the kids at Manza

Enjoying the snow at Manza Onsen Hotel. Jaden loved getting out in the snow with daddy during our trip to Manza. He wasn't too excited about sledding, but he loved running and climbing snow piles. Ethne made progress in her mobility during our time away. She gained proficiency in crawling and in moving from her tummy to sitting up and back down again. She especially enjoyed all the extra attention she received from our friends and from other hotel patrons. Japanese onsens are frequented by retirees so you can just imagine what happens when you show up to a hotel full of grandmas and grandpas with two cute little kids!

Manza Onsen (hot spring)

As part of Alan's 12-week Japanese "immersion" class, we visited Manza Onsen Hotel along with Alan's teachers, classmates and their families. We traveled five hours by bus into Gunma prefecture's snowy mountains. The hotel, where we spent most of our time, was very cozy. Alan and I enjoyed soaking in the steamy, sulfury Japanese baths, supplied by the natural hot springs. (Public baths, of course, both men's and women's.) One morning we went on an excursion to another local onsen, where many tourists, Japanese and foreign, shop for gifts, take photos by the billowing steam and soak their feet in the spring water. (Jaden and Alan soaking their feet, at Jaden's request!)

Air show

Alan and Jaden building airplanes and spacecraft at our apartment. A family in Alan's folks' church passed these really cool blocks down to us. Jaden plays with them everyday. They were a lifesaver, entertaining Jaden for hours and hours, until our crates arrived with more toys. It was really nice for Jaden to have just a few toys and books for a while, it really seemed to stimulate his imagination and resourcefulness. If we lacked a toy, we just built it with our blocks! When he was looking for something new to read, he discovered a new story in his kids' Bible. Most of the things from our crates are now unpacked and put away. We're really enjoying our apartment. It's open and spacious. Jaden has his own room. We share with Ethne for right now. We have a nice storage closet too so that we can keep extra things on hand without feeling cluttered.

Merry Christmas

Jaden's Summer

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