Hello Yokota, Ready or Not

Week One. Boy, what a change from Everett, Washington. I blinked and we are living a life not previously visited since 2004! Talk about culture shock. Perhaps more so than simply living in a different country, is the fact that we are back on a military base, living the military life style. Brown roofs and beige walls . . . and come to think of it, the grass (asleep for the winter) even matches this color scheme. Hmmm . . . .spring will be nice.
Since we landed and have managed to purchase a little van that seats eight (score!)AND is GREEN (double score!)! We purchased cell phones, and as of tomorrow, we'll be moving into our new home. Three good things about this are: 1) the house backs up to the locally famous street lined with cherry trees, 2) we can get our pets out of the kennel, and 3) it's on a corner which means more outside space. Then it's kind of a waiting game for our stuff to arrive. Genna's Big Mickey is highly anticipated!
We have managed a few trips off base. Gabe has used a Japanese style toilet (go Gabe!) and Genna has discovered the joy of the escalator. She. Loves. Them. Need more be said? Not only that, she insists she must do it by herself. SCARY. Need more be said? Plus, they are right at the entrance to the commissary! A perfect location for an independent two year old to pass by on a regular basis! I'm hoping her love affair with the escalators will ware off. LOL
Another fun fact, it does snow in Tokyo! I honestly couldn't remember and looking at the weather before we left the states, it looked pretty mild. Well, there is indeed snow on the ground this morning. I guess my research wasn't quite adequate. Thankfully, the previous owners of our van left their ice scrapper! Came in handy for Walter this morning!
I think the best part so far has been having good friends to welcome us in right from the start. Our friend's, Yuko and Mike, came to the airport to join our little welcoming committee. Seeing them made me feel like I had a little bit of home nearby. Their son is three and Genna has already deemed him, "My Kai." The three kids are pretty cute together.
Well . . . I guess that'll do it for a first post. Gotta start somewhere. I feel like there's so much I'm leaving out but I realize the point of these are to be brief. So for now, I'll sign off, but promise to have more pictures to share next time.

Oh, and one final note to share . . . the "Miller Family November Birthday Tradition" has been broken! #3 will make their debut this September!
Hugs to everyone! We surely do miss you all!