Yamada Bokujo...

Last year just before we returned to the states, we visited the Yamada's dairy farm and had a wonderful time with the family. This year, we had the honor of joining them for 4 days over the New Years holiday; the PERFECT start to what looks to be a wonderful year...

They settled us into our own warm tatami room...

The first night the Yamadas threw a New Years Eve party.

We had delicious nabe and sukiyaki and enjoyed the good company.

Ray with Mrs. Yamada.

NEW YEARS DAY!!!

1/1/2011

The farm staff, warming up with a hot cuppa before heading out to milk...

Sophie is introduced to the "nekos" or cats...

Relaxing with his boy and a warm cup of cocoa... Why do I have the feeling I'm being watched?

Their first walk in the snow!!

Ostriches!!

Help meh, I cant see!!

Walking in a winter wonderland! This is New Year's Day, and the babes' FIRST SNOWFALL!!

New Years Day is notorious for it's mail delivery system. Like Christmas in America, people send cards to everyone they know. But on New Years Day, NOTHING stops those cards from getting delivered, and it takes a huge force of delivery staff and volunteers to make it happen. Despite the snow, this high schooler is out on his bicycle, in the blizzard, delivering New Years cheer to the country folk!!

Hanging out while Papa's helping with the milking...

We're BOTH crawling now!!

Climbing on ANYTHING and everything...

Morning milking...

The crew from above...

At the Yamadas for breakfast. They have 4 lovely daughters, all of whom live at home currently, and one son who lives in Tokyo. Rinko Yamada is one of the Lakestars team trainers (seen holding Sol).

Mrs. Yamada. A truly delightful soul...

The dairy store, sleeping quarters and barns...

Ray, hard at work...

My little pony...

Both helping out- such FUN work!!- while the babes sleep...

New Years Day lunch: all foods eaten have meaning, traditionally. Some are eaten to purpose longevity, others for health and prosperity. The shrimp for example is eaten so that you will have long life, and not a bent back like the shrimp has...

Family...

This is white miso soup, a traditional food for this area, with added mochi...

This photo melts my heart. This is Yamada san with Sol. Mr. Yamada is one of those men you just honor and respect upon meeting him. He is very quiet, and an incredibly hard worker, operating the dairy nearly by himself. Sol was playing next to him and Mr. Yamada picked him up and began playing with him. You can see this man's incredible love by the way he interacted with all the living creatures around him, including our children...

The babes really took to the sheets of nori. They were devouring them like candy! No denying they were born in Japan!

While the babes took their afternoon snooze, Ray and I got out in the snow to frolic in the wonderful sunshine...

Can you guess whose is whose??

Handsome man...

Entrance to Yamada Boka Ju...

The wild boars that they trapped and plan to eat. I think the little fellas are rather cute...

One of my favorite things about snowfalls comes from my childhood. Mom would take us walking and help us study the tracks of different animals in the snow. I still love doing this to this day...

Maybe a squirrel?

Birdie tracks...

Baby calves... I love the white diamonds on their foreheads...

Our goat friend...

Little bird...

FOOD!!!

Another meal with the family, New Years Day 2011...

Box of cats... LOVE these hilarious barn cats! They huddle together to keep warm...

1/2/11

This is the first birth I have witnessed (aside from my own two babes). So many of the mother cows are calving right now. When we had first arrived the farm, we stepped right into a mother trying to give birth, but after an hour of pulling on the baby, it wouldnt come out. They had to call a vet to come perform a c-section, but all said and done, they lost both mom and calf. After seeing that, I didn't know what to expect. But this delivery didn't take more than 5 minutes! A healthy baby calf!! (sorry if any of the photos are too much to look at- I find it all fascinating!!)

The bag of liquid hanging out is the sac full of amniotic fluid. They tie a rope around the calf's front legs and pull to help the calf come out.

Saying goodbye to our dear friend Kazuko. She is an incredible person and a very strong woman. She is the farm manager and astonishes me with her phenomenal work ethic and love for what she does...

Such an INCREDIBLE family!!! (so sad, missing Rinko from this photo...). Thank you Yamadas for your kindness and incredible hospitality. It speaks such love...

A very Nabe New Year!

On the 28th, the Yasuda family invited us over to their side of the lake for a very special Nabe dinner, and an overnight at their house. Nabe is a traditional "hot pot" style meal of meat and veggies that is served during the cold months, and served family style from the middle of the table. It is DELICIOUS!! They invited many of their friends, as well as the Marshalls and Shinya, Ray's teammates (sorry, no "non-blurry" photos!!!).

The lovely Angie with Sophia....

The Yasudas treated Ray to a late birthday present: they set him up with a full fishing kit- rod, reel, line and tackle!! Taka Yasuda then took him fishing the next day on the lake!!

Our little man is getting to be pretty attached to 'ol Mama. This is his new favorite position, head on chest. It doesn't bother me a bit... I know this won't last long and I'll soak up every bit of it while I can!!

After dinner we headed back to their house and headed to bed. The next day the guys went fishing, while Angie and I and the babes relaxed. The little ones were especially in awe over their first Christmas tree!!

And who could resist donning the Lakestars hat on these two cute little noggins??

Thank you Angie and family, for EVERYTHING!!

Getting ready for the cow farm...

I let Papa do the feeding, and things get a little wacky...

She didn't want to be fed by spoon...

Instead, she'd take the spoon, and then continue down to the bowl and begin eating like out of a trough!!

...and she still wanted more!!! :)

We've got a stander!!

He's up on two feet and LOVIN' it!!

Little Man and Papa...

Ray's 27th SURPRISE!!

I went ahead and did it: I planned Ray's first surprise party ever, to try and make his day extra special, and it was a success, with the help of many good friends....

Ray's point guard, Fujiwara, and his family...

Dear friend Jill and I...

The Lake Stars happened to be playing a new expansion team, the Akita Happinets at home this same weekend, which is coached by Ray's coach of the past two years! Coach Pierce stopped in to say hello to make the night very special for Ray...

Lovely friend Angie...

All the ladies...

And the gents...

I'm so happy you were celebrated this night, Ray!!! You are one SPECIAL man!!! I LOVE YOU!

9 months!

Solomon Levi, 9 months:

Well, this little man is a mover and shaker. He's crawling- fast now- army style, but is able to pull himself up on everything and anything. He's definitely comfortable on his knees and feet, and we envision a walker here soon.

He's a funny guy too, already playing games with us. His favorite is burying his face- open mouthed- into our face, and waiting for us to do the same to him in return, which throws him into a fit of giggles. He LOVES to make Sophie laugh, most often at bedtime when he manages to find his way to her side of the crib. All we hear is laughing coming from the other room...

He also is VERY attached to Mama. He will follow me all around the house, and is usually content to just have a hand on my leg.

HAPPY 9 MONTHS LITTLE MAN!!!