We had originally planned on taking the bullet train down from Tokyo to Kyoto for a day or two. While being epically fast, it was a bit spendy for the four of us.  After talking to Brooke's coworker we settled on a two day trip to Nikko and its World Heritage Sites to break up our week in Tokyo. This turned out to be an amazing decision. The town is teaming with beauty from ancient shrines to epic waterfalls and some of the best meals we had on our trip. Kyoto didn't seem all the appealing to me when I started researching which location to go to. I too am glad we chose to head north to Nikko.  When we booked our Tobu Nikko Spacia X tickets I upgraded to the premium seats thinking that we'd be sitting facing one another. Instead we ended up with 4 seats, two in the first two rows and two in the last two rows. It turned out just fine with the kids sitting in front of us in two groups. Meadow and I were seated at the front of the car. Once in awhile we'd pass a town whe...

After a 12 hour flight and years of planning we finally made it to Japan. I'd been looking for a decent deal to Japan for ages. Tracking on Google Flights. Searching different points websites. Then finally a flight showed up on Points Yeah the same week Meadow and Theo were off for 3 days. After a nervous half hour of transferring points from our credit card to KLM Air France, we got 4 direct tickets to Tokyo Haneda! Day 1 But first we had to fly and fly and fly. Ready for our longest flight ever. At least we were lucky and got a direct flight.  Theo looked nervous. I couldn't really see the kids too well since I was stuck in the center rows with strangers. Meadow, Brooke and Theo got the better end of the deal. He had been worrying about this trip ever since he learned we were going to have to sleep on the plane.  Meadow was excited to see that the flight had anime. First time in a long time that I've had a meal on the plane. My chicken curry was pretty good.  We got an...

Today we had the last hockey game of the season over at North Commons back in our old Minneapolis neighborhood. Before Theo's game we got ourselves all packed for our trip to Japan next week.  This is everything I'm bringing in my suitcase. Three outfits, pouch for my phone charger and headphones, my travel hair straightener and toiletries.  Then there are the Japan specific items: plastic bags to carry our garbage since there aren't a ton of public garbage cans, a coin purse to carry all of our coins and a hand towel with paper soap since some public restrooms only have a sink. I will also pack a backpack in my suitcase.  Then extra items in my fanny pack for the plane ride. A blow up neck pillow, eye mask, Delta headphones, ear plugs, wallet, Tokyo guide book, Theo's chopsticks and extra utensils, Kleenex and our passports.  And just like that it was already Theo's last game. 

I don't know how parents have multiple kids in sports. Two practices and one game a week already feels like a lot.  Theo's game this week was at the Northeast Ice Arena . One of my favorite things about Minneapolis are all of the indoor and outdoor ice rinks. Theo is doing so much better from when he started. Though he does like to go out whenever there is a line change. 

Despite a super cold weekend and a lot going on back in Minneapolis we spent Scott's birthday weekend at the cottage. I immediately got to my project of untangling one of our kites.  I was super grateful that we got to get out of Minneapolis a few times during the worst of the ICE immigration crackdown. During the week I was watching Theo's school each day. His school is something like 60 or 70% immigrants. Up here we could pretend things were normal in the world. Yeah, I guess you could say it was cold out. I tried out the throwing boiling water in the air trick.  I wonder how often people get scalded doing this. I'm a bit of a worrier. You thought this was going to keep us indoors the whole weekend? No one was out. I have never heard it so quiet up here. I thought I was hearing branches snap but I guess it was sap freezing .

With every practice Theo has gotten better and better at hockey. I really enjoy watching him play. That's him in the dark blue shirt. He hadn't gotten his jersey yet. Most of the kids were wearing their old jersey's or their siblings. Two of the dads coach the co-ed team. Theo's in the 9U age bracket. I thought all the kids were going to be beginners like Theo, but some of them are really good.