Welcome to Japan

I have no pictures to show at this point because honestly....I have been too tired!

Thursday July 28

We arrived here on Thursday after an 8.5 hour plane flight.  The kids were awesome on the flight.  We arrived and had some issues at customs because on the airplane they told us we only had to fill out one form for the family, but that was not true......we needed to have one filled out for each person.  After we retrieved our 11 pieces of luggage we rounded a corner at the airport to see a sign with our name on it.  HM1 Salas was sent there from the hospital to pick us up.  By this point is was 8:00PM pacific time, and so they were tired and ready for bed.  We pinched, nudged, and tickled on the 2 hour ride from the Tokyo airport to keep them awake.  Once we arrived, we got checked in to the Navy Lodge, dropped our luggage off and set off to find some dinner.  By the time we finished dinner, it was almost 7:00 PM and the kids were barely awake.  We put their PJ's on them and tucked them in to bed hoping they would sleep a long time.

Friday July 29

So much for sleeping a long time, the kids got up at 4:30 am ready to go.  It was a frustrating day and we walked a TON.  We had to check in at various places, sign up for various classes, get the kids registered for their prospective day care centers (you have to know I am dry heaving about the prospect of my kids going there), and doing some grocery shopping.  By 6:00 PM I was dying of exhaustion, and couldn't wait for bed.

Saturday July 30

More sleep was great.  This time they didn't wake up until 7:00 am.  We had a chill day of playing at the park, buying new cell phones, and going bowling. 

Sunday July 31

Our reputation precedes us.  Last night about 7:30 our motel phone rang.  I answered and this is how the conversation went.

Hello!

Hi, is Sister Shupe there?

This is she.

Hi my name is Lisa Whilhelm and we heard you were here and just wanted to see if we could take you to church tomorrow.

Oh.....great.  Ummmm....how did you know we were here.

Well, one of the nurses that came from SD a few months ago said she thought you were Mormon, and then HM1 Salas who picked you up at the airport saw all your luggage AND your three kids, and said he was pretty sure you were Mormon, so I was just hoping and guessing....you are Mormon right?

LOL....sure am.

Great someone will be there to pick you up at 8:30 outside the Lodge.

So at 8:30 this morning we were picked up outside the motel and driven to the Hospital parking lot just inside the front gate of the base.  We then walked outside the base (there is apparently NO parking for our church building).  We walked for about 10 minutes and then arrived at a 10 story tall office building.  We were instructed to take our kids to level 7 for Primary opening exercises for Senoir Primary, to level 6 for Junior primary calassrooms, and then down three flights to level 3 for RS and Sunday School.  Talk about Wild!!!!!!!  I was not at all comfortable leaving my kids 3 floors up with who knows what imbetween.  But after a few deep breaths, and a silent prayer, and the realization that lots of other Moms were leaving their kids 3 stories away......I left them.

Church was great, we were invited to the Wilhelm's for dinner tonight (he is an ENT at the hospital), the Branch President and had a great time getting to know them. 

There have also been two earthquakes in the three days we have been here.  I guess we are just learning to "roll with the punches"

Tomorrow we start our Weeklong Orientation.

Hawaii * Day 7

LANAKEA BEACH

We googled where the place to see sea turtles were and this beach was the #1 spot.  We must have seen 15 different sea turtles.  It is a state law that you can not go within 6 feet of them, but honestly, it was really hard becasue they swim right up to you.  They have no fear toward humans and seem to like being stared at and amazed by.

These pictures do not do them justice......it was AMAZING!!!!

Then we went out for shaved ice. 

Yes.....Paul was able to finish his entire ice!

DELICIOUS!

It has been a fabulous vacation.  Paul told us all that when he graduated from residency he would take us all to Hawaii....and we didn't let him forget it.  Thanks Paul for taking us!!!!!

Hawaii * Day 6

PUNALU'U BEACH

This morning we just lazed around at the beach right outside our condo door.  What an amazing vacation to be able to be so close to the water.

THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER

 We learned so much at the PCC today.

This guy showed us how to make fire, and how to split open a coconut with a rock.  He also made us laugh hysterically with his jokes.

In Samoa the kids weaved banana leaves into fish.

 Paul and the kids tried their hands at making fire as well....Paul made smoke!

 In Figi we made rhythmic music with bamboo stalks.

 We rode in canoes just as the Polynesian people did down a canal past all the villages.

It is such a beautiful place.  The flowers and landscaping are gorgous and the authenticity of the village peoples' costumes was awesome. 

At the end of it all....the kids asked for Macaroni and Cheese for dinner....it's good to see that although we are in paradise .....they still want simplicity.



Hawaii * Day 5

WAIMEA FALLS

We got up this morning and went to Church.  The Ward was very friendly and the kids did great in Primary (including Ryan).  After Church, we came home, changed clothes, ate lunch, and set off for Waimea Falls.  Paul wished he had worn "OFF" bug repellent after he got 8 mosquito bites.  The rest of us fared very well as long as we were standing next to him.  He is so "sweet", he was our "off" for us.  This is an amazing botanical park filled with plants from all over the world brought in to please the Royal Hawaiin Family hundreds of years ago.  At the end of the 1 mile walk, is a picturesque waterfall. 

It was breathtaking!

The Laie, Hawaii Temple

After visiting the Celestial Kingdom here on earth....we stopped by the real Celestial Kingdom so the kids could get a glimpse of eternity.  We went insude the visitors center and watched a short movie about the history of Laie and why it was chosen for the temple site.  It was cool to see how open and spacious it was before Oahu became such a tourist attraction.  The gift of prophecy was certainly given when they were guided to purchase these hundreds of acres in 1865 that would now be used for the Temple, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and BYU Hawaii.

Another tiring day....the kids fell asleep in 2 minutes.

Hawaii * Day 4

On Saturday we woke up, enjoyed a delicious breakfast of "Eggo" waffles and set off for the day's adventure.  First stop....Diamond Head Crater.

Ryan was super excited to be going inside a "real" crater, although he was actually expecting to see hot lava and spewing geysers.

 The trail to the summit includes switchbacks up the side of the crater, a 225 foot ascending, unlit tunnel, and 175 steps to the top.  Here are Ryan and Chloe on the last leg of the hike...the 99 steps of the spiral staircase.

 Inside the 225 foot tunnel.

 Paul carried Callista on his back the majority of the way.  Then she had the nerve on the way down to say, "I liked going up much better"!

 From the summit, you can see beautifully right down into the 760 foot crater.

The views were breathtaking, and every bit worth the exhausting hike.

Haunama Bay

What a beautiful beach.  Paul, Chloe, and Ryan had a fabulous time snorkeling around the bay.  They saw Threadfin butterfly fish, Forceps Fish, Achilles Tang, Convist Tang, Orangeband Surgeon Fish, Reef Triggerfish,  Redlip Parrot Fish, a spotted Boxfish, and some Hawaii Ten Pounders.

It was an absolutely exhausting day.  We tucked the kids into bed and they were asleep within 30 Seconds (no exaggerating at all)!!!

Hawaii * Day 3

WAIKIKI BEACH

We spent a beautiful morning floating around the calm waters.  There was a school of fish that just loved Callista.  Wherever she walked in the shallow waters, they would follow, much to her dismay.

 Ryan and Chloe practiced snorkeling and enjoyed watching the "Callista loving fish" under the water using their snorkels and masks.

THE USS ARIZONA

In front of the Memorial is this giant world map.  You can't appreciate what the kids are doing here, but the next few pictures will explain.....

 Callista is standing on San Diego, CA, USA.

 Ryan is standing on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA.

 Chloe is standing on Tokyo, Japan.

I was completely taken by today's experience visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.  I had never put any thought as to how it affected my life.  Afterall, it happened 50 years ago, and I didn't know anyone who died there.  But as they began the presentation explaining how that was the turning point and was the day the US entered WWII, it hit me like lightning.  Because of this one single event, my whole life has been affected, as well as the life of my Father, and my Grandmother.  After Pearl Harbor was attacked, Kenneth George Patterson, my paternal Grandfather joined the Navy.  He served on the USS Indianapolis and was struck down by a Japanese sub on July 30, 1945 leaving behind a 24 year old wife, and a four year old son (my Dad).  I am not ashamed to say I shed a few tears today on this memorial as I realized just how much the  attack on Pearl Harbor has affected my life. 

Today I pray for those families whose husbnads, sons, and brothers died  to protect my freedom.  Thank you Grandpa Patterson for your sacrifice so that your great grandchildren could live in

"the land of the free and the home of the brave!"