Halloween

Halloween was hot, humid and raining. Alli was the queen of fairies and Jason was spiderman. They had fun. We got home and they wanted to sit on the porch and hand out candy.

Okinawa Zoo

We were invited to tag along to the Okinawa Zoo on Columbus Day. I must admit that going to the zoo was a lot more exciting than staying home.
Jason insisted that I take a picture of his dolphin in the bat setup.

The Ryuku flying fox are the size of full grown cats, with wings. NO KIDDING! I tried to get a picture of the real bats but the cage kept distorting my pics. I'll try when we go again some time.
This monkey looked like his mask was fake, plastic.
There was another Japanese sign for the poo throwing monkey but I didn't get a pic. It was hot, I was hot. I'll do better next time. This one was for the tigers' cages.
I took these 2 pics while the kids were on the merry go round.


Of course those 2 kids sat on opposite sides of the merry go round and couldn't see each other. Kinda silly.
This was the highlight for the kids. I think they could have stayed there all day. Next time we go we'll hit the Wonder Museum (inside the Zoo) first before it gets too crowded.

Some fun pics.




This one I had to pry Alli away from. She danced in it constantly watching herself on the screen.
So that was our Zoo adventure. I'll list the animals they had and will do better the next time we go.

tigers
monkeys
bats
some birds
racoons
snakes
alligators
turtles
giraffes
ant eater
horses
lion
wild boar
Huge banana spider that was right in the middle of the path, though I highly doubt it was supposed to be there. ICKY!
elephants
kangaroos
fish
little petting zoo
that's about all I can think of. :-)

Kelly dresses up

Alli decided to play dress up with Kelly. It was cute until she wanted to put something else on her, then Kelly was hiding from Alli. :-)

Pinata

In Jason's class last week, he made a pinata. I was even able to volunteer those days to help out. The kids had so much fun hitting it. Luckily it held together for a long time. Yes, that is a wooden spoon, we have no trees in our yard. :-)

Making a list Monday

It's time for a list. Since this week is so busy, I'll list what I'm doing this week.

Monday (today)- Resume, Laundry and that's about all I had time for.

Tuesday- PWOC, maybe lunch with the ladies, cash check that is in yen (wish me luck on that one), mail a package to Jeff.

Wednesday- Scrapbooking at Janas, perhaps lunch.

Thursday- PWOC Board Meeting, lunch with the ladies

Friday- New BX opens, it's a must see!

Weekend- Jason wants to go to the movie theater and Sunday is church.

So what's on YOUR list?

Sorry

Wow, I almost went an entire month without a post. What can I say, life's been busy. The last time I posted was a day before Jason started Kindergarten. I've kept myself super busy in the mean time. I'll try to do better. :-)

Make a list Monday

It's Labor Day here in Japan. I'm cleaning house and trying to get everything ready for this week. So here is a list of things I'll be doing this week.

Today- Cleaning house, getting children ready for tomorrow, folding lots of laundry and enjoying some pool time.

Tuesday- Jason's First Day of Kindergarten, PWOC Bible Study, and post office

Wednesday- Scrapbooking with friends

Thursday- PWOC Board Meeting

Friday- Clean the empty house and look forward to having the kids home for the weekend.

Saturday- whatever we fancy

Sunday- Sunday School and Service.... REST

So what's your list today?

Military Wife

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens.
But I am in the military in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give.
But the military world is the place where I live.

I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget.
I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I'm the one that's left behind.

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man.
and the call to serve his country not all can understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married. Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Military Wife.

Shiloah B.

Freecreditreport.com Spoof Video

If you know me, you know that I LOVE freecreditreport.com commercials. I came across this spoof on another blog I read. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Wordy Wednesday

Every week, or so, at http://mamakatslosinit.blogspot.com
Mama Kat posts 5 prompts to get your brain working.
I seem to never get to it, but then I figured it doesn't have to be so WORDY. So I'll post whatever comes to me and leave it at that. This is supposed to be fun right?!?!


The Prompts:

1.) My animals are making me nuts.
(inspired by Jody from Take Me As I Am).

2.) List the 5 best things about the first day of school.
(inspired by Lane from Sneaky Daddy).

3.) Tell us about your crush.
(inspired by Lisa from Just Lisa, No Filler)

4.) How did you break it?
(inspired by Brandy from Not Your Average Soccer Mom)

5.) Show us a favorite summer craft.
(inspired by Kristin from The Way It Is)

I'm choosing 5 best things about the first day of school.

Now if you know me, I am NOT looking forward to the first day of school. It breaks my heart that they are gone for 6 hours of the day. The idea of someone else teaching my children and them not getting the one on one attention they deserve, makes me sad. The funny thing is, I LOVE SCHOOL!!! I always liked it growing up, except for those mean kids. I very much enjoyed getting my 2 degrees. I actually want to get my doctorate but we have to pay for the first 2 degrees first. So I am not sure why I despise my children going to school.

The first best thing is that I know they both are so excited to go to school. Alli's pretty much familiar with the school year since she's going into 2nd grade. Jason has been desperately waiting for Kindergarten to start. So that is one good thing.

Another best thing, they get to make friends with kids their own age.

They get a break from each other. They love each other but, like anyone else, they need a break from each other.

Fourth good thing, I'll be able to walk the dogs as far and as fast as I like.

Fifth thing, I'll be able to focus on a task without someone needing something or just wanting to chat.

So there you go. I'm still not happy about it, but I'll try to focus on these 5 things. :-)

Which one are you going to pick?

Vintage Humor

Currently Me- End of August

Current Book
Things We Couldn't Say

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure
blog reading

Current Drink
coffee, rock stars (sugar free), no drinking enough water

Current Favorite Blog
http://mamakatslosinit.blogspot.com/

Current Songs
Star Spangled Banner (yes I'm a dork, but it's like the only song I know most of the words too & we hear it 2 times a day here on base one at 6 a.m. and one at 5 p.m.)

Current Wish-List
Healing

Current Needs
Energy

Current Triumph
Sleep machine is in the mail.

Current Celebrity Crush
don't have one right now

Current Indulgence
soy ice cream

Current Outfit
Jammies of course

Current Banes of My Existence
Husband's way-too-soon-in-the-future-military-mission away from us.

Current Excitement
I still have one week of fun with the kids before school starts!!!

Current Mood
embarrassed (my cold sores had an attack on my face, it's horrible, worse than I ever remember and soooooooooooooooooooo painful. Not going to church. :-( )

Your assignment, should you choose to accept...

Every so often at, http://mamakatslosinit.blogspot.com/, she posts a writing assignment. I certainly think it's fun and have yet to do it.

Let's try it!


The Prompts:

1.) What will you be doing now that the kids are back in school?
(inspired by Michelle from Honest And Truly)

2.) Things I have learned from my toddler.
(Inspired by Big Mama Cass from The World Through My Eyes).

3.) What would you put in your favorite things giveaway?
(inspired by Jill from Scary Mommy who is having a favorite things giveaway right NOW! Check it out!!)

4.) Hi, my name is ______ and I am a _______.
(inspired by Emmy from Emmy Mom One Day At A Time.)

5.) If these walls could talk...
(inspired by JennyMac from Let's Have A Cocktail)

Menu Plan Monday

I am trying to be more consistent on my blog, hopefully entertaining those who read it. So I am trying out different approaches.

This one is going to be Menu Plan Monday. I'll list what I plan on making for dinner this next week. Some people will have trouble with this one since they don't cook.

Monday- Tacos
Tuesday- Oven Fried Chicken, Rice and green beans
Wednesday- Fish
Thursday-Left overs
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- BBQ
Sunday- I really don't know

So what are you going to make this week?

Make a list Monday

I'm going to start, Make a List Mondays. Every Monday, I'll write a list of whatever I feel like I need to list. I'd love if you could post your list as well.

So here it goes:

-Tuesday morning around 9, hit the movie store.
-9:30 be at B & M motors for car repair
-Somewhere around 10:30-11:00 go for reinspection for JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance)
-Hopefully pass and hit up the 100 yen store with the kids
-Grab some lunch at the bowling alley with kiddos and bowl a game or two
-Check the mail
-Come home and let the doggies out
-Make dinner and clean up
-Enjoy the family time
-Go to bed

So what is your list for tomorrow?

I love these! Vintage humor has me all cracked up!

Morakot

Our first typhoon of the Summer, at least that I know about, decided that Okinawa wasn't so tasty. We did take everything down as did all the neighbors. It got windy and rainy but that's about it. This first picture (above) shows the track as of yesterday. We are that itty bitty island that says Kadena. I know it's an awful picture. The typhoon is headed straight for Taiwan and China.

Kinda sad that we didn't get a full storm, just to say that we had one. Probably a good thing we didn't.

Life

I am sure many of you are anxiously awaiting pics of Alli's birthday and any other thing we've been up to. I have my blogs written down but have been so extremely busy this week that no d this pic posted. So as a nice surprise I found this picture of the front of a card that will surely hold you all over until I can get to the more personal entries.

ENJOY!

Random Pics

Jason and Daddy built a castle
Jason showing Paco his hulk through the phone. LOVE IT!
Kids bowling


A friend of mine is leaving the island this month so we went to Jack's Place for dinner. I forgot my memory card yet again in the computer so I only got one shot. The tall thing on the right is BUTTER! Can't wait to bring the whole family here!!
Paco sent the kids some new Kool-Aid shirts. You may or may not know but Hastings, Nebraska (area I grew up and area where my family still resides) is considered the birthplace of Kool-Aid. I can't even think of the last time I made Kool-Aid. The last time I do remember is before kids. However, we are going to make a slushie syrup for some shaved ice this week!

Level 2 Swim Lessons

The kids just finished up their last week of swim lessons. They did a whole month of lessons and I must say I am impressed. Most kids were more serious and our kids were just happy to get in the water.

It was hard to get good pictures but I'll share what I have.

Above is Alli swimming to her teacher, Miss Starfish.
Above is Alli swimming back to the dock.

This picture above is frequently how Jason was. A mom's worst nightmare!
Jason's big arms powering away.
Jason floating
Back of Alli's head floating.

No more swim lessons for this family this Summer. I just can't take it. LOL