Ikego Friendship Day

Yesterday we got to experience the great relationship between the US military and the Japanese people.  In our housing area was the Ikego Friendship Festival.  There were many booths, mostly from ships and military organizations, games, bounce houses, entertainment and food.  Oh the food!  There was everything from some Japanese egg creation to Hawaiian BBQ to good ole funnel cakes!  Great fun for the entire family and community alike.

The one thing that completely mesmerized me was the Taiko drummers.  There were 3 groups of different experience levels, but all were incredible.

There was also to Zushi Japan America Society tent.  They had some crafts for the kids and some amazing displays.  My favorite was the Ikegana (flower arranging).  I will be sure to take a flower arranging class when it comes around.

It was an overall fabulous day!  The boys had fun, filled with cotton candy, hot dogs and funnel cake.  With their prize tokens they picked out some fun "masks" as Jack calls them.

Afterwards we stopped by some one's house to look at some rugs.  They will be delivered on Monday.  We pick up our new dining set, couch, love seat and boys' bedroom set on Tuesday.  Things are starting to come together a little bit at a time.  We're also doing a test run on dog sitting.  Parker is a beautiful female black lab.  It's going really well, so it looks like we'll have her for about 40 days this summer.

So excited that things are settling down for a bit.  Found out Zach's schedule and looks like we won't be seeing much of him til holiday season starts.  We expected as much, so it's not a big surprise.  I think I'll be ordering the boys some Daddy Dolls.  (Go here if you'd like to see what I'm talking about...https://www.daddydolls.com/).  So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we get back into the swing of sea duty.