Recent pictures- Warning last picture might gross you out!

Fall has finally arrived here!!! The temps are finally cooler with the daily temperature around 75-80 F and the lows at night are finally down into the low 60s. Today the high was only going to be 72F and rainy. That I would share some recent pictures:

 

Even though they do not celebrate Halloween in Japan by going trick or treating, they sure do love to decorate for it. Here are some Halloween warriors!

 When my Mom sends us packages from the USA we walk to the post office to pick them up and Cameron has a great time hanging out in the wagon with them.

 

 

It is harvest time here in Hiroshima. Here are some pictures of local fields with the rice bundles drying.

 

We went camping this past weekend up in the mountains. Even though Cameron turned 2 years old he still loves his pacifier ("nukky") and blanket, even camping. Soon he will have to say goodbye to them!

 

 

Ever heard of squat toilets? If not, count yourself lucky and don't go looking for one! All over Japan you will find these toilets. Usually at the mall, airports, or larger places you will find one squat toilet and 1 western style of toilet in a restroom. However, if you venture away from the main cities you are not always guaranteed a western style toilet. When we went camping this past weekend, this is what we encountered!!

Iwakuni

Last weekend we traveled to Iwakuni. Iwakuni is a town on the coast about 1 1/2 hours from Hiroshima. Iwakuni is known for its all wooden arched bridge, Kintai Bridge, the Iwakuni Castle, and the U.S. army base located there. The Kintai Brige and Castle were built around the turn of the 1600th century by Hiroie Kikkawa, the first Lord of the Iwakuni Domain. When visiting you start by walking the Kintai Bridge, meandering through the Lord Kikkawa's manor house at the base of Mt. Shiroyama, and conclude by taking a gondola ride up the mountain to the Castle on top of Mt. Shiroyama. Everything we saw was amazing and beautiful. The kids loved riding the gondola, running the bridge, and seeing the samurai weapons and armor on display in the castle.

 

 The Castle

 

 Replicas of house boats

 

 Part of the bridge.

 

 Luke climbing!

 

 Japanese lanterns lining the streets.

 

 View of the bridge

 

 Me trying to wrangle the children on the bridge and as usual lots of Japanese spectators looking at us. I often feel like we are an entertainment show here- loud, different looking, and crazy! The Gepford family came with us, so their two girls are pictured too!

 

 The view of the Kintai bridge from the Castle.

 

Ishigatani-kyo Gorge

A few weekends ago we decided to do some hiking. Since the daily temperature is still in the low 80s here we decided to head to the mountains to escape the heat. Ishigatani-kyo gorge is about 1 hour outside of Hiroshima. It is 7km gorge with waterfalls and streams and a nice wide walking trail next to it. The kids had a great time hiking, playing on the rocks, and wading in the river. When the leaves start to change colors, around early November, we will have to head back! 

 

Camreon's Birthday

This post is very late coming seeing as Cameron's birthday was September 23rd. Mike spent all of last week in Taiwan on business and by the end of the day after putting all three kids to bed (Julia numerous times corralling into her bed) and cleaning the house I was tired. So now it is catch up time on the blog.

Cameron had a batman theme party. He is officially 2 years old or "ni-sei" here in Japan. Julia and Luke had school on his birthday so we had a little family party with 1 other expat family, the Gepfords, at our house. We had pasta, pizza, cake and ice cream. Cameron had a great time with the batman streamers, balloons, and all of his batman presents!

Here are some pictures!