Royal Wedding

My British blood was running thick in me last night as I hosted a neighborhood Royal Wedding Party.  This was a side party to the main party going on up the hill to welcome home our recently returned deployed neighbors (Shane, Dima, John and Don) and to say goodbye to soon to be leaving neighbors (Liz and Don).  I didn't realize when we scheduled the Hail and Farewell that it was the same time as the Royal Wedding so we just doubled up!

Liz was just as into the Wedding as I was and offered to make a "wedding cake" (with Cannon's help) to complement the scones, strawberries and champagne I provided.

Liz and Cannon's beautiful wedding cake.

We also decided it would be fun to play "dress up" which I thought meant just wearing a hat, but when Liz came over in full makeup and dress, Alicia and I went flying to our closets at the first commercial break to dress in our finery (Kelly had already changed).

Liz, Kelly, Alicia and me

Two fancy ladies

The best comment of the viewing though was by Emmy who asked as the bride was walking down the aisle, "Can we watch cartoons after this?"

Extension

For those of you who are following the blog and haven't heard yet, we have officially extended for another year in Okinawa so that we will now be moving back to the US in the summer of 2012!

There were many reasons for this decision but the main one is that it will make life easier for us.

No, here's the story...  Back in January-ish we were told that we would be getting orders to go to Jacksonville, FL for Stevie to serve his next (and last!) year in the Navy.  That was great, we were excited, but then this whole budget thing happened and the word on the street (and in official emails) was that no orders were being issued for moving to anyone in the Navy or Marines because there was no money to move people.  How can an entire branch of the military run out of money to move its people is a whole other question...  So Stevie got to thinking that if that were the case, we wouldn't be able to move until October-ish which is in the middle of the school year and he would then have to serve a year from the time we got to Jacksonville which would precipitate another mid-school year move the following year when he got out of the Navy.  Plus it means two moves in two years.  Plus we kind of like it here.  So although we miss the US and especially seeing our family, extending our time in Okinawa just seemed like the logical thing to do.

The plus side is that you now have another year to plan a visit to Okinawa!  We're still open for visitors and would highly encourage it.  There's lots of things to see and do all year round and we could guarantee a good time!

Easter

We had a fantastic Easter holiday celebrating with family and friends.  On "Easter Eve" (as London called it) we made Easter baskets and dyed eggs.

London's basket and note to the Easter bunny.

After church on Sunday, we had organized a neighborhood egg hunt and Easter basket competition.  Believe it or not, plastic eggs are a hot commodity on this island for despite there being a plethora of kids, the Exchange only gets a limited shipment each year.  At first we were only going to have 12 eggs per kid but then Kelly scored a garbage bag full of hundreds of plastic eggs on our local "Craig's list" type site and we were in business!

Liz, Cannon and I stuffing hundreds of eggs!

The guys were put in charge of hiding the eggs and they came up with some pretty creative places - like in doggy poop bags! (empty ones, not used!)

Hiding the eggs.

All the kids lined up  for the Easter basket competition.

Emmy won for Best Animal (it was a jaguar)

 

London on the hunt.

Emmy on the hunt.

Emmy sorting her loot.

After the hunt, we relaxed "Trailerhood" style in the front yard.  What do I mean?  Look at the picture - it says it all!

Emmy dancing in the bubbles.

Finally, ended with a yummy meal with Liz, Don, Lydia, Krimp, Dima and Zac.  Beautiful day!

Emmy decorating the bunny cake.

A Different Kind of Egg Hunt

Despite a rainy morning, Emmy being sick and Steve being on call, I still managed to take the boys to the Easter egg hunt they've been looking forward to for a while now.  And I can't say I blame them because this was no ordinary egg hunt on a grassy field, but in a pool!  How cool is that?

A few weeks ago I saw a poster for an egg hunt being sponsored at the 25 meter pool on base (the heated one!) and I thought, what fun!  I was also quite curious how an aquatic egg hunt happens?  How does the candy not get wet?  How do the eggs not float out of your basket?  Do the eggs float or sink?  Now I know the answers: the eggs are empty (the winner is the one with the most), they give you a net sack to put the eggs in, most eggs floated but if you put a marble in a plastic egg it sinks to the bottom!

The boys and the Lifeguard Bunny

London and Cannon both tried their hardest to collect eggs, although it wasn't as easy as it might seem and London was at some what of a disadvantage because he swims independently.  The "non-swimmers" had a parent in the pool to help hold the bag and steer toward the eggs.  Poor London was trying his hardest to swim, hold a bag, collect eggs and stuff them in.

Lined up and ready to go - London is in the red goggles 2 down from the bald guy.

In the water trying not to drown while getting plastic eggs.

Next up - Cannon!

Doesn't he look cold?

When else will I ever be able to take this picture?

Farewell Grammie

On Wednesday we had to say a sad farewell to Grammie who's been visiting us for the past month.  We've had such a great time with her and will miss her terribly!

Ferris Wheel

So without realizing it, even after 3 times on the island, we have neglected to take Grammie on the Ferris Wheel that defines the view from our house.  So on the last day of her visit we went for a spin (actually 2 spins!)

A unique view of the fighter jets!

Thirty minutes later we were safely back on the ground (despite the gale force winds that day!)

American Village

The view that we look at all day long from our front porch (if you look past the ugly base housing) is over American Village, the ferris wheel and then to the ocean.  Yes, it's actually called "American Village", that's not just a made up name by the Americans.  I guess it's supposed to be "American" type stores, but they are invariably Japanese. 

Apparently in all the time Grammie has spent on island, we've never taken her to American Village, so today we went.  Except it started to rain the minute we stepped out the door, so it wasn't the best American Village experience, but she got the jist.  The plan was to look around the shops and then go on the ferris wheel, but the rain changed that.  Maybe we'll try the ferris wheel tomorrow after school?

Still, it was fun to see the Japanese shops, including my favorite Makeman where we bought seeds and vegetable plants for a garden (wonder how long those will last???), ate some yogurt (see Yogurtland post), and experienced other Japanese culture like this car in the parking lot...

And this sign at the smallest spa you've ever seen.  Hmmm... shoulder and back massage or corn removal???  Which should I try?

Yogurtland

Sunday during our walk around American Village, we visited the much talked about "Yogurtland".  I thought it would be a perfect place to take Grammie, our ice cream/yogurt loving family member.  The concept is that you get a cup, choose your type(s) of yogurt, add some toppings and then pay an exorbitant amount for the now heavy (they weight it!) cup of cool delight. 

Grammie did inform me that there were Yogurtlands in the States too, but I think this one might have had the Japanese twist (pun intended).  Our Yogurtlands have flavors like lychee tart, taro and matcha tea.

And toppings like azuki beans, nato de coco and mochi (gummy rice).  Of course they had some "normal" toppings too like gummies and candy and fruit.

All in all Cannon, Emmy, Grammie and I loved our yogurts.  London, well he's my non-ice cream loving family member, so he enjoyed a bowl full of gummy bears!

Emmy, getting every last drop.

Spring Break with Grammie

We've been doing so much stuff that I haven't had time to post it and since most of it is things we've done before, I'll skip the text and just post the pictures!

On Tuesday we went to Bios on the Hill...

Beautiful orchids

Boat ride with the kids (and Lydia!)

A throne of orchids

Walking the goats!

swinging on the giant swing

Hullahooping Grammie

Water pump games

 Wednesday was bikes and a walk at Cape Zanpa

Grammie loves water and cliffs!

On Thursday we went for a little walk on the beach at Toguchi.

We came up off the beach and saw this...

Don't you always see a man walking his bull around the streets and parking lots by the beach???

The Drop Off

Sunday was a beautiful day so we packed up and headed to one of our favorite spots - the south end of the island - to go to the beach and fish.  This is a beach we've been to with Liz, Don and Lydia several times recently and it's a great remote beach, but this time we found something new!




Grammie and Emmy having a picnic




Emmy and Lydia found a water hole to sit in - Liz doesn't look too happy!



...but the girls look happy!

The guys went out to their favorite spot to fish (with all the other Japanese guys) but this was the first time we've been there at LOW tide and what they found was amazing.  Usually, to get to the water, you have to walk across an expanse of strange, sharp lava rock with some rock pools and green sea weed. 

The Japanese guys fishing around the drop off.

The strange landscape you walk across to get to the water.

Standing on the edge of a pool

The guys knew there was a pool that formed by the breaking waves that was good for finding fish, but what they didn't realize was that the "rocks" they were standing on were actually shelves which hung out over a drop of about 100 feet strait down!  The water is so clear here you can see all the way down and all the fish in between!  Next time we'll come with our snorkel gear and jump in.  In between these drop offs and the sandy beach were some great tidal pools which were like huge aquariums.  You could stand on the rock and see all the beautiful tropical fish - beautiful!  Grammie had never seen anything like it.

Looking down 100 feet - don't trip!

Grammie looking at the "natural" aquariums

The attitude...

Some of our favorite blue fishies.

Afterwards, we went to a great restaurant called Thai in the Sky that sits on a top of a mountain with a great overlook to the sea.

What a great place for dinner!