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.

Kou first ride on a two-wheeler

URASOE CITY, Japan (Feb. 22, 2009) --Kou learned how to ride a bike today. I held the back of the seat for 50 feet, let go and Kou amazingly didn't need anymore of my help. He was able to ride the bike the rest of the afternoon without anyone's help. It was like he had ridden a tw0-wheel bike before. But this was his first day learning without training wheels. Amazing!

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.

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.

Train to grandma's house

SOMEWHERE IN JAPAN (Dec. 30, 2008) -- Kou rides a train with Uncle Jun (Tomoe's older younger brother). Kou was super excited during the ride and could be heard throughout the train. A very un-Japanese thing to do.

Anything can be a toy

EBISU, Japan -- (Dec. 30, 2008) Kou jumps up to touch the buttons as Kai watches as the two wait for a train to grandmothers house in Gyoda, Japan. The "object" of the game was to touch as many lights as possible by jumping. So much for actually buying a drink.

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)

Spilled milk

Kou enjoys some fresh spilled milk.