Cambria & Jonathan ... plus Two

I just thought I'd toot my own horn a little because as of this last week I have officially finished my graduate degree. (I've been done with stuff for a couple of months, but it wasn't "official" until the term ended.) Yep, I've joined the ranks of those who add extra letters at the back of my name (mine will be Ed.S. - it stands for Educational Specialist since that's what my degree is called). It's kind of anti-climactic since we've already moved and I didn't do the whole cap and gown thing, but it's still nice to think that I made it through and got it all done!

Jon has been in Japan now for about a month, and having all sorts of adventures. He spends most of his days in class studying, but he's also been able to get out and about visiting some of the sites in Tokyo and Kyoto. Here are some pictures of all he's been up to.

He loved spending a weekend with a Japanese host family last week, and they took him to visit a few things near their home.


He also got ambitious and climbed Mt. Fuji a few weeks back. He said there's a Japanese saying that goes something like "You're a fool if you've never climbed Mt. Fuji, and you're a bigger fool if you've climbed it twice." Given how cold, rainy, and not very scenic the hike was, in the end he totally agreed with that.

He's also been getting to know some of the local church members, and went to a beach activity with them. He was clearly the star beach volleyball player!
When he first arrived, he spent a beautiful couple of days in Kyoto, where apparently all the good historical sites are. Here he is meditating (about his lovely wife, of course) at a Zen garden.

Other than that, I've been spending quality time with my family, and keeping myself busy (if that's possible) in Ephraim. We went up and saw the balloons for the 4th of July (my mom's absolute favorite thing in the world!)


We spent a week up in a condo in the mountains. It was very quiet and peaceful, so we filled our time with nature walks, lots of treats, and games of Monopoly.



And then the girls went to San Francisco. We loved spending a couple of days taking care of baby business and other sorts of fun!