Ben's Tokyo Trip pt. 3, Mt Fuji

Mt. Fuji is an awesome sight to behold. It's presence looms all around this part of Japan. It is a giant mound of loose lava rock and ashes. The wind rushes all around it, the clouds come and go. Here is a bit of what we saw.

Yeah we got lost a few times. Japanese road signs are difficult to understand!

Phoebe's Birthday

Phoebe is a big girl now!  Three years old!

My first attempt at making homemade cupcakes (they were a little dense, but good and buttery!) That's Uncle Dan in the background. :-)  

We had a party outside last Sunday in Mansfield for five cousins.

 She just loves sticker books!

On her actual birthday we celebrated again with my parents.

 My mom with Phoebe, Juni looking on.

I mainly posted these so Ben could see some of Phoebe's birthday while he's so far away without sending numerous e-mails to hold all the pictures, but I hope others enjoyed seeing how much she's grown up too.  Here's a pic of all three little Wiglets from this Summer in case you haven't seen them for a while in person.

Take care!  We miss you, Daddy!! 

Ben's Tokyo Trip Part 2, Yakota Air Base

Yakota Air Base is a busy place. There are flights of V-22 Ospreys, C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemasters, C-5 Galaxys, UH-1 "Huey's" and various transient military aircraft, helicopters, charter airlines, and of course the Cessna T-41 Mescalero (172 H's and 172 M's) we are working on operating from the base. While we work, there is constant activity at the airfield. Before and during WWII it was a Japanese Base that was used for aircraft testing and due to several circumstances was spared being bombed into oblivion. It is again now owned by the Japanese Defensive Force, but operated as a US Air Force base. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokota_Air_Base
 It is not uncommon to have C-130's dropping para-troopers and cargo in front of our hangar while we work

Or C-5's loaded with people, troops, and cargo coming in and out. They are so massive the ground shakes as the take off and land. Our hangar is near the explosives/dangerous cargo and ordinance depot area. Here is a C-5 that was just loaded near us then taxiing and taking off:

Here is where we are working and the Cessnas we are installing the avionics in