Nancy visits and becomes a Grandma!

January 10- 28 we welcomed another visitor to our Iwakuni home: my mom, Nancy! She was here with a very special purpose- to help us prepare for and welcome our first child into the world. We weren't sure when our Baby Girl would arrive so we tried to squeeze as much sightseeing as we could before she arrived. As much sightseeing, that is, as my 40-week pregnant body could handle.

After a miraculous arrival on Friday night (Nancy made it through customs & immigration, bussed across Tokyo, and through check-in & security for her connecting flight in just over 2 hours!! (no small miracle)), we started Nancy's trip off on Saturday with a visit to Miyajima Island.

 The Famous 'Floating' Torii Gate

 

We browsed though the shops where Nancy found some souvenirs and we all snacked on meat buns and momiji manju. Then we walked across the bay to the Miyajima Aquarium ("the only aquarium with the Seto Inland Sea as its focus").

 Photo Op! Of course, because it's Japan.

 Big Fishy

 The jellyfish were actually just translucent in color but they had the red, blue and green lights illuminating the tank to make it look all pretty.

Nick peeking up into this aquarium.

On Sunday,  Mom and I drove down to to Hikari to check out a botanical garden and a beach with lots of sea-glass. We made one wrong turn which turned in to a quick pit-stop at a Shinto shrine.

After we corrected the wrong turn, we easily found the botantical gardens. Unfortunately, this was one of the only flowers in bloom. 

 We still were able to make a nice walk out of it and soon found ourselves on top the hill.

 

The park from above.

There apparently was a sail-boating event happening in the bay.

On the way home, we stopped in Yanai to shop the Mr. Max. Mom found a few more souvenirs and there was also an arcade there so naturally, this happened.

 

I wanted Mom to try the Taiko Drum game as well but there was a line and we were pretty exhausted at this point.  We said we'd try it at another location but unfortunately never got to it. Next time!

Mom bought Goose a kitty toy at Mr. Max to try to befriend Goose. It kind of worked- Goose loved the toy!

The next day was Monday and Nick and I both had to work so mom attended an Ikebana class on base.

After work, Mom and I walked around the Kikko park and the Kintaii Bridge.

 Naturally, we had to get ice cream. This time we got Iwakuni Lotus Root- oishii!

 

 The next few nights we mostly hung out around the house. Mom and I did explore a Japanese grocery store together and we took Mom to eat at the Gyoza House, Udon shop, and CoCo's Curry.

Another attempt at befriending the Goose- she's getting closer!

Friday for dinner we took Nancy to the Chicken Shack.

We are samurai.

After dinner, we explored the restaurant grounds a little.

And the next day, our Baby arrived!! Needless to say, we spent the rest of Nancy's visit at home, recovering. We did get sushi take-out one night.

And all too soon, it was time for Grandma Nancy to return to the USA. It was so hard to say good-bye :( and there was so much we hadn't been able to show her! Namely, Hiroshima and the sights there (and the Taiko drum game!). Hopefully she can come back soon!