The Stevenson Ohana

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Japan- ONE YEAR!

Today marks one year of international living in Japan!

It has been the very best and the hardest.

It has gone by so fast and so slow!

So much has happened this year. . .

I feel like a whole different person now than I did getting on that airplane one year ago. I have so many things I wanted to write and experiences and struggles to express with life abroad but all that really comes to mind when I sit down to type is gratitude, and wasabi.

We have made the very best friends here in Japan and love our church ward family. Riley started his career and loves his job and coworkers at Nike. I went through my whole pregnancy not speaking any Japanese and gave birth here in Tokyo. Becoming a mom has been the highlight of my life!

This year has had so many ups and downs and I'm so grateful for the experiences and growth that has come with life out of the comfort zone. I love the little home we have made and the simplicity of life here. We don't have any plans of moving anytime soon. Just wanted to document this accomplishment & express gratitude.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Saturday in September

Sep. 9, 2017-

We had a lazy Saturday morning together at home and then decided the weather was too good to be inside. We packed up a lunch and walked over to the park by our house for a picnic. The weather was perfect, not too humid. Luke also loves being outdoors, he just watches everything around him and plays with Dad.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Magical Weekends

In August, we went to a really neat museum. It had a special Disney exhibit at the time with original work and drawings with makings of all the classical movies. We weren't allowed to photograph inside, but they also had a magical "Tangled" room with floating lanterns that we could! It was such a neat place. We spent the rest of the weekend at home watching Pocahontas and singing disney songs. I cant wait until Luke is a little older to start watching all the movies and fall in love with the magic of Disney all over again.

Another magical weekend, we splurged and got a Frozen S'more and Watermelon Sandwiches from Dominque Ansel's Bakery. The S'more is made from Tahitian vanilla icecream covered in chocolate flakes and then enrobed in honey marshmallow. When you order they put on a wooden branch and torch it. It was a fun date, too bad I can't taste haha.

Also... had to put this picture in! This is normally how we spend our weekends. Luke and Riley listening to music and playing around.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

hakone day

Sept. 2, 2017: We went out with some friends to Hakone, Japan. It was such a great day! Hakone is a little mountain town outside Tokyo with a lake. We took a cruise around the lake and a ropeway up and enjoyed the views and walked around.

We love the Starks Family, they invited us to join them on this adventure. Carissa is one of my most favorite friends in Japan. She had a baby in Japan too and just has been here for me through the ups and downs of international living. They are such a fun family. Today was one of the best days in Japan.