Maiyu and Mia at the park

On Monday May 21st, we had a school holiday. It was the date the school was founded. Another mother named Asa & I decided to take our girls to the park. We had initially planned on taking them to Tokyo Disneyland...but thought we should save that for another time when we could bring the dads along too. Asa chose Gaiemmae Park, only two subway stops away from our home. This park had playground equipment for all ages. Mia and Maiyu tried it all out.

Maiyu is especially fond to us. She was the first girl to bring a note to Mia at school. It was written on Ariel stationary (for those of you who aren't well versed in Disney movies, Ariel is the lead character in "The Little Mermaid"). Ariel is a favorite of Mia's. Mia was so touched that she sent a note back to Maiyu the next day with an Ariel sticker. They've been friends ever since. This note/letter passing is very sweet and all the kids do this for one another. The notes don't say much, usually the kids write their name in Japanese and draw a stick figure. It's been good practice for Mia and now she can write her name in Japanese.

This was on the older kid's equipment. You climb up a 20 foot ladder and at the top you can ring a loud bell. Maiyu & Mia were afraid at first, but they quickly left their fears behind.

The girls......

Asa and her little boy Rhett. Don't they look peaceful together?

All of the parks with sand boxes have these little washing stations. Mia and Maiyu quickly got drenched. Thank goodness we had a change of clothes.

The wet'n'wild girls!

Sticking their tongues out at the moms when it was time to go home.

Fits of giggles.

Another great park in Tokyo to put on our list. In the summer it had an outdoor restaurant and beer garden, European style.