Hi, everyone!
In our last week in Bangkok, I was busy saying goodbye to my Thai friends, like my Chinese New Years dragon friend at Siam Paragon mall. On Saturday, after we got our suitcases packed, Grandma and Grandpa took me to the park down the street from the nursing dorm so I could play on the playground before we left. The park is very pretty! It stretches all the way from Bangkhunnon Road to the canal and has lots of trees. On our way to the airport, we stopped for dinner at Methavalai restaurant. I got to sit right by the window, so I could see the Democracy monument! After that, we went right to the airport and checked in for the flight to Tokyo.
It was already Sunday morning when we got to Tokyo. We took the trains to Haruhino and Bill-kun and Karin-chan’s daddy picked us up at the station. March 3 is Girls Festival, so we had a special dinner in honor of Karin-chan. On Monday, after school, I helped Karin-chan and Bill-kun build a stuffed animal roadblock around Grandpa’s favorite reading chair on the stair landing. Wednesday, Grandma and Grandpa took me for a walk on the Tama-Yokoyama Walking Path. It was a very clear, sunny morning and we could see Mt. Fuji from the overlook on the trail. The path is a very pretty place and very easy to get to from Bill-kun and Karin-chan’s house. On Thursday, I said goodbye to all of my Japanese family before Bill-kun and Karin-chan went to school. Grandma and Grandpa and I took the trains back to the Narita airport in time for lunch at the United Club lounge. We had maki rolls, vegetable soup and tiramisu!
The flight from Tokyo to Washington DC is very long and I had a good nap. It was still Thursday when we got there because we crossed the International Dateline going east! I was happy to get back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, even though there was still snow on the ground. And then guess what? Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara and James arrived the very next afternoon to spend the weekend! On Saturday, Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara took baby Annie’s parents out to dinner, along with James and baby Annie. On Sunday morning, James was baptized at Grandma and Grandpa’s church. That means Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara made a promise to raise him as a follower of Jesus and everybody agreed to help them. My friends Nancy-san and Averil-san made cakes to celebrate at church after the service, and then Nancy-san and Joe-san and Moose-san and all of Aunt Kara’s family came for lunch.
On Monday, Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara took James back to Arlington. Before they went, James and I had a crawl together. James can get wherever he wants now. He can even crawl down one step! I wonder what new things he’ll learn before the next time he visits?
Love,
Lion-san
We had fun last Sunday. It was a fun time at church with first James baptism, then all the things for Grandma and her celebration. I’m sure you heard all about it between what Grandma , Grandpa, Uncle Steven, Aunt Kara and Aunt Kara’s family said and what Moose-san told you! The lunch was really good.