Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Drapers! I never did get around to sending cards this year (along with many other things), but we did get some cute pictures taken. Ashley took these for us on a little private beach around Thanksgiving time.

Here's a picture of cute little Avery during her Holiday Performance at school. It was adorable! (the theme was suppose to be festive or blue and white)

Kyoto Trip

At the beginning of November, Ashley (my new teacher friend) and I took a trip to Kyoto for the weekend. It was so fun! We ate lots of authentic, yummy food, saw a ton of cool things, and experienced REAL fall for the first time in several years. It was nice to do some tours I knew would be difficult with the kids, but I sure was happy to be home with the family. I'd never left them overnight before!

Eating at a Japanese restaurant when we arrived...cooking the meet ourselves at the table.

Day 1: All day tour of Kyoto

I loved the fall leaves!

Yummy chinese restaurant

 Day 2: Bike tour around the city - a little rainy, but fun!

We took a couple shopping breaks.=)

We caught a glimpse of a wedding.

This is the Geisha district where the Geisha live.

The Geisha school

Yummy wine and food after the bike ride....we also did some shopping that night.

The last day we got to make some sushi before catching our flight.

We rolled it all our selves!

We saw a geisha when we were walking behind the restaurant.

The restaurant was a fancy old house that use to belong to a very wealthy family....the grounds were beautiful!

End of Summer/Beginning of Fall

I think I can finally breath right now! Boy have things been busy since Steve got home in August. We took an awesome trip to Okuma, and then I started teaching shortly after. My first year back after 5 years, Avery's first year of kindergarten, Noah's first year of preschool, and Steve started a new job!

I wanted to post this picture of Avery pushing Noah. She pushed him all the way from the Shoppette to the hotel on base which is over a mile mostly uphill. She's a trouper!

Ahh...Okuma. We loved this place. It's a resort owned by the Air Force a couple hours North of us. We biked in the buggie, played mini golf, swam, took a ride on the glass bottom boat, hiked, and jet skiied. We can't wait to go back.

Avery's first day! Not sure why I don't have one of Noah!!!??

 My classroom was a labor of love. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears went into this room. Never easy starting from scratch. I love it now!

We took a walk along Kokasi Street in downtown Naha. Loved all the unique shops and food.

 Yummy mango ice cream

I've taken the kids to this castle before, but this was Steve's first time. Amazing again, but man was it windy up there! The pictures crack me up!

I post a TON of pictures on Instagram almost everyday! Follow me if you want to see them!=)
Stay tuned for pictures of my recent trip to Kyoto.=)