Sumo-A battle of Wedgies

Max and I went on a trip to Tokyo to see the Sumo Tournament. We rode down on a tour bus on Sunday. He started out throwing up on the bus twice before we left the city limits, but did fine on the rest of the 8 hour ride. Though he was real angry that I wouldn't let him get ice cream at each of the rest stops! He did get some the next day at the tournament. We got to Tokyo and went on a walk to see The Temple. Being Sunday it was closed but he enjoyed seeing it and I again felt a great sense of peace just standing on the corner in front of the temple gates. We then went and found some dinner, Max- McDonalds and me Subway, yes I am getting tired of trying to find food for Max and sometimes myself to eat in Japan, kinda wanted to have some american food around but didn't want to take the Subway to Outback (Tokyo actually has a few american options).
We spent the rest of the evening in the hotel reading and we watched a conference talk of President Monson for our spiritual dinner.

Monday was the tournament. Our tour, through the Misawa Travel Agency, took us to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Sumo venue which are neighboring buildings. The good Sumo wrestlers don't fight til later in the afternoon so we spent the a few hours at the museum first. They had free museum guides and she was great. If you can make the history of Tokyo, (how it started out as a little town in the 1600s called Edo and then grew through the powerful influenced of the Tokugawa Shoguns into a thriving city which became know as Tokyo as the Emporer Meji allowed the Western influence to enter the Japanese culture), interesting to a 9 year old and a 33 year old, then you are a fabulous tour guide. It was fun. It took you through scale models of what Edo looked like and had some life size building replicas and so on and then took you into the transition from Edo to Tokyo. 

After the Museum we headed to the Kokugikan, the Tokyo Sumo Arena. We ate lunch and watched the lesser Sumo guys while we ate lunch. We enjoyed it a lot. It was fascinating stuff with a lot of ceremony. Each match takes about 5 minutes and the wrestling part is about 5 seconds. It rivals baseball for excitement. I definitely got into it and cheered. There were a lot of good matches and  a few that lasted less then a second as one wrestler would move out of the way as they lept for each other causing the other to fall on the ground. (One wins by forcing the opponent out of the ring or to touch the ground with any body part.) There are numerous moves one can do by grabbing their loin cloth, thus making a "Battle of Wedgies." Sam thinks they are all immodest. After an exciting final match, where the guy who was undefeated almost lost but pulled off a great victory, we headed back to the hotel for dinner, where Max forwent his hot dog and had two salads!, then went swimming.

I turned my reading light out around 10:30 and later heard Max exclaim, "Wow. It's 12:30!" as he turned his off. He had tried to finish Harry Potter Book 5 but just couldn't pull it off. The next morning was comical. I could barely get him out of the room to go the breakfast buffet, his favorite thing in the world. After one bite of french toast and two bits of pineapple he took the room key and left me eating my yummy scrambled eggs and potatoes. I returned to find him back in bed, which is where he was when I left at 9:30 for the Temple, leaving him with some Filipino hotel babysitter, and where he was when I came back at 12:30.

I eventually forced him back out into Tokyo and we visited the Sensoji Temple, dated back to 1600's.

 Max finally got his souvenir samurai swords, he's been wanting for 2.5 years. After this we took a variety of subways and monorail to get to Odaiba island, a man made island where one can find Joypolis (the spelling still bugs me I want it to be Joyopolis), an indoor Sega themepark.

Max loved it. There was a giant half pipe where you were strapped to a giant skate board and could try 360's. Max screamed the whole time, awesome. At the end of the evening I started feeling sick and Max had to go on the last ride by himself. Outside, despite a growing sense of queasiness, I stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful night scene of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo skyline.

Then I looked around for a garbage can and barely made it to one before I throw up. Let me tell you, I did not like having the Tokyo subway system between me and the hotel with my queasy feelings. I made it eventually, only having to hover above a squatty potty in the subway station for a minute before my body thought it was ridiculous to attempt that one!

We eventually made it back to Misawa the next day and we glad to see Em and the other 3 boys again. It was a fabulous trip with Max. He is such a good kid. It was nice to share this trip with him.

Primary Program

Sunday we had our primary program. It was awesome.

It was filled with equal parts humor, tragedy, drama, and of course some spirituality.

Naturally you had the little boy up there waving at his parents in the back of the chapel the whole time. Then there is the kid who does the drive by with his line: not stopping at the podium, but rather his voice starts out low as he approaches the mic and then then is unintelligible as he brushes by it with his lips and then fades out as he passes. The kid who seems to give his part in a foreign language (this is the majority of them) and one where only every other word is a real word. Those who forgot their lines and then there are the kids who know their line perfectly. Those who have an adorable voice. The little kid who surprises you by knowing his part and saying it clearly at the correct distance from the microphone. The most classic of all was showcased by Max at the beginning.

It was the song "I lived in Heaven." The primary chorister arranged it so that Max and two other 7/8 year old boys to sing the second verse. They were positioned in front of the podium and had even been correctly instructed in how/when to raise and lower the microphone for the second verse. I was seated in the back with the two babies (see Em's blog for explanation as the the acquisition of a second baby, yes Gabe is still a baby.) So I couldn't really see Max up front. Then the music started and there was Max's beautiful monotonic voice singing directly into the mic twice to three times as loud as all the other kids. Everyone was smiling and giggling as they looked backward at me. It got really hot in there for a while as I tried not to laugh at it too. It was very funny. He sounded wonderful though and knew all the words to the song. Eventually the microphone was repositioned but he was still near it and continued to out do the other kids.

It was a great program, spiritual as well as entertaining. I made me miss teaching primary while I listened to all those kids singing about Jesus and eternal families. Children are great.

Dad my tooth hurts!

Max's teeth have been exfoliating a little late, but still in the norm. Last week he asked me if he could come to work with me to take Tooth D (not the middle tooth but the one next to it, the right lateral incisor) out. I told him we might be able to on Monday. Later that night he began to complain that it was really hurting and coming close to tears. So I looked and to my surprise he had an abscess! My only guess/explanation is that the neighboring permanent tooth ate away the root a little funny and bacteria got under his gums and to the root/tooth and thus the bubble.
I took him to the clinic, borrowed some supplies/instrument/toys/torture devices and brought them home since Em wanted to see it done. I didn't let her anesthatize him or pop the abscess either (or did I...). Then pulled it out! The top picture shows a little how he couldn't raise his lip on the right (left side in the picture). It was fun!

Snow Fort

The other day we got another 12 inches or so of snow so I set out to build my children a giant igloo for us to sleep in. It was tough work. Unfortunately, it got too late and too cold for packing good snow and the roof never made it on top. But they were left with a giant snow fort which has become the cool place to hang out for the neighbors. They went out again yesterday in yet another storm to play on it. That's Max on top of it. Next time it dumps I'm determined to make a complete one.

First Ski/SnowBoard Trip

We were all going to go skiing as family, but Boy #2 has been throwing up for the past 4 days. So Boy #1 and I went together. It was a warm beautiful sunny day. The resort was about a 50 minute drive North of Misawa. It was a small resort with only 3 lifts but it was perfect for his first try. He alternated from excited, to cold, to having fun, to hurt, to brave, to frustrated, to proud and ultimately had a great time. They had a fun looking sleding hill too, but when I asked if he wanted to stay longer and sled he chose going home "Cause I miss Mom. Don't you?" he countered.

Read My Mind

Sorry I've been absent for so long. I don't know why, I think I got worn out by Em's daily blogging in November. Anyway I wanted to post this picture for a caption contest. We were having a Christmas Hot Chocolate Party for our Church Primary class of 9 beautiful girls and one boy all 5 years old. We also decorated gingerbread cookies. Here is Max with his. When I looked at this picture I immediately wondered what was going through his mind. What do you think? The winner will get a free piece of Sushi from 100 Yen Sushi!

I wish Turkey only Cost a Nickle Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving

Merry Thanksgiving one and all. Our Thanksgiving was wonderful and I hope yours will be too.

We had a big gathering with lots of friends from the ward. We all gathered at the High School Cafeteria, its nice knowing the HS principal. Now we are home and Em is asleep early on account of either having eaten too much or having finally contracted the family illness that has been going around for the past week. Historically for the past 7 Thanksgivings we've shared together she has been mildly ill for about 4, moderately ill for 1 and severely ill for 2. (I made the exact statistics up. 90% of statistics are made up 60% of the time anyway.) I think she mentally blocked out all sickness, except for her lingering sore throat, so that she could enjoy this glorious day of thanks she has been planning for a long time. Then once all was over she opened herself up to embrace the suppressed virus/bacterium (not sure which it was, we didn't obtain a culture).

Anyway, she is asleep, but before she drifted off she exercised some of her motherly inspiration and suggested I keep our eldest up late tonight. So we came downstairs and while Max made a bed out of the couch cushions, I found the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on UTube and we watched it together. Then we played UNO for about an hour. I think he is in Heaven. It was really fun. He has gotten good enough that it is a competitive match between us. Now he is on the floor behind me playing UNO against himself. It's really cute especially when he suddenly calls out "UNO!" at himself and has to draw two more cards.

So for what am I Thankful for this year?

Not Being a Student or a Resident ANYMORE!!!!!!!!

How Did I Vote

Well, actually I unfortunately did not get to vote. Its harder than I thought to get an absentee ballot and to figure out where one's home state is. That aside, how would I have voted. By "how" I mean how would I have decided who was best to lead our country. I have been keeping current on my politics by watching SNL's presidential bash 2008. It's on right now on AFN, which is the military TV network. I haven't been too impressed with the Barack Obama, although I did enjoy the "Solid as Barack" song he sang during his infomercial. I mostly have been impressed with Sarah Palin, especially as she is trying to use a "Life Line" with her interview with Kattie Couric right now. LOL. I didn't really like the Biden impersonation either. So my vote for President goes to Tina Fay! She is so good/funny. I really like Hillary too. Don't tell anyone but I actually turned it from the real candidates on FOX news to the SNL candidates. Good switch if you ask me. I think I get the same info if not more accurate then what the real people are saying since you can't believe what any of them are saying!

Side note, on the way to the commissary today, Max asked me "who do you like dad Barack Obama or John McCain?" He said their names perfectly and we've never mentioned them to him. (I know Emily too said we should have been talking politics a bit more with him, but I think there are more important things to talk to him about like how to eat with a spoon!) Anyway he choose Obama at school. So I guess his school held elections today, I wonder if they will count for the real election!

Tooth Fairy!!

My son finally lost his first tooth!!!!* For those of you wondering who the previously named scab picker is, it is Em. Why do I mention it at the risk of defaming my wonderful beautiful spouse? Because it is relevant, she has been waiting for six years to be able to pull out Max's tooth. No not the pediatric dentist but the business arts major lady. She likes to pick anything that is a blemish, be it a zit, ingrown hair, scab, mole (that hurts, repeatedly), wart, ingrown toe nail (she still hasn't forgiven me for letting the Podiatrist fix it for me instead of letting her yank on it), etc. So the chance to pluck out a little tooth was too much for her. As soon as she found out it was loose, poor Max was subject to much poking and prodding by mother. I finally had compassion on both of them and brought home some topical anesthetic for Max and a extraction forceps for Em. A quick twist and a yank and it popped out with no problem, thus fulfilling a lifelong fantasy for Em and great excitement for Max. It didn't even hurt him!

Hint/tip for you parents of tooth shedding children, if you decide to tell your kid about the tooth fairy make sure you don't forget to do your part! I forgot the first night. Oops. luckily I had told him "she" might not come the first night. He was very excited the next next morning to find the 500 Yen!

*Normal exfoliation time is 5-7 years old.

Gum Ball Torture

I had to make a run to the store the other day and Max was going to go with me. He quickly grabbed two quarters from his money jar to buy a gum ball. (We always deny him things by saying "Do you have your money with you?") We got there and of course he doesn't want to get the small ones that are a quarter, he want the 50 cent ones that are huge and can't even fit in my mouth. So we walked around the store with him gnawing on it and getting greener and greener. I tried to ignore him and couldn't bare to look at him. I was praying I wouldn't run into any patients. "Hey look there's Dr. Warner and his son is eating a giant gumball! Can I have one mommy?" We only, amazingly, saw one person we knew and they weren't a patient. So it was OK, but boy was he a sticky green mess.

So here is what he looked like upon arrival at home.-One of my favorite trauma stories from residency was having to go into the ER at 2am to fix a broken tooth. How did the kid break it? His friend hit him in the tooth with a giant gumball or jawbreaker!

-BTW that citrus chicken Em made there in the back ground was delicious!!!! My wife Rocks!!!!!

Cool Runnings Season 2

We just got two "big" snow storms. Not really big, about 8 inches each time, but remember we are a little state so it equals about 3 feet. No really it totally shuts down the state. Thursday it took people over 6 hours to get home from work! Luckily I had stayed home that day. =) So Max and I were able to enjoy the snow. Then today we got a call saying Church was canceled!!! I couldn't believe how wicked wussy this place can be when the roads get a little snow. So...we built an igloo, and had our own church time together with Christmas stories and songs.

Pinata Dangers

Some may say it isn't smart to stand near a pinata when there are 3-6 year olds swinging at it. I would agree, yet it was the only viable option.

Max had a great B-day last week and got to have lots of Dad and Max time, including a professional magic show! (It was really good/amazing, even if the lady magician was corny and wore strange tights!)

New Teeth, Trauma, Malocclusions, and Defects

Gabriel now has his first two teeth! And he is within the normal range of 5-8 months! It now hurts when he bites my finger. His next ones will/should be the top ones at 6-10 months.

Sam had the family's first dental trauma when he walked into a door knob, chipping his tooth (uncomplicated crown fracture). (Notice the chocolate on Sam's lips.=)


His open bite has closed and he is now left with an overbite (overjet to be precise).

And not to be left out, Max has some unexplainable (so far) enamel defect on tooth #D.

A Great Fall!!

When we moved here this corner was inhabited by a dirty, children threatening, mosquito attracting Koi pond. We have since removed it leaving a large hole. This has become our dumping ground namely for leaves. So this leaf pile is actually about 3 feet deep. And the trees around our home still look like no leaves have fallen yet. So this is my last 3 hour leaf clean-up until the last leaf has fallen on our street!

Providence Photo Shoot

Downtown from the Eastside

Bank of America Building

Providence performing art center-PPAC

Providence

I like this one of Max taking a picture of the horseman.

Gigglers

These two boys love each other so much. Gabe will laugh everythime he sees Max.

Apple Picking Season!

+=

Surf's Up!!!

Monday was a major Beach Day. I started out surfing (for my fourth time) with my bro-in-law in the morning. Then a picnic with our SF friends until the high tide forced us to relocate to a beach farther north. Followed by swimming at our hotel. Max keeps wanting to do anything as long as there is "a lot of water."

A Few Maxer Quotes

6/26/2007

“I wish I didn’t have such a mean mean breuder” Said in heaving sobs at 3 am after having discovered Sam had emptied his pirate bag onto Sam’s bed during bedtime. Said bag contains all toys, clothes, etc. that he holds dear at this time, however he doesn’t play with them, just hordes them in the bag. Grandma Fae just made it for him out of pirate skull material, before he was using a plastic garbage bag.

7/23/2007

"Daddy, how’s that on for size!"

8-1-2007

as we come upon a motorcycle and its rider:

"WHY DOES HE HAVE A HELMET ON HIS BIKE, BUT HE’S NOT WEARING ONE?!?"

we pass the motorcyclist and max says out the window:

"THAT’S NOT APPROPRIATE!"

then we pass him again:

"C-YOU LATER ALLIGATOR!"

then again:

"STOP FOLLOWING US!"

8-3-2007

Max: (To Dad) "I remember Gabe being born cause it wasn’t very long ago. Did we have popcorn der?"

Dad: "Yes"

Max: "And there was coffee there where we got mommy more water."

(To Gabe) "You were so happy to have me hold you, huh baby?"

8-3-2007

"This is better then being on the trampoline!" (Referring to laying on our bed looking at Gabriel)

Father's Day

I woke up after being able to sorta (half sleep while I heard screaming fighting boys in the background) sleep in a little yesterday to find a wonderful breakfast spread laid out on the table. Max, all by himself, had prepared my Father's Day breakfast and was extremely proud of himself. His face was beaming with excitement. He had a bowl of Lucky Charms, a banana, toast, and a cup of milk with a chocolate straw (a straw with chocolate beads in it, so that as you suck up the milk it becomes chocolate milk, a good idea but not the best tasting chocolate). He and Sam were very excited for me to eat it. Sam sat right next to me taking half of all the food, while Max protested his every bite: "Dats Daddy's!"
It gave me a great start to a wonderful Father's day despite the high sugar content!



At church there were some good talks about father's and how they influenced the speakers so much. It made me think of my conversation with my father on Friday. I asked him what he was going to do on Father's Day. He answered: "Go to Church. Worship Heavenly Father."
It was a simple answer and an obvious one, yet it was profound. How many times do we wish God a happy Father's Day, He being the Father of us all? This thought stayed with me this Father's Day and helped me to honor my Heavenly Father. Thanks DAD!