Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's Visit

During this trip we traveled out to Hirosaki Castle for the Chrysanthemum Festival. The leaves in northern Japan are lovely this time of year, and the drive was beautiful, if not a little twisty. 

 We tried to take a family picture here for our Christmas card, but it turns out that our kids are more photogenic with their grandparents then they are with us.

 The Aomori prefecture where Hirosake is located is famous for apples, and here are our ice cream connoisseurs sampling the apple ice cream.

 While we were there we saw a couple of people getting the warriors all dressed up in their mum outfits.

 Just a little sampling of the street food for you. No we aren't brave enough to try them.

 Alice is so happy to have a little brother! On the right is our attempt at a passport picture, which was later rejected.

Here are the girls all dressed up for the Halloween party in their fairy costumes that Grandma made them. This picture doesn't even capture a portion of their excitement to be fairies.