Advent in Japan

Advent was officially "kicked-off" with Jonathan & I having a date in Osaka to go see Handel's "Messiah." This has been an annual tradition for us, beginning on our honeymoon, where we saw a spectacular performance at the Sydney Opera House. The following year, we were able to attend another impressive performance with my folks at the National Cathedral in D.C. In Japan, we sometimes have to go a little further from home (Tokyo) and/or attend in October (like we did in 2008,) however, Jonathan has always managed to find a venue & get tickets. This year we were grateful to be able to see it so close to home - and on December 5th!

Showing the Nativity Scene to Joshua and explaining about Jesus coming to earth as a baby. He obviously understands that we have so much to be thankful and joyful about!
Grandma w/ Joshua, who is wearing the sweater Mom Kohl made some 20 years ago to celebrate Chris Becker's birth

Kendra didn't bake Christmas cookies this year, but we all enjoyed plenty of Lebkuchen to last throughout Advent into the New Year!

And Kobe has it's own event, similar to a German "Christmas Market." It's called Luminaria and is held at the park where we ate Mister Donuts in the fall. It's actually to commemorate the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 (when Kendra was in Nagoya) and celebrate the life that still flourishes in Kobe



Then, we were able to experience a "satellite" German Christmas Market in Osaka

They even had "real bratwurst" and pretzels

Joshua's first Musli (yogurt breakfast) at the big table with everyone

We celebrated Christmas with Mom & Daddy (Kohl) on Sunday, the 13th




Family photo shoot in front of the Christmas tree

Finally...time to open presents!!

The next day, we headed to Hokkaido, the main northern island of Japan. Sapporo has a famous Beer Garden Restaurant (called Ghengis Khan) where their specialty just happens to be Lamb, so we thought it was the perfect place to visit with Mom & Daddy!

Jonathan at Ghengis Khan, after Joshua had gotten to his bib :-D

Daddy inspecting the quality of the sushi before we ate

Mom may be spoiled for other sushi, as it's hard to beat the freshness of what's served at the local fish market in Sapporo


Warming up after our walk in Sapporo's version of the German Christmas Market

After the big city, we wanted to warm up at the famous Noboribetsu Onsen (Hot Springs.) We had lunch at a "Mom & Pop" Ramen noodle shop on the way, and settled in for some relaxation. Joshua didn't go into the hot springs, but enjoyed his first swimming pool experience. They had a huge shallow "baby pool" where he thoroughly enjoyed himself!
After dinner, Joshua was plum tuckered!! I put him down in our room to crawl around & immediately he went to enjoy the fluffy "futons" that Jonathan & I would sleep on. (He had his pack-n-play, but couldn't crawl into that himself.)

He totally plopped himself into this comfy, cozy spot!

Good Night!

Thankful in November

On the 22nd, we did a "photo shoot" to get a picture of Joshua for our Christmas cards...

Behind the scenes we are working hard to get photos BEFORE Joshua lunges and/or makes a beeline straight for the camera!

Here are the "outtakes"










On Monday, the 23rd, we celebrated Thanksgiving at the beautiful home of Katsu & Maimi, friends from church, also in the Translation/Interpreting Ministry Team. The 23rd is a Japanese holiday, similar to "Labor Day" in the U.S., but it's actually named "Thanks Day" to thank the farmers for bringing in the fall harvest.

The 20 pound turkey is BIGGER than sweet, little Joshua, weighing in around 17 pounds!
The menu included turkey, sweet potato casserole, Mom Caputo's famous Mystery Pecan Pie, Keiko's American-style broccoli casserole & pineapple casserole, corn salad, Mongolian meat pouches, tacos, Japanese Oden (delicious boiled dinner, great in cold weather) and many other delicious treats!


Keiko and Joshua's pal, Casey, born this past August

Tagging Along on Daddy's Business Trip

"Don't talk to me about any travel plans. I'm not going anywhere. It's hard enough to get out the door with Joshua to run errands! I dreaded travel pre-Joshua (until we actually arrive,) my legs get "restless" before we take off sometimes, what if he won't sleep on the airplane and all the passengers are glaring at us because he won't stop crying, PLUS, jetlag has to be IMPOSSIBLE with a 7 month old!?!" Or so I thought...

Well, when it came right down to it, I couldn't bear to have Jonathan go without us. I thought about Joshua feeling abandoned, not understanding where Daddy went - and that he was coming back soon. My friend also wisely said something to the effect that I have learn how to "make it work," as travel will be a part of our lives as we continue to live in Japan. I realized I had to confront my fears and take Joshua on the plane - it wasn't going to get any easier anytime soon. Plus, I saw many of you reading this, "who have gone before" us in this parenting adventure... Yes, we need to make some major adjustments to our lives to accommodate little people, BUT we don't need to "stop living." I'm not going to just sit home listening to kids' music, watching Joshua play in the living room until he's ready for kindergarten! If I didn't go, my fears of traveling with Joshua would just grow and I'd really dread summer vacation, rather than looking forward to it. Any other time, I would accompany Jonathan on such a trip back to our old stomping grounds, so why should this be different?

So, I bit the bullet and got on the plane...
This sweet sleeping pose lasted for about 30 minutes of the first 9 hour flight from Osaka to San Francisco.

However, Joshua did sleep for 5 hours in my arms/on my side and I could actually rest too, as the business class chair (total gift from God to be in Business class) was big enough to support us.

Overall, Joshua did really well...and I'm embarrassed for all the times I complained to Jonathan about travel when it was just the two of us. (What a BREEZE travel was before - why didn't I SAVOR - at least be thankful for - the opportunity to travel?!) Anyway, Jonathan is still the master packer in the family and he did an AMAZING job having all of Joshua's bottles, baby food containers, bibs, diapers, wipes, blankets, extra clothes, etc., etc. all "readily accessible." We had a few "misadventures" including the both Jonathan & I squeezed into a tiny airplane restroom with Joshua to change a messy diaper - new outfit required! Joshua cried on the landing of that same cross-country flight - they started the descent before we started his bottle and we think it hurt his ears. Timing is tricky on the take-offs & landings...he needs to drink/swallow so his ears don't hurt, but he polishes his bottles more quickly than the time it takes to take-off or land. Anyway, other than that one time, his ears were fine. It wasn't easy (we had many times of feeling totally fried,) but it wasn't impossible either.

And, when it was all over, Joshua got to experience his first Indiana Halloween - as Baby SUPERMAN!


Who had more fun - Joshua or Jonathan?!

Baby Superman getting some encouragement from "Uncle Jochen"

Doesn't he look like he's dreaming of grand things already?!


Complete with a neighborhood parade and all!

Kim & Tammy (College Girlfriends/Summer Roommates) visit from Ohio!

Heading west to visit Andy (Kendra's brother)'s family
Big cousin Isaac lovin' on his little cousin
Big cousin Luke also "showed Joshua the ropes" with all the fun toys Aunt Allison had for him to play with

Thanks for a special time together!

So wonderful to meet you, Sweet little Alexa!

Joshua showing off his "cruising" skills (Mommy learned a new word for "walking while holding onto things")


Special visit from newlywed friends, Carrie & Troy!

Goin' Home - Joshua's already "working" the airlines to get them to let him have his own seat (even though he "paid" to sit on our laps!)