Mt. Fuji

So I am finally posting about Jebs Mt. Fuji climb. This occurred weeks ago and I just haven't had the time to sit and load all his pictures up. So Mt. Fuji is one of those amazing things that really you are told you "have"to do while in Japan. Mt.Fuji is kind of the main God for the Japanese religion (Shinto). Its a huge symbol of their culture and entwined in everything for them. Its also a pretty difficult climb. Its the tallest Mountain in Japan and is tougher then expected. The Japanese always say "A wise man will climb Fuji once, a fool twice." Americans tend to be foolish and some members of our branch have climbed it numerous times. :) So Jeb really wanted to go this year, and seeing as how Pregnant girls are seriously discouraged from going, he had to do it alone. He left here at 2:30 in the morning, made it to the beginning point (which is about half way up the Mt.) at around...... I am trying to remember 4:30 I think. Started out at around 5:00. Bought his "stick." (Ok a total tourist thing to do, but you can not climb Fuji and not get the stick. Because when you tell anyone who knows that you actually climbed Fuji they say, "where's your stick?" and then they want to check out your stamps, that you can get on your way up the Mountain till the final one at the top. ) So he made the climb in just over four hours. Which is a good time, I believe the average is 6-7 hours. Worst time is around 10. Of course coming down is quicker, although I heard painful on your shins.

I will just show you the pics of his journey. Take in note it was the last day of the "Legal" climbing season, the Mt is now officially closed. The weather up there is crazy. Although it is still like summer here, they Mountain has received snow. And the winds I read somewhere in the off season can actually blow people down the Mountain. So the last day of the season and the weather is starting to turn and wasn't very pretty. So Jeb is wet from, both perspiration, and rain.

Some guys from Jebs work. I just liked the view of the clouds far below.

Up they go!

Farther up the Mountain, Jeb looks a bit more tired

In this picture you can actually see the ocean in the distance!

Here is one of the gates leading to the shrine. I have learned they are to mark the way for the God to come.

Here is money stuck in the wood, people giving to the God. They usually have little boxes you can throw your money in but I guess they didn't have them here so they just stuck it in the wood. I am not sure what the God does with the money......... or who collects it, I can't help but wonder.

Still climbing up.

As you can tell they are very much above the tree line. NO vegetation up here.

another gate.

He made it to the top! and took a picture of his watch as proof that he made it up in the time he said. This because he was the first person from his group up there and knew they wouldn't believe him.

A nice map showing you the way around the volcano top. WHICH by the way I found out afterwards has been dormant for 300 years and is beginning to rumble again. Scientist are wondering if she isn't due to go......

Good job handsome man!!!

This is him, LATE that night when he finally arrived home. Exhausted, barely able to walk (I said he should have slowed down) but in truth happy that he made it and of course (being who he is) happy he did it in such great time.

Some cute things

I haven't done any cute little things for awhile so I thought I might share a few. First of course is the picture the hospital e-mailed me of little girl number 3! I think she is adorable already. During the ultrasound she kept her legs up like that as much as possible and kind of looked like she was rocking back and forth. Then if the technician pushed on her a bit she would kick and punch out. It was fun to watch.




So here are the girls making cookies. Jebs work requests "mormon" cookies a lot so we try to provide. Harley has now moved up from just stirring to now reading me the directions! She reads them very well. I think this made it so when we started doing some fraction work in school time she thought it was so fun and just flew through it. That girl is so smart and just loves learning. She is a great little chef in the making. Niyah is great also, she just loves to eat it before its ready a little to much. :)

A couple of weeks ago, I said to Niyah that it was about bath time. I finished cleaning the kitchen and went upstairs to find she had put herself in the bath tub. With her sunglasses on. I asked her what she was doing, she said she needed goggles for her swimming.

They do however have real goggles. Their Daddy brought some back from Missouri. They were so excited I could hardly get them to take them off. Harley kept asking when we could go swimming. She has really become a great swimmer and I have to fight to keep her in the shallow end. She loves the diving board. Niyah was so funny as she kept standing in front of the mirror smiling at her reflection and saying over and over I look so cute, I look so cute! I couldn't help but laugh and take a picture for future posterity!

This is us with a Elder we enjoyed having over. His name is Elder Black and he is from Idaho. Funny guy. He had to leave this area to go out into rural Japan. Poor guy, they get spoiled when they are here by the base because the members here all feed them really well. I hope he is enjoying himself now, out in the rice paddies!