Our rainy day Campout

This week was a beautiful, warm tropical week so of course when we packed the van for a weekend camping trip we were thinking warm sunny days on the beach. We set up camp just as the clouds rolled in. The kids spent the afternoon in the waves and Pete spent the afternoon relaxing in the hammock. By dinner it was down-pouring and it didn't stop. . . After packing following a rather wet night, we decided to hit the ocean expo park. Dolphin shows, hi-5ing turtles, parks and lots and lots of rain.

The beach where we were camping. The kids swam all one afternoon and played in the water and rain the next morning.


The playground at the campground. I loved how much the kids had to do, they didn't complain of being bored nearly as much.


Umbrellas are wondering things! Although it's very ironic that the kids were using an umbrella to stay dry and yet they were running through the sprinklers, isn't it?

Couldn't resist taking this picture. We've told you that vending machines are everywhere. On every corner and usually in the middle of every block. This vending machine was in the middle of a stretch of roads in a farming community with nothing but fields all around it. Just a vending machine in the middle of no where. Gotta love it!

There was so much rain, water literally poured off the stairs. Kinda of made it look like a fountain (You can kind of see the water running over the edge if you click on the picture to make it bigger and look by Lalee's shoes).

Glass Blowing @ Onna Glass Factory

This weekend was the father/son camp out for the branch. Sadly, it rained a lot. Needless to say, Pete and Alex didn't go! We didn't let the rain stop us from other adventures though. On Saturday we went to Onna Glass factory where each of the kids were able to make their own Okinawa Blown glass. The history of Okinawa glass actually goes back to world war 2 when the American Soliders used so much glass, the Okinawan people would gather up the glass and melt it down and create glasses, art work, sinks, you name it. It quickly became and art form and has become well known in the Asian world.

Step 1: Get Melted glass out of (as Alex calls it) the glass lava pit. This is accomplished by turning the medal rod again and again. Notice the use of technical terms ;) As I was saying, turning the medal rod allows the melted glass to gather and glob on the end.

Step 2: Using a shaping bowl, roll the melted glass until it creates a perfect ball shape. If you do not completely understand the very nice Japanese guy who is helping you, kindly keep your hand loose so he can still quickly roll the medal rod and create a burning lava ball.

Step 3: Blow into the lava rod. Please do not just puff up your checks as this will not create a glass bubble. Blow hard, as Pete said, "It takes a lot of air!" If you simply do not understand the directions, your daddy will end up blowing for you.

Step 4: Sit on a bench and try to follow along as you are assisted with 1)blowing some more to create a bigger bubble as your first blow was simply to puny a blow. 2) shaping the bottom of your glass, 3)Using water to set the shape of the bottom of your glass, 4)creating a weak point which you will then 5)use to break the glass away from the medal rod at which point it magically happens to be connecting to another medal rod- a magic trick Mom was never actually able to see happen so I can't adequately explain.

Please note: If you are confused or simply concerned about the whole process, simply wear a disgruntled face and the helpers will do the work for you, all the while holding your hand in place to make you feel that you are accomplishing something.

Step 5: Burn the Glass again. Not sure what this does exactly except maybe make you really hot.

Step 6: sit on another bench where you will create a hole for an opening. Once the hole has been created, you will attempt to use the tools to create a beautifully finished edge. When you screw this up and you suddenly release the tool to fast the helpers will patiently refire the burning ball of glass and then assist you the second time with a bit more help all the while giving you very helpful tips in Japanese. If you decide this task is beyond your abilities, the helpers will simply hold your hand in place as they work as they want you to feel as if you did, in fact, create the whole glass yourself.

Step 7-? The Kind Japanese helpers then take the glass and remove it from the rod, do some more fire major and then cook it... or something. Not sure exactly. And then tada- you have yourself a glass you created (somewhat) by yourself :)

Japanese English

It has been beautifully sunny the last couple of days here in Okinawa which is seriously a great surprise as we are in the middle of rainy season where it will rain continually for days or weeks at a time. Last night we took advantage of it. We drove around for a while. Walked around

America village. Had Soba, gyoza and rice for dinner and even made a stop at Yogurt Land.
Honestly, I probably wouldn't have even posted anything on the evening as it was wonderfully simple but nothing overly special except we took a picture that perfectly captures what I refer to as Japanese English. You see this everywhere, buildings, advertisements, shirts, hats, etc. They love to write things in English but more often then not it is slightly mixed up. Love it. Enjoy.

Playing hookie at the beach

You know the say, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" I've had a couple of really sour lemony days this week and just didn't feel like sipping my "life lemonade" alone today. So a hour or so before I typically pick the kids up I pulled them out of school early and we hit the beach. We haven't been to the beach to just swim for a couple of months and we couldn't have asked for a better day.

We watched some schools of fish and collected seashells although this starfish was my favorite find. (It's in about 2 feet of water- the water was so clear today). We didn't go to a new beach, see anything amazing or new. We just... were. It was wonderfully peaceful and relaxing. Just what we needed. Unfortunately, unlike high school- Pete didn't play hookie with us ;)

The amazing things our children teach us. . .

Okay, I have a confession. While we were in Utah in February I was in Jami's bathroom and noticed my first white hair. Yes. You read right. This was not a pleasant discovery for me. In fact I started crying which Pete very appropriately still makes fun of me for. Recently I have discovered just how greatly I over reacted. It's amazing what our children teach us. Last weekend I while doing Becca's hair outside in the bright sun I realized Becca doesn't have just one while hair, she has... well more than one! And I'm not talking just a lighter hair or just a spot, nope I'm talking perfectly brilliant white from roots to tip. And Becca, well she responded to that discovery so much better than her mom. "Awesome!" was her verdict.

What an amazing way to look at life, celebrate it. Granted, she doesn't have a clue she's got her dad's hair and is unique, she was just excited to be growing. Love it!

Our very own dragon boat

This week was the 18CS (Pete's work) Spring picnic. The spouses group had been involved planning activities for the little kids and then there was also a boat race scheduled, an anticipated event as most shops worked on their boats for a couple of months. On Tuesday Christy (The Commander's wife) decided it would be fun to make a boat for the spouses. We invited all the spouses to help with this (we weren't too surprised when the usual 8 of us were the only interested individuals) and we set to work.
Day 1: (4.5 hours).

Day 2: (2 hours in the morning, 4 hours at night).


Day 3: (2 hours in the morning, 4 hours at night, 5 hours at home painting head)

I didn't get a picture of me at home sketching and paining the head and the tail. All in all it was a lot of fun. And then the real test, will this boat made of nothing but cardboard, duct tape and plastic be able to hold to people and float in the wavy ocean?

The picnic: It was a lot of fun. We were at Tori beach so we had the ocean right there, a water slide to the side, a park, a bunch of bouncy toys, games for the kids, food. Slight problem , it was low tide so when it came time for the dragon boat races we had to carry the boats about 1/4 a mile over coral. IT FLOATED! It worked great (Although with the waves I wondered a time or two if it was going to tip). Of course we didn't win, girls against toned military men... do the math ;) But we had a lot of fun. We took the head off before our boat went in the recycling truck.

Pete and Mier carrying the boat for us, it got pretty heavy!

All the girls who helped with the boat

Our family inside the boat, didn't she look good?

Pete's dragon (Pretty good late night winging it job, right?)

Alex on the water slide at the beach. A great way to kick off the summer season (maybe jumping the gun a bit but I'm excited for summer;).