Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016 Year in Review


2016 has been another year of big changes and adventures! The beginning of the year held so many unknowns and hard decisions for us. It is now a tender mercy to see how everything has played out and where life has taken us. 

Here is the highlight reel & review of 2016:

We spent 7 months of this year living in our temple view apartment in Hawaii. 
During those months we. . . 

Nearly died from free-diving with fourteen sharks.


Had the best crew and spent hours bowling, body-surfing, passing the football and just being together playing games and talking. 



We also collected a lot of seashells and hiked endless trails and saw lots of good waterfalls. We loved our trail runs this year.


Riley finished 1.5 semesters this year and graduated with a Degree in Business Management. Class of 2016.

Riley signed an official job offer for Nike Japan and the visa process commenced and waiting game. . . 


We moved to Idaho with parents for a few month... and actually loved every minute! Lots of BBQs, raspberry shakes, Paper Cottage bonding, and family adventures. 



Took roadtrips to Pinetop, Bearlake, New Plymouth, Utah (multiple time) & all over Oregon during our months on the mainland. 


And if you do the math we maybe conceived a baby while in Oregon too. . . 


 We found out we were pregnant days before moving to a foreign county...

 Moved to Tokyo and signed an apartment with a two years commitment....

 Riley started his career at Nike Inc. and spends his days working and weekends playing. During our free time we explore this new country--trying new food and finding new fun places. 

 2016 has been a year to remember! Our little ohana moved from one hawaiian island to a whole new island across the pacific in Asia this year. This big move has brought so much change and adjustment. We are grateful for the adventures and memories we have had along the way and the lessons we are continually learning. We can feel ourselves growing inward (and me outward too. . . ) with change and are excited for another year and a new edition to our little family!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Christmas 2016

We spend this year's Christmas in Tokyo, it was just the two of us together! 
We had a paper-tree hung on our wall with care and spent the day at church and had a great ham dinner with Bishop Mendoza's family and the missionaries. It was a great day celebrating our Savior and enjoying good company and presents.

This year it has been very neat to be pregnant during the Christmas season. It has made me reflect on Mary expecting Jesus and that journey to Bethlehem and giving birth in a stable. It makes me love Mary more and also our Savior who carries, labors, and delivers each of us. 

We are excited for our own little babe coming in May. 
The last Christmas of  "SILENT" nights is over! 



yomiuri land lights


We had a great Christmas Eve! We went to an amusement park all decked out in lights. It was magical walking around, the only thing missing was good Christmas music. 







Sunday, December 18, 2016

週末 = WEEKEND!


Everyday we seem to be counting down until the weekend! We love the break and just being together and NO WORK for Riley. Last weekend we were out of commission with the flu- so we made up for it this weekend and had especially fun.

Swan-floating at our local park, Odaiba exploring and Ferris Wheel with the Andrus Family & Sushi. 


Riley's eyes may or may not be closed... 



We found malasads!! Not quite as good as Hawaii though :)

Ice Cream Trip- Baby Boy on the Way! 


Cat Cafe. (Sit on the floor and eat food with a bunch of cats...yah, not going back)


Mt. Fuji in the back. From the Ferris Wheel

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Our Tokyo.

What in the heck?? Bum Sniffers. . . 

I take pictures of my favorite food lately.... 

Care Package from Kaylee! I love you!!

 Winter flu had us like this for almost a week. . . 
 Christmas Season!

  Flea Market with my homies.




 Pictures of our park close by our apartment! 








 Our "Old Road" Hiking Adventure