We're BAAAAACK!

Well, I know it's been a long time since I've "blogged" - but quite frankly - they changed around the way I accessed the site and I couldn't log in! But I just tried it again and here I am! My mother has been very upset with me - so I promise to be better...

We are back in Tokyo, starting our second year - We had an awesome summer at home - spent lots of time outdoors and with family in Tennessee and Massachusetts. We spent a week on the Big Island of Hawaii before coming back to Tokyo in mid-August. That was a very special trip for Chris and I as we hadn't been back since we were first married - I was 8 months pregnant with Nicholas when we left... Needless to say, I teared up on more than one occassion!

Wasn't sure how I'd feel when I got back to Japan - but I quickly realized that I felt relieved and at "home" - certainly we love the US and can't wait until we move back in a few years, but we have made so many wonderful friends here and the children absolutely LOVE their school - so when we got back, everyone was excited to be back to our normal routines.

September was a crazy month - Nicholas started third grade and Sydney started kindergarten - they are still at seperate schools - Nicholas rides a bus and Sydney and I get to walk to school each day. They are both very pleased with their teachers and come home with smiles on their faces each day. Nicholas plays soccer after school two days a week and Sydney is busy with hula, Daisy Scouts, and ballet. They both participate in the British Football Academy (that's soccer to us Americans!!) on Sunday afternoons.

I thought October would find us settling in - but this week has been quite the whirlwind... Nicholas spent much of the week at home dealing with what was quite possibly the swine flu (the drs didn't do a test since he wasn't a candidate for Tamiflu...), we narrowly missed the brunt of a strong typhoon, and Chris went away for a week to Taiwan. I am happy to report that it is now Friday evening, both children are healthy (insert loud knock on wood here!), and Chris is on his way home from the airport.

I am much more comfortable here this year - certainly don't feel like I'm walking around with that "deer in the headlights" look - I just seem to be comfortable with being lost at all times and not understanding anything I see or hear! We have lots to look forward to this year - we already have trips planned to Saipan for Thanksgiving, then my parents are going to put their shiny new passport to good use and come visit us for Christmas, next Chris's parents will come visit in March for Spring Break - we will go with them to Bali for a week. I'm hoping to throw in some quick little trips around Japan, as well.

So... lot's of things to keep you posted on! Come back and visit often and make sure to leave comments on my posts! I'd love to know what you think about the things I write...

Until next time... SAYONARA!!