Kou and Ken skateboard down a hill

URASOE CITY, Japan -- (April 16, 2009) Brothers Kou and Ken Johnston skateboard down a hill near our house. Once the older brothers do, Ken has no fear in trying ANYTHING. These are professional hooligans, please do not attempt any of these tricks at home. Kou smacked his head on the wall. That's me saying in Japanese: "Are you OK?" Of course I was talking to the thing I always talk to whenever these guys get started: the wall.

wont go inside boy

URASOE CITY, Japan (Feb. 18, 2009) Ken Johnston refuses to go inside while trying to ride a scooter. Everyday for about an hour, the boys play outside in our vain attempt to try to get them to release some energy. Like playing golf, all it really does is just increase my stress level.

WWF RAW (Cage match)

URASOE CITY, Japan -- (Feb. 9, 2009) From parts unknown Kou "the killer" Johnston uses a "folding chair" to entice Kai "the screamer" Johnston down from the top of the "squared circle" in this no-holds barred cage matchup at the Johnston METRODOME on Monday. Referee Tomoe and Ken Johnston stand off to the side to ensure they miss the 1-2-3 count like all professional refrees in wrasslin'.

Johnston Jackass (Season 2)

URASOE CITY, Japan (Feb. 9, 2009) Kai -- in mask --, Kou and Ken run around the house. Kou slips and falls in the video. I guess I shouldn't laugh when this stuff happens but I guess laughing is better than screaming at them to !@!# the !#$#@! up. Sorry this is best quality for this video from my cell phone.

Run Ken Run

URASOE CITY, Japan - (Feb. 3, 2009) -- Ken runs with his car toy down the street outside our home. Of all our kids, Ken is the fastest at his age. He's a speed freak and sometimes can be difficult to watch because he is so fast. I've resorted to using Kai's Razor Scooter to follow him, that's how this video was shot, instead of chasing him on foot.

URASOE CITY, Japan -- (Feb. 1, 2009) -- Kai gets pushed by Kou on a toy in front of our house and Ken follows later in the video. The noise in the video is typical Johnston boys. Of course Tomoe just loves the fact that they're so loud in our small quaint Japanese neighborhood.

Swings

CAMP KINSER, Japan (Feb. 1, 2009) -- Kou and Ken swing on some swings at a park about 100 yards from the South China Sea at a U.S. Marine logistics base north of Naha in Okinawa. The two were out trying to get rid of some of their endless supply of energy.

At the park

CAMP KINSER, Japan (Feb. 1, 2009) -- Ken and Kou play on a whale at a park about 100 yards from the South China Sea Sunday as weather he was like a sunny fall day even though it is Feb. 1.

Brushing Teeth before Bed

URASOE CITY, Japan -- (Jan. 5, 2009) -- Kou lays on the floor of the bathroom as Tomoe brushes his teeth before bedtime at our home.

URASOE CITY, Japan (Jan. 5, 2009) Kai steps on Kou's head in typical big brother nicety as Tomoe brushes Kou's teeth before the two head off to bed.

URASOE CITY, Japan -- (Jan. 5, 2009) -- Kai smiles his toothless 7-year-old smile as Kou and Ken head up the stairs to go to sleep at around 9 p.m. in our home.

My turn

URASOE CITY (1/4/09)--Ken fights with a neighbor over whose turn it is to ride a bike that is not his.

Step on the green line

TOKYO -- (Jan. 3, 2009) -- Ken stands by an automated sidewalk inside Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Jan. 3, 2009. Moments before his brothers were telling passersby in Japanese "Step on the green line, please." When these passersby didn't do as instructed both brothers would announce loudly "Brrrrhhh!" as in "you lose" the game. Only one passerby did as instructed and received a "Ping pong" -- "You win!" after stepping on the green line on the automated sidewalk. About thirty people got "Brrhhh-ed!" before the boy's Mom had had her fill. I thought it was kind of funny. Tomoe was just embarrased.

Haneda Airport in Tokyo

TOKYO-- (Jan. 3, 2009) Grandma Kokubo helps Ken with a drink as he sits near the third floor balcony at Haneda Airport in Tokyo before heading home to Okinawa.

Flip

GYODA, Japan -- (Dec. 30, 2008) Uncle Toshiya (Tomoe's youngest younger brother) flips Ken in the living room of their home in Gyoda City, Japan.

Eatin' jelly

TOKYO -- (12/29/2008) Ken shows off the Jelly preserves stuck on his face during breakfast at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 29, 2009. We stayed at this military-owned hotel in Tokyo because its cheap and allows us easy access to other places in Tokyo. We planned on going to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo later that morning.

breakfast

Touring Tokyo

TOKYO'S UENO PARK -- (12/29/2008) -- Tomoe, and the three Ks -- Kai, Kou and Ken -- pose outside of an Asian-architecture inspired building (it might be a port-a-john) in Tokyo's Ueno Park. We were to go to the zoo that's at Ueno Park called get this -- The Ueno Zoo -- but it was closed on Mondays. Whooda thunk!

TOKYO'S UENO DISTRICT (12/29/2008) -- Kai and Kou enjoy some authentic Soba in a soba restaurant near Ueno Train Station in Tokyo. Soba is basically noodles made from buckwheat and dipped in a sauce.

TOKYO'S UENO District (12/29/2008) -- Ken tries his hand at chopsticks at the Soba restaurant. He's in his "I want to do it myself!" or "Jebun de" stage of development. Which of course makes for loads of fun for the boys and girls.

TOKYO'S YAMANOTE TRAIN LINE (12/29/2008) -- Ken puts the choke hold on Kou right in front of their mother on the Yamanote Line. Mom was clueless to the "sleeper hold" as she was a little tired.

TOKYO'S SHINAGAWA AQUARIUM (12/29/2008) -- The three Ks -- Kai, Ken and Kou watch a shark bottom feed or sleep in a fish tank at the Shinagawa Aquarium Park in Shinagawa district of Tokyo. This was our plan B since Ueno Zoo (our plan A) was closed. The boys sure did get a kick out of the sharks though. Like minds....think a like. Ken especially liked the sharks that had the big chainsaw looking bill on them. Really strange to see. The dolphin show at this aquarium was really good too.

TOKYO'S Shinagawa District -- (12/29/2008) Ken stirs his lemonade as Tomoe sets her coffee down in anticipation of a spill. Too slow...Kou just to her right spilled his lemonade about two minutes after this picture was taken. The restaurant guy had a smile on as he wiped up the lemonade but a "if your @#$%@ kid wasn't on the table maybe this wouldn't happen" look. He didn't offer and we didn't ask for a free refill. Touche!

Ueno Park Cars

TOKYO'S UENO District -- (Dec. 29, 2008)