Welcome to Japan

They say "Home is where the Navy sends you" so here we are.  Wow, a lot has happened over the past few months, I really don't know where to begin. I feel like I just need to post some pics and try to keep this blog updated.
We moved to Yokosuka (pronounced Yo-kooska), Japan on January 3rd 2014. It has been a whirlwind experience, exhausting and quite the adventure. We are currently still living out of suitcases. For the first week we lived in the Navy Lodge (hotel) on base. After 10 days, we got into our townhouse which is actually "off base" about 30 minutes away in a satellite Navy housing community.  For awhile we had nothing but our suitcases and some bare bones loaner furniture issued from the Navy.  On 24 Jan we got a few of our "essential" things in our "express shipment" things like pots and pans, tv, computer, clothes, bedding. As I type this we still don't have our main shipment. I am so anxious to set up our home, hopefully we will get it this week!
Nothing about moving a family of four overseas is easy (and I'll spare you most of those crazy details), but we are loving Japan and cherishing the memories we are creating and experiences we are having.  Japan is an amazing place!  There are so many sights to see and things to do that its overwhelming. I know our two year orders will fly by quick and I want to see as much of Japan as I can, not to mention the countries Nate will port at while he is at sea (hopefully the girls and I can go visit him at a few).

Here are some pictures of a few things we have experienced so far.....

 After 15 hours we landed at Narita airport right outside of Tokyo. Girls did great on the plane but we were all exhausted when we got to Japan.  Hardest part was transporting all of our luggage from the airport to the bus (different terminal) to the base (2.5 hours away).

Hugs at the Navy Lodge

Girls in their Hello Kitty dresses, they were meant to live in Japan.

The first week Nate and I took a Welcome/Culture & Customs/Driving class on base. It was mandatory. We actually learned a lot, met friends, and had fun. It was like a week long date because the Navy put the girls in a preschool while we attended the class, score!

 We both passed our driving tests! I was seriously nervous about it (there was a driving and written portion). The roads are narrow, the pedestrians are everywhere, the steering wheel is on the opposite side and they drive on the left of the road. The first day I drove with girls alone I seriously got a flat tire because I hit a curb and after that (tire fixed) got lost and ended up on a toll road. Many tears and tolls later I made it home, thanks to google maps.  Japanese drivers license, yay!

Some of our friends we met in our class! We had a field trip to Kamakura one day and they took us to an amazing Korean BBQ place for lunch.  You grill the food at your table!

Some sights from our field trip in Kamakura. This city is a short train ride from our townhouse has lots of cute shops, amazing food, and beautiful sights!

The class we took mentioned Obama visited and loved the famous sweet potato ice cream in Kamakura.  It was yummy.  The sweet potatoes are purple, very different from US sweet potatoes. 

They had desserts galore in this giant market place. We were all drooling.

We visited a famous shrine in Kamakura, (shrines are everywhere in Japan.) You are suppose to wash your hands before entering. The detailed architecture is amazing to me. 

This is also in Kamakura. It is a traditional Japanese gate called a Torii which you pass thru to enter into a Shrine. It symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred. 

First train ride with girls! They had so much fun and didn't realize mommy and daddy got lost! The train system in Japan is incredible, we probably will use it more than our cars. I think we figured the trains out but I have yet to take one by myself.

Reagan exhausted after a fun morning.

One day we took the girls to visit Kurihama Flower Park- which has a giant Godzilla. Japan knows how to do parks and they are everywhere! You have to take this cute train to get up the hill to Godzilla- the girls loved it! 

Godzilla found us!

Behind Godzilla was a huge playground. 

Sliding down Godzilla's tail.

Another weekend we went to see Great Buddha.We learned in class the primary religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism.   

We stumbled upon this very small Thai restaurant along the beach front after visiting Great Buddha. You take off your shoes at the door and sit on floor cushions. The food was amazing, we plan to be regulars here. The wait staff loved the girls -- it is apparent that Japanese people have a heart for children. 

This was at Great Kannon, another really cool place with amazing gardens! We are definitely going back there in the spring.  

There was a cave to run around in. Very tight quarters for adults but girls wanted to play in there for hours.

Still working on chop sticks;) Actually Aubrey is pretty good and both girls have a love for sushi!

This is outside of an Italian restaurant our sponsor took us to in Zushi. 

We love the Sushi merry-go-round! You pay by the plate, its a fun and interactive dinner that is super inexpensive.

We just returned from celebrating my birthday in Tokyo, will try to post that soon!