On March 1, Ethan took another day off so we could do another Japan bucket list item for me. He is the best. This time... snow monsters!!! We knew it wasn't going to be nearly as pleasant up on the top of the mountain as it had been in the gorge a couple weeks before. We tried to get ourselves as bundled up as possible. We took a good friend with us, as well. He was in Misawa for a short manning assist at our hospital, from Guam. You can be sure that the temperatures were a lot friendlier at his home than they were in Japan! It was fun to have someone offer to take pictures of all of us together.
So, at Hakkoda we parked the car and bought our ticket to the top of the mountain... then we waited.
Then we were able to board the tram up to the top of the mountain. We were packed in nearly as tightly as we'd been during our trip up in the fall. You'll see why, soon. Ha.
The entrance to the lodge at the top... the wind blows the snow in and it sticks in the craziest ways.
Conditions were so bad! Ethan had been up here sometime in the month before this and it was clear skies and beautiful...we weren't so lucky! But it definitely gave us a different perspective! An a better idea of how the snow monsters are actually formed!
For anyone who wants a little more information about snow monsters. I found this at this website: a snow monster refers to a juhyo ice-covered tree, a fantastic creature of nature. However these uniquely-shaped gigantic snow monsters are more than just ice-covered trees.
Juhyo are formed when water droplets in the air are blown by strong winds and freeze to the leaves and branches of evergreen pine trees, slowly morphing them into huge towering shapes. The formation of juhyo requires special weather conditions that are common in Japan, especially in the Tohoku region, but are not found in most snowy areas in other parts of the world.
As a reference, Ethan is about 6 foot tall. It was a little like being in a slot canyon in southern Utah. Only cold.
It truly felt like we were on a different planet in some sci-fi novel/movie. It was a little scary!
Cold cheeks. We took a little break in the lodge to warm up before exploring some more.
I was so glad that Ethan was there and that he has such a good sense of direction. I got totally lost going through the monsters. Chris and I were both going to head the completely wrong direction and Ethan got us pointed back toward the lodge.
Time to take the tram back down!
We had it mostly to ourselves this time. People ride the tram up and then snowboard/ski down amongst the monsters. Others, like us, just come to explore and ride back down. We were floored at how some of the tourists like us were dressed! Not at all like they were in a winter apocalypse!
The parking lot had several snow caves and an igloo for people to gather in to keep warm. They were equipped with a little grill so people can cook their meat/vegetables for lunch.
Moving along into the month... Everyone loves Fisher's bath time. Especially Fisher! He got some great bath toys for Christmas from his cousin and I can't get the other kids to leave him alone now!
Our annual ward youth ski/snowboard trip! Jonas hanging with friends in the lodge. He didn't do much on the slopes because of a possible concussion.
Levi going up the lift. Someone else shared these pictures and its hard to tell who is who, but I just saved all the pictures with those yellow pants! Bryant was off on the upper courses the whole day, so I don't have pictures of him.
Fisher and I hanging out at the dental clinic while Bryant gets his braces adjusted.
Fisher doesn't really watch TV, but I think its so cute when he goes and sits on the couch with the big kids like this.
Crazy hair day.
My little sewing buddy. He thinks a big piece of fabric is as much fun as any toy he's ever seen. Trying to get it ironed is a joke. Little stinker.
We had the kids empty everything out of their bedrooms. Everything! We threw out so much trash and donated at least 11 big garbage bags. Fisher found this picture frame amongst his sister's things and posed accordingly.
Trying to keep this boy happy during church. Selfie time!
Ethan and I went to Hawaii (it will get its own post) and came home with some souvenirs. A Moana songbook for the ukulele. As well as a ukulele basics book for Bolton who has his own ukulele.
Levi loves solitaire and got Oahu cards. The others got one of the following: keychains (because they will drive soon!), a hair clip, a book, and a candy lei.
We got back on Jonas' birthday! He wanted a chocolate cookie, chocolate cake multi-layer cake covered in hot fudge and ganache. I did the best I could. Ha.
Ethan did a little math fun for his candles... 15-1... hard to believe he's 14!
March was a busy month for the youth... they also had an etiquette dinner.
They learned some good things, now whenever they do something that's considered poor etiquette they announce it. Burp! Oh, that was bad etiquette.
It will be hard to leave such an awesome group of youth!
I decided that since Bryant was turning 16 we would have a party to celebrate! SIXTEEN!!! So weird. Although its a big age that means he can do new things like drive and date he has yet to do either, so its not such a big change, yet.
We reserved the base ski lodge and invited people to join us, but so many of the kids travel for most of the weekend for sports here that only a few were able to make it. But we still had a great time!
I made a ton of food!
We ate and played a game or two and just hung out.
Then we opened presents!
Its always an exciting affair for everyone!
This one was a real hit, it was a bag with a "pull" tab in the front. He pulled it and out came twenty one dollar bills strung together. He was so excited!
It just kept going and going and going!
He actually received money from all three girls who came to the party. We told him he can afford to go on a date now!
The next day was his actual birthday. He had been begging for us to buy him some online basketball training courses, so that's what he got. The whole shebang. He was pretty excited.
Fisher was sick the whole time we were in Hawaii and it continued after we got back. Poor guy. He loves to snuggle with me and his "night" (blanket).
March is Music Education month (or something like that) so we always have concerts to attend. The choir concert was great! Its fun to see our boys have talent in something that we have enjoyed so much and what really brought Ethan and I together in the first place.
And the band has gotten so good! I wish I knew if my boys are doing well on their individual instruments, but as a whole they are awesome!
I got to spend a Saturday out recycle shopping with friends. Ah. Its always so nice to have a break from home. I decided to buy this desk "chair" and its such an improvement from what we had here before. I will miss the unique innovations we find in Japan.
I will also miss cherry blossom season. Before the trees bloom way up here in the north, we get all sorts of treats with cherry blossom flavor. My old fashioned cherry blossom doughnut was delicious. Ethan liked his a lot too.
