Grammy and Gramps had to go home...

My parents left yesterday :( They came to visit for 2 weeks and we really had a blast! Their 2nd week here DJ had to go on the road so the 4 of us decided to venture out and go all over. Like the 1st week of their stay many of our adventures had to do with food. We went out for amazing sushi. My parents loved it. It doesn't even compare to home. We enjoyed our time there even though my Dad decided to be brave and eat baby abalone (let's just say it crawled off his plate). The next day, I took them to Sunset Beach. It is the beach on the other side of the island. It is beautiful over there and there is a restaurant that has the best peel and eat shrimp that I had to take them too. It was the most beautiful day. I got to lay out in the sun while Tessa read magazines with Grammy :) It was so relaxing. We got home just in time to watch DJ's game. He had another great game! His team won inter league after that win so everyone was really excited. The next day we went and walked around Nishijin. It is a busy little town that has many shops & booths selling anything you can think of and more as you walk up and down the streets. That night we wanted to try tempura. It took us a while to find the place... we actually had to go home to get a map, but we are so glad we found it. It was really neat! It reminded us of fondue. You order a variety of items piece by piece. They serve it to you on a skewer raw and you get to dip it in the batter and cook it in the hot oil which is on your table. It was so good but we walked out of there smelling like everything we ate :) The following night we were treated to an amazing tepenyaki dinner. We felt like kings. We took a taxi to a restaurant by a river. When we pulled in the chef was waiting for us outside! When we walked in we were taken to the most beautiful room that we had all to ourselves. We ate so much food it was crazy. Some food that we did not want to eat but felt like we had too and some food that was delicious. Our meal was 7 or 8 courses! We had our own chef and 2 other waiters all for ourselves. Let's just say we had everything we needed and more! They all spoke English and taught us so much about Japan. It was the most amazing dinner we have ever had. DJ was so jealous he missed out! The next day we went to RoboSquare. Grampy and Tess had a fun time there! So as you can see their visit here was wonderful. We were so sad to see them go. It was so nice to have them here, but seeing them go just reminded me of how much I miss my family. Only 31/2 more months!!!

She didn't really like the water :(

The Girls

Grams, Gramps & Tess

The Dancing Dog Robot

Palo the Seal

Dino Robot

Grampy and Tessa looking out the window at dinner.

Our tepanyaki room

McDonald's Fun

Grammy and Grampy are here!!!

My parents have been here for a week now and we are having so much fun. My parents have never been here so there have been many things they have wanted to see and try. My Dad especially has been really interested in certain foods which has sent us on many adventures! So far this week we have walked around Fukuoka, seen the beach, went to Costco, rode on the bullet train, visited Hiroshima, gone to a baseball game , and visited Canal City (a big outdoor mall). We have been busy!

Along with all of our adventures we have tried different foods and have been to new places and have taken them to a few of our favorites. We have gone to Yakiniku (Korean BBQ), Hiroshima's famous Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza), visited a popular Ramen Noodle house, tried octopus balls (no not octopus balls...they are fried little hush puppy type things with pieces of octopus in them), and have had some great seafood. My dad even was brave enough to eat a Bento Box!!!
They are still here for one more week so we will see what else we do!!!

Tessa is ready to go on the train!


Taking the Shinkansen (Bullet Train)


Tessa is getting situated in her seat :)


Grampy with his Bento Box and Grammy with her McDonald's!


Mommy and Tessa in the museum at Hiroshima.


Hiroshima's Famous Okonomiyaki. It was yummy and the beer was ice cold!

Our Ramen

We all sit in our own Ramen cubbie so you can be one with your noodles.

Tessa is learning how to use chopsticks! Ha Ha

Grampy and his octopus balls.

Yakiniku

Daddy is showing Tessa the water fountain.


Daddy spoiled Tessa in the Disney Store:)

Tessa is giving Grammy loves!

We are ready to go!


Grampy and Tess playing

Nana and Papa

Even though Nana and Papa left a week ago I wanted to post the pictures from their visit. (I hadn't started this yet while they were here so I'm sorry for the delay)

Nana and Papa traveled with Tessa and I to help us get to Japan safely and smoothly. They were so much help... it was great! While they were here we went to a few baseball games, ate at a cool yakiniku restaurant (where you grill your own food... I will take pictures of it next time so you can see it), went to a museum, went on lots of walks, and saw the cherry blossom trees. They also helped us get settled in. We were busy!
We also got to celebrate Papa's birthday at the Hard Rock Cafe. They played a birthday song, sang and danced, and talked on the loud speaker to wish him a Happy Birthday! It was really funny. He also got a neat luggage tag with a picture of the two of them with Tessa in it. It was fun and we were glad we got to celebrate with him. (Too bad I didn't have my camera for that.)
Another cool thing is they got to see Tessa master the skill of rolling over and witness how excited she gets to watch the balloons at the ball game. We sure wish they were still here. Maybe they will get to visit us again! Thanks again for all of your help getting us over here and helping us pack and ship everything leading up to this long trip.

We love you and miss you!
xoxo




Nana and Tessa

Papa and Tessa

Nana helping Tessa drink from her sippie for the first time.