The Honor Roll... Yesterday Adam recieved an award for doing such a great job here in Iwakuni...I got a sitter for the boys for an hour, the girls were at piano, and Luke and I went over and watched. I told the girls about it after they got home. Adam had to stay late because he has a trial starting today. So it was just the kids and me at dinner. Emma blessed the food, in it she said..."thank you that Dad could make honor roll today". I hadn't called it that, she just assumed that's what his award was for...

Sarah's baptism...

Today Sarah was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is such a sweet girl, we are so blessed to have her in our family. We had such a wonderful day. I am so grateful Dan and Jeannie made the trip out to come and be with us today. Even though we have wonderful friends and branch members here in Iwakuni, it still made me sad that most of our family would have to miss it...but it really helped to have Dan and Jeannie here, and meant a lot to Sarah. She was so excited. She wore her new white dress all morning. We drove about an hour to Tokuyama. (the building there has a font, ours in Iwakuni doesn't) Sarah's sensei from yochien 2 years ago came, a few families from our branch, several missionaries, and a few japanese member families. At the baptism, Dan gave a wonderful talk, and the girls and Jeannie and I sang a song, "When I am Baptized". Sarah beat her dad dressed after the baptism...how does that happen? Then we had a short talk by our branch president and the confirmation, then refreshments. It was such a memorable day! I am very proud of Sarah! And know that her Heavenly Father is very pleased with her also.

A fun week...
This week Jeannie and Dan (Adam's parents) have been visiting. Adam took the whole week off, and we have just been packing picnics and taking day trips every day. It's been so much fun! Below is a pic of the A-dome at the Peace Park in Hiroshima. Visiting the Peace Park is a moving experience...the A-dome is the spot where the Atomic bomb was dropped, everything else for miles was completely demolished, but the A-dome was left partially standing since it was directly above and the bomb kind of mushroomed out. Hiroshima is such a big city, it's amazing to think they have completely rebuilt it all in 60 years. This pic was taken outside the butterfly museum yesterday. Take note of Jacob's kilt. It's a kilt, not a skirt. He had to go to the bathroom while in the museum, so I took him. He didn't want ANY help, so I stood back and watched. He was doing a good job, peeing in a squatty potty (japanese style squatter). Then all of a sudden it starts spraying everywhere, like a run-a-way fire hose. It's going on the walls, floor, every but the potty. I yelled, and he got it back under control. Then he finished up, and I went to help him pull his pants up and he refused because through all that his pants and underwear got sprayed as well. And with Jacob, there's no rationalizing. I tried for a few minutes, but knew it was useless. So, took it all off, and pulled his fleece pullover down around his waist, then tied the arms around his waist. It did the job, at least he was covered and we could go back in with the butterflies. First thing he did of course when we got back in though was flash everyone....

Luke and I at Miyajima...

Adam and Luke at the butterfly museum...Luke really like them!

The moment we walked in the insectarium, butterflies flocked to Adam. Especially his head. I think it must have been his hair gel. Wish I'd put it on all of the kids. L.A. Looks, for any of you planning on going to a butterfly museum soon. Anyway, it was pretty funny, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

The top of one of the peaks at Miyajima Island. Emma hiked to the top with her Dad and Grandpa, while the rest of us took the tram. Not sure how they did it, but they beat us! There are monkeys that live up there, but we didn't see any, they were all off eating.

We hiked up to the Kintai Castle...

Today we're just getting ready for Sarah's baptism tomorrow. I need to finish hemming Sarah's dress, and Jeannie's going to help me make some cookies for after. She's really excited!

The Sakura (cherry blossoms)...
The boys and I spent the morning taking pictures of the cherry blossoms at the Kintai Bridge and Castle. They are both here in Iwakuni.

Below is my favorite street to drive down in Iwakuni during cherry blossom week.

Look doesn't look too sick, but he had 3 baths before 8:00 this morning! Finally I borrowed some plastic pants from a friend, and the day has been a little easier since.

I didn't get much sleep last night, up late with Jacob, then up early with Luke. I was so tired this morning, I thought I was going to puke, and not in a good mood at all. So, I decided the best thing to do would be to get out and maybe some fresh air, a Mountain Dew, and a hike up to the Kintai Castle would make me feel better. So I called my friend Christi, packed up the boys and the car, and left for the morning. And it worked out great with Jacob's schedule, since he's sick all night, and fine all day. His fever was 104.3 last night....still just a virus? Looks like Isaac's getting it now, he's been on the couch since about 3:30 pm with a fever too. One day they'll all get better....

Sarah said the cutest thing last night...Jeannie and Dan are coming to visit in 2 days, for Sarah's baptism, anyway, last night Sarah said to me, "Mom, I'm so excited that Grandma and Grandpa are coming! Everytime I think about it my heart starts beating really fast."

We can't wait!

Don't know about you, but that's my favorite place to nap...it's gotta be the cleanest spot in the house... Poor Jakey...all worn out from sittin on the pot. This evening about 5:30 we couldn't find Jacob anywhere...was a little nervouse when I realized it'd been quiet a little too long...then we found him, sound asleep, right in front of the toilet. With toilet paper for a blankey. Not sure if he was just exhausted from sitting there and couldn't make it to the couch, or if he had been calling for me to wipe and got tired of waiting.

This past Saturday we had an Easter party with the boys' Yochien sensei's and the Razvillas' and the Trout's. It was so much fun. It was the Senseis' first Easter experience...they weren't too sure about the eggs being edible after dying them, but I assured them that they taste better when the dye has come through the shell and the whites are blue, and make for a beautiful potato salad. We had lots of crafts and food, and then had a egg and basket hunt afterwards. The kids had their baskets and 200 eggs founds within about 15 minutes, but then we spent another 20 min. looking for for Mariko Sensei's basket. Finally I thought to check the car, and there it was, the easter bunny had missed one. It'll probably take them months to eat all their candy...they're not used to such sweet sweets as ours. Japanese sweets have way less sugar than ours, and a lot have beans in them as well. I usually try to avoid the bean ones.
Emma very intently dying her eggs.

Jakey and Ayuka playing on the floor. Ayuka's in his class at Yochien.

Sarah and Yuina crafting away...

Isaac helping his Sensei, Yoshimi, get her basket out of the tree. That crazy easter bunny.

Yeah, it's done! I helped Emma's class make a quilt for an art action the school is going to have this month. They each got to draw a picture of something "Japanesy" w/fabric crayons. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work...

Jacob's still not better...I took him to the doctor today, he thinks it's just a virus...we're on the 8th day of it today. He hasn't puked since last Friday, but still spiking the 102 fever every night. Hopefully he's about through, poor little guy. Luke has it now too. He keeps puking, diahreah, and has a low fever. And on top of that he got his first tooth last Friday, and one more that should be through by tomorrrow. So he's one happy guy!

I got released from Primary yesterday and called as 1st counselor in Young Womens and the branch music chairman....for 3 months. I'm excited about YW. Two leaders for 2 YW. They are both great girls, my babysitters.

Well, that's about all for tonight...still no "official" orders. I hear they're behind.