Mother's Day

Jesse planned a really great Mother's Day treat in Hiroshima. We took the train downtown and went to a beer fest. It was kind of small and super expensive, but totally worth it. Japan isn't known for good beer; micro brewing was illegal until fairly recently, so most of their beer tastes like stale natty light. The festival had beer from all over to world so I was able to enjoy $12 stouts all afternoon :)

May Goodies

The Spring weather in Iwakuni has been amazing and Fletcher is definitely loving it. Shorts, flip flops, and beach days have been regular occurrences for us recently. 

We also found this really neat park. There are a few like this near us and they're so much fun. Japanese safety standards are something we're still getting used to :) 

 

There's a 'famous' restaurant in Iwakuni called The Chicken Shack.  I don't think the food is especially great, but the atmosphere is really neat. The flags they're flying below are giant carp fish and they're in celebration of Boys Day. Carp are known for being very strong fish, always fighting the current, so on Boys Day you're supposed to display carp flags, a different color for each member of your family. 

Fletcher has been loving playing outside and exploring. He loves to ride his trike to the neighborhood park, eat ice cream and chalk, and dig in the flower beds. 

                                                         

Sera Tulip Farm

Japan is very serious about its flowers.  There are several national holidays throughout the year that are in celebration of various flowers, and there are many farms and festivals where you can view and buy flowers.  Fletcher and I drove to Sera one day, about an hour and a half away, to view the tulips.  I really wanted to go but Jesse's work schedule never quite aligned for us to go as a family.  It was amazing.  The farm was huge, and they had areas for each color of tulip.  It was a gorgeous day and a perfect afternoon trip.  The pictures really don't do it justice.  

On the way back home, I saw a sign for a park.  You never really know what you're going to get when you follow English signs, but it was a GREAT surprise.  The park had a huge grassy area where you could frolic and picnic, as well as a train, small amusement park rides, and what I can only describe as an outdoor children's museum.  I'm excited to go back again when Fletcher can run and climb.