Christmas Day!

We went to bed last night and when we got up this morning, Santa had left tracks and ate all the cookies we left for him,
Check out this video of the excitement that ensued when Gabe woke everyone up at 645am!



But eventually, the wrapping paper started flying!...

The keyboard was a hit!...


We finally ended up outside playing with some remote cars and a football. As you can see in the video, Brady has a new way of expressing his sadness without words...



We hope you enjoyed your Christmas day as much as our 5 and 2 year old did! Peace, Health and Happiness to you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION - GABE

Gabe and Brady had their school Christmas presentation today. They did some songs, dances, and played instuments, then Santa came, gave out gifts and we ate. Here are some highlights, enjoy!

Gabes teacher, Mrs Joy...



Our only "family" pic that was taken by a Japanese teacher who had trouble with the camera. Daddy's isn't trying to hide, just a bad angle..

The "santa" and the PEACE SIGN?! I kept wondering why Brady keeps holding his hands and fingers up in all his pics. The japanese like to flash the peace sign when they take pictures, so PEACE... OUT!

Again..... sum piece 4 u.

This is the pianica. It's an organ that only works when you blow into it. A japanese thing...

CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION - BRADY

Brady had a blast at his first big christmas presentation. His class had to dance to "all I want for Christmas" while they shook their little streamers that were bound to their wrists. He laughed and smiled and follwed Mrs. Sheryls commands. I cried like a blubbering whale the whole time, trying to focus the camera. The last pic is of his 2 teachers who adore him; Mrs. Keiko and Mrs. Sheryl.

BRADYS DANCE

Brady has been practicing for WEEKS to perform... he's just about perfected his jumping skills!

GABES VIDEO - SINGING AND PIANICA PLAYING

Gabes signing and pianica-playing debut!

BRADYS OWN LANGUAGE

OLD MCDONALD - JAPANESE STYLE

Gabe learned how to sing Old McDonald in Japanese at his school - enjoy!

BATHTIME FUN

Figured out how to do videos... you are all in trouble now!

(this is what I watch each night around 730pm)

TEST VIDEO

I've had this video for a long time, it was taken in Fredericksburg, at our old house (that I miss... boo hoo....)

If it works, we'll make some new, recent ones!

LAUNDRY, ANYONE?

SCHOOL FIELD TRIP TO THE PARK

On the same day we went picking sweet potatoes, we ended up at a park, across from the beach. There was a huge Shisa Dog that all the kids were climbing over, and a big, empty ship that I lost Brady on!

We all had to pack a lunch, so Gabe and Brady had the signature PB&J while all their classmates were eating bento boxes; a Japanese favorite with rice, veggies and meat. I still can't get the boys to try rice.

At least we have another 2.5 years to practice!

SCHOOL FIELD TRIP

Today Gabe and Brady had their first school field trip to a local sweet potato farm. They both got to ride the Busy Bee school bus, which thrills them to no end. I followed the bus and we ended up at a field behind our home, about 3 blocks away.

The locals obviously know what this is all about, because while Brady and Gabe and I were frantically digging with our little shovels for egg sized potatoes, the man next to us was pulling up monsters!? This is not how you have fun on your first field trip. Luckily the man was nice enough to let Gabe try to dig up some on his side, so we ended up with some big ones too.

Now I have to figure out what to do with them?....

Halloween FUN!

So after making Brady a Thomas the Train costume (because his didn't show up in the mail) AND buying one (oh wait, it showed up the day AFTER I made the train!...), he decided he wanted to be himself this year. He wouldn't put anything on, so here he is as BRADY. Gabe was a dog - Biscuit - at school. They got a ton of candy there, and then we also went trick-or-treating on the Air Force Base. Now they have 4 bags of candy that I'm hiding right now!

Next year, we are going to all be monsters! That's what Gabe says....

Our PUMPKINS

Here are 3 pumpkins we carved today. The large one is a Japanese Beetle Pumpkin - can't keep those bugs away! Brady's was the small sick one, and Gabe's was the middle. He drew the eyes and mouth himself.

Neither Gabe nor Brady wanted to touch or play with the pumpkin guts?!!!

All of us!

Here are a couple pictures of all four Howards, and even a rainbow - look closely!