Friends from ??? .......... JAPAN!!!!

It is past time for an update! We all survived winter, tax season, and Spring Volleyball. Well, I should not say we survived winter yet because it snowed yesterday (May 1) but today felt like spring again.
We had a fun change of pace a few weeks ago. Tara was talking with a teacher at school who had served her mission in Japan. Since then she has kept in contact with a Japanese english teacher who arranges for families to come visit the States and the teacher from our school arranges a place to stay. So, Tara was visiting with the teacher and she mentioned she needed to find a place for a Japanese family who would be coming in about two weeks. Tara said we would be here and we would love to have them. The family was a mom, a seven year old daughter and a four year old boy - the dad stayed home to work.

Here is a picture of the girl, Kokoro.
Here is a picture of the boy, Ryota, playing with Ryan and Landon jumping off the window sill onto the beanbag.

Landon doing a flip.

Ryan doing a ....???

Ryota. This boy was such a tease and live wire! He was so wound up when he first arrived that it seemed like he was a top unwinding for about two hours.

Ami made a yummy Japanese meal before she left. It was good (no sushi)

Tara made an "Idaho Potato" apron for Ami. She loved it!

They were such a fun family - amazing how laid back and relaxed they were at our house considering the numerous potential hazards we have (rope bridge, tree house, hot fire place).

(Ryan and I took one for the team on the picture above!)

Kokoro loved this horse!! She would have loved to take it back in her suit case.

Kokoro was very flexible - the girls were amazed at this one!

This was taken within about 10 minutes of arrival at our house. Like I said, they fit right in and little Ryota loved doing this.

Two interesting observations: 1. They were amazed at the Dollar Store, Walmart and the oversized houses in America. 2. They were a little unnerved with all the open space.