The following Saturday we made it to Sesoko Island and set up camp in the shade of the cliff and had a great day. Sadly they didn’t have the shuttle service so we had to lug our stuff really far down to the beach and they had made a netted off swimming area and made us get out of the water when we tried to go out snorkeling too far. We still managed to see some good stuff and no one got stung by jelly fish (the presumed reason for the net). Hayden refuses to go out in the ocean for fear of what's out there... but he enjoyed catching hermit crabs, exploring caves and of course reading!
Last Saturday I unintentionally ended up at Kurashiki Dam alone with the kids and had a fantastic time! I had ridden my bike out there and really wanted to take the kids. But it was raining on Saturday and then Tom got called into work so it just wasn’t working out. However, I had to drive out near it anyway to pick up a new guitar for Rockband so I decided to take the kids over just to check it out for a minute. Hayden was complaining all the way there that he would have no one to play with because we were just a bunch of girls and it would be boring. But I was determined for some forced family fun! It was still drizzly and windy but that just added to the adventure as we ran around exploring. I made up a photo scavenger hunt and we had to find all sorts of items while running on trails, bridges, and the dam. We could see a tower all the way across the park and made our way to it. Much to our delight it had an elevator inside that took us up to the top where it was windows all the way around. It was perfect timing as well because it had just started pouring rain when we ducked inside! We didn’t see any other people the entire time we were there so we really felt like we were explorers. Hayden made a team of him and Danica and they had some silly name and were running everywhere together. He just kept saying “Mom, you were right! This is awesome.” I don’t think I”ll ever get tired of hearing things like that. There is nothing better than watching your kids loving each other.
Tom: He’s up to his 20 mile runs with his marathon training. I really admire his dedication and all the hard work he is putting into this training. It is not easy, especially with how hot it is here, but he continues to plow ahead. The race is on Oct. 23rd, on Iejima (the island where we ran the marathon last year.) We’re going as a family to camp and support him on the race, we can’t wait!
He’s still busy at work and continues to get rated as the top producer in the command. It’s awesome to see him recognized for such good hard work. He likes many aspects of it but has officially turned in his resignation form and is set to separate from the Navy next summer. We will move to Vancouver Washington where he plans to join his brother’s dental practice.
Tracey: I’m still as busy as ever but slowly learning how to manage it all. I keep thinking I see the light at the end of the tunnel and really think I may actually reach it. In fact, just the other day I dropped both girls off at preschool and then spent a leisurely morning reading a book while getting the oil changed, reading at the park, and early Christmas shopping just for fun. Way back in March I volunteered to serve on the Board at their preschool. I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into (and didn’t know I”d be so busy with a new church calling!) It’s nice to be a part of their school but it’s WAY more work than what I was led to believe. Fortunately, the other women are great and I will just have to work hard to be realistic with what I offer to help with. It’s all a learning experience!
I am training for the Tour de Okinawa, a 123 mile bike ride in November. I can tell I am getting stronger and more confident on my bike but am grateful I still have time to train. Both girls are now in preschool so I can use some daylight hours to go on long rides. It’s great since I get tired of always riding at 5am when it’s so dark out! I just finished The Mocking Jay... still not sure what I thought. I like that it wrapped things up but not sure what I think about all the rest. We need a book group discussion!
Hayden: Here is Hayden on the first day of school. This picture is classic Okinawa, it's so humid the lens just fogs up!
He came home from the first day of school and announced “second grade sucks.” Not a shock coming from “Mr. Negative” but it’s been nice the last week when he comes home admitting that he actually had a good day and likes school. He had become ridiculously negative and anxious toward the end of summer, constantly sure that terrible things were going to happen. I was beginning to get really worried but the routine and structure of school seem to have helped a lot. He still hates the torture of practicing his handwriting or the piano but it’s just normal kid complaining. Hayden recently finished the Fablehaven series and loved it. I’ve started reading it also and am enjoying talking to him about it. He is excited to start into Percy Jackson. Reading and computer/video game are still his first loves in life with legos coming in a close third. Right now he is in the backyard with the neighborhood crew of boys playing some sort of game about wizards and secret potions.
Danica: She is back in preschool with her beloved Mrs. Weathers. She has the same teacher and some of the same friends and couldn’t be happier about school. Now that she has learned the pattern of her three days a week schedule she jumps out of bed on school days and gets dressed and ready to go! She loves to pretend she is Alyssa’s mom, loves to wear princess dresses every day and her and Alyssa insist on wearing "twirly" skirts and dresses every day. She is still enjoying learning to read and gets so excited every time she unlocks the mystery of what a new word says.
We have several new friends that have moved to Okinawa. One night we were babysitting for one of the families and our girls had to take bath. The other girls just got undressed and jumped in as well. They had a blast and even got to eat their treat while in the tub, it was too cute!
Danica loves to tell me that she loves me as much as she loves her blankie (quite an honor I enjoy receiving) but today she told me she loves me so much she wants to break her tooth out...uh huh... haven't figured that one out yet.Alyssa: My “baby” is now three and with that comes so many big girls things. She is going to preschool as well. The same days as Danica. She loves it and thinks she is so special that she gets to go to. On the way to school she sits and talks about how she can’t wait to give her teacher a big hug and kiss. I asked her if she played with any kids on the first day of school and she said “no, I was too shy.” I know that won’t last long, she is such a smiley social kid. She didn't get to go yesterday because she was sick and she was so sad. Here is their first day of school picture, I wised up and put the camera outside in advance!
Alyssa was able to switch out of our mom-and-me gymnastics class and now she is in class with Danica. They enjoy it and Alyssa is doing well at following directions and trying the new skills, it’s a good change and I still get lots of hugs because she can’t resist running over to me from time to time.
We were "kitty-sitting" for two weeks. This is Clementine, named by Danica. She was found in the dug out of the baseball field behind our house. Tom and Hayden saw her and thought she was dead, her eyes were crusted over and she couldn't move. I got my neighbor Tatyana to help and we brought her in. I slowly nursed her back to health. As she got stronger I taught her how to use the litter box, took her to the vet, got rid of her fleas and meticulously cleaned my house to make sure none were left around. Needless to say, I put a lot of time into taking care of her. However, we had no intention of having a cat. We move in less than a year and don't want to try to take her with us. Alyssa couldn't keep her hands off her and kept getting bitten. Danica and Hayden were too scared to touch her. So we put her up for adoption and she was picked up by a nice family that really love cats. Overall, it was a good experience. We rescued her and now she's in a loving home!
Okay this is random but it was too strange not to take a picture of. This is a light on the side of a building... we can only assume it's so no birds land on it?
Last thing, I was driving behind this car the other night. I'm not quite sure how the driver can see the road with 5 TV screens to distract him... crazy... no seat belt laws, no car seats and no rule about TVs. Good thing the speed limits are so much lower!
Life in Okinawa is good. We are really enjoying this last year and all the great things the island as to offer!!!
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