It's been a month!

Remember I told you about Lake Towada? Well, here are a couple photos from that trip. Alex and Katya commandeered an alligator from another family. Katya's in the oversized life vest in the one photo and Alex is the pink dot on the allligator in the other photo.

Vending machines. Who doesn't love vending machines, like when you've got a craving for some chocolate or a hankering for some chips, or perhaps you just need a helicopter. I've noticed you can get just about anything from a vending machine. At the mall there is a vending machine with ramen noodles and yakisoba! Complete with chopsticks.

Here's just a random picture of a garbage truck driving on the wrong side of the road in Misawa. It sort of gives you a glimpse of the city streets as we see them. I probably shouldn't put the picture on the right in because it's not oriented correctly. No, the japanese do not post road signs on their sides. For some reason it uploaded like this even though it was saved correctly. Anyway, these blue signs are all over the place on the main roads. They are a welcome sight for lost Americans because they are in English too. These signs weren't always present. They came as a result of lots of feedback from Americans living in Japan who needed help finding their way around.

Okay, a few more fun photos. So you know how the family looks now,

Here's happy Mark. Everyone (even strangers) tell us he is the happiest kid they've ever seen.

Here's playful Katya in a balloon cage. At the mall in Hachinohe is this play area which inludes this cages of balloons being blown around by fans.

Here is my beautiful wife. I'm sure you would agree. (PS Katya took the photo)

And of course Alex. Always teasing.

Well, that's it. Apparently there were no good photos of me, but I'm sure you'll all be better off not seeing any of those anyway.

Till next time,

konbanwa

Robert