Sakura (桜)

I feel as if this month as flown by, where did March go?! Only 30 days ago it started and the land was still bare and the trees all looked dead, now while out and about the scenery is brightening up even on gloomy days with all the Cherry Blossoms in bloom!

When we found out we had orders to Yokota the first two things that crossed my mind were Mt. Fuji and Cherry Blossoms! Well I am blessed to be able to see Fuji-san out my bedroom window on nice clear days. We have yet to make it up towards the mountain to check things out, but we will one of these days! One goal I have before our 4 years expires here is to climb Fuji! I figure I'll do it our last summer here so I have time to train and prepare myself for that journey!

Fuji-san from my bedroom patio back in December!

 

I kept hearing that the Cherry Blossoms would be in bloom late March so as the days ticked by I and we got closer to the end of the month I figured I'd start taking more walks off base to check things out, plus I'm currently pushing myself to make it 60miles in 2 months so I like to get those miles in! It wasn't until the 22nd that the trees really started to get pretty. Since I had never experienced Spring in Japan I didn't know what to expect exactly but words and pictures do no justice to the beauty of the Sakura. In a short 8 days the trees have gone from lightly blooming to the petals falling off. Its a quick change and weather doesn't help (this rain and breeze we are having is starting to make it snow blossoms). I also didn't realize how symbolic the cherry blossoms were for the Japanese, its the start of a fresh season. They celebrate by pinicing under the trees and having festivals! (We have yet to make it out to a festival due to Zack's work schedule.) I got to watch part of a documentary explaining the meaning of the Sakura to the Japanese and it was very touching. I went on a walk with a friend a week ago along the Tama River. It was a cloudy, windy day yet there were still so many people enjoying themselves under the trees along the paths. A lot of people had little grills going or bento boxes and they were drinking. The way they value family and nature really speaks to me. I felt happy just watching family and friends enjoying themselves. I would love to make it out to Showa Park before all of the blossoms are gone but the weather forecast the next week looks awful wet, thankfully we have another 3 Springs to enjoy the scenery! Here are some pictures of Sakura that I have snapped :)

Down by the Tama River

 

Same trees as the above picture just up on the path and one day later :)

 

Sawyer and I on our walk

 

This picture doesnt even begin to show to massive amount of people out enjoying the trees on a rather blah day, but that family having a picnic was cute!

 

Just love the white and pink!

 

On base.

 

Our Tower

 

Trees along the street by our tower.

 

The beauty of these trees is something that one really needs to experience, I could try and describe the beauty and take a million pictures but it still does them no justice! I just wish they hung around a little longer! With the Sakura blooming and the switch from nice weather to rain, you can tell spring is here!

 

Since I don't do the whole New Years Resolution thing I like to set goals every so often for self improvement. With losing so much weight before this pregnancy I was determined not to gain the 65lbs that I did when I was pregnant with Sawyer, so I set a goal once the weather got nice to walk with Sawyer. Figured it would get us both out of the house and the cardio would help me not gain too much weight. March 11th, after 2 decent walks I decided it was time to set another goal! The goal being I want to walk 60 miles before May 11th. My walks average 30min-2hours depending on where my feet decide to go and if I have Sawyer with me or not. I have a couple friends who walk with me and little do they know help keep me motivated to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I'm finding that the first 45 min is the most brutal, but I love the accomplishment I feel after I get 3miles or so in. Due to the rainy season I will have to start walking on the treadmill to keep on track to knock my 60mile goal out of the park, but I'm proud to say that as of March 30th I have 28/60 miles completed (47% of the way there)!!! There are days the pelvic pressure is too much or I am so fatigued that I know better than to push myself, or the days that after the walk I cant do anything cause of aches and pains but I am hoping that keeping active will help my recovery time as well as keep some weight off.

Here is my longest distance so far, I'm not trying to go fast plus this was a day that we stopped and took lots of pictures of Cherry Blossoms and ran into Seiyu for Strawberries!

 

 

We are getting ready to take a trip to Yokosuka Naval Base in two days so be on the lookout for that fun adventure post! Until Next Time XOXOXO

 

 

I'm back!!!

Got to thinking about the blog and realized I hadn't written in 5 months?!?! I have also been thinking about the direction I want to take this blog and decided its not just for pictures and our Japanese adventure's but also thoughts feelings, daily life, or anything else I want to blabber on about! My goal is to get on here at least once every 2weeks (hoping to do weekly but I forgot how much pregnancy drains you AND how having a toddler makes you even more EXHAUSTED!). Since I feel the need to pick back up and get better about blogging so here we go!

Family Pic from Early December

 

These last 5 months have been crazy! After finding out we were expecting (Bristol Nicole, Due June 29th!) and how sick I was in the beginning we didn't get out too much! We have taken trips to the local Zoo but not much more adventuring, or not nearly as much as we would of liked to have been doing. Up until this last month we have stayed home quite a bit especially because Winter got super cold and I was a big baby less than thrilled about the cold! Probably one of my favorite memories of this winter was Sawyer's reaction to seeing snow for the first time!

Laughing and trying to catch snowflakes!

 

We were in no way shape or form ready for the snow, so we didn't get to play much but once we did get his boots in and his snow jacket it never snowed again!? My one of my favorite pictures from Christmas this year is this one:

My Little Man is growin' up!

 



Christmas went well, it sucked being away from family but gave us a change to start our own traditions! Time seems to drag but at the same time fly by, guess its always that way during the holiday season! I was happy to see what 2013 will be bringing the Smiths! So far its been a good year and its only going to get better!

We took our first family day adventure in awhile just last week, the Takao Trick Art Museum was our destination! With my Mom's visit approaching and the weather getting so nice its time we started getting out more again! The museum is a bunch of smaller rooms with just paint on the walls but as you walk around and look things look 3D! They encourage you to touch and have fun. Lots of laughter and silliness happen here! There is also a floor with more interactive art. We enjoyed it very much and I look forward to taking my Mom! Here is the website in English: http://www.trickart.jp/en/. I'll share just a few fun pictures we got that day, lots more up on Facebook!:

Trying to not let the Gator get us

Mirror Fun

I think I make a great Centerpiece!

Springtime in Japan is BEAUTIFUL and we haven't even got to experience it in full force yet! Now the allergies that come with all the pollen are killer but once you get a good Allergy Cocktail(eye drops, nasal spray and pills) from your doctor you are all set! I have been trying to walk 30min a day lately to help prevent massive pregnancy weight gain. Being 24+ weeks preggo I'm still weighing just as much as my pre-pregnancy weight with Sawyer!!! This morning we went on a walk down to the river to see how well the trees were blooming and to get some good miles in (I want to complete 60miles before May 11th!). Another goal I have is to complete the base loop which is a little over 8 miles, soon but I'm also keeping in mind I don't want to push myself too hard too fast!

Pretty Blossoms on this mornings walk!

Cherry Trees are just getting going, Can't wait til next week!

Now that we are a quarter of the way through 2013 already, I can say I'm please with how this year is turning out so far. Ready for May & June to be here so I can see my Mom and meet Little Miss Bristol!!! Hard to believe in just 6 days we will have lived in Japan 7 months, only about 180 weeks left of living in Japan!