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Jul 10, 2019

Family life lately

We've been spending a lot of time outdoors lately given that the weather has been pleasant - we're really trying to take advantage of this time before the full wrath of summer's heat and humidity. Our latest favorite place to play? The grounds of my husband's university campus. It's awesome for several reasons, including the fact that there's a ton of wide open space, plenty of shady spots, undercover picnic tables (perfect for post-play snack time!) and perhaps best of all, no cars zooming around to worry about. The grassy areas are perfect for the kids to kick a ball around on, and it's hard to argue with those views!

Family life lately photo

Wide open space - tranquility and safe play places are something I cherish about Japanese countryside life!

Family life lately photo

Even the pup enjoys coming along for a nice run! We just bring a bowl to fill up with water at the taps there, and then he's a happy camper too.


Random kid purchase of the month - bath crayons


I saw these on Amazon and thought my kids would love them for bath time - bath crayons that you can draw all over the tub walls with! They come in packs of three and have a little suction cup attachment with them, so that you can leave the packet hung up in your bathroom. My kids did love them - perhaps a little too much - but the details about them say they wash off easily with warm water and my experience with them wasn't the case! We needed to spray bleach over the walls to remove them...yikes!


They did definitely keep the kids entertained, but for ease of cleaning I wouldn't buy them again. They're also a little pricey for what they are, at just over 500 yen for three small crayons. Anyone else got any good recommendations for bath crayons that come off easily?

Family life lately photo

Kid friendly things I love about Japan: veggie growing


Our daughter's school is great in that they really put an emphasis on the great outdoors. The school has a vegetable garden, and around a month ago my daughter and her classmates were able to go and pick out their favorite vegetable plant and grow it at school.


My daughter picked cucumber, and the other day when I picked her up she proudly brought home the first one from her plant! It's hard to tell here given there's nothing to measure for scale, but it was big! I think it's a great way to get kids to eat their veggies too, by giving them some ownership over the growing process!

Family life lately photo


1 Comment

  • edthethe

    on Jul 18

    my son uses the mud stuck to him when he comes in from playing outside to paint on our shower walls. the easiest thing to wash off! haha