The Yokosuka Townhouse~ Pics only

Office nook area

Front Entryway

 Shoe bin and laundry room 

Office Chair

Kitchen 

Dining Room

Livingroom

Duh

Photo wall up staircase

I love IKEA

Master Bedroom 

Staircase

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First day of 3RD Grade!

The obligatory first day of school pose. I intend to do this every year through High School! hahahahaha

I can't even. Like literally, I CANT EVEN. Isn't that what all the young tweens and teens are saying these days? Im not sure when it happened or if I've fully absorbed my current situation, but it is this........I have a 3rd grader. That means a couple of things to me. 

1. We're not total crap parents.  She is still happy, smiling, smart, beautiful, kind, caring and an absolute JOY to be around. #wemadethat

2. Life needs to S-L-O-W down. I just walked her into kindergarten a few months ago. That is absolutely how it feels. 

2010-2015 Back to School Pictures

We've been in Japan without Doug for a couple months now and together a LOT. We "really"only  know one person, our friend Jeannie, so Ava and I have spent every moment together. I have REALLY been looking forward to her going back to school for a few weeks.......err months now. Not because I want to be alone, well....partly, but mostly because I need a schedule. This is the first time in my adult life I haven't been employed. Im working diligently on that, but the job market is very scarce for spouses in Japan. Ava NEEDS constant attention, motivation, encouragement, a stimulating environment, friends, social activities and play time. I am the person and I am TIRED. I've always wondered what a SAHM would feel like and in these past months I've had a taste. I think this is a new role that needs time still to fully adapt. Im sure in time my feelings will wax and wane but I really think I am meant to be at work! I hope I get back there soon! That being said, I am the type of person the thrives on a schedule and a busy workload. 1st day of School was a reason to CELEBRATE!!!  ( or so I thought) 

Making brownies for Mrs. Surratt 

Peace signs are just what you do in Japan 

Packing her backpack

Ava spent the night before 3rd grade making brownies, packing her backpack and laying out her outfit for the day. Coming from a Catholic School where she wore uniforms everyday, this was the HIGHLIGHT of back-to-school for her! Im gonna be doing soooo much more laundry now! Her outfits all have accessories and alternating pieces. Her style has changed so much! 

I had her go to be at 8pm. Out non-schedule has been so erratic and chaotic that I knew she needed to be in bed SUPER early. At 9pm we were up drinking chamomile tea and talking about "fun" stuff that would make good dreams come. She tossed and turned for a while, and finally fell asleep just before 10. We'll do better tonight. The plus side is school is less than a mile away and we can leave our house 7 minutes before the bell rings. 

It was wet and drizzly outside when we got up. This is NOT good for first day have-no-car-and-want-pretty-hair-with-a-bow situation. We did the best we could, and set off on our bikes to get her to school. She didn't understand why in the world I would want to follow her to school and pick her up. The deal is every day for 2-3 weeks, then "maybe" she can go alone. Its so close its funny, but she is still only 8. (and my baby) 

We were told that at the school all the teachers would be out holding signs to let your child know where to line up by 730. At 7:25, no teachers, no signs and what felt like a thousand parents and kids aimlessly wondering the front courtyard. This is gonna be a disaster. Then, like a higher power heard my OCD inner cries, at 7:30 on the dot, all the teachers with signs walked out and got everyone in order. There are close to 1200 kids in this school. It needs ORDER. It was a very smooth and seamless process. 

 She looked so little out there in all those people. This is where I got sad. The bell rang after the base CO gave his welcome speech and in a instant she was up the steps and gone. 

Ava and Jasmine, a classmate. 

Bye, buggaboo!! 

I came home to an empty house. A quiet empty house. Its exactly what Ive wanted for a while now. Just a little peace. Japan is a VERY quiet country. Everywhere you go, even in crowds, there is little noise. Its kind of eerie. Today was no exception. I don't like this kind of quiet. I immediately missed her and wanted 14:00 to hurry up. She is so chatty ALL the time. I need that chatter in my life.  I couldn't wait to hear how her day was! I literally did nothing. The house is barely dirty and its rainy and yucky outside. I did some laundry, cuddled with Chief and watched The Carrie Diaries. 

I got to school early and waited by her bike for the bell. 

As soon as I saw her, I KNEW she had an awesome day. She was glowing. She had Art today, which is always a plus and she won a prize for getting the most points on an assignment 29/30! The child under her got 15 points. She got a new Hello Kitty bag to take home. She was so excited telling me her story. How it happened, the look on the teachers face when she asked if anyone had higher than "15" and how she came up with her art paper. 

She made new friends, LOVED her teacher and was surprisingly in a hurry to get home and do her homework. Thursdays are "catch-up" days for assignments in the homework lab and she doesnt want to EVER go there. It interferes with recess. Hahaha!!

Overall it was an AWESOME first day! She completed all her homework, and did some ahead for the week. Then the doorbell started ringing. Its play time! Zoya, the little neighbor girl couldn't wait for Ava to be done and sat on our front steps pacing. She's going to love this school! 

Logging into all her new school webpages!

Her new Hello Kitty purse

Back to School Pics.......Check!

6 days away from 3rd GRADE!!!!!!

I cant believe in just 6 days I will have a 3rd grader! Ava has grown so much just in the last 2 months that its hard to imagine how quickly she will change in the next school year. I am eager for school to start back so she gets back into a routine of some sort. The last few months have been crazy and we're all ready to be back in the swing of a "normal routine". 

Anyone that knows me well, knows with absolute certainty, the photographs are one of my most favorite "things" ever. I love having updated photos and DRAG my family multiple times a year to get new family photos done. I don't have to "drag"so much anymore per se, because they both know, I WILL get the photos done and I will NOT lose this battle. Make momma happy! When we aren't doing family shoots, I have pictures done of Ava for every holiday, every event and anything that pops up in between. "Oh wow, ANOTHER picture of Ava".......not sure how many times I've heard that one. I cant help it. Its my thing, my niche, my addiction, my obsession.......I LOVE it. 

I love the comparison from year to year. I love to see the subtle changes only a parent would see. I love being able to quickly pull a folder from each "event" if I need to and have pleasant reminders of how we were celebrating through photography. 

Back to school pictures are one of my favorite shoots! This is the perfect way to document the beginning of a new year. If I only had the standard "school photo" I've never be satisfied. That being said, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade we lived in good ole' Chesapeake and had access to amazing photographer friends who made sure I got great photos of my baby girl prior to her new year. This year is different. Not only are these ladies not here, but my husband who is the more technically gifted of the two of us,  who has always had an eye for photos is not here either!  

With rain coming in the forecast for Japan it was now or never. I dusted off the old camera and used the "spray and Pray" method in the auto setting and hoped that we would get at least a few shots I was happy with. 

My dear friend Jeannie came with us and even brought her camera ( i can't wait to see her photos too!!) to help me and provide moral support. She also makes a mean-dinner-date! We drove to Blue Street, thats what the locals call it even though its not the name at all. We looked for moderately clear paths in different areas to get a sense of a real Japanese Urban theme. The best part of doing photos like this is being able to explore and find new interesting things in the area while looking for cool natural backdrops to take photos. We all tried "street food" for the first time, found an awesome little paint shop and after eating at Red Door Ramen (again) stopped at a little dessert counter for macaroons and ice cream. Its so much easier to get photos of children without the cramp of a studio while they can walk and play. All in all I am satisfied with the pictures and happy that I didn't forget the battery, SD card or the camera itself! #winning. 

Hope you all like them! 

School shopping experience in Japan!

Landmark Tower, Yokohama 

School shopping is always something I loved to do when I was growing up. I don't know how my mother made it so fun for us and kept her cool having three kids. We shopped at Walmart mostly and some at the mall. We NEVER went without anything and she made sure we had that things we wanted. Shopping in the States was never an issue for Ava. I knew exactly what she needed and where to go to get the best deals. I always shopped on discount days at Gymboree or had my 30-40% off coupons for the Gap. Old Navy sent me constant emails of deals and for those super special outfits my Matilda Jane rep kept me in the circle with all the promotions MJ had to offer. I also had something called a car then, so multiple trips on various days wasn't an issue. This year was tricky.

None of those mailers or promotions from the sates work here and the choices of American stores are pretty limited. I really had to do my research and find the shopping centers that would have comparable things to buy for her. I ask a TON of questions from other moms in the area that are seasoned shoppers and got help from all the English translatable websites before we headed out. The area that had the most to choose from was Landmark Tower in Yokohama. We planned to go on Monday but the weather was just terrible. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but we bike from out house to the gate, then we have a 5-10 minute walk to get to the Train Station. Rain doesn't sound any fun so we waited until wednesday and had a beautiful day.

We took a train from Yokosuka to Yokohama (about 30 minutes away) and then took a transfer line to the area of Landmark Tower. We made it without getting lost and were super proud of ourselves! My girlfriend Jeannie went with us!

Before we went to the mall area, we stopped at Cosmo World. Its a really nice outdoor adventure park that has so much to offer for all ages! We met the cutest little Japanese couple  outside of the gate, waiting for them to open. They were 15 and I assumed brother and sister, but they let me know quickly they were "a couple". They practiced their English with us for 2 0 minutes or so. They were absolutely darling. They told Ava how pretty she was in the best English they could and told us how much FUN the park was, they were "professional" park goers.

The primary reason to stop at the Park was to ride "Vanish", Yokohama's famous underwater vanishing coaster. Ava and I watched multiple you-tube videos and really prepped her for the ride. It was when we were about to get into the seat that she chickened out. We hadn't waited long because the park just opened and we were there so early or this probably would've upset me. I already bought her ticket and was sure they didn't do refunds. I tried to quickly talk her into it, when she burst into tears. The man the helped us on, held up his arms in an X and said "its ok, she wait for you...take tickets back". He could see she was rattled and directed her to a little waiting area right outside that she could watch while Jeannie and I rode and gave me back her prepaid ticket. It was very nice and she appreciated not begin pushed to go. The ride was AWESOME. Its crossed off my "Japan bucket list" and we got some great photos of our experience.

Tall enough for all the rides

Jeannie and Ava waiting

All the rides are paid for individually. No park Admission 

Selfie before Vanish

 After the ride I felt bad that Ava was so upset and I told her she could pick any other ride that she wanted to go on. She picked a green and yellow spinning coaster ride that, in my opinion, was wayyyyyyyyy worse than Vanish. She loved it! She screamed the whole time

Super Awesome ride! 

Vanish going underground

Its crazy this surrounds the mall 

and even told me I needed to "calm down". That was until the first big spin when she screamed "OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD"......then before the first big drop, she yelled "OH SHIT." She looked at me with my jaw dropped  and quickly apologized for her slip up and said, "Im so sorry, It just came out! I didn't even know!!!" All I could do was laugh. It was funny. Ive never heard anything like that out of her mouth, so it was a SHOCK, but nonetheless funny. 

Close up before it disappears

   

Super fast/jerky/twisty coaster the she picked 

We went to the Cosmo Cock Ferris Wheel after that, our last and final ride for the day. The clock does a countdown on NYE that Im sure is just beautiful when the city is all lit up. It was the biggest Ferris Wheel Ive ever been on. Its nice because its enclosed, air conditioned and slow enough to get pics of the city. VERY COOL!

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Didn't I say we came to go shopping?? Well we left the park at this point and literally crossed the street to get to the huge shopping towers. But first.......now we're hungry! The question is always do we want to grab quick and normal or "authentic". We saw a sign for Yokohama Hard Rock Cafe and opted to go for "fun" vs.  quick or authentic. HRC is just like another stateside one Ive been to. Traditional American bands were showcased and the staff wore their Pin Flair and were the trendiest of trendy Japanese teens and young adults. The food was mediocre, expect Ava's kids meal mac-n-cheese that was "bangin". Im totally getting a kids meal next time! Even the garlic bread had fresh rosemary on it, and it was delicious. 

I can't imagine them making this us! Very Cool! 

LOVE me some Madonna

Checking out the servers PIN flair 

The mandatory "I visited HRC" picture

Off  to the Malls! At this point we've been out a few hours already. We had a game plan of stores we wanted to hit and made it to all of them. Zara was the only "off the list store" but one of MY new favorite. I didn't have time to shop for me, but they had the cutest clothes for Ava. I am super excited to help her plan the "First day" outfit and decide what Ill take her traditional  back to school pictures in. Im really gonna struggle here. Ive always had a photographer lined up and Im really gonna miss having Jenn Curtis, Brandy Hunsicker and in recent years Michelle Marsh to take her pictures for me! Its gonna be tough, but Im determined to get good shots on Blue Street (in town Yokosuka) all on my own! We'll see! 

We hit Zara, H&M, Gap and made a quick trip to the good ole' Navy exchange on the way home from the train station. 

Ava was excited to hang all her new goodies and do another modeling session when we got home. She looks so grown up in the styles she flocks to now, but not TOO grown up. She's not even 9 yet so Im very particular about the things she chooses, while giving her just enough autonomy that she and I are both satisfied. 

(Rant)I saw a picture posted today of a little girl at 10 years old wearing booty shorts and a mid drift top and it got me thinking of what Ill be comfortable with when Ava is 10 and clearly this is NOT it. The photographer was defending herself very defensively and called it "art and beauty". Yeah, no. Call it what you want, I call it asking for trouble. Hyper-sexualizing young girls well before their ready and basically solidifying that they'll end up screen-shotted on some pedophiles home computer! Not my circus, not my monkey. NOT my bugaboo! (End Rant) 

All in all, I am super proud of ourselves having accomplished our first BIG shopping trip for her in Japan haven got factor in so many things. Its been the biggest in a few years, since we normally just grab a few pieces here and there since she ware uniforms everyday. Mission accomplished! 

Back to School Pics SOON!!!!!