WHOA

how far would you take it to go to a ward christmas party??? don't they usually fly about medium in fun and entertainment????
I am not knocking..( well maybe I am ) but I COULD NOT even come close to doing better... as I know ALOT of work goes into them.. my kids had looked forward to it ALL day.. I had threaten not going to get good behavior ALL day..
so we loaded up in stroller only to come down and realize it was THEE worst rain since we had been here.. simply HAD to get a taxi..
so run back up stairs, repack ( as whole different ball game when I have to backpack it)
call bishop to get address.. to figure out EXACTLY what I will have to say to the cab driver to get us there.
head down stairs and walk up and down the street trying to get a cab.. ( duh everyone in tokyo values the cab as much as I do in the RAIN) went across to the bakery to try and explain..I NEED a cab.. she sent me to the 7-11 ( more traffic.) no luck
then AT calls in between all this..( he is away for three days for work) he tells me to run upstairs and call for one... I said what good will my english do to tell them where to come...( point well taken) YES totally in quite tears at this point.. HOWEVER my will is STRONG as I am simply PEEVED off that I started out at 5 pm to get us there in plenty of time and its close to 530 ( pixs of us back in our lobby.. soaked and I keep asking the kids.. are you ready to give up.. jonah says"well we can go back and watch TV.. I think really what else do we have to do?? yeah we could do that.. but they have been doing that all day.. so it gives me my second wind.. plus truly is splashing in the puddles.. they kids arent crying or complaining of being cold.. rather also goal oriented in getting a taxi!!! so we take AT's advice all walk down to the busier intersection.. stand right by the same electronic store that was so kind to us a while back.. NO luck so we cross the street... again.. I am getting emtional!! but more teary eyed.. as I cant believe how little control I have.. I fear my kids arent right behind me.. that I am too busy looking for a cab that they might get hurt.. JUST SO MANY things running thru my brain... of course prayers out the yin yang.. you would think cuss words were intermixed with all of this.. but not on this occasion ..I had too much fear and worry going on.. we are now looking again.. when YES YESSSSSSS a empty cab is coming..( 550pm when we got in the cab).
we seriously all start jumping up and down so excited!!!!!! I cant NOT remember the last time I was that excited about something.. maybe ozzys birth??? but i was crying for joy.. telling the boys Heavenly Father DOES know where we are and what we need!!!! we hop in.. with the perfect instructions from bishop..the cab takes us straight there.. can you just imagine us walking in????? all soaked but so STOKED!!!!! to be there.. but quickly I dress the kids down as I was ONLY able to keep one child wet free.. ozzy ALWAYS trumps everyone.. poor truly.. sometimes.. I know I must just expect way TOO much from a 2 year old!!! well actually from them all.. but really what makes me thinks its ok.. is this is NOTHING compared to what our pioneers had to go thru.. this is just a little bit of discomfort that can easily taken away by just staying in!!!
plus dont the russians actually leave the windows open on newborns to make them strong?? ( jourdan look that up for me)
yes this is truly with no pants on.. at least she is not walking around in in wetness
yes we are happy to be at this party
yes it was TOTALLY worth it.. I asked the boys several times
to make the event even better.. I was preparing for the trek back home..( at 810 pm) asked the bishop how to call a taxi.. he said it will be easier to just have a member take me to the train station where there are ALOT more taxis just waiting...... so bugged as I know he going to ask someone.. and HERE there are tons of people without cars.. people with cars in the ward could become a taxi with all the serving of people that need rides... I have tried to avoid this every sunday as we should figure out how to do it on our own..
but anyways he grabs a member.. who right away I feel is being put out.. but he tells me to just relax enjoy the rest of the party.. when if you know me.. I do know my limit.. I was hitting it.. and WANTED to go.. I felt so stuck!!!!! I wanted to go home.. my ozzy:)
I stayed for 30 more mins.. when the 5th folk song guitar song was sung.. I knew I just could not stay as long as this was going to go on..
checked to see if it was raining!!!! not a drop..
dress up all the kids.
had ozzy in my front pack
held truly the whole way.. wanted to keep her legs some what covered..( thank goodness I had ozzys dry baby legs)
told the boys let go.. you can have wii all day tomorrow if you be strong!!!
half way to the station tad says he needs to poo.. I tell him DUDE you got to hold it till the station.. theres NO bathroom.. he starts to cry.. LUCKLY this kids LOVES coins.. I tell him.. tad if you be strong and hold it to the station you can have ALL the money in my wallet!!! he stops to cry and digs deep.. HE MAKES IT!!!
we walk all the way to the station.. at this point.. getting a taxi is pointless. half the battle is waking to the station..
we get on the train
we get off our stop and walk out.. the boys see a taxi and act like its gold.. the hail it themselves.. even though the walk is only 8 mins home.. we hope in.. as they felt rewarded by getting the taxi by themselves with their little arms:) .. EVEN though its a bigger pain for me to explain our address.. really annoying to the poor taxi driver SO SORRY my sweet Japan..

us gearing up for the second run to hail a taxi
truly really still wet.. NOT gel in her hair..
tad liking this redhead.. right up in her face!!!
boys loving on TJ.. seriously their BFF
tad the only one brave enough to talk to bilingual santa
our clothes drying out NOT!!