Meiji Temple with the Baldens

Our friends the Baldens, stayed with us for a week while they were touring around Japan. It was great to have them visit with us, we had a wonderful time. Especially the kids! Our kids are the same age as theirs, and they all got along so well! Several weeks before they came, I had a talk with the boys about our friends visiting, and that they would be staying in the boys' room. Well, that didn't go over so well. Both boys were up and arms about people staying in their room, especially a bunch of girls. Our friends have 4 girls. Needless to say, I was envisioning a pretty bad experience when our guests arrived. On the day our friends came, I was relieved to hear Ethan say, "It's great to have guests." Jake didn't even want to go to bed that night, he was having too much fun playing with his new friends. One day both our families went out to do some site seeing around Tokyo. The highlight of the day, in my opinion, was the Meiji Shrine. Located in Shibuya, on 175 forested acres, the original shrine was completed in the 1920's; an edifice honoring the Emperor Meiji and his wife, Shoken. It was later destroyed in the air raids during World War II. Through a public funding project, it was rebuilt and dedicated in 1958. While there, we were able to see a number of traditional Shinto wedding processions; the wedding party dressed in traditional formal clothing.

Dan and the kids with the giant wood torii (gate) in the background.



Jake, Makayla and Ethan standing in front of a giant door.








Our good friends, Jade and Benjamin Balden, with the twins, Genevieve and Madison.