Dang it!!!

The weather was beautiful last week! Sunshine, a bit of warmth. I was thinking we could put the scarves away. And we had plans to go for a couple of long bike rides this past weekend.

But Sunday morning we woke up to this outside our windows.

yep, more of that beautiful white stuff. There must have been about 2 inches of it everywhere.

The kids wanted to eat some snow, so daddy scooped it off the window ledge and gave it to them.

We decided that since we were not going to get to go for that long bike ride, we might as well head down to the castle to capture some pictures with snow and the castle.

As we left our apartment and waited for the elevator, I noticed this picture. This is the 2nd floor patio of our apartment building. Looks like someone already tracked through the snow.

Once we were down in the parking lot, RJ and Sara immediately began playing with the snow. Please notice the smart child (RJ, wearing his gloves).

Mitch helped the kids make this impromptu snowman. RJ was a bit upset that he didn't have any buttons for his eyes or carrot for his nose, but he quickly got over it.

I hope you enjoy my bike tours, because I have another one for you today. This is on our way to the castle and a little around the castle.

When we head downtown to the castle, we always ride along this river. Mitch and the kids were on the other side, so they stopped so I could get a picture of the snow on the bank with them as well.

Another part of the river. I just love the spooky trees (that is what RJ calls the trees now that they have no leaves) covered in snow.

These are some statues outside a Shinto shrine. There has been some confusion about the red hat and bibs, I asked my co-worker Izumi today about it and she said that the bibs are for miscarriages and infant deaths, but the red hats are to help keep the statues warm during the winter. I though they looked mighty cold today with the snow on their heads.

A bigger statue without a hat and some snow.

I don't think I have ever seen palm trees with snow. I thought they looked cool. This is on the north side of the castle, over by where Mitch and the kids feed the fish.

This is that tree lined area that was so beautiful in November with the fall colors. Don't the trees look cool with the white snow?

Mitch thought that this would be a good place to get a picture of the falling snow. It snowed on us all the way to the castle.

Snow on Himeji Castle. I have been told on numerous occasions that it is not normal for this much snow in Himeji.

Mitch and the kids in front of the snowy Himeji Castle.

The kids and I in front of the snowy Himeji Castle.

I think this is my favorite picture of the day. The snowy Himeji Castle with one tree with greenish-yellow leaves.

After we finished taking pictures and Mitch and the kids recovered from their first bike accident (don't worry everyone is ok, a few bruises, but nothing broken and no blood), we headed over to the Himeji Baptist Church for Sunday services. On our way there I took more pictures. This is of Nagoyama Cemetery.

At the entrance to the cemetery there are these bushes shaped into Japanese writing. I asked Izumi what they said and she said "Spirit Park". Since the spirit of a person is placed here to rest after death, it is spirit park.

After a couple of hours at church and riding home, we came home to....

a half melted snowman and no snow left in the parking lot.

So, Mitch and the kids had a snowball fight.

Mitch was just as much into it as the children.

They decided that it was not ok for me to be hiding behind the camera and tried to hit me

They had a blast and afterward Sara was very upset that her hands hurt from being so cold...she hasn't learned yet that wearing the gloves keeps your hand warm.

Here is a short video of the snowball fight. Hope you enjoy.