Jack-o-lanterns

We actually spread out the pumpkin carving fun over two days: they cleaned their pumpkins out on Saturday and then carved them after church on Sunday.

Miso soup

One of the girls' assignments while they're here is to make their host family a meal : ) Lucky for Fuko and Saori, their host family is HUGE! They brought ingredients from Japan to make miso noodle soup and then we went to the SuperStore and bought some mushrooms and some Chinese cabbage to go in it. It was great! And a lot of fun, as we tried to eat it with chop sticks : )

Trick or treating 2010

Thanks to my friend, Sandra, we were able to make both Saori and Fuko into pirates for Halloween! There is no Halloween in Japan so the whole concept of carving pumpkins, dressing in costumes, and begging for candy was a whole new cultural experience. They loved it!

Nick spent the first 10 minutes or so trying to get out of his costume. He finally figured out that costume="bye bye" so he consented to the costume but not to the hood. He finally realized that the hood wouldn't kill him and he started to enjoy the trick or treating.

Dylan and Haley, Halloween 2010. No costumes.

Heading out!

Dylan carrying Haley : )

Begging for candy! Nick tried to go in the first 5 or so houses...

Nick wanted to carry his candy in his hand, not his bag!

We stopped at the church around the corner and spent some time at the carnival they were putting on for the kids.  Here are the girls eating cupcakes that they won in the "cupcake walk."

Fuko and Saori walking in the leaves.

Nick getting a lift.

A pirate ship in someone's yard.