Kris' boy Keegan, or is it Kailan...sorry Kris, i keep forgetting!!! Well, there's Kris peeking out the back..

Daddy and Mr. Shibuya, chillin' in their seats..

Jordan entertained himself by climbing up our car.. gave us a few scares, fortunately Papa is tall enough to keep close..

Janina and her best buddy Emma, both 14 now

Kris brought this great apple pie, which I had for breakfast the next day!

I made a Baked Alaska, my first ever, and everyone kindly ate some!

Julia opening her gifts. She wanted an Ipod Nano so we let everyone know, and they all contributed to the cause--THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Papa and Bebe--who now says 3 words--Daddy, Car and Papa--HEY! WHAT HAPPENED TO MAMA???

More presents and cards..

Ken and I, being silly, or normal, probably normal, well, no, silly...ask our friends..

Patti and Emma, Patti brought some lovely pies, which I didn't get a picture of!

Kris's husband, who loved Renee's potatoe salad, everytime I saw him he was getting another scoop!

Of course, the teen girls, again!

Daddy and Mr. Shibuya, taking care of the grilling..or burning..a bit of both..

Ooops, that's the end of my photos! Wow, I should've kept that camera tied to my wrist! We had tweener boys as well, and little boys--Jay, Jo, and Keegan (or Kailan?), whom failed to show up for pictures. Catch you all later!