Playing Catch-Up

We are back to blogging and I wanted to bring everyone up to speed with our little clan. Below is a photo of Typhoon Melor when we were supposed get hit the hardest with 120 MPH winds. We thought maybe this was the eye, which it wasn't, it bypassed us thanks to a mountain range. We now have lots of batteries and a gazillion gallons of water.

Brian came to Japan for business and we spent the day with him. We played a round on our 3 par golf course that is on our base and then had Yakiniku afterwards. It was a nice visit and we hope to see him again in the spring. We just wish Mel and little Wyatt would join him. We miss you.

One day we went to the pet store at Joyful Honda and they let the giant turtle out of his cage and the kids loved it, except......when it got too close.

Last June, Lexi won the Presidential Award for super grades. Way to go Lexi!

Chloe turned a year old in November and still thinks she rules the roost if she doesn't get her way she will pee. One time she got into trouble and John punished her. About 2 hours later John and I were standing in the middle of the living room and Chloe came over and peed on John's foot. Nice!

Zander is 3 1/2 and started Yochien, which is a Japanese Preschool. He has been begging to go since last year. Everyday we dropped Anika off he would say, "I go school Mommy?" He would love to play with all the children on the playground when I would pick Anika up. I noticed a change within him in just 2 weeks after starting school. He is developing quickly and his speech is getting noticeably better. Alexander is sweet and a Mommas boy, he cries over the smallest boo boo, but if Mommy kisses it he is automatically better. I know, I know there are some of you who say I coddle him. He is my baby and he is our last. He is learning some Japanese and becoming very independent. He wants to put his own indoor shoes on when we get to school. No more help from Mommy.

Zander weighs 34 pounds, is 38 inches tall and wears a 3T, his shoe size is toddler 10. He loves planes and trains
which where we are is the perfect place for both. He loves to color and to do puzzles, play with playdough and Buzz Lightyear rocks his world. He also love Incrediboy, from The Incredibles. Alexander loves playing with his V-tech computer and thinks he is like Daddy when he is on his computer checking e-mail. He is also the best of friends with Anika, but they fight over everything, so it seems. Alexander potty trained 2 weeks before his birthday in August.

Lexi played soccer again this year and played better than ever. She scored one goal and her team won championships after 9 grueling hours of playing soccer in one day, all for the championship against other bases around Japan. The team that lost against us during the last game of the bracket tournament complained and said it was supposed to be a double elimination tournament and wanted to play another game. Their coach was kicked off the field, we played another game and won with a shoot out! The icing on the cake was that all the other teams were boys only our team had 5 girls. During the tournament we heard one of the other coaches yelling, "Your not going to let a bunch of girls beat you, are you?" The last goal for the shoot out that won our team the championship was shot by a very small, 6th grader GIRL! Way to go GiGi and way to go to go Cobras. You won with dignity, honor and beat them twice, technically! You have to love youth sports. This is tame in comparison, because if a family misbehaves they have their first shirt to answer to and then it goes up the chain.

Lexi decided during soccer season that she wanted to do cross country along with continuing ballet, tap, Girls Scout Cadets, youth group through church and piano and let's not forget school. We explained about overcommitment, but like mother, like daughter (I am improving). She had 4 days of cross country, 2 days of soccer, one day of ballet. I told her no complaining if she decided to do cross country. She chose to do it and ran really well. Lexi has NEVER been overweight, but she REALLY leaned out after one month of running. She didn't complain until after 2 months went by (to be honest she was running about 20 miles a week with cross country, I would be tired too). She stuck it out and made the honor roll, but decided to take a break from piano. Soccer season and Cross country are over and she has been playing volleyball. Next week they practice with a Japanese team. I love the fact that they have a lot of cultural interaction.

Lexi volunteers to babysit with the Girl Scouts for various balls and Christmas Parties. She is also baby sitting her brother and sister on occasion and earning a little extra money. She spent the day taking the Red Cross courses so she is completely certified.

Lexi was a little apprehensive about starting middle school, but has now found she loves it.

Alexis is 11 years old, has a good heart, is 5' 3" tall and wears the same size shoe as her mother. 8-8 1/2.

Anika still has her Minnie Mouse voice and sounds like she has a helium voice. It is really cute. She is the middle child and is living up to the role of the middle child. She is extremely smart, frighteningly so. She never forgets anything and is like a sponge. If I repeat myself and say, "How many times do I have to tell you that?" She will give you an accurate count, "That would be 4 Mommy, 4 times." She has started snapping her fingers and she and Lexi will argue until they are blue in the face about anything. I am constantly trying to impress on Lexi how important her role is, as the big sister. Anika speaks a fair amount of Japanese and loves her school. She loves Zander at school and takes him under her wing.

Anika loves going to ballet with Ms. Deb and is really enjoying it.

Anika weighs 36 pounds, is 41 inches tall and like her brother wears a size 1o toddler shoe. She loves to play with what ever her brother is playing with. She loves coloring, playing with her dolls, playing with her Leapster and loves anything that involves princesses. Her best friend is Aiko/Aichan.

More about us later. I just wanted to update you with the what is going on with the little ones.
Please leave a comment, we wold love to hear from you:)