uncle nate walks!

Congratulations to Uncle Nate! He graduated today from the University of Little Rock. Keep your ears and eyes open for his documenting, reporting and general awesomeness!

Workin' hard amidst Occupy Protestors

In case you were curious, we purchased a Kammok as his graduation gift. No better gift for an outdoorsy, earth and human respecting adventure guy who needs to take a load off! Buy a Kammok today!

home again

Hello Texas! It was nice to see you.

good bye Grandpa

Rest in sweet peace Grandpa Willett

We have a bit more somber news. We are surely hoping our blog and life events start to look up after this weeks end. Today, in the states, our family lays to rest one amazing man. He was your more than average model citizen who could dance a jig and talk on Skype at 99 years old. He is even asking to the last minute for donations to the Salvation Army. It's never fun to be away for these moments and we wish so much that we could be with our family at this time. If you are out there reading this, please say a prayer or send your good vibes in the direction of Tama, Iowa. There are many people there today who would love to feel your warmth.

We'll miss you Grandpa Walter!

minnie and jaco

RIP Minnie and Jaco; watching from the window, their favorite spot.

There have been a few times during the last two years that living abroad has felt unbearable. There was the loneliness we felt during our first holiday season, the passing of Grandma Reixinger, the weddings of three amazing friends Adam, Lindsey & Nikki, and the birth of our best friends Adam & Lindsey's daughter Penny. Luckily most of the moments missed have been great ones, but recently that is not the case. Our love goes out to Momma & Papa Willett - and Jason - and Erica, because we know the sadness you must be feeling, as we feel it too.

baby, oh baby

Here is a crazy plot twist for you, dear readers. Looks like we will be doing our part to add to our already amazing family, because I am now definitely pregnant!

Of all the things we could have brought back from Japan. . .

FYI the due date is October 2, 2010.

Since we have a few reader's I really wanted to let you all in on this amazing project our friend Clayton is beginning.

In May after graduating from medical school he will leave on a cross country bicycle & mountaineering fundraising tour. The purpose: to raise awareness and funds for The Modern Women's Clinic and Research Center in Pampram, Gauna. His journey will take him from North Little Rock, Arkansas to the Redwood Forest in California, a 5 month, 3,000 mile journey. After which, he will move to west Africa to join the team at the clinic!

Take some time to get familiar with the program, and maybe donate if you can!! Every little bit helps!

Clayton on a mountain.

Dr. Frank Addo - founder - in front of the clinic.

Visit Clayton's Website & Blog here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, we look forward to keeping you updated on his progress!.

it's all happening

Congratulations to our dear friends Sean & Alanna on their engagement! We can't wait for the wedding, but mostly we can't wait for a life-time of married couple memories.

In their beloved Mexico.

missing this - the family farm

In loving memory of Grandma Audrey P. Riexinger 1930-2010

{The family farm in Buffalo Prairie, IL}

current happenings

Communication is a crazy thing. Even the great Led Zeppelin understands this. We are fairly social people, so it's a tad bit weird when I realize that I have gone an entire day with saying three words...that aren't even English. Sumimasen & Arigato Gozaimasu, and Hai. Excuse me, thank you, and yes.

When we first arrived we were all gung-ho on Rossetta Stone, and language books. Then, life started and we found our selves backing off while we got used to other things. I mean, it's hard enough learning how to not piss-off our new neighbors with what we are learning is the abrupt American way. Now we have to add a new language into it? So, safe to say concentration on the language has fallen to the wayside. Our free Japanese lessons came to an end quick-while minor, they did make a nice impact. Learning how to introduce ourselves, ask the time, count, learning what to say when we enter/exit. . .say "this is my cat", even though we don't own a cat. There was also a very lengthily conversation where we tried to explain the difference between saying, "I like a lot of coffee." and, "I like coffee a lot." Which I still don't understand the confusion over. Japanese is a fairly simple language but one word can mean up to 4 different things. That was the last class we had and we often wonder if our sensei ever really understood. Which brings up the other thing we do 40 times a day-"Smile and Nod" it's the universal sign for "I don't know what the F you are talking about." (sorry about the implied curse word dad).

Then, there is the art of communicating with those back home. Not only do we have to learn new communication skills that come with moving to a foreign country, but we also have to learn how to stay in touch with those we left behind. When we lived in Texas I never thought much about communicating with friends and family. Everyone was a call button away. Instant gratification and instant plans. Now though it all happens through a little miracle named Skype. While amazing, life is now about scheduling dates with those we love. And, with the time change and real life there is always the threat of being stood up. We call them Skype dates. Still, we are lucky that so many friends are keeping in touch with us, not to mention we talk to our parents more now then when we lived in Texas.

our minds are back in texas

There are 2 kinds of helicopter rides. There is the one where you are soaring high above the islands of Hawaii, looking down on flowing lava and waterfalls and unremarkable green mountains and trees. Then, there is the other one, the not so fun one. It's usually bright orange, and holds up traffic on a 6 lane highway. Well, my(jewell's mom) had to take a ride in one of those and we are stuck here in Japan while she and my grandma are stuck in a hospital.

I'll spare you the injury details, but it was a car accident and they are both on the mend now thanks to fast medical help and said helicopter ride. But, these are two women who don't like to sit around for awhile. My mom is a runner and my grandma well, she loves to do. She would rather be up helping people. So, recovery will be hard not only because of the rehabilitation's, but due mostly to the fact they can't be themselves to the fullest.

We just keep sending our love, because unfortunately thats all we can do, along with flowers and care packages of course. Which, mom if you are reading this-yes, one is on the way! Brandon and I just want to thank everyone who has helped our family, as well as those who have sent their love and continue to check up on us and mom and nana!

mom and nana are catholic, so this picture is for them.

sweet treat

No, this post isn't about candy. . .although it very well could be with the insane amount of sweet shops there are here. It's crazy, we will definitely have to show you sometime.

Just wanted to tell everyone how much fun we had when we got a call from this guy last night!

This was when we had to put the ear muffs on as dad described his "Ghost Burger" experience. For those of you that don't know, San Antonio has many claims to fame. The newest and most intense one is the "ghost Burger". It's a burger that has, yes, a Ghost Pepper on it, which if you google you will find out it is like 10,000 peppers on on the heat chart or something like that. The ear muffs were definitely necessary.

Then we bored him to death. . .

Well, that was fun.

a new friend

She's arrived! We have a new little nugget of cuteness to buy presents for and hug and squeeze, and most definitely make awkward. We want to congratulate our very, very great friends on their new baby girl! Charley was born Thursday, September 24, and from the looks of it, is very happy and healthy. We are so excited for Ben and Andie, we only wish we could have been there to bring the obnoxious "It's a Girl" balloon! We can't wait to return and share in the joy that I am sure Charley is and will become.

*due to the fact that Ben & Andie don't use any social networking sites we're going to assume they don't really want any pictures of their little lady on the intraweb quite yet, sorry. But, trust me...she's CUTE!!!

current happenings

It's official. The hotel rooms are getting booked, the maps are getting highlighted, the research is beginning!

Rick & Sue are coming to visit! For those of you who don't know, Rick & Sue are Brandon's parents, and they are taking their first adventure outside the United States! It means so much to us that they would fore-go their beloved trips to Disney World and Hawaii and try something new. All be it, they have the bonus of seeing their lovely children, but still. They are coming! And have you know, they still get a little Disney; Disney Tokyo is on the itinerary!

if you have 7 min and 41 seconds

Follow our friend's adventures as he works his ass off, maybe literally, to become the next best comic. If I have anything to say about it, he will totally make it. See, he is so freaking awesome as a person. Not afraid to be humbled, and funny as hell. The last time we hung out with him I burnt 1,000 calories just from laughing.

check our Sean's Blog or a quick clip on You Tube.

Good luck to him on his big move to the city of angels!

little things

The thing is, any little thing from the states is going to send us into a frenzy of happiness. Even if it's something we mailed to ourselves. So much has happened in the last two weeks that we don't even remember what is inside, making this a delightful adventure of unpacking not just a box, but a present to ourselves!

Well, I know it's not this...so lets go find out.