Fall in the Park

We have been spending a lot of afternoons up walking around or feeding the ducks and carp in Takamatsu no Ike Park. On Saturday, we took advantage of a break in the typhoon rain to go wander the park as well. Here are some photos of us playing in the park… 

Brownie-making interlude...

We went back to the park after school on Halloween with some friends and were excited to see that the first of the Whooper swans had arrived!

Catie & Haruto feeding the ducks & swans

Haruto taught Catie to feed the ducks by hand

deep thoughts on the dock

yoga???

 

We had a great leaf fight under one of the maples :-)

Haruto & Catie didn't want Ichika to feel left out.

Haruto- armed and dangerous!!!

It's been fun and interesting to watch different birds visit the pond during their seasonal migration. In addition to the Whooper swans, we've recently seen a lot of these Northern Pintails (left) and Eurasian wigeons (big, brown headed duck on the right).

Zoo 2

Today was a makeup holiday at FIK and the kids didn't have school. Andy is out of town and busy with Earlham business, so when one of Catie's classmate's mom invited us to the zoo with them, I jumped at the chance! 

Mika & Anna picked us up, then we met up with Reiko & Haruto at the zoo. It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day. Low 60s and sunny. 

The kids spent most of the afternoon racing around the zoo. I was surprised to see how outgoing Catie was with the other children. Not only did she try to keep up with them running, but she was willing to go with them out of my sight. I know letting two 3-year olds run free with a barely 5-year old chaperone at a zoo would never happen in the US, but we're in Japan and this is completely normal. I'm trying to learn from the Japanese parents I know and hover less. Watching Catie run off to go pet the bunnies definitely gave me pause, but before giving chase I took a deep breath and continued walking with the moms.  

Catie right where she wants to be- in a pack of goats.