Cherry picking, Nagawa town, June 2010

The cherry season was late this year in Japan, so we weren't sure if we were going to be able to go cherry picking for our fourth and final time before moving back to the U.S. Luckily, we went just 4 days before leaving and the cherries were ready! The Japanese went to great lengths this year to ripen the cherries--even putting foil around the individual clusters of cherries to attract more sunshine! Cherry picking has been such a fun thing to do every summer in Japan that it we will most definitely miss it!
Alex was the most excited about the cherries!
We let little Thomas try a tiny taste of cherries--he obviously wasn't as impressed as the rest of us!
Of course a stop at the Dragon tower was in order as well
Alex and Noah making their way up the tower

Tanasashi beach, June 2010

The Misawa weather has already been quite warm in June, which is a bit unusual. Because the base housing doesn't have air conditioning, we decided to hit the Tanesashi Beach in Hachinohe. The water was a bit cool, but it didn't seem to bother the kids! We went with friends the Lewis Family--Kodi, Tim, and their twins Alexa and Aiden.
Ian cooling off


Kodi and Thomas

Noah and Aiden

Playing in the grassy area not far from the beach. The kids had fun chasing seagulls.

Christian's fini-flight Misawa (Korea) June 2010

Christian had his fini (final) flight with the 14th Figher Squadron in June. Because the squadron was deployed to Korea, he actually flew from Japan to Korea so that he could have his last flight with the guys he had been flying with in Japan.

Taxiing in...
Jumping out...
The guys pin him down to hose him down
With duct tape, even!
Chris and Fang--those two go way back from their Academy days!

Thomas eating solid food, June 2010

The usual, brown rice cereal, and most ended up on his face than in his mouth!

Yochien formal uniform June 2010

This is one of the last days the boys wore their formal uniform to school. The next week they changed to sports uniform (udougi) for the rest of their time in Misawa.