The first lockdown of the year

January started out pretty slowly.  Since I had to have the Christmas decorations up so early this year, I was really ready to start taking them down.  The first weekend was nice out, so I decided to start with the outside lights.  That ended up being a great decision, because a few days later, we got SNOW in Tokyo!  This was a first for us since arriving to the Mainland from Okinawa.  Wesley hadn't seen snow in over two years and of course Yoshi has never seen it! He doesn't seem to be impressed with his first experience.  Of course, that could have had something to do with the fact that Wesley wouldn't leave him alone long enough to decide if he enjoyed it or not.  All in all, I think we got just enough to cover the grass. 

Ben was excited enough for all of us I think!  He was even still out there later that night.

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Last year, Lilly participated in the Model UN conference for her high school.  She liked it so much that she decided to do it again.  This is the second year that the conference had to be held virtually.  Usually the students get to travel to another country to engage with the other participants -- maybe next year.  This is also the second time we had to follow the East Coast time zone schedule as well.  Since we are +14 hours ahead, most of the interaction was outside of normal school hours for her.  That didn't stop her from winning Best Delegate for her Committee!  Sadly the awards/closing ceremony started at 11pm on a Sunday night for us and didn't wrap up until close to 1am on Monday which was also an exam day for our students.  She accidentally fell asleep at the dinning room table studying for her exams and slept through the ceremony 😬.  She is a hard worker.  

The recent surge in Covid cases here in Japan has resulted in a 14 day "voluntary lockdown" where we aren't allowed to venture off base unless we are doing essential errands, like going to an off-base grocery store.  Thankfully we were able to hit up some of our favorite stores on the last day before the lockdown.  Lucy and I made a last run to Daiso and came upon this fun 2022 sign next to the train station.  She said she saw it at night and it lights up!  Fun!!  

Jim and I also ran over to Costco to stock up on some "lockdown essentials" and ended up bringing Wesley home a new bed.  Yoshi was a bit put out that he didn't score a new bed also.  

We also managed to squeeze in a date night in Tachikawa before the lockdown.  Jim had eaten at this incredible sushi place before Christmas and he decided to treat me.  The food just kept coming, plate after delicious plate.  Also the sake was never ending.  I am not sure I have had that much sake in one setting!  

Of course this lockdown is happening over the MLK weekend, so we had to cancel our plans to go skiing.  Ben is super unhappy about that.  So to make it up to him somewhat, we let him change the oil in the cars.  He said it wasn't quite as fun as snowboarding, but I also didn't have to suggest it twice.  He really enjoys tinkering around with the cars.

Another benefit of being forced to stay on base is that my neighbor was able to finish putting the legs on my metal card catalog drawers!!  I really love how they turned out 😍!

We also had time to reflect on the wishes we made for our family last year when we got our giant daruma doll - Bob.  Jim said that his wish definitely came true and he painted in the second eye.  Sadly the lockdown coincided with all the nearby festivals so we weren't able to get a new daruma.  Traditionally you are supposed to burn them once your have achieved your wish/goal.  But I can't bear the thought of burning Bob, so he will continue to greet our guests by the front door.

    

Another benefit of the lockdown - more play time with our friends!  We haven't been bowling in a couple of months so why not have a family bowl-off with a few other families!  And celebrate some birthdays with a few towers of beer while we are at it ... take that, lockdown!   

In addition to the family bowl night, we also were invited to participate in some family soccer games.  Kids versus the adults.  Both times the adults were victorious! Not sure if that was because the kids took it easy on us or if we beat them fair and square, but we are going with the latter.      

    

It hasn't all been fun and games however.  Several times, we've had to send a family member over to the covid tent as a close contact of someone who had tested positive.  All the kids had gotten their booster shot earlier in the month but it was only a matter of time before one of us also popped positive.  That lucky person was Lilly.  Thankfully she remain asymptomatic and only had to isolate in her room for 10 days.