Our trip to Kanoya

As you can see from the pictures below, we had a fun-filled trip to Kanoya. I had been dying to go and check out the new improved rose garden and as we chose a time when the weather was kind of dodgy (but not raining) the place wasn`t as crowded as it must have been later in the week. We went with BIL and SIL and it was fun for all of us to hang out because they live so far away! To celebrate J`s birthday my MIL laid on a huge spread of food and we did all the Japanese traditions. Joey had to put on a pair of very small (made for Japanese baby feet no doubt) bamboo sandals and walk on top of two massive mochi (rice cakes) and then they tied the mochi to his back and he had to walk towards where my FIL had laid out an envelope of money, an abacus and a brush (the writing kind) Joey then had to choose one of the above. Apparently, whichever one the baby chooses is something they won`t have to worry about for the rest of their lives so if they chose the money, money will be no problem, the brush means they will be articulate and the abacus is something like good with figured. Not 100% sure but J immediately picked up BOTH the money and the abacus.. definitely my son!! ;-)