Tokyo 360

My blogging dry spell might seem like we haven't been up to much, but the opposite is true. We've been getting out on little adventures more than ever.... I just haven't been great about bringing the camera along. (We need a smaller one, the big Rebel is great for important things, but to bulky for buzzing around town)
Sidenote: Isn't it ironic that I don't want to snap pictures when I'm in Japan... like it would be weird to bring my camera everywhere?

Did you know Combi is a Japanese brand? I didn't..... I guess I never gave it much thought..... I always thought of it as Scandinavian (like Ikea), I'm not sure where I got that impression......
Anywho... my point is that it is a Japanese company and their expanding into baby clothes. Tobias was called to audition for the catalog shoot, but it would be in Tokyo (about an hour by train). I figured if we were going to travel for it.......we should take advantage and make a day trip....maybe two. So we did!
The actual audition was a zoo! There must have been over a hundred little babies coming and going in a little tiny office building. At least 59% were screaming the whole time and I started to feel a little sleazy for being part of something that seemed a little stage-mom-ish. Tobias was a great........... but he didn't get it.
Oh well, I'm sooooooo glad we had planned a trip around it, otherwise I would have been really disappointed. As it was... this was just the beginning of our Tokyo adventure.
First we checked out the Kabuki-za Theater. This is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Japan it originally opened in 1889. (It's style is old, but it was actually rebuilt in 1951 after it was destroyed in bombings during World War II).


Kabuki Theater seems like a fun little novelty experience.......so later when Mark and I were in Tokyo alone, we tried to give it a go. We showed up at the ticket window on a Wednesday at about 10:30am for a one act show........SOLD OUT! I was amazed...who goes to this?.......I thought it was a touristy thing....... apparently not. This is still a very popular form of entertainment in Japan.


After checking out the Sony Showroom
and exploring Ginza (shopping, shopping, shopping) the kids were over it and desperate for something that was actually fun.
Most of the major department stores have a kids zone, and we found this one on a rooftop. It was chilly, but the kids had a blast...they had it all to themselves.





We spent the night at the The New Sanno (Loved it! And it has a pool, hot tub and American food so the kids were in heaven).

The next day Kids choice was the Tokyo Tower......

Here is the 360 view of Tokyo








I was happily surprised at how much there was to do there. We discovered a kidszone on the bottom floor.... so we ended up spending another couple of hours.



Here is Max moping because he is now officially too big for 'Bouncy Land'.


The trick in Japan is being able to anticipate how much Yen you'll need. In Tokyo most of the major stores will take a debit/credit card......but otherwise it's cash only, which is tricky because you can't always find an ATM that works with American cards either. After all the unexpected spendy fun at the Tokyo Tower we were almost out of Yen....and lunch was looking a little meager.... we found a really inexpensive place that served rice and a simple curry. It was delicious!

Mark doesn't like to feel restricted when it comes to meals so after lunch we set out to find an ATM (and more food). While Mark went inside a bank the kids and I waited outside. While waiting, this little gem pulled up and set up shop. Genius!

Talk about creative spaces!

Part Two later.........

We're Still Alive......

I've taken such a long break from blogging, it feels a little awkward to start. I'm not really sure if I should try to play catch up...... or just hit the ground running.
When I look over the last year posted I feel sooooo sad that I didn't keep up the effort. (If for no one else, I love to read about our memories).... but for some reason I just haven't been feelin' it.... and kind of dropped of the face of the virtual universe.
But it has been brought to my attention (that's a shout out to Grandma D) that people still care and are interested in what we're doing and want to know if we're still alive..... so here we go.

I finally pulled the house together! Sort of....
It's a work in progress, check back in a few weeks and I'll probably have rearranged the furniture, again.
I'm sooooooo super happy for all of you with your super cute, beautiful, brand new square footage.....etc... (truthfully, I'm jealous......maybe even frustrated)
I was over base housing years ago! But considering this is as good as it gets in Japan, we're making do. Let me take you on a little walking tour of our fabulous new digs....

Step inside and Oh! Here is the Living/Family/Game/Rec Room

Take a glance to your left and now you've entered our Dining/Study/Music/Craft Room

And now if you'll follow me three steps to your left.... This is our fabulous Kitchen!

I think we're talking about 950 square feet? Sometimes I like to pretend we live in Manhattan and feel satisfied knowing that this little place would be worth at least a million.....but then I wake up.
This has been an excellent lesson in learning how little space you need and how to edit your belongings.
Lesson learned........now I'll doubly appreciate a normal size house!

The kids are great! Max and Lillian are still a good age for small spaces. They prefer to be together most of the time rather than alone, so it works out....

Tobias is a handful!...
He is part of the reason that sitting in front of the computer hasn't been tempting this year. He is very busy and doesn't have any patience for me tuning him out. We have a great time though and he pushes me out the door every morning.... he loves to get out and Do Stuff!

Stuff To Do In Japan.....Part 2

Give back to the community!
This last Saturday the young women in our branch, Max and I joined the American Redcross in 'Make a Difference Day'. The Main Gate of the Yokosuka Base has several walkways, elevators, and stairways that link the intersection. For some reason, it has been left unclear who is responsible for keeping it clean.........so it has gotten pretty darn nasty. We spent are Saturday scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing and we had a lot of fun in the process. (Except for the gum scraping, that was gross..... but an important lesson for Max.... he will never just through his gum on the ground after that.)

The best part of the day...?... As we got home, Max says "I feel really clean now..."
"Oh?" I said, "Is it because your hands got really wet and you were scrubbing things all day?"
"No" he says, "I feel clean, like I did something really good."

Stuff To Do In Japan.....Part 1

Put your kids on the market!
We've jumped on the modeling bandwagon and decided to see if we can get Tobias 'discovered'. I strutted him around the Modeling Fair and so far the reviews are good. We've already been asked for more pictures..!








Wish him luck!

Elizabeth the Elaborate

My slideshow seemed to be cut in half.......so I wasn't even in it. I was the one running around snapping pictures, so there is only one picture of my costume.

I love an excuse to play dress up.......the world needs more of these occasions.

A Knight of Murder

We had the chance to attend 'A Knight of Murder' last weekend. It was a blast! I had a Project Runway moment by pulling together a costume in one afternoon. It rocked and I totally impressed myself with my 'mad skillz'..... not bad for someone that can't sew!

A Shiner and The First Day

So I guess this is substance for two separate posts...and at the rate I've been going I should take advantage of that and stretch it out....but thinking better of it, it's more likely that I wouldn't post 'First Day of School' pictures until well into October........so I'll lump these all together.
First off, I'm proud to say Tobias has given himself his first official Shiner! Well, not proud of my mom neglect (I was in another room and not totally sure of what happened...something involving falling off the couch)....but proud that he lived through it and my mom response has now transformed into a "...well that will teach you not to do that again." Strange how unfazed you can be with your third child.
Something tells me this won't be the last time....and in fact, with the way he has embraced his climbing skills, we might be posting pictures of a cast soon.

He wasn't upset about his eye. He wasn't in pain at all...... He saw the camera...

He wanted the camera.....
He didn't get the camera.........


and here we go.......


Part Two. Lillian Had Here First Day of School! (I would have liked to have a picture of Max and Lillian together, but apparently I was too slow with the camera and Max took off running, not wanting to be walked to school by his mother. I guess that's appropriate for the third grade. I'll settle for his sneaky hugs, that he still calls me 'Mommy' and that when no one is looking, he'll let me kiss him goodbye.) Anyway, back to Lillian......
she was excited, but as she does, she gets really quiet when she's nervous. She lined up with all the other kids and waited for bell to ring. When the bell rang and the door swung open, she gave a little wave.....and that was it. See ya Mom!

Can I just say............YES!!! Two down, one to go! The last few days have been so QUIET! It takes having three to enjoy how easy one can be!

Lillian's Birthday Day!

Do you have those days when your just touched by how sweet and easy your kids can be.....?
Well I don't have many of those days....... but when they happen, I enjoy every second.
Lillian has always been my sweet angel child (until she's not)....and when she awoke on her Birthday I asked her what she wanted to do?
No big plans.......no big presents......she just wanted to make her Birthday cake, all by herself. So she did.



and she loved it!


Tobias....
he's just here for the marshmallows.

Max's Baptism!

It shows my serious blog neglect when I can barely remember my password. It's horrible......but I'm back!
We've been crazy busy with summer camps, house decorating, ballet, church activities, trips out and about, etc, etc, etc...... yawn....I know everyone has a full summer, not a great excuse not to blog......
Anywhoooo......we're back with big news .....
Max had his Baptism this last weekend and it was so touchingly wonderful. I teared up when we sang the opening song "Families Can Be Together Forever", (we sang this at Mark's baptism too) it was just too much.....and on came the water works....
Our Branch meets in a tiny building off base, so we used The Chapel of Hope on base for his big day. We had extended an invitation to all branch members and after sitting and facing forward for a couple of minutes while we got started, I turned back around to see just about every single branch member there....filling up the room. It was so special and such a testimony builder to see how much love surrounds us here.


Max kept saying "Wow! I didn't know I had that many friends. I have so many friends, there were a lot of people that came to my Baptism." It makes me tear up again just thinking about it. It meant a lot to him too. It is such a special occasion, one that is usually shared with family......but it was so special. We've been so blessed that way.

Mark was super nervous, but I've learned that he always does a wonderful job......so I wasn't nervous at all. I just glowed with happiness that two of my favorite men were sharing something so important. (Tobias is a favorite too, but he was busy poking at an unplugged DVD player and fighting off adoring fans....so he'll share the experience through pictures).



Max designed his CTR cake, because the Durben family always has to celebrate with cake! (Did I mention one of Max's favorite shows is The Cake Boss.... loves it!)
Program details aside, I just have to say that I am so proud of Max and his enthusiasm to begin his journey back to Heavenly Father and taking these first steps...and I'm so proud of Mark for all the work that he's gone through to make my dreams come true.