Thursday, May 30, 2013

Happy Birthday Noah!!

I woke yesterday morning as my alarm was going off. 
In a morning haze of "make that dumb thing stop beeping" and figuring out I was no longer dreaming of a nice trip to Target.  I turned to Mike and said "You are an old man!"

His reply, "What?  That is rude for so early in the morning."

I then began to tell him that HIS son was turning 15 years old today.  Noah could not be my son because I still feel like I am 20-something.  No way am I old enough to have a child that is 15.  After a few minutes of talking and coming to terms with the fact that indeed I am old enough to have a 15 year old child.  I climbed out of bed and went to the kitchen to make banana bread and coffee for breakfast.

 


Dear Noah,

I really don't know how to put into words how proud I am of you.    You have grown into this amazing young man who has big dreams and goals for his life.  There have been times when you have made us all scratch our heads and wonder about you.  There have been times when I had to pray for grace in dealing with your "creative ideas".  I have spent many a night in prayer over you.  Many trips to the ER because of broken bones, cuts and your asthma.  But, you have made us laugh more times than not.  You have found an awesome way of finding the humor in everything.  Your "over the top" acting skills have even won you a fan club here in Japan.  I know that there is nothing in this world you can't do, if you put your mind to it.  Thanks for bring joy to our family!!

Love always and forever,
Mom



Mr. Adventure

11 years old

This is why we have had so many broken bones - crazy boy.

Caught a ball at the Springfield Cardinals game - 10 years old

13 years old - Noah fell in the mud!

Gone fishing - 11 years old

Noah and his Cello - 6th grade


14 years old

getting "in to" the photo shoot

Doing the Fan Dance at the summer festival last year.

Soda drinking contest - 2nd place


Buried Eli in the sand. 

Happy Birthday Noah!!


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Thank you Mister Ed!!

Today a Japanese friend gave us some horse meat.
He missed an appointment he had planned with Mike.
He wanted to say how sorry he was.
So he bought us some horse meat.
{thank you?}
 
Mike and I both were a little nervous about how to cook it and eat it.
So we went to google.
Come to find out, horse meat is very healthy for you.
High in protein and vitamins.
 
In Japan most people will eat it raw.
With a bowl of rice, a little ginger and some soy sauce.
If not raw, then pan seared with a little salt and pepper.
 
 
horse meat

soy sauce

ready to eat

Mikes supper tonight
rice, raw horse, omu rice* and toast

Noah having a little horse

his face says it all

Mike ready for some horse
(please pay no attention to the towels
hanging in the back . . . . it's rainy season)

yum

Eli giving it a try


Jonah's turn


pan seared meat

me giving it a try
not too bad!

Over all it was not that bad. 
It was very tender and had a good flavor. 
Mike and the boys said they would eat it again cooked 
 . . . . but not raw.
 
**Omu rice.  It is a family favorite. 
 It's fried rice inside an omelet. 
 Sometimes we add toast to go on the side. 
The kids love it! 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

More river fun

While looking through these pictures today I had to ask myself....
 
Where have all my babies gone?
These kids are looking so grown up!!


 
Noah - 15 next week
 
 
Rachal - 13
 

Jonah - 11
 
 

Eli - 8

Mike and the boys had a great time looking for fish, snails,
crabs and worms in the river.


 
 






 

 

 



Rachal and I were just happy to be walking around the cool water.
We didn't want to think about what was swimming with us!

 

 

 

 


 

 





I promise I will not post pictures
every time we go to the river this summer!