We are still in Japan, but can not wait to update (I can not find the appostrophe on this keyboard, so no contractions), so you will have to do without pictures.
We left Detroit on the 26th. We boarded the plane at 11 30, got Andrew all settled in his car seat (yes, we bought him a plane ticket) and he fell asleep. At 2 30 he woke up from his nap and we were still on the runway in Detroit! We finally got in the air after that and had a not-too-bad 13.5 hour flight, making about 15 hours in the plane at least. Andrew was pretty good for his first international flight, but we spent quite a bit of time walking up and down the aisles. It was kind of like a church meeting actually - times five! Then, we went through customs (which thankfully only took about 1/2 hour because I went in the special line because I was holding Andrew) and then had a couple hours train ride and then a taxi ride and we were FINALLY at Katsu:s parents home on the 27th in the evening! What an adventure.
Both of Katsu:s brothers proposed over the holiday, so on the 28th, we had lunch with both of the sisters-in-law-to-be. We had met Hiroko previously when we went to London, so it was nice to see her again and to meet Masami. She seemed very nice, but doesn:t speak much English, so I wasn:t able to talk to her much. This means there will be two weddings this summer - one in Japan and one in London. We will probably try to make them both but it will be very busy and very $$. Also, it is hard to gauge if the jet lag is worth it.
Speaking of jet lag, it wasn:t too bad - much better than last time we were here, for me. I really didn:t feel it too much at all. I took Advil PM with that sleeping stuff in it the first night, and it really helped me to sleep. I think Andrew did pretty well considering the time difference. The time difference is 14 hours. It took him about 3 nights to adjust. THe first couple of nights he would want to play all night. He would sleep maybe 3 hours at night, and we would take turns sitting with him in the bathroom (since all the rooms & living room were full of sleeping people) and playing with him. VERY tiring. But he seems great now. And his second tooth broke through yesterday, so he even slept the whole night through which he has not done since he got his helmet!
Okay, back to Japan. The 29th was Katsu:s birthday. We left Andrew with his grandma and went to the nearby mall for shopping and food. We went to a ramen restaurant for lunch and then bought souvenirs for friends and some books for Andrew. We came back to a bawling and distraught Andrew. We comforted him and then went out for dinner altogether as a family at this restaurant where you have a fire with coals in front of you and you cook yourself meat and vegetables on the grill. It was family-style and very nice and fun. Andrew even slept half the time. A nice birthday for Katsu, I think.
The 30th was Sunday and church. Katsu and his brothers and father sang a musical number in sacrament meeting that was very nice.
The 31st, we rented a big van and all drove up into the mountains to a resort. There was like a foot of snow and practically a blizzard by the time we got there and it was kind of scary driving, but we made it. It is about 3-4 hours away from Saitama where Katsu:s family lives. We checked in and went and relaxed. Then, we went to the onsen - this is like a special public bath. You put on yokatas - which are like informal kimonos - and then go down and get naked and just have an itsy-bitsy towel you hold to cover yourself if you wish. Then, you shower and then get into the big bath. I had never been to a public one before. Katsu:s aunt and I went together. It was very nice and not too hot (like the private onsen I went to was). We relaxed in the bath for about 30 minutes and then we had a massage scheduled for 40 minutes. It was my first massage and it was HEAVENLY. Then, we came back to a crying Andrew. But it was nice. The rest of the time we just relaxed and ate.
The 1st, we drove home and were going to go to the family graveyard to pay our respects, but ended up just coming home. We also got New Years $$ which I forgot the Japanese name for, but you get it on New Years if you are a kid. We will put Andrew:s toward his college fund.
The 2nd, we went and took a family portrait in the morning. The studio was specialied for kids mostly and had all kinds of cute costumes, and I just loved the kimonos. So, after the family, we took pictures of Andrew in the most darling little kimono. We won:t get digital pictures, but once we get the actual ones, then I will take a picture of it and post it. Then, we went and visited Katsu:s grandmother, aunt, and three cousins in Tokyo. Traffic was horrendous, but we made it there only 30 minutes late and ate a fancy restaurant. Then we went to Katsu:s grandmothers home and ate the traditional new years food, paid our respects to his grandfathers mini shrine, and got more of that new years money for Andrew. It was very good to see Katsus grandmother and spend time with her and with the rest of his family.
Then, we are to the present - the 3rd. As a Christmas present from his aunt Takako, we went with her to Tokyo Disneyland today. We took the train (about 1.5 hours each way) and it wasn:t too crowded and ANdrew was really good. Disneyland on the other hand was ABSURDLY crowded. It felt like you could barely move. Most of the waits for the rides were like 60-160 minutes! We went on Big THunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Mickey Mouse Revue, It:s a Small World After All, and Pirates of the Carribean, and it completely wore us out. It was really fun though and I can:t wait to post pictures and movies. Andrew really seemed to have fun.
Well, can:t wait to post pictures. We are having fun and are still here for a few more days.
