Friday after Thanksgiving in Tokyo

Our first full day in Tokyo had us sleeping late and then hanging out at the hotel a bit while our baby sister napped and our Daddy got depressed over the Texas Longhorns finishing the season with a losing record.  We darted out of the gate around 1:00 in the afternoon, ready to take on Tokyo!

This is in front of our hotel and was the pretty view we had from our room. 

The area that we walked around had a ton of embassies, so we felt quite safe!  Mick told us that generally the embassies are in quite nice areas of town.  Across the street from the hotel was the French Embassy and residence. 

We walked and then walked some more and then walked some more.  It was a beautiful day!  An absolutely perfect fall day.  The Japanese dress warmer than us Midwesterners as exhibited by this ear-muffed woman on her bike with her face mask. 

It really is funny the large amount of Japanese who wear these face masks!  And as long as I'm stereotyping, let me go off in another tangent.  I saw Audrey's social studies teacher outside after school today and she was wearing a puffy winter coat.  I asked her where she was from and she said, "California." and I said, "I KNEW IT!  This is almost short-sleeve weather."  I'm such a snobby Midwesterner! ☺

We happened across this fruit stand and bought a snack.  I have found that fruit and vegetable shops like this are the only place to buy produce.  A huge bananas were only $2 and those beautiful raspberries were $5. 

Raspberries at the end of November?  We were in heaven!

Our destination for the day was Arisugawa Park which is described in that link as one of Tokyo's most enchanted green spaces and in my vast three day experience, it ranks right up there!  There were several phases to the park.  Some embarrassing statues,

Gigi's looking at it like, "What the hell?" and Olivia is giggling because I just told her, "That's what a boy looks like."  Audrey is trudging over, begrudgingly to pose for a picture which I'm not (YOU'RE WELCOME!) posting. 

some scary playground equipment,

Don't let this picture fool you.  Mick, Gigi and I were hanging out on the other end of the park when I saw Claire ascending the 1970's (in the U.S.) jungle gym.  I ran over there to at least try and catch her when she fell. 

 and then some cute, but safe playground equipment.

My little daredevil! 

Gigi has a large amount of pictures with her tongue hanging out of her mouth.  A future Michael Jordan perhaps?

Love the laughing smile!  She can't wait to be BIG!  ☺

Pointing out the Japanese ladies in the background with their coats on. 

Sisters are FUN!  ☺

We loved the seesaws!  :)

Just a swinging!

We thought it was done, but we went down a hill and there was a beautiful pond and gorgeous, gorgeous trees and more trails and bridges. 

And a gorgeous girl amongst the gorgeous trees!  :)

Not sure what that statue is, but it was shiny!

Some of you may notice that I realized that my sling clashed a bit with my orange "Lucky Mom" shirt, so I reversed it to the solid brown.  ☺

Tree hugger!!!!!

Normally I'm against photos without people in them (while Mick is pro), but this is too pretty not to share!

We finally emerged from the park a few hours later and sauntered into Roppongi, which is famous for its nightlife and shopping.  We had one goal in mind, TGIFriday's, but took in the atmosphere.  

Not only does Japan still have cigarette machines, there are beer vending machines!  ☺

 The next several photos are just us, looking around.  ☺

After our delicious dinner at TGIFriday's, we hopped on the subway for home!  We got a little confused at the turnstile and it was rush hour (on a Friday, no less) and a Japanese man actually growled at me.  Mick said, "I would have too."  ;-)  

Gigi loved playing on the handlebar thingys.

We had just a short walk back to our hotel and stopped momentarily in heaven on our way.  ;-)

Couldn't pass up the photo op!

And then ended up where we started many hours before.  A little less energy in us, but good memories of a nice day in Tokyo!

Alright, alright.  We posed for one last picture and yes, the lights are pretty....now can we go to the pool?

 Yes you may!

It was a fun day!  

Thanks girls for being such troopers!!!!!!

TGIFriday's Tokyo

When my friends have lived in Asia, I've noticed they are a bit euphoric coming home for a visit, and wanting to hit Target or Michaels or some favorite store is at the top of their list.  Since I primarily shop online, I don't think that's what I will want to do first.  It'll be to eat out.

The girls were looking forward to an American restaurant BIG time!  Today we hit TGIFriday's and while not a huge fan of chains when I'm in the States....I was quite a big fan today!

Way to go Mick on expertly navigating our walk there!  ☺

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Gigi was excited to get some ketchup sticks (AKA French Fries). 

Creamveggitable soup.  Mmmmm.

Oh Mojito!  I missed you so!!!!!

We ordered three kids' meals and a myriad of appetizers and left their very happy!  Tomorrow Outback!  ☺

Japanese signs

We had a very fun day today!  Slept in, watched the Texas game (Boo!), then went for a longggggggggggggg walk around Tokyo!  We went in the wrong direction at the onset and after we consulted with a nice man at a crosswalk and got pointed in the correct direction, Audrey said, "None of my friends can say they've been lost in Tokyo!"  :)

We took 186 pictures today and it will take some sorting to see what will make it here, but when we finally made it to this park we were after, we were CRACKING UP over the signs.

And what a lush picnic lunch place it was with fake grass plugs. 

I just love the pictures!

I've got the feeling that Minato City wishes they could just ban dogs.

Many, many instructions.

Who washes their dog in a water fountain?

I love bad English.  Don't really know what it means....no fly fishing, perhaps?☺

Because do you see the men on the left who are fishing?

There were actually several dogs around.  All following the rules, I'm sure. 

We were looking at this and Mick said, "No choking flowers.  And no throwing dynamite on fires." 

There were Embassies all around our walk today.  Mick took a picture of the Chinese Embassy so they could feel paranoid.  ☺

More later!

As the baby sleeps, I will continue to blog

We are staying at the New Sanno Hotel in central Tokyo.  It is a MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) hotel and let me say that the morale was high that our recreation was to happen in a primarily English speaking hotel.  Since we live in Japan and get enough culture...it's nice to be Westerners for a while!  ☺

I unpacked while Gigi napped and Mick and the big girls went to the pool.  Then it was time to get dressed up and go down to the Thanksgiving Buffet.  It was a quick dinner because all of the girls' low fuel light for energy was on and we thought it best not to meltdown in front of hundreds of people.  I did take a picture of them on our way back upstairs.

I am thankful for my four little girls!  ☺

We got back to the room in the nick of time and everyone fell asleep around 8:30.  

Claire gave one last "Hook 'em Bunny" before she changed out of her twirly dress.

We slept about 12 hours and are just hanging out today.  There was an optional day of Tokyo Disney that we decided to forgo since our girls were known to say when we lived in Florida, "Why do we have to go to Disney AGAIN?" 

We will let you out of the cage when you sign this pledge that you will be nice to each other! 

As soon as Gigi wakes up and the Texas game is over, we're going to venture out in the big city of Tokyo.  We have a few ideas of fun things to do, but will not try to conquer it all.  Tomorrow we have a tour of the City with three fun stops with everyone, then Sunday is another free day.  We plan on hitting Outback and TGIFriday's for the girls too!  ☺

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Yokohama Stop

We said goodbye to Fuji City and hopped back on the bus around 9:00 for a few more hours and stopped at Yokohama, which is about an hour outside of Tokyo.  We needed to kill some time before hotel check-in. 

We trolled around the mall for awhile.  First going into the Disney Store, which was smaller than an American Claire's, then into Snoopytown. 

These pictures are for Aunt Judy!

I must say that this day I disagreed with Charles Schultz.  Happiness is not a warm puppy, but being off the bus!

Our good friends the Colettas are on this trip with us. 

Claire now does a "Hook 'em Horns" with one hand and a "Peace" sign on the other.  She has dual American/Japanese citizenship with her hand signals.

Then to a sports section where we played a little golf. 

Drive it Mason!  ☺

Michael and Mr. Mike

Gigi and I went to the potty and I must say...the bathrooms in Japan are AWESOME!  I'll get a picture of all of the options on the toilet seat at another time (Wait on the edge of your seat...get it?  Seat? Ha!).

Every bathroom I've been in on this trip has one of these flip down seats for babies.  Why isn't this standard?  I may make it my mission in life to bring this to the United States. 

Not sure if this will catch on in America since Americans have a hard time cleaning up their own pee pee after they sprinkle when they tinkle.  Such responsibility to disinfect your seat!

Very pretty!

We finally parted with some yen at the candy store.   Because we may be able to say "No. No. No." at a regular store where I could (theoretically) go online and buy whatever it is they're selling for about 25% of the yen price....we're not evil parents.

And posed for a few photo ops. 

"Look scared O!"  ;-)

A cute girl in front of a cute Lego tree!

Then we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. 

Mason has his sour gummy hanging out of his mouth like he's a member of the KISS Army.  ☺

Gigi napped through most of lunch.

And then the Colettas showed us how it is done when you have a mostly boy (Michael, Mason, Max and then they got Sophia) family.....you bring a football wherever you go!  ☺

Turkey Bowl, Yokohama Style!

We ran around and burnt off a little energy. 

This was a cool little area.  It was made to look like a ship. I thought it was just cool architecture, but Mick tells me it was an old dry dock area. Very cool!

And of course, posed for some pictures....because that's what the Wagoners do!  ☺

There was a huge Ferris Wheel and roller coaster, but it wasn't operating that day.  

Audrey sporting her Hello Kitty Hard Rock shirt! 

And Claire looking tough in front of the waterfall.  ☺

Then it was back on the bus for a quick 45 minute (light traffic) jaunt to our hotel!  

Hooray!  We made it!!!!!