Summer Summary

Tomorrow the three of us travel back to Japan, officially ending our summer holiday. How much can happen in just six rapid weeks? When I reflect on our summer, the answer, A LOT!

• Roo and I met up with friends/relatives originating from five different countries in London, England.
• Ryan drove across the state line into Wisconsin (twice) to reunite with friends (and their families) that haven't all been together since the late 90's.
• Roo has adjusted his future adult profession of choice from "race car finish line person" to "baseball player".
• All three of us have become addicts of the iPad.
• Roo is now tall enough to drive the bumper cars at the Mall of America.
• Our kitties are officially permanent residents of Spruce House in Northern Minnesota.
• I embarked on a new decade in my life, the 40's.
• After playing indoors for 20+ years, the Minnesota Twins are playing baseball in a shiny new OUTDOOR stadium to a sold out crowd, of which included us one evening.
• Roo ate a new food, grilled cheese, in a restaurant.
• The result of a lovely wedding near the shore of Lake Superior has officially added another Ryan to the Paulson family tree.
• We discovered Roo has the word "crush", used in the context of a boy/girl relationship, in his vocabulary.
• We signed a lease on a home in New Jersey which has me surfing for deals on a washer and dryer and Ryan pondering hybrid cars.
• I've written an email to our friends in Japan that has the words "Ryan" "Darla" and "sayonara" in the title of the message. And, our repatriation airline tickets are booked for early September.

But, some things remain the same.

• Sebastian Joe's Oreo cookie ice cream is still the best ever.
• The make believe Pokeman Eenie makes an appearance, daily.
• We spent time with friends we manage to see annually.
• The crosstown junction at 35W in Minneapolis is still under construction.
• There's a sure supply of black licorice and wine coolers at Grandpa and Grandma's house, providing enjoyment for Ryan's taste buds.
• Roo made his annual appearance at Grandpa's church, or "Grandpa's shrine" as he referred to it.
• I've managed to complete some good summer reading.
• And Roo has had hours of fun play at Grandma And Grandpa's house.

The London Tower Bridge

Our future deck and yard in New Jersey.

Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins baseball team.

Now pronounced husband and wife, Taryn and Ryan.

Girlfriends

This past week I had the chance to visit with three girlfriends I've known forever. We all began kindergarten and graduated high school together. Amazingly, we manage to meet up once a year. Our meetings are always fun, always chatty and always full of laughter!

Dar, Meg, Gwen, & Trish

Sports Heaven

We are in Minnesota, USA. In Tokyo it can be challenging to get Roo outside for casual sport play. He's usually not too enthusiastic to play across the street at the black top parking lot that's surrounded by buildings. Here, he's in sports heaven, anxious to get outside and play everyday! What's he been up to?

Baseball with Grandma and Grandpa.

Soccer (as he says now that we're in America).

Basketball.

And he's enjoying looking cool in his new baseball helmet!