Bean-Throwing. Hiking. Art. Baseball.

In Early February, I attended Setsubun! It's a bean throwing festival, that involves throwing beans, and chasing away evil spirits, to have a renewed sense for the new year. I went down to Meiji shrine with some friends to see the celebrities throw beans. I caught one! Which means I'll have good luck this year. So far, so good! Our next door neighbor Traci, who is of Japanese descent, also wanted to participate in this at our home, so we stood inside our houses with our doors open, and threw beans out. It was pretty anti-climatic, but still really funny.

Then we had the superbowl! I already don't remember which teams were playing, but I know that George was in Hawaii on a 'business trip' (poor guy) and I celebrated by having a Monday morning breakfast and mimosas at the O-Club with our friends! Sure is strange to watch the superbowl in the morning. After that, 6 of my favorite people, 2 cars, 1 baby and 4 dogs all drove to the Hinohara Waterfall for a little rainy Monday hike!

Baby Henry is under Natalie's white jacket! 

In February we lost the life of a dear friend and former neighbor of ours. Art Glaz was one of the sweetest and most fun people you could have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He mowed our grass, high fived us in the parking lot, and offered us drinks whenever possible. What a guy. He had PCS'd back to the states away from Japan not too long ago, and passed away in a skiing accident. We mourned his death and celebrated his life in a very fitting and fun ceremony, held with close friends, food, music, dancing, and several toasts to one of the nicest guys you've ever met. It ended with all of the guys opening their shirts, the way Art would have wanted. It was truly a celebration, and it lasted until the wee hours of the morning.We just feel so blessed that we got to spend time with him while we could. 

 If you ever had the pleasure of watching Art dance, or dancing with Art, you'd know that he LOVED to dip the ladies. Here's mine and The Melissa's attempt at recreating this memory. Haha! 

George and I may or may not have also broke out into our own rendition of Gagnam Style. 

I told you it was a celebration.

  
We went to the World Baseball Classic with our dear friends Matt, Melissa, Zach, Erol, and Traci. From the looks of the pictures, this must have been in March, as the men have mustaches. Gross. The best part was seeing Andruw Jones, former player for the Atlanta Braves, playing for the Netherlands. In Tokyo, Japan. Ca-Razy. 

 Our BFF's, The Smiths.

We "rep'd" our city. Go Seibu Lions!