More Visitors!!!!!

The day after Michelle left, I turned right around and went to Narita Airport to pick up my Parents, Scott, Chris, Amy, and Jen. For those of you not playing along from home, Jen is Chris' girlfriend. And for those of you really not playing along from home, or really not paying attention, Scott and Chris are my brothers, Amy is my sister, and my parents, well.....they're my parents.

I left home and took the 9:30 bus to Narita airport. There was basically no traffic, so we got there at about 12:30, in plenty of time for the plane arrival at 2:30! When they arrived, they didn't look to tired, but we had to wait about an hour for the bus back to Utsunomiya, so Chris and Scott decided to have a beer, and since it's legal to have open alcoholic beverages anywhere in Japan, they drank one standing in the airport!

The bus ride home was uneventful, until the very end. There was some traffic around Tokyo, but not really bad. and none in downtown Utsunomiya either. However, that evening close to the airport bus stop near Takanezawa, was Utsunomiya's summer firework festival. So, the last 2 miles of driving took 45 minutes! However, everyone was treated to a fireworks display upon arrival at the bus stop! We had borrowed the Shafer's Odyssey, and Kim and the kids met us there to help transport people and luggage!
After that, we headed home and got everyone settled into their sleeping arrangements, as follows. Amy and Jen slept on the floor in Gracie and Daniel's room. But one Amy spread her bedding out, you couldn't open the door. Chris slept on the floor in Patrick and Kevin's room. Mom and Dad slept on the floor in the tatami room, just like a Japanese Ryokan (Japanese traditional Inn). And Scott, well, we moved the dining room table to one side, and he slept on the floor in the dining room. (Don't be too alarmed, anyone listed as sleeping on the floor is actually on either an inflatable mattress or a futon!! Did you really think I'd let my parents sleep on the floor!?!) Lots of visitors mean lots of shoes at entranceway's in Japan!!!!
So, the next day, we lounged a little in the morning, and then went off to a traditional Japanese activity for lunch. Karaoke! We reserved a room for 2 hours during the heat of the day at the Happy Cat Karaoke place, and had a great time. Everyone sang: Even Uncle Chris: After Karaoke, we drove around Takanezawa and showed off our town. They saw all the kid's schools, the Piano Teachers House, and we drove out to HGT (Honda Giken Tochigi - It's where I work). Near HGT is a park that we have played at before, so we stopped by there to let the kids (big and small) blow off some steam: After the park we went to Min Min's for Dinner, our favorite Gyoza restaurant!
That's all for the first day of the Kruses whirlwind tour of Japan! Tomorrow, it's off to the Utsunomiya Fire House!

8/11/07