The Landmark Tower on Veteren's Day

The Yokohama Landmark Tower (横浜ランドマークタワー, Yokohama Randomāku Tawā^?) is the tallest building and 3rd tallest structure in Japan, standing 296.3 m (972 ft) high.  It has the second fastest elevator in the world which travels 69 floors in 45 seconds.  It's speed is 28 mph.   That's actually faster than we are even allowed to drive here on base. 

It was AWESOME!!!

The first 5 floors contain a mall....very much like an American Mall.

The Pokemon Store

We fondly thought of our cousin Nate as everyone fought for the "Snivey" hat!

Can you tell what store this is?

BUILD- A- BEAR

Yes...there was even a Disney Store!

Then we ventured up the elevator to the Sky Garden.  Even though you could see almost nothing.....it was still breathtaking!

 This is what we should have seen.  Yokohama and Tokyo laying below us, with Mt Fugi in the background.

 But this is all we could truly see.....thick layers of clouds.

 Once we descended the ear popping, but extemely FAST elevator we decided to enjoy some America cuisine!

It was the perfect way to spend a very wet, and rainy Veteren's  Day!  Thank you Grandpa Patterson for giving your life in defending our freedom.  Thank you Dad for serving in the US Air Force during a time of much controversy surrounding the troops.  And, of course, thank you Paul for serving today.  I am so proud of the legacy of men in my life who have done so much in preserving our freedom and the "American Dream".  After being away, even for a short time, I can testify that it truly is a "land of promise".

Happy Veteren's Day!!!

Japanese Toilets

So I have to be honest with everyone.....when I saw Cars 2 back in th states, I didn't really get it.  It was enjoyable, a little funny, but I honestly thought "another sequel that shouldn't have been made".  But then....we arrived in Japan, and after being here for a few weeks Cars 2 made it to the Base Theatre.  So I decided to give it another shot, after all it was only $10 for the whole family to see it.

It was a completely different experience after living here even for only a few weeks.  You see, going to the bathroom out in town is quite scary.  The toilets have all these buttons on them, and it is not written in English. You didn't know if you were flushing, or about to spray water on your bum.....and one of the buttons even plays music for you. There is also a button which turns the seat heater on (my personal favorite). So after watching Cars 2 for the second time, and seeing Tow Mater's experience in a Japanese Bathroom, it is now our Family's favorite movie.  

These are true Japanese toilets......and like Mater says,

 "be careful which button you push".



Happy Halloween

The Halloween Season has come and gone and here are a few highlights:

We love making sugar cookies, but making them without a mixer and a rolling pin is a little tricky.....I had to use a tall water bottle as a rolling pin.  I think for Christmas, I will give in and buy a new rolling pin!

Since e don't have any of our decorations, we had to make a few of our own!

Paul has ALWAYS LOVED carving pumpkins with the kids', and I don't think I ever appreciated why....

This guy loves having a knife in his hands!!!



Then for our branchs' "Trunk or Treat" he brought home a real skeleton from the Ortho Clinic.  Chloe thought it was great that he even buckled it in the front seat, placing one arm in the window, and the other arm up on the visor.  I, however, was not so amused at the strange looks I got driving around base with a skeleton buckled in next to me.

Halloween night was full of fun, and CANDY!  They allow the Japanese children to come on base as well.  It was great to see their little ones all dressed up and delighted at all the candy they got.

Happy Halloween from Rapunzal, a BYU Footbal Player, and Our Little Monkey!



The Tokyo Science Museum

The kids' had a half day last Friday, so we decided to make it a full day, pull them out of school, and go into Tokyo.  We went to the Science Museum and had a great time with all the "hands on" experiences we got to have.

 Our first exhibit was the "Space Cafe".  Not sure why they called it that because there was nothing "spacey" about it, but Ryan and Chloe were happy there was plain rice, and Callista enjoyed slurping her noodles.

 The first floor was devoted to "The History of Bicycles".  Here are Chloe and Ryan on the bike simulator.  They had to leave their home, obey all the traffic signals, and stop signs, and make it to school.  They both made it there, but not without a few casualties.  They both crashed a few times, and they both ran over the "poor old lady" who was just trying to take in her groceries.

 I am not sure what to say about this one, except that......

he wishes he had one!

 The next floor was devoted to electricity.  The kids LOVED this lightning ball, but watch out.  If you put both hands on it, you will get shocked.....we learned the hard way!

 The 3rd floor was about gases.  There was a great demo where this scientist had a torch and sprayed it with various chemicals and gases.  The kids loved watching it change colors.

However, this was the funniest exhibit. 

Here is the sign above it!

 This was below it.  YES....a statue of a baby with his bottom stuck out, and when you pushed the red button, as Callista is doing.....he tooted.  NO JOKE!!!!  I can not even tell you hard it was to get my kids' away from this exhibit, and to stop laughing about it afterwards!!!

 After the museum, we walked around the gardens and park that surrounds it.  We were on a treasure hunt for what appeared (on the map) to be a very LARGE and important rock formation.

 There were beautiful ponds and trees and walkways we enjoyed while we were on our journey for this LARGE rock formation.

 Training for this very important journey we are on....the LARGE rock, remember!

 And here it is........

What can we say!  The map made it seem all powerful, and grandious, and something of great importance.  Of course, maybe it is.....we couldn't understand the Kanji explaning it.

It was another fun day, on yet another adventure!