Hakone Gardens

On Memorial Day, I pulled a total "Mom" stunt and took my family to a place where only I have wanted to go for a while, and really where only I would enjoy.  Maybe Doodle would enjoy it too, as he could be asleep in the Moby most of the time, but ya know, he's only 3 months old and doesn't get a say in our daily itineraries.  Anyway, we went to Hakone Gardens, which is the only Japanese Garden in the western hemisphere which survived post-WW2 destruction.  It is in the hills of Saratoga, and absolutely gorgeous.  

Highlight #1 was definitely the koi pond with turtles that were actually swimming (I feel like they're almost always sun bathing, which is fine). Highlight #2 was the fact that after one lesson on the different bamboo, Claire had them memorized and corrected Nathan when we went through the second time.  

Remember how I said that I was the only one who would enjoy this outing?  Exhibit A above.

But we faked it til we made it. After a little time out behind the tea house for throwing the iPhone, then some lunch and dancing on the "Japanese Dancing Stage", we were all happier campers.  

Quote of the day: While dancing on the "Japanese Dancing Stage" (really just a temporary stage from a wedding or event the night prior, but you have to make things like that really cool as a parent), Claire came across a roly poly. She poked it and said, "It looks like a grub!"  And it was confirmed that she's watched parts of the Lion King a few too many times...