Sushi Go round - Hamazushi

I'm going to be honest, I don't like sushi.  I don't like fish, or shrimp, or anything from the sea really.   I know we are in Japan, the land of sushi, but I have tried it several times and just don't like it.  So, when a new sushi place popped up along highway 58, it didn't interest me in the slightest....except that EVERY single time we drove by it, no matter what time of the day, the place was packed!  It must be good right, if it's always busy.  Plus, we had heard several good reviews from friends and Brandon went there for lunch one day and convinced me to try it.  I'm so glad we did!

There are a couple of different ways to do this, you can pick up sushi that's riding by on the conveyor belt, or you can use the touch scree and order it.  We did a combination of both.  We tried several things, including egg salad rolls (egg salad on top of rice, wrapped in nori (seaweed)), udon soup my favorite of the day), fried sweet potatoes covered in honey and sesame seeds ( would have been better hot, but they were cold and weren't awesome), Brock had an egg casserole (he gave it a thumbs down),  we also had the best french fries ever, and edamame, plus Brandon got whatever sushi he likes. 

The sign on this sushi going by is raw octopus and shrimp.  

Brandon using the hot water tap at our table to make his tea with.  

Reagan with the Udon.  

Brock and the egg casserole

Mochi with bean paste, I think.  These are ok, they are sort of tasteless, but the have a neat texture.  

Reagan with 2 chocolate cakes...we had to try them both.  That's the bad thing about a touch screen ordering system and 105Yen plates.   So, at the end of your meal, the waitress comes around and counts your plates.  Most of the sushi is 105 Yen a plate, and the other things very, but most are under 300 yen or $3.00.  It was a fun experience, I would order more udon and french fries next time, but we will definitely be back.  It was a very fun lunch.

Itoman light festival 2013

Before we left for Hawaii, we went to the Itoman light festival in Southern Okinawa with some friends.  We stopped in Naha at this hidden gem for dinner.  Our friend Kana is Japanese, and had read in a magazine somewhere about this "American Steakhouse".  They've been here before, but it was our first time.  Let me assure you, this was popular with the Japanese tourists and that we were the only Americans in the place.  I will say this, it was delicious, and we will definitely be back, that is if we can ever find it again.  It's a bit hidden.  

After dinner, we continued on to the Light Festival.  

This was a great Santa display that allowed the kids to get in the sleigh.  The santa is fake, as you'll see close up in the next picture.  

Brandon and Brock looking up to see the lights covering the  sky.

Every Christmas display at home has a shark, right?  

We had a fun time, and I think it helped bump our Christmas spirit up a notch.  

Christmas in Hawaii!!!

Sorry for the long delay between posts.  December was a busy and super exciting month for us.  We were lucky enough to get to spend 11 nights in Hawaii over Christmas!  The very best part is that my family from the states were able to come over to join us, so we got to spend Christmas with family.  This trip has been in the planning pretty much since we got orders to Japan.  We were supposed to take a family cruise to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary, but then we had Brock and the timing didn't work with the move, so we shifted gears to Hawaii.  It was an amazing trip and I can't really think of much that I would do differently if given another shot.  Here are just a few highlights of the trip. 

Here is the crew at the crack of dawn...see how it's still dark out.  We had early tickets to the Pearl Harbor memorial.  

We went to a Comedy show at our hotel, and Lily was called up on stage.  It was a really great show and the girls laughed out loud so hard the whole time.  They loved it!  It definitely made it extra special that Lily was on stage.  

Here's Brock showing off some coral he found on Waikiki beach.

The kids on Waikiki

 Loved this photo of Reagan!

This is another from Pearl Harbor, along with the headphones shot below.  

We got to the trail at 6:30 AM to begin our hike to the top of Diamond Head.  

Reagan and the girls soon passed us up and were the leaders up the mountain.  

Towards the top is a tunnel.

The view from the top!

The luau

Reagan trying her hand at some ball whirling game.  

Photobombed by Morgan!  :)

The girls with one of the hula girls.   They also got one taken with the tattooed hula guy.

After a week on Waikiki, we headed to Barbers point beach cottages to finish out the trip.  Here Dad and I are enjoying a drink in front of the cabin.  The beach is to the left.  

A part of the beach at the cabins was full of tide pools.  The girls enjoyed exploring and even found a few sea urchins.  

 Brandon was so proud of this shot!

The girls put on a Christmas program for us.  It was SO cute and even came with a hand written program of events.  Morgan is playing a drum that they purchased and reagan is shaking her stuffed animal that was filled with beans to make a Maraca.  The girls sang 4 or 5 Christmas carols to us.  I think out neighbors also enjoyed the show.  

On Christmas Day we took a drive up to the North Shore.  The waves were spectacular and we loved getting to see all the action.  The triple crown of surfing had just wrapped up it's competition a few days earlier, so the waves were impressive.  

 Waiting for the Pineapple Express train at the Dole Plantation.  

Reagan at the Dole plantation.  

We did so much more than I can begin to write about.  I had over 1000 photos just on my camera.  Brandon, Jess, Lily and Andy went golfing on the Marine Corp golf course, and just 2 days later, President Obama played the same course.   I got some shopping in, which was wonderful!  We had an awesome Anniversary celebration at Duke's Canoe club for Mom and dad.   Christmas Eve was filled with some of the same appetizers we always have at home, so that was perfect.  All in all, we all agreed that it didn't "feel" like Christmas, but for us, it was oh so nice not to have to spend Christmas alone.  We will forever have these memories of our Aloha Christmas and I'm sure years down the road when we are freezing cold in the Iowa Winter we'll wish we were in Hawaii again.