Hayden's Big Day

This is a very special day in our family. Today Hayden was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. He has been looking forward to this day and is excited for what it means. I would like to take the time to write more but I know the grandparents are anxious for a report so I will hurry and share the basics now. Hayden chose to be baptized in the ocean, an Okinawan tradition that is still an option because there is not a good font to use in the church building. We tried to do it back in February but the wind was so strong that the current was to rough and the waves were too big to get in the water. So after much waiting, it was finally today. The weather made us nervous a few times today but it held out and ended up being wonderful. It was warm enough and the wind stayed down and it didn’t rain. We had only one set back, the tide was really low. Although we tried to read the tide charts and understand what they meant in the end we just to pick a convenient time that was after church and before dinner. We didn’t get it right and the boys had to go out really far into the ocean to get deep enough. They were lucky to have strong dads to carry them! First we sat up on the beach and enjoyed a talk about baptism. Then we moved down through this opening toward the water. At higher tide the water comes right up to this spot.
We stood here on this sand and they walked out until the water was deep enough, about 50 feet.

Once Hayden was settled in the water things seemed to really calm down and we were able to hear the prayer and watched as Hayden was put under water. His leg floated up, perhaps due to the current, or salt water, or his anxiousness to get out, who knows. So they got to do it a second time and it went smoothly. Tom then carried Hayden back to the waiting dry towel. Then I got to snuggle him to warm him up while we watched his friend be baptized.
While they all went to change we moved up off the beach and to a covered pavilion for the rest of the service. We felt very loved and there were a lot of families in attendance so we all sat and sang primary songs while we waited for the boys. Once they returned I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost and the boys had to try to crush a soda can that was empty and then one “filled” with the Holy Ghost. They were then confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Hayden said he had a great day. He got to choose chocolate chip pancakes for lunch and pizza for dinner and all his friends came to the baptism. Once the girls were in bed I sat with him for a while and we talked and he said it felt good. Most of all he said he was surprised that he didn't feel cold when he went under the water. He was so worried but he said he just felt warm. It was wonderful for me to be able to see Hayden take these important steps and I felt so proud to be his mom. At the same time I am overwhelmed at the responsibility to care for someone so important. He truly is amazing and has the potential to be anyone he wants to be. I want him to stay little forever but as he inevitably grows up I look forward to seeing the young man he will become!

The Earthquake and Tsunami

I know a few people have been wondering about things down here in Okinawa so I thought I would type up a quick report. Fortunately, we are doing well and have been physically unaffected by the quake. We did not feel it and although most of our friends were evacuated from their homes due to the tsunami warning, we live on higher ground so they all came here and spent the night. I curse our big hill every time I am coming home from a run or bike ride but it was a blessing that night! The tsunami did not hit and they were able to go home on Saturday.

The command released an official statement today saying we are not yet in any danger due to radiation and they will continue to monitor it very closely but do not expect it to be a problem as we are still a safe distance away.
In fact, we are such a "safe" distance they have extended the invitation to those families living on military bases up in mainland Japan who would like to relocate, to come here. Families on mainland Japan are being allowed to relocate but that option is not extended to us. In fact, just the opposite. They are not allowing any families to PCS (move) out or in.... so it will be interesting as all the families with orders to move try to figure out if they really can. That does include us, hopefully they will want us out of here soon to make room for the mainland families moving down but we'll see.

In the meantime, we are very thankful to be safe and continue to pray for the many, many people who are experiencing such heartache and loss at this time. Lots of people from here have gone up to help and we wish them the best! We'll try to take care of their families as best we can while they are gone. Men who were scheduled to come home are now staying out longer and I feel the strain that puts on their wives and kids. Pilots who were supposed to come home and been rerouted up north. One woman is about to have a baby and her husband was supposed to be home in time and now will not as his ship has turned and headed up north. So yes, we didn't feel the quake but we certainly feel its aftermath.

Overdue Update

I can't see a cartoon like this and not think of our family:

Well we are way behind and have enjoyed so many updates from everyone I figure it’s time we share!

In January we went to this bull fight. It's not the type you might think, it's where the bulls fight each other. They moved very slowly and were somewhat controlled by their handlers. Very odd... there was more dancing between matches than actual action. Made for an interesting night anyway!



Hayden: He was supposed to have a big and special day this past month. His baptism, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was scheduled for Feb. 12th but had to be postponed due to the weather. Here in Okinawa most people are baptized in the ocean and Hayden decided he wanted to do that also. However, on the 12th the wind was so bad that the season conditions were at their highest warning level (Red) and no one was allowed out in the water. Tom drove out to the beach just to make sure and saw the waves crashing right into the cove we had planned to use. So we have to wait. He has a good friend who turned 8 just a few weeks after he did so they want to get baptized on the same day. Unfortunately, his friends dad went out of town right after the 12th and won’t be back for a while so the baptism has been rescheduled for March 19th or 20th. We’re really hoping for decent weather!

Third grade is working out very for well for him and other than “cursing cursive” all the time he enjoys it. He fits in well with the kids and is really happy at school and enjoys the freedom and flexibility of being “older.” We’ve had a few instances of getting ready for school and him suddenly remembering an assignment he didn’t do and freaking out about how it will affect his grade. In second grade I had a list of his homework for the week. Now he is on his own and it’s a learning curve to be sure. He was chosen for the third grade spelling bee and had fun with that. He didn't want to practice the technique of saying the word and then spelling it and saying it again and in the end that's what got him. After making it a few rounds he spelled the word right but had forgotten to say it first so they cut him out. It was funny to watch him trying to reach the microphone set for the generally taller third graders!
He’s been grouchier at home and when I ask him about it he says it’s the stress at school and the fact that I want him to do more chores at home. However, when we really sat down and talked about how he is feeling it seems manageable, he’s just not used to having to work at anything and it’s an adjustment to have to actually try to do cursive and multiplication. Fortunately, he complains to me and drives me crazy but then he gets it done and is still at the top of the class where he likes to be. Basketball ended and now he’s started soccer, I look forward to a lot of fun time running around outside! That always makes everyone feel better!

Danica: When she turned 5 she advanced in gymnastics to a class where they are grouped by skill. She did so well on her first day that she was invited to join the Firecrackers. A group of serious girls who meet twice a week and work on more advanced skills. I was excited for Danica and we went and watched the Firecrackers practice one day and Danica liked it so forked over the money and signed up. We knew Dani would be the youngest and at the bottom of the class but the coach felt she had the potential and teachability to do it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very overwhelming for Danica. She was intimidated by the number of girls, the fact that they were all bigger and older and could do thing better than her. She was afraid to do the things she knew how to do for fear they would laugh (even though they were all very nice) and a few times she got brave and tried something new but it didn’t always go well and she would end up in tears. She started to hate gymnastics and I hated taking her and fighting with her to go out on the floor and try things. The other mothers must have thought I was so mean making my daughter cry all the time not knowing that I only have to frown at her to make her cry. She got to the point where she wouldn’t even go stretch with the girls because she couldn’t do the splits as well as some of them...ugh...what was I doing wrong? It was a tough parenting time for me as I had to come to terms with the reality that she has her agency and I can’t force her to do it even if I know she is capable. If she doesn’t want to “try” then there is nothing I can do. So we transferred back into a preschool level class, a small one for advanced preschoolers. She was timid the first day and we ended up needing to say a prayer right there in the gym to give her the courage to go out and join her class of three other little girls but once out there she warmed up quickly and loved being the biggest, oldest and best in the class... I hate to regress and waste the time and money but at least she’s happy.

She also started soccer...that’s going to be interesting as well...first it was a fight over what to wear. She didn't think her pants were cute enough. Then she was so nervous she wouldn’t get out of the car at the first practice. I’ve learned that I need to explain in great detail everything that is going to happen... “the coach will call the team together, he’ll tell you to kick the ball, then...” and that seems to help a lot. Tom took her shopping for some cute pink Addidas pants she loves and in the end she did fine at yesterday's practice. I don’t know why she is so afraid of the world. Maybe it goes back to the c-section 2 weeks early....she was so shocked when she was suddenly pulled out of my stomach by her feet that she didn’t breath at first. I hope some day to help her have the confidence she deserves! She is so smart and capable, I don’t know why she is so afraid. A few weeks ago she was asked to share the scripture in primary. I was so proud of her because when we practiced she could actually read the verse all by herself and was very excited. Luckily, on Sunday, after nearly chickening out she was finally willing to read it in Primary, so quiet that no one could hear her but at least she did it!!

Alyssa: Her new nickname is “toothless.” Her other front tooth was removed in preparation for getting her fake teeth. The tooth was loose and bothering Alyssa so although she didn’t love the experience of having it removed she behaved really well and was happy afterward. She looks a little funny but adorable at the same time. She says the funniest stuff all the time, she has a great sense of humor and loves to make jokes. She reminds me a lot of Hayden without all his intense anger he had as a 3 year old. It’s nice. The other day we took the kids to the daycare for the free parent’s day out and Danica was in tears and just sobbing because she was afraid to go. Alyssa put her arm around her and said “Danica, don’t worry, I’ll be with you.” That about sums her up.
She’s obsessed with ballet and wears leotards and tutus all day every day. She loves her ballet class and is working hard to learn the dance for her recital. It’s so cute to see her try so hard to follow the teachers directions. Such a contrast to how she was in gymnastics where she didn’t want to try anything!! She’s found her love.
Tom: The big news is that he is finally scuba dive certified!!!! It’s been his dream for years and it’s so great he’s finally done it! I was lucky enough to tag along and got my certification as well so that some day we can go on trips and cruises together and enjoy diving! It was a great experience and so surreal to be down there swimming with the coral and all the fish. We did private lessons so it was just Tom and I with the instructor, a great lady who was a patient of his. The first day I didn't have enough weight on me and kept floating up so Tom had to hold my hand as we swam around, it was great! Tom just kept saying how much he couldn’t believe it and had that look of excitement constantly in his eyes!! Now he’s pursuing getting deep water certified, he’s definitely hooked!
He’s spending all the rest of his free time running, biking and looking at houses online while reading “Mortgages for Dummies.” We get so excited and so nervous about buying a house and wanting to find the right one!

Tracey: We made the decision to pull the girls out of preschool so I could spend more time with them. They liked it there but I felt like I had all these ideas of games to play and activities to do but never had the time to do it. Even with only three days a week I was always running out the door to drop them off or pick them up and then feed them lunch and take a nap, and then the day is over. It’s been fun having them home and we are enjoying the together time. Our preschool time isn’t perfect, we have arguments about who goes first, who gets to do what, etc. but we’re working out the kinks and enjoying it. I am sure I’ll miss my “me” time but that’s okay, I’ll find other ways to get it! We plan to use the extra free time for more island exploring as well! There are parks and beaches with our names on them! Friday we're going to the zoo!

Time here is winding down and we have a lot we want to do here and a lot we are looking forward to. It’s going to be a fun three months!!!

The BIG Trip

What do you get when you add two airplanes, two bullet trains, one borrowed car, one rented car, 5 taxis, 4 buses and so many subways I can’t even count them? A fantastic trip around mainland Japan!!

Tom's brother Dave and his wife Adina came to visit us at the end of January and after a few days of enduring uncharacteristically cold weather here in Okinawa we left the kids with some very kind and generous friends and headed for the mainland! While they were here we did the best we could after canceling our plans for snorkeling and cherry blossom viewing. Instead we perused the 100 Yen Store, ate at Co-Co Ichibanya (a great Curry House that Tom had been refusing to try.... turns out he loves it!) Then we headed up north and went to the Ocean Expo Park Aquarium and saw them feed the whale sharks. The next day Dave and Adina went running while Tom took Hayden to his first Pine Wood Derby. He came in second place and had a great time. After lunch it was finally done raining and we dropped the kids with a friend and went to the Forest Adventure Park where we zip lined around the jungle.


It would have been better on a sunny warm day but we still had a great time! That night after putting the kids to bed we headed off for a great round of Karaoke at Big Echo.

After church on Sunday we drove south to Peace Prayer Park where we spent time remembering those who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. It was very humbling to see the magnitude of loss that occurred during that horrible time.
That night Tom treated everyone to some of his nearly famous BBQ’d Bubba Burgers. He’s getting really great on the grill.

Monday was the big day- leaving the kids for 6 days. I was so excited for the trip and so nervous at the same time. I had pages of detailed itinerary, routines and menus and had tried to plan for everything. Thank you to wonderful friends the kids were able to stay here at the house. The first two nights a friend who has no kids and her husband is deployed, came to stay with them. After that an Okinawan friend, a young return missionary we met through church, stayed with the kids. She babysits for us a lot and can drive on base because she works at the day care here. While she was at work the kids spent time with different friends. Hayden loved it, it was like a vacation all week with friends every day and no chores. Danica and Alyssa didn’t love it quite so much, in fact Danica spent a lot of time the first few days crying any time she remembered I was gone. She wasn’t sleeping well so it was just getting worse and I was having a hard time not worrying about her. Fortunately, eventually she caught up on her sleep and started feeling better. In the end, they were fine. They spent Sunday morning in awe that we were home, Alyssa kept saying “No more wake up days!” and looking back and forth between Tom and I at church saying “mommy, daddy, mommy, daddy.” But everything is back to normal now.

Fortunately, I knew the kids were in good hands and I really didn’t have much time to worry them because we were having too much fun! We left Monday morning and flew into Fukuoka. We took a bus from the airport to Sasebo and then a taxi onto the Navy Base there. We stayed at the lodge and had a friend there help us rent a car. That night Dave and Adina took us around their old stomping ground. We went to dinner at Tonchinkan, a yakitori restaurant (like shish kabobs) and it was so good. My favorite meal of the trip. We walked the ginza before heading back for a fantastic game of Phase 10.
Tuesday morning we started off with a run in the brisk cool air around the city. I loved running passed the fruit stands, a woman carrying her baskets dangling on stick over her shoulders, a beautiful temple and the ship yard with HUGE boats being built. Then we bought a dozen donuts and took off in our rental car for Nagasaki. On the way we stopped by Hario, where Dave and Adina used to live and then Saikaibashi, a great park. At the park we couldn’t resist renting a few lawn sleds and taking some trips down this huge plastic grass hill.
It was all fun and games until Dave and Tom took Adina’s advice and tried to go down on their feet... Dave’s hip and elbow will never be the same again.
We couldn’t find a Co-Co’s so we stopped at McDonald’s and Tom and Dave had an Idaho Burger, a burger with a huge hash-brown potato and horseradish on it. Then we walked through the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park. It was intense seeing all the evidence of the destruction. It was also interesting to see that there was no information anywhere as to what happened prior to the bomb being dropped or the reason for it’s drop. But no matter the reason, the devastation was tragic and truly horrible.

A little history of the photo with all 4 of us. Dave had us wait until the last second before the timer went off on the camera and then told us to act like superheroes. So, That explains our poses. Dave said he froze up. We could not figure out what he was doing, especially since he knew what we were going to act like. We had a good laugh about it.

Driving through the country side to and from Nagasaki was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Out the window you could see rice patties everywhere and the homes were fairly large with beautiful architecture. It’s the part of Japan where I would like to live. We arrived back in Sasebo and went to Co-Co’s for dinner and then played cards again until late.
Wednesday we woke early and took a bus 2 hours back to Fukuoka where we got on the Shinkansen, a bullet train. The train was incredibly fast (and expensive!) but we had a nice ride. We spent our time through that train ride and countless others going through a set of conversation cards and learning more about each other than we probably wanted to know! Someday if you really want I can give you lots of insights into Tom, Dave and Adina... for instance, what are they willing to do for a million dollars? We got off the bullet train rested and ready to go. We caught a bus to a Japanese hotel that Adina had booked for us and got settled in. Our time was short and there was a lot to see so we took a taxi to Fushimi Ihari Shrine, where they have 1000 Torii gates!! It was an amazing sight and a great experience as we learned about the shrine and the Shintu rituals.



From there we took another taxi to the Yoshida Temple to join in the Setsuban Festival, a bean throwing ceremony the day before the beginning of spring. What an experience! We tried lots of new foods and gorged on our new favorite a little pancake stuffed with cream. We saw a huge pile of amulets and tokens from the past year that were being prepped to be burned by the monks. There was a play going on and as we tried to watch the crowd got so thick we got seperated and Adina and I were literally being moved around by the crowd and being pushed in opposite directions. Thank goodness Tom and Dave are so tall we could spot them and eventually found our way back! That night it was back to the RIGHA Royal Hotel but we weren’t ready to settle down. Another taxi ride took to the Gion District where we walked around until we were rewarded with an actual Geisha spotting! She got out of a vehicle and walked quickly down the road into a tea house where she apparently had an appointment! We felt like the paparazzi but could’t resist getting a photo!
Thursday we ate breakfast in the bus station where we enjoyed some pastries. It seemed like there was a pastry shop on every corner that we passed. In fact, as we sat here eating our breakfast there was a japanese guy taking our pictures from every angle. He was kind enough to show us his handy work and also share some of the other pictures he had taken with his cell phone camera that day. Gotta love these people. We never once felt any fear as we walked the streets in these big cities. There is something they are doing right here. We talked with our home teacher on the way home from the airport about how nice it was to be on the subway and never be worried for our safety. People are so kind. Adina made the observation that it was really difficult to find somebody that was overweight on the subway. Even with the pastry shops, they are doing something right .
Then we took the bus to one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. It’s called the Golden Pavillioin and houses the Kinkaknji Temple, a magnificent buddhist temple plated in gold. It is surrounded by the well named mirror pond and beautiful zen gardens. As we approached an area for worship we suddenly heard drums and horns and a group of monks came and began a ceremony we were able to observe. I have such an appreciation for their dedication and the peaceful life style they portray. We should have stayed longer and walked through the grounds again. But alas, we got on the bus again and headed over to another shrine that was supposed to be having a great Setsuban festival. It wasn’t all we hoped it would be and we spent a lot of time waiting for something to start that turned out to be some sort of archery ceremony. We were still able to learn more about their beliefs and customs and appreciated the opportunity to be there. We were the only American’s there. Adina made an offering to the shrine for a happy marriage so her and Dave are pretty well set. I tried to use the bathroom and found only squat potties and a machine asking 100 yen for toilet paper. Bummers.

For lunch we ate in a really smoky restaurant at the train station while we waited to board another Shinkansen. This bullet train took us to the station in Tokyo where we spent quite a while completely confused about how to find our desired subway. Turns out we needed to go outside and down into in a different station.... I don’t know if we could have figured it out even it had been in English! Fortunately after that Dave took over and flawlessly guided us through dozens of subway rides throughout the city. We checked in at the military hotel, the New Sanno and then headed out to find some food. After much indecision we finally ended up at Plates, an Italian place where we enjoyed a great japanese version of Italian food. Then is was back to the hotel where we played Hearts until way too late.

Friday we ate a delicious breakfast at the hotel and took to the subways again. First stop was the Asakusa where we did a lot of shopping at the souvenir stands and then visited a Senso-ji Temple. At the temple we decided to make an offering and receive a personal fortune. While shaking the canister of bamboo sticks we made wish and said a prayer and then pulled out the stick that would correspond to our fortune. Sadly Adina received THE worse fortune, it actually said that at the top and proceeded to tell her that everything would be bad, her request would not be granted, her patient would not get better, her lost article would not be found, the person she waited for would not come, marriage and employment would be bad, etc... it was a sad moment made worse when my fortune came and said just the opposite. It was THE best fortune and pretty much assured me everything will be great. I’ll let you know when my request comes true. Tom and Dave’s fortunes fell somewhere in between. Tom’s actually said “Half Fortune.”

Adina tried to shake off the bad news while we took another subway and went to Akihabara, the electronic district. We walked around for a while looking at odd electronics and trying to convince Dave not to pay a crazy amount for a bunch of LED lights strung like Christmas lights. After way too long there (sorry Dave) we left and took another subway to the Ginza (shopping area). We walked around for a while and then we turned a corner and I could practically hear some sort of theme music kick in as we saw the Apple Store and Tom’s honing beaker went off. But at this point we were starving so we went in search of somewhere to eat first. Happily we wandered down into some sort of club with a great buffet lunch. The place was very hip (does that make me sound really old and lame?) and we enjoyed a short respite after lunch. Then it was off for more shopping. We gaped at the Apple Store then took another subway and went to Shibuya where we saw so many people it was in sane. People were moving around like water flowing across the crosswalks! I had the luxury of shopping at H&M and bought a stellar jacket. Then we walked past a Big Echo and had to jump in for a quick hour of karaoke. For future reference, karaoke in Tokyo is very expensive.


But now we were exhausted and after taking a few subways back home we decided to try to eat at the New Sanno and enjoyed a late night dinner before another game of cards.

Saturday was bitter sweet, our last day. I was excited to go home to my kids but sad to leave such great company and the bliss of vacation. I hadn’t cooked or cleaned or card for a child in an entire week! We ate the hotel again, our new favorite place and then set off to see the Tokyo temple. It was crazy to think about how small it is in a city with so many people. Then it was back to the hotel to pack up and say good-bye. We had booked a bus to the airport and luckily I realized just before it was too late that Tom and I were actually flying out of a different airport! So we parted ways and they left on their chartered bus, an airport limousine, and we walked down the street to wait for a city bus to take us back to the train station where we caught a private train to the airport (thank you to the concierge for telling us how to get there!)

Our flight home was uneventful and quiet, just 3 hours. As we walked past the spot in the airport where we had sat waiting for our flight at the beginning of the week Tom commented on how that sight made him feel nostalgic already. He was ready for the trip to start all over again (minus the part where he dropped egg salad sandwich on his jacket.) It was funny to look over at the small store where we bought lunch while waiting for our flight out and seeing it as “foreign” again. I was back to my regular life where I didn’t eat out for every meal and most of my food comes from the American commissary. The girls were asleep when we got home but I got a big hug from Hayden. Sunday morning the girls greeted me with big hugs and snuggles and we enjoyed the day together.

Now that I’m home and everything is going well I just can’t wait for the next adventure to begin!
P.S. You can't travel with two dentists without noticing every dental clinic you pass... this one really caught our eye!

January so far...

(The line up on Christmas morning.)
So far the new year is treating us just fine. Christmas was wonderful, the kids enjoyed it and we were able to have a bunch of the young soldiers from Tom’s clinic over for dinner. I managed to be slightly less busy this year than last year which gives me hope that maybe next year I’ll do even better and actually have time to enjoy the holiday season! We also decided, as we do every year, that the kids get way too many presents and we won’t buy as much next year. (Alyssa got a white kitten to replace the one we rescued and had for a few weeks.)
(Danica got this Arial doll that is all tall as Alyssa. I often find her wearing the girls clothes and we regularly get spooked by her when we walk into the girls room at night.)(This is Hayden's expression the moment he realized he got a Lego set!)

On New Year’s Eve we had our friends over for a party. We let the kids stay up and cheer at 8:30, we had them all in bed by nine. There were 13 kids sleeping in the bedrooms of our small house, quite remarkable. We enjoyed the evening playing games and then at midnight we grabbed Hayden out of his sleeping bag and took him outside to see the fireworks because we promised we would wake him at midnight. He lasted 1 minute and asked to go back to bed! Maybe next year we will let him actually stay up.
Hayden started third grade and is loving it so far. He still complains about homework like always but loves the class work especially learning cursive. His best friend, who lives next door to us, is in his third grade class so that is great. I asked if he’s made any other new friends and he said “well, I have an acquaintance named Pete, I think eventually he’ll be a friend.” He continues to plow through Percy Jackson and is on the 4th one now. I’m still trying to teach him to play the piano and hope that I’m not doing irreparable damage. I plan to get him a real teacher once we move. Here he is admiring the rain on the hike we did the other day.

Danica got new teachers at church, the parents of one of the really unruly kids in the class. On the first day the dad, a marine, was explaining what will happen if you’re bad in class. That night Danica dreamed that she was being bad at church (something that has never happened.) In her dream she was talking to her friend so she got put in the “green chair” and then kicked out of class. She woke up very upset and for the rest of the week she would, at random times, say things about not liking her class. Apparently her teacher really got his point across. I should have given him the heads up that with Danica all you have to do is imply that you might frown at her and she will do anything you say! (I have since then talked to the teachers and they talked to Danica and assured she won’t go in the green chair. She’s fine now!)
Alyssa has sadly lost a tooth. She hit it really hard a year or so ago and we worried she’d lose it then but it seemed fine. Since then she’s hit it a few times but been okay. Then last week Tom was brushing her teeth and realized it was VERY loose! After he spent the whole night unable to sleep because of nightmares about her tooth he took her to work with him and did some x-rays which revealed that she had no root and the tooth was on the verge of falling out. Within a few days it was wiggling so much it was hurting her and she should wouldn’t eat so Tom just pulled it out. The x-ray revealed that the other front tooth has a very short root as well and will fall out soon. So lucky for her she’s in the right family and will be fitted with some little prosthetic teeth once they arrive on island. Once we realized it was loose Tom took her out for one last photo shoot... here are the before and after shots. We’ve got her convinced her lost tooth is adorable so she loves to show it off! Plus, the tooth fairy brought her a lollipop so she thinks this is the best!

Tom had the prosthodontist that he works with do a soft tissue graft on his front tooth (#9 for those who care.) It’s been a bit sore but he’s been downing the percocet so he’s been happy. A few weeks ago I went on a tour of a shrine that is all decked out for the ongoing New Year’s celebration. I learned a lot of cool things about how the holiday is celebrated here. We passed this idol that is supposed to bring good fortune with having children. I was really tempted to leave an offering. Then we all got our own written oracle (fortune) and after reading it had to tie it to the tree.

We are getting excited for our visit from Dave and Adina and our trip up to the mainland. We’ve nearly worked out all the little details. It’s going to be an awesome trip. I’ve been working on convincing the girls they are really lucky to have a babysitter sleep over for a week... so far they like the idea! We enjoyed a long holiday weekend and realized this was the last time he’ll get two days off for Martin Luther King day.... there are some perks to being in the military!! On Monday we hiked up Mt. Nago. It was a little too cold and rainy but we made it. We went with a few other families and Hayden had a great time running up and down the mountain with his friends. It was all perfect until Tom slipped in the mud on the way back down and took a hard fall! Too bad I don't have pictures of that!
(You'll notice Tom can't smile due to his surgery.)