Our Family Blog

In the middle of a typhoon, we traveled from Tokyo to a remote village, Nojiri, in Japan’s Central Alps. We stayed in a traditional home with a sunken tataki entryway for shoes, woven tatami floor mats, shoji sliding panels, an irori stone-lined fire pit, and so many details that are uniquely Japanese. The futons were very comfortable, and the views from the back porch were stunning. We enjoyed a hike along the Atera Ravine and dining at some of the local restaurants.

We rented electric bikes to travel higher up the Atera Ravine, later stopping for a pizza lunch before exploring the nearby small towns. The views were absolutely stunning!

It has been a while since we last posted—apologies! We’re excited to share photos from our trip to Japan. Some of our first impressions: everything is extremely clean; toilets and showers are high-tech and electronic, yet the coffee shop only takes cash.

As Americans, we feel like giant, noisy people compared to the Japanese. Drivers are generally respectful and safe, and the food is absolutely delicious. Everyone has been very polite and friendly. We’ll try to add photos daily.

Our trip to Fuji-Q Highland had a few hiccups, but we still made it happen. The roller coasters were bigger and faster than anything we had ever experienced before. The park sits at the base of Mt. Fuji and the views were beautiful.

Animal cafés are trendy in Japan, and we couldn’t resist spending an afternoon with capybaras. These gentle, sleepy (and hungry!) rodents were adorable. Afterward, we wandered through the vibrant Asakusa area, taking in the sights, sampling delicious street snacks, and soaking up the atmosphere.

Come autumn we fall back into the routine: work and school Monday through Friday. The dogs helped out at Carrington, too. OSA had an art show and a haunted house. Kathy came for a visit and we all went to see Jeff and Beckett.

The kids always look forward to Halloween. Hayley put a lot of effort into her home-made costume, the Witch King of Angmar (from J.R.R.Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings). RJ’s preferred costume didn’t make it in time. Kristel wisely had a backup and RJ was very successful trick-or-treating.

August was a fun month for us! We celebrated RJ and Chris’s birthdays with a family get-together, and RJ had a blast playing laser tag with his friends. The kids headed back to school and are back in the routine of classes, homework, and school events.

We took a trip to San Diego, spent time with family, hung out at the beach, biked along the boardwalk, and enjoyed the rides at Belmont Park. It was a great way to wrap up summer!

Although it’s exciting to travel far from home, we live so close to stunning scenery here in California. We packed up the car and headed to Mendocino for the Fourth of July weekend. Our primary goals were to enjoy nature, relax, and take a break from chores and projects at home.

We stayed at a charming, dog-friendly inn, went on long hikes, tried different restaurants, watched a small-town parade, and experienced fireworks over the Pacific Ocean. It was wonderful!

This year’s big adventure took us on an unforgettable cruise to the wilderness of Alaska. Surrounded by towering glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and pristine waters, we were constantly in awe of the natural beauty. We spotted bald eagles, playful otters, orcas, and so much more.

Life aboard the cruise ship was a delight. RJ made it a mission to visit the Cones and Coffee shop at least twice a day for chocolate ice cream, while Hayley indulged in countless chai lattes. The dining experiences were top-notch, with every meal feeling like a special occasion.

Entertainment on board was also great! We enjoyed a comedy show, trivia night (shoutout to Chris for leading the Schoeneman family to victory!), live music, and a dining staff performance.

Our shore excursions were just as thrilling. In Ketchikan, we cheered on lumberjacks as they chopped, threw axes, raced up poles, and balanced on logs in a high-energy show. In Juneau, we visited the Iditarod summer camp, where we rode behind a team of 16 spirited Alaskan huskies and cuddled with adorable puppies. Back in Skagway, we soared through the spruce and hemlock forest on ziplines, flying over waterfalls and taking in the lush scenery from above.

We are so grateful to have this amazing experience!

We spruced up the dining room. The new windows have white trim so obviously we needed to change the whole room. (We never really liked the yellow trim.) We thought a chair rail and wall trim would add a touch of elegance.

We’re still not quite done. The buffet top will be replaced with unpainted maple, hopefully soon.

Hayley is solidly a teenager now. We celebrated Uncle Jeff’s and Hayley’s birthday by doing an escape room together. Hayley had friends over for dinner.

Hayley has also been busy sewing clothes from patterns and applying her own artwork to thrift-store bought items. And seemingly every other weekend there’s a volleyball tournament.

In January we welcomed Taylor, a four year old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Kristel has long wanted us to be a big dog / little dog family and now we are. Taylor came from a breeder in Riverside, CA and pick up was delayed due to the wildfires. Kristel drove down and back in a weekend and used the time to bond with her.

The bonding worked! But too well. Taylor previously lived with a bunch of Cavaliers and very few people. Now only Kristel can get close enough to pick her up; she runs away from everyone else. But she’s sweet and she’ll let you hold her when Kristel puts her in your arms.

Our family trip to Washington D.C. was an unforgettable adventure! Hayley was thrilled with the museums. She spent hours wandering through the exhibits, soaking up all the knowledge and history. RJ, on the other hand, found his joy scootering around the National Mall. The wide-open spaces and iconic landmarks made it the perfect playground for him. After our D.C. adventure, we took the train to Nana and Grandpa’s house for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to reunite with family and share Thanksgiving with extended family.

Back in California, we set up the Christmas tree, arranged the stockings, and put lights on the house. We enjoyed festive events like Glowfari, where the illuminated animal displays were a hit, and Carols at Grace’s Cathedral in San Francisco. Christmas Day was spent in Sacramento with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jeff, and Beckett. It was a lovely day spent with family, creating memories and enjoying time together.

After Christmas, we set off for Morro Bay. We explored stunning coastal trails and beaches with Darwin. Visiting Hearst Castle was a highlight, with its grandeur and history captivating us all. We marveled at the elephant seals lounging on the beach and enjoyed the views of the gorgeous coastline. This holiday season was truly special, filled with exploration, family gatherings, and the joy of being together. We can’t wait for our next adventure!