The kids are rocking school!

Both boys not only came home with the high grades for the quarter, but they are both getting awards! Will is getting a Commander's Award (all A's) and Principal's Honor Roll award. We will go to his awards assembly Friday (because we don't have enough going on that day with Rodney's promotion!). Xan has been selected as the Student of the Month for Respect. He was a special lunch Monday so Peggy, Jill and I will be going to that. Rodney and I are very proud of the boys, especially since it has been such a year of transition for them.

Daiso shopping and sushi...

Today was a "free" day and Jill wanted to go shopping. So, I took her and Peggy to one of the Daisos in town, as well as You Me Town, which is kind of like a Super Target. We ate sushi for lunch... the first time Peggy has eaten it!

Peggy liked everything but that shrimp roll on her plate. It had spicy wasabe hidden under it... not my favorite food, either.

Jill was thrilled to eat sushi in Japan... and loved the "sushi-go-round" conveyor belt.

Peggy also practiced putting Rodney's new chevrons on his collar for the promotion ceremony Friday, with Jill's assistance. I'll be putting them on the other side of his collar.

The boys on TV

Will and Xan were featured on the local MCAS Iwakuni TV station, which was covering their karate class. Here is the 1-minute segment:

Karate segment

Peg and Jill are here!

Grandma Peggy and Aunt Jill arrived at about 9:30 p.m. JST yesterday (Tuesday). The Japanese made fun of Peg's "big" suitcase and Jill and Peg said that they were the only ones wearing colors at the Tokyo airport... everyone else there wore dark suits.

Be sure to check out my public blog for a video of us at the new Iwakuni airport: http://jessicaguthrie.blogspot.com/2013/01/checking-out-new-iwakuni-airport.html

While the kids were at school, I showed Peg and Jill around the base, pointing out the important landmarks. I got a stern lecture at the commissary that the two non-SOFA status people (Peg and Jill) are not only not allowed to buy anything in the commissary n(which I understand), but they could not even touch any of the merchandise. Wow. The only reason they are allowed in the store is because it is a courtesy so they do not have to sit out in the cold car. How nice.

After we picked up the kids from school, we headed to Fuji Grand downtown to show off one of our favorite shopping (and arcade) spots.

And, of course, it is Wednesday, which means Mongolian Barbecue night at Club Iwakuni! None of us guessed the right dollar amount. :(

Snowflakes and interviews...

We've been pretty busy this week.... the boys have had karate and enjoyed watching a serious snowfall here. However, none of the snow stuck. Not sure if you can see the big flakes in this photo, but here it is:

Rodney got official word that he will be promoted Feb. 1. It's a good thing, too, since Peggy and Jill are flying out here Tuesday! Looking forward to seeing them!

I have taught three scrapbooking classes this week. The last one was last night, a free event the library sponsored. The base radio station interviewed me. You can hear the radio interview and see more photos by clicking here.

Bonfires and jackpots...

Sunday the Guthries enjoyed some Japanese traditional with a bonfire. To read about that experience, please visit my public blog. But here are some more photos that didn't make it on to that post:

Walking to the festivity tents. It was sprinkling, but we braved it!

Will and Xan with Mikalynne, who is Rodney's boss' daughter.

I don;t know if you can see it will, but there is steam coming out of the bent bamboo pole. It was kind of eerie looking.

The boys and Mikalynne watching the blaze (from a safe distance).

On Saturday we ran errands out in town, one of them being a trip to the 7-story department stoe Fuji Grand. Of course, the kids had to play in the arcade. They should have bought lottery tickets that day because they hit three different jackpots which earned them two purses, Pringles,candy galore, and a stuffed bear... whose legs fell off after a couple of hours. I had to sew them back on to keep Xan from bursting in to tears... I felt a little like Mila Kunis in "Ted."

New Years Eve... waiting for 2013!

We celebrated New Years Eve at our friends', the Hooten's, house on base. It was a low-key, but fun evening playing games and waiting for midnight. The Japanese don't drop a ball on TV, but they did have a countdown show. There was a lot of singing and dancing, as you can see by the screenshots below, and we couldn't understand a word that was said, but the countdown clock was all we needed!

But there was some English on one station my friend, Rachel, watched:

The kids were a little wired on soda by the time midnight rolled around, but they had glass champagne flutes with sparkling grape juice to celebrate. And, they were pretty enthusiastic in their celebration...

Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful, happy and prosperous 2013!