The past few days we have been talking to the kids about going on the airplane and going to a different place for the day. So we told then we were going to Japan. Classic Mike... "I wanna go to Jake-A-Pan!!!! I really do mommy!! We decided against Costco and decided to travel to one of the malls in close proximity to the airport. We only had 4 hours on the ground if everything was on time.
Naturally, before we go on trips we do a photo session. Now parents of multiples know just how hard it is to get all the kids smiling and all looking forward. Parents of multiples also know it is dam near IMPOSSIBLE to get the perfect shot :-)
Take 1 - Ash has better things to do than look at the camera
Take 2 - CJ with the "Really MOM!" face
Clearly he is sick of me and the camera
No strict carseat rules in Japan and we were not about to lug around a massive Britax carseat. CJ gets to wear the big boy vest!
Photo op before departure - Yuzhno Airport
Boarding the plane! Aurora Airlines
Cruising down the run way and I am not so sure Mike is ready for take off!
Meanwhile, CJ is showing me how well he can make the "Duck Face"
Flying over the La Perouse Strait - Such a petty sight
There were 10 people on this plane - 5 belonged to me and CJ upset the balance of things with his need for a small piece of my Snickers bar!
Like I said, this flight is supposed to be about an hour. Real quick and painless... Ours turned into a 2 hour flight. We circled Sapporo for about an hour waiting for the snow storm to settle so we could land.
Flying over Sapporo the first time - Nice and peaceful
Circling Sapporo 10 minutes later... - Never getting off the plane!
Nap time is always welcomed!
"Mommy, I want to get off the airplane"
Will is obviously thrilled about the circling :-) Pretty sure he is realizing that we have even less time to venture out of the airport.
Mike fell asleep so she needed a different person to bother
Passed out!!!
YAY!! we finally landed - However, it is not all that nice out
Little man is happy as a clam and was so excited about the Christmas decorations.
Waiting for the bus....
We ventured to Rera Outlet Mall - Really pretty an overall nice outdoor mall. Yes... outdoor in the snow storm. We really thought this through!
It started to clear up and the sun actually came out. What dos that mean... Photo op by the tree!
Will and CJ had some bonding time on the buses :-)
Ok, lets have a chat about Mike for a second. This poor kid had a rough day. We were all walking around Rera when mike broke out into a mass coughing fit. He had sporadic coughs throughout the day but it was really bad in the afternoon. In Japan the mentality is do what is best for the community. If your sick wear a mask to protect others. Well.... Mike did not have one and was coughing all over everything. Japanese folks were less than pleased with him. He coughed so hard at one point that the poor guy threw up! Not good, lots of looks and snarky remarks. Will cleaned Mike while I cleaned the floor. He threw up right on the walkway. So it was time to go back to the airport now. He was fine and then when we got in line for the bus the coughing starts again. An old lady in front of us not pleased. We avoided her once on the bus. I sat there holding baby wipes over his mouth so he didn't spread the plague. Once at the airport we went to the drugstore and purchased Mike some hospital masks to keep from spreading his germs. He fit in with the rest of the Japanese :-)
Between his mask, spiderman hat, and spiderman boots.... Mike was a hit in the airport. They found it amusing that an American kid was wearing a mask.
Mike's antics continued throughout the airport providing folks with endless comedic performances. I do not know why but the escalator is an arch nemesis for my kids. I went first backwards with CJ and the the umbrella stroller, then Mike, followed by Ash and Will. Mike missed his footing while stepping on and he fell. Didn't get hurt but he got himself in a position where it was hard to get back up. He was a rolly polly down a good portion of the escalator. Poor guy couldn't catch a break and really couldn't stand back up. He just rolled and rolled.
Snow storm started to kick up again and everything was getting delayed. We were supposed to depart at 1600 and left almost an hour later. We sat on the runway for a while before takeoff.
Little lady had a long day. Two flights with delays plus rushing around the mall was a lot for the kids to bare. She was asleep before we even took off.
It was a full flight on the way home and a little prop plane. We had the whole back row of 5 seats to ourselves. CJ was in the middle seat looking down the aisle. Probably not the smartest idea because he was excited about the food and juice cart :-)
I happened to overhear a conversation between Will and Mike that was too funny!
Will: "Did you have a fun day today in Japan with Mommy and I?"
Mike: "Yes I did have fun in Jake-A-Pan"
Will: "Why was it fun?"
Mike: "Because I did not got to school"
Will: "Don't you like school?"
Mike: "No I don't like school today"
This kid comes home everyday telling me how fun school is! Cracks me up! I think he likes Mrs Kathy more than us sometimes :-)
We made it! Fun on the shuttle from the plane to the Yuzhno International Terminal
More fun with Daddy on the shuttle bus
Overall not a terrible experience but we definitely need to do an overnight the next time we head back there.
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