Another Year Older...

There's not much to look forward to after you turn 25 (when your car insurance drops), but this year was a pretty special Birthday. Not only did I get to celebrate in Japan, but it could be possibly be the only Birthday I celebrate while being pregnant. 

I couple weeks ago, Justin's team hosted a "Welcome Dinner" at a local Korean BBQ restaurant. In Japanese they call these types of restaurants Yakiniku, which means "grilled meat". This type of restaurant was very new to Justin and I. It was very traditional, so we had to take our shoes off before entering, and we sat cross-legged on the floor. I guess since I am pretty largely pregnant I got a pass, and they brought in a pink "queen's chair" for me to sit on the floor with. It was very cushy and came with a back which was nice, because this restaurant was all you can eat, and all you can drink for THREE hours! So, to sit that long on bare floor may have caused some serious pain! 

A chair similar to the one the restaurant provided for me, only mine was hot pink and had a  crown embroidered on it.

Yakiniku is when there is a grill in the middle of the table. They serve you tons of different kinds of raw meats, and your table is to sit and grill them yourselves at your own pace. Remember to pace yourself, because we had a whole three hours of eating meat to do! Besides just meat, they did serve some side dishes as well. They offered us a bowl of rice, potato salad, and some cabbage rolls. 

The grill in the middle of the table along side the raw meat. 

They did offer what we Americans would think as normal meat. They offered steak, sliced pork, ribs, and bacon. However, there was a lot of "mystery meat" at the table as well. I have to give Justin credit because he tried it all! There was beef tongue, chicken neck, intestines, and liver to name a few. They also had a self-serve keg of beer right in the room for everyone as well. I passed on the "interesting" meats, but the rest was AMAZING!!!

No tongue for this girl!

I mention this dinner because when everyone was taking a break from eating all this delicious meat, they wheeled in two Birthday cakes, and had myself and one of the other wives come forward. I have to admit, when they called me up in front of everyone (about 50 people or more) I instantly started to sweat since I wasn't sure what was to follow. I had never been to a Japanese Birthday party, so I wasn't sure what to expect or to do. Lucky for me, it was just like the states. They lit the Birthday candles and everyone sang the Birthday song. Easy-breezy! 

The Birthday girls!

We have played on many hockey teams, but this is the first time that the team knew when my Birthday was and celebrated with me! It was pretty special! And in case you are wondering...the cake was EXCELLENT!!! 

My Birthday Cake. YUMMY!!!

I also have to mention that I have pretty amazing family. My Mom, Dad, and Titan sent me a Birthday card and got me a flowering plant. Just what we needed to brighten up our apartment. 

Mark, Karissa, Iris, Dove, and Bowie got me a Starbucks gift card since a new one opened here in Hachinohe. I can't wait to use it when I start drinking caffeine again! 

Kathy, the other North American wife on the team, got me a card and a gift certificate for a pedicure over here. I think we may go this weekend when the guys are out of town. I am excited to see what a Japanese pedicure entails! 

Thank you everyone for all the Birthday wishes! It really made me feel special! I had a great Birthday, and feel that my year of being 28 will a memorable one. I love and miss you all! :)