Is it really the end of August? I can't believe we were still in Tokyo about 2 weeks ago. Here are a handful the final photos.

And to explain this entry's title, Colin's cousin recently asked him what his favorite place is that we have visited. Colin's answer: McDonald's. Forget Jerusalem, London, Paris, Mexico City, Krakow or Tokyo, this boy just need some chocolate milk, a burger, and ideally, a play place. (We have not seen play places at international McDonald's so far.)
Travel is wasted on the young.

Our Tokyo hotel was right next to a huge park with an impressive playground. Slides in Japan were either amazing or slow and not so great. We have taken quite the world tour of playgrounds.

Tokyo seemed a little cooler than Kobe since there was always a nice breeze, but we still got very hot. So glad our kids love water.

I thought this might slow Jane down since the chains on this ladder moved but no problem for our little climber. She likes to make me nervous.

We spent some time with our friends at the Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hall, a great 7 story free place for kids to play. I wish every city had a free 7 story building full of toys and kid activities for free!

Our last Saturday in Japan we went to see a fireworks show. The fireworks went off for about an hour and a half and were nothing like we have ever seen in our whole lives, totally amazing! Brian and I went to the fireworks show at Disneyland which we thought was impressive but no, it is not. I was in a bad mood as we headed out (since I had a feeling it would be a very crazy venture and it was) but I am glad we went. Kind of a once in a lifetime thing.

We read that this fireworks show has an estimated crowed of 900,000 people. 900,000 people!!!! It was so, so crazy and there we were with our two kids and double stroller and met our friends with three kids and double stroller. I wish we had gotten some photos of the sea of people but things were a little hectic, not easy for photos. Brian did get these few of the fireworks.

Are we just ruining our kids because every fireworks show after this one will be a let down. Lucky they won't remember well and just Brian and I are ruined.

Here are Brian and some co-workers. Our friends watched our kids so Brian and I could go to the end of the last show of Candide and to the goodbye party. It was amazingly easy to walk around Tokyo without two kids.

Near the theater in Tokyo

And wish we had gotten better photos but we were trying to hurry back to our kids. Some of the guys in Tokyo do some pretty crazy things to their hair. See me in the left corner since Brian was pretending to take a photo of me?

Outside the Shibuya station, just a few people crossing the street.

Thankfully our exit from Japan was pretty easy, just a ride to the airport and a direct flight to Salt Lake. Our kids did great with the very long travel day and within a week were sleeping somewhat normally. So glad our next trip (Victoria BC Canada) has only a 1 hour time change.