Valentine's 2014

Just a few Valentine's photos.  We didn't do anything spectacular, just made a fancy dinner at home and enjoyed the treats that arrived from our friends and family in the states.  

This is all the loot that the kids received from home.

I will point out that a few of the presents that the kids were opening were left over birthday presents.  My mom sent some of each in her boxes and I apparently didn't do a good job of trying to decipher which wrapping paper qualified for which event :).

Brock is pleased with his new truck - Thanks Aunt Jess and uncle Andy!

Not sure what Reagan is opening, but it looks like she likes it!

Brock's 2nd birthday

Brock's 2nd birthday was a week after Reagan's.  Here he is opening some presents.

This one's funny because you can see mom and dad on FaceTime on the iPad.

the aftermath.

My mom used to decorate these elaborate cakes for us as kids.  I've tried to carry on the tradition, although, I'm a terrible artist.  Elmo's nose is showing some of the funfetti through the orange frosting.  

While Brock really liked the Elmo cake, he refused to even try it.  He didn't want anything to do with it, even over the next couple of days while we kept eating it.  

Reagan's 10th birthday and awards ceremony

This post has a bunch of different events.  I'm behind and trying to play catch up.  The first few photos are of awards day at school for 2nd quarter.  Reagan was on the A/B honor roll, and received an award from her teacher for best participant.  

Here's Reagan walking up to get her award.

A few of her other classmates who received the honor roll.

 Reagan attempting to carry Brock.

Brock wanted to hold the award too.

The morning of Reagan's birthday we decided to check out this Cosmos flower field.  There is a photographer here that takes these amazing photos of the field, and it looks like it goes on for miles.  In reality, the field is the size of a garden with trucks going by in the background.  Plus, there were about 12 other Japanese and American families there all trying to get a photo that didn't have another family in it.  Ugh, sometimes I don't know why I have these "bright ideas".  It's a wonder Brandon keeps driving me to these obscure places.  

Brock trying to smell the flowers by blowing out his nose.

Don't mind the truck or building in the background :)

Oh look, construction equipment!  

Brock was not interested in posing at all.  This was the best one of the bunch.

After lunch at Gen, Reagan opened her presents before her party at the movie theatre.  

So, at the USO, you can rent out a mini movie theatre with 18 seats.  You can play whatever movie you want, and it has a popcorn machine.  We decided to play a game before the party started called Worm slurping.  The object was to find 3 gummy worms on the plate that was covered in whip cream.  The kids LOVED it and I wish I would have bought more cool whip.

Reagan and some friends while opening presents.

Cherry Blossoms 2014

This year we decided to try a different spot for viewing the Cherry Blossoms.  Brandon and Reagan had a Monday off in late January, so we decided to check it out then to avoid some of the crowds.
We headed up to Nago to their city park and site of their Cherry blossom festival the following weekend.  

Here's a random shot of Brock before we left home.

 We were a little early again this year.  Not all of the trees were in full bloom.

The park in Nago has a castle ruins on it.  Brandon was impressed with these ancient cinder block stairs :).

I'm not sure what these things are, but the were cool looking. 

This is used to prevent landslides.

The view from the top.