A couple weeks ago we enjoyed a nice family vacation over the All-Star Break. Even though we were bummed DJ didn't make the team, (Writing this is going to embarrass him, but he truly should have made it this year. He is having an amazing season! We are so proud of him!) we made the best out of his 2 days off and left Fukuoka for a much needed get away. I have to give DJ credit, he planned this entire vacation on his own... and we all enjoyed it.
We headed to Oita, a city about 2 hours away, which is known for their hot springs. We stayed at a big hotel which was like its own mini city. The hotel had a couple different buildings where you could stay, a water park, a cool swimming pool, an arcade, movie theater, bowling alley, and many restaurants. It was very nice having so much to do in one place. They had shuttles that drove you around. The city is very pretty. In one direction you can see the green mountains and in the opposite direction you see the ocean. The view was gorgeous and the drive there was too!
The first day we got there we went to the water park. (Sorry no pictures). The kids playing in the water. The had a big pool set up as if you were at the beach. It was a walk in pool with a wave machine. Tessa loved being able to show Daddy how she can kick her feet and blow bubbles now! Brady even showed off his skills too! Tessa liked the lazy river and both kids kinda freaked out when they had to go under the waterfalls... ha ha. This place also had a little kid area with a small water slide that the kids loved. And of course Mommy and Daddy had to take their turns on the big slides as well. We spent the entire day there and we all enjoyed it!
After a long day at the park we headed back to the hotel, which Tessa thought was the coolest thing to stay at a hotel, to rest up for the night! The kids loved being in a new place and running around. They loved looking out the big windows. And the coolest part was you took a shower outside on the balcony (Again, sorry no pictures of that LOL!) I am glad we were there in the summer because it was a little chilly having the breeze hit you while showering. And for those of you wondering no one could see you shower from the street :)
That night we headed to dinner and then off to see a water light show at the swimming pool. Then after that we hit up the arcade. The family played the race car game, and for the record, Brady won!!!
That night Tessa was super excited to sleep in a big bed all by herself... and let me tell you she used every inch of it :)
The next morning we woke up and headed to Harmonyland, Hello Kitty's theme park. We really lucked out this entire vacation with nice weather. It wasn't very humid and was on the cool side, which is rare for Japan. This helped to make Harmonyland so much fun. We got to visit Hello Kitty's castle. We even got to meet Hello Kitty, which Tessa was not too thrilled about. She is scared to death of mascots and costumes. She likes them from afar but bring them up close and its all over! We even bought Hello Kitty a sunflower to hand to her in exchange for a Hello Kitty hair bow, but still no luck. So Brady gave it to Hello Kitty instead. (I'm sure Dad was pleased about that LOL!)
We also went on a ton of rides. Tessa wanted to go on her first roller coaster. She was a little scared, because it really did go fast for a kids ride, but she made it through and enjoyed it!
They went on the merry-go-round a couple times.
Daddy took Brady on the flying elephant ride.
They drove bumper cars.
They drove big cars!
But we also went on a few rides that honsetly I thought were going to break. One of them was the funniest looking ride ever that DJ took the kids on. I really don't know how the "box seat" stayed "attached" to the wall :) DJ didn't even fit and if he moved the box would tilt. So they rode it once around and that was it :)
The other ride was a little gas powered cart that rode on a skinny rail in the air around the park. It was a great view but every time DJ or I would move the cart would sway back and forth. (I don't have the best pictures of the cart because I was holding on for dear life :)
We also took a train around the park and went a the Harmonyland version of "Its a Small World". Which surprisingly was not bad :)
Thanks Daddy, it was a fun vacation!
