Swan Park in Bloom

May is running away from me! It’s already Memorial Day weekend and I am writing about the first week of May…

So, while Robert was in California, on a “business” trip to a dental conference (i.e. visiting the Warners), I was back in Misawa, enjoying the cherry blossoms. Sakura blossoms is something that people look forward to each year. It’s a true guessing game though to catch it bloom at the perfect time. You could be a day too early and would still see lots of brown branches; or a day too late, and you will start noticing too many green leaves. This year, the weather was very non-cooperative with the cherry blossoms.  For two days prior the day when most of the American population was going to go to Hirosaki, famous cherry viewing place, we had very rainy, windy and just not so pleasant weather. Many still ventured out on Saturday, May 5th, last day of Hirosaki festival, and caught a glimpse of the last cherry blossoms.

I, on the other hand, was not brave enough to drive to Hirosaki on my own this year. I really was hoping to go to another fun park with thousands of cherry trees, called Ashino-koen (also 2.5 hour drive from home), but the weather kind of convinced me not to go. 

One thing we did do, sort of as a last minute decision, was our after-school trip to the Swan Park on Wednesday, May 2nd. Swan Park is only 30 minutes away from our house, so it was completely doable without Robert. I apologize that this post has so many pictures! We were lucky to see sakura here on the perfect day, right before the weather turned sour.

Since the big kids ran away from me the moment we got there “to play on their island”, I took lots of pictures of our Mark. Japanese playgrounds are sometimes quirky:)

A giant hippo head.

Mushrooms of various sizes to hop on.

“Let’s conserve space and make a slide right next to the stairs”. Yes, this is an actual slide.

Mark pretending to give me my “smoothie” at a “drive-through”.

True Japanese “cheese”.

Cherry blossoms+red lanterns=Japan.

Just a beautiful view.

All right, the kids came back, time to get some pictures of them too.

My beautiful Katya.

And my happy handsome Alex.

Courtesy of Katya, the photographer—in case you forgot what I look like these days.

And then I said, “Okay, everyone, go hide behind that bench, I want a picture with all three of you so we can send it to Tato”. Mark was the first one ready (doesn’t he look like he is about to pick his nose though?).

And this is the best I got…

Alex found a hidden new path to some skunk cabbage or something. It was beautiful….so calm…

After our walk, we came back to the park and tried to exercise:)

Really, they have these benches for stretches and strength exercises in many parks.

These are two of my favorite pictures ever.

Especially this one. I laughed so hard when I saw it on my computer. Mark has perfected his “pouty lip” look.

Oh…these two…

Then we walked over to the bigger lake part of the park, hoping to see some swans.

We did find one. And fed all our bread to him and the ducks.

This picture was taken during the three minutes that they were not running, chasing, squishing, teasing or torturing each other (in a friendly way this time).

I do love cherry blossom season… Glad we were able to see it in all its glory this year.

Good night, friends!