Tweedles in Japan

This weekend we traveled to Osaka for B's first rugby tournament.  We decided to drive and just go for the day because B had a scrimmage day in Suzuka the next day.  It took us almost three hours to drive to Osaka. We didn't realize how big of a tournament it would be.  There were so many teams.  Each team has their own flag and they do an opening and closing ceremony.  The odd thing is that they aren't doing the ceremony toward bleachers or anything where the parents can watch.  I don't think most parents even tried to go. We knew B would not play in this tournament.  He is solidly on the 'B' team.  His language deficit is too huge to overcome at the moment, and he never really knows quite what he's supposed to be doing.  He loves playing though and tries his hardest all the time.  I think he'll get it figured out.  We've been watching World Cup Rugby on TV, and I think we'll bust out a few Youtube videos talking about ...

My parents arrived in Japan on Tuesday!  We were so excited!  We didn't allow them much time to get over their jet lag, though.  Husband had a four day weekend so we hustled them off to Kyoto!  I didn't take many pictures, because I was too busy posing for everyone else's camera.  This is a problem when I then go to make a blog post.  LOL.  Actually, now that I think about it somehow they must not have transferred correctly, because I'm missing pictures I know I took.  Hmm.   I guess I'll just explain the picture that are here.  Husband really wanted to go see the snow monkeys, so we did that first thing on Sunday.  It was a good climb up the mountain, but well worth the effort.  So cool!  The monkeys just hang out up there and wander where they want.  You aren't allowed to touch them, but they get really close to you. This monkey thought he'd like to show us the sights in Kyoto. You can pay 100 Yen...

Last weekend we went to Nara to see the famous deer.  They have been protected in the park for a very long time.  When you bow to them, they are trained to bow back and expect to receive a biscuit in return. It was a little on the early side when we arrived (meaning before 10am), so the park was fairly empty.  We meandered down to the lake, because G wanted to see the carp.  A friendly man came up and fed them and then shared his bread with us.  That was tons of fun until a deer came up wanting food too.  Deer are way more fun than carp!  The nice man gave us all of his food so we could feed the deer!!!! We didn't see any wild boar.  That would have been crazy. But there was quite a herd of deer nearby and the only other people around were a couple who clearly knew the deer and came all of the time.  We knew it was magical to have all the deer to feed, but we didn't realize exactly how magical.  The park really fills up...