Ueno Zoo

We decided to visit the Ueno Zoo in Ueno Park, which has been on our "Must Do" list for a while now. We took the train and Sophie was a big hit, as per usual. She's a ham, and cute to boot. One woman asked to take her picture. Sophie gladly got her cheeseface on and I appreciated that the woman asked me. It was pretty inexpensive to visit (600 yen per adult, and kids up to 12 are free!) so there were a lot of really cute small children in their uniforms and matching hats. There was even a blanket in one section of the zoo for a class nap. All the children's shoes were surrounding the 20 or so laying down. It was very sweet. I desperately wanted to join them, but Jim had to go to work. And that I'm not a Japanese child. That would have been awkward perhaps.

Fancy turkey, who, for the record, shook exactly what his momma gave him:








































Giant Panda Exhibit


































































































This very beautiful Shrine was a gift from Taiwan I think.


















Rawr. That's hello in Tiger.
































The sign for the girls bathroom.


















































































What is it about baby anything = cute?














I'm SURE they sell wrinkle cream SOMEWHERE in Tokyo.
































Pygmy hippo!














The giraffe was eating the shrub outside of its enclosure.














Heh.










































Cool baobab tree, with lemurs on the bridge




























This is close to where we saw the class napping.

Mini update

So we've been back in Tokyo for almost a week now. Things here are pretty much back to business as usual. We're keeping up with the radiation readings around town (readings are low, even after it rains) and the nuclear reactor situation. Aftershocks are happening a few times daily, but they still send me into shock when I feel them. (Sometimes to my [happy] surprise, I look at the list and realize after the fact that there was one and that I didn't even feel it. I like when that happens!) I really dislike that Jim has to work so much. Last time when we had to evacuate, Jim's parents were here to assist. It was truly a blessing that they came when they did. Here are a few leftover pictures of The Soph from our enjoyable time in Michigan, as well as some taken this last week. We'd like to thank the Grandmas and Grandpas for letting us stay at your homes and eat your food for as long as we did. We know it was a lot to ask with an almost 2 1/2 year-old, and thank you for utilizing that time positively to bond with Sophie. I know she enjoyed her time with you (because she talks about it every day!), as did I. This is definitely the most difficult part of being on tour and I'm glad you took the opportunity to build your relationships with Sophie.

Flying her ladybug kite
(PS the colors were not changed at all in this one.)


















In the meadow in Mt. Pleasant, obsessed with the flowers














Sunglasses on her head, just like me, taken by Shinjuku Station Friday afternoon


















In our apartment, we're having some breakthroughs with potty training (she consciously went two times!!!) However, sometimes we see her naked baby butt with the potty chair on her head, and are forced to get out the camera. I'll take my mommy of the year award now, thank you.




































Sophie's first manicure this morning:


















What color do you want? Pink? Again?














Smoothies for a bedtime snack. This girl is addicted to fruit! This pic was taken tonight after she drank TWO full-glass smoothies.