Ie Island/Marriage Retreat

For 3 days and 2 nights we got to go off to Ie (pronounced E-eh) Island for a marriage retreat! It was a lot of fun and the only thing we had to pay for was babysitting. We did one of these about 3 years ago and it was almost all classes but a pretty hotel. This time we only had 4 hours of classes over 3 days and the rest of the time it was scheduled outings to explore the island or free time! As a military family it can be hard sometimes because of how often we are apart so getting experiences like this is a big deal and so fun!

Here we are about to get on the ferry. Do you guys like my new glasses? I do! When I get up early it is better sometimes for me to wait to put my contacts in so I did it on the ferry. 

Naha Dragon Boat Races and Children's Day

I finally made it down to the Dragon boat races! First year I was pregnant and the other years I was too intimidated to going with Connor alone but finally this year I knew it was my last chance so we just went! It is one of the biggest festivals in Okinawa on Children's Day, one of the biggest holidays of the year in Japan! I was feeling a little anxious to go but it ended up being just fine. We went in the morning before it was too crazy. 

Terri and Mark Visit Japan

Day 1

Dolphin Show

Day in the life

Took Connor to the beach this morning. I wanted to find a sea marble. I found none but my neighbor I went with found 4. I found this little water baby and he was pretty cute though.  I don't get much time to look around when I need to keep my head up to watch this cutie. 

The Taft's Visit Okinawa

Here is everything we did when the Tafts came to visit! We packed every day from morning till night! We didn't get to do everything but I think they really got a good taste of Okinawa! I tried to sort through all the photos and only use a couple but there is still a lot!

Day 1

Nakagusuku castle

Cherry Blossoms and Sea Glass Beach

It was a rainy afternoon but we decided to go up and see the cherry blossoms anyway! We were so lucky we did because as we got up to Nago, The rain cleared and we got some sun peaking between the clouds. We went up the side of Mt. Nago where there was a beautiful path lined with cherry blossoms. When we got up half the way I looked back to see the sun shining on the ocean through the blossoms!

Cosmos Flowers in Kin

We all drove up to the cosmos again this year! Logan got to come this time and we got some great pictures!

Adventure Group: Miyagi and Ikei Island

I was really brave and went out with the Adventure Group this week. It was early and a little far away so I hadn't planned on going the day before. That morning I was woken up by what sounded like banging on my door but no one was there by the time I checked. So I went back upstairs and got back in bed but I was wide awake. Then 40 minutes before I needed to meet up I decided I would just go! I showered packed us breakfast and lunches plus things to keep Connor entertained and then woke him up, changed him and threw him in the car! We totally made it to the meet up spot on time! So off we drove over the bridge to the little island chain next to Okinawa.

Christmas Cheer

As my friend Buddy the Elf says "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear". 

Saturday I went with a group from my ward to sing at a community center for the elderly. It was a great experience! We were one of the acts for their end of year celebration. This was the first time they had Americans come and sing Christmas Carols. 

Haircut and Fukugawa Falls 10/21/16 - 10/22/16

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I just have a hard time when Connor or I am sick. It seems to happen a lot around here. Most recently it being Connor that is having a hard time. But before he started feeling really crappy Saturday night, we had some fun. I took Connor to the park Friday afternoon and he was so happy to "gift" me this moss from the playground. After looking at this pic I decided it was time for another haircut. 

Columbus Weekend+ 10/6-10/12

Took Connor and our friends Dannah and her son Slater out to see the Nakagusuku Castle ruins. From the parking lot you can see this half built abandoned hotel. It's a pretty good Halloween story actually. WARNING- don't read this story if you don't want to be creeped out! 

Okuma Beach Resort

Before we left on our mini vacation to Okuma, I gave Connor his Bunny Day present a few days early because it would be perfect for our little trip!

Sue Visits Okinawa/Logan Comes Home

Logan's mom came to visit us and helped watch Connor so we could go on a little vacation.

Sunabe Baba Park

Columbus Day family time.

RS Activity

At our activity tonight we made onigiri (rice balls) and then two sisters from the Japanese ward helped us dress up in Yukatas! These are like light weight Kimonos. I love living in Japan!

Kyoto

We ended up only staying 2 days in Kyoto. We left early to avoid a typhoon and so glad we did! It ended up hitting the island the night our original flight got in. So our sightseeing around Kyoto was short and sweet. 

July 6

Just like getting to Tokyo, traveling really takes so much of the day (especially with a baby). Checked out of our hotel in the morning, road the bullet train, figured out how to get to our hotel, checked into our hotel, got lunch/explored, back to hotel to let Connor get a nap and then walked to dinner. Full day but didn't get much sight seeing done. 

Traveling on the Shinkansen (bullet train).

Tokyo

July 2

Getting to Tokyo and our hotel (took all day!). We flew with the cheapest airline so the terminal was in the middle of the cargo loading area and we got plastic chairs to sit on. 

FHE at the Beach

It is our ward's tradition to have group FHE at the Kadena Marina every summer! So we went down and had fun with our friends there!

Sefa-utaki World Heritage Site

There are 18 World Heritage Sites in Japan. 9 of them are in Okinawa. Logan and I have now been to 6 of them. Today we went to the most sacred site of the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa and several smaller islands). It is actually a collection of several alters. It used to be up kept by priestesses and is still visited and worshiped by pilgrims. It is on a beautiful hill outlooking the Pacific Ocean. 

It was about an hour away but Connor did great the whole time! It is great being able to get out more and explore our little island. It was also nice to get out of the house considering our water was off and unusable. (We woke up to no water Sunday morning because a water line had broke, they got it back on eventually but told us it had been contaminated so we couldn't use it unless we boiled it for 3 minutes. Thankfully it was back to normal by Monday evening)

Chill Weekend

Friday afternoon I went to a furniture store for baskets and then the 100 yen (dollar) store. I love how baby friendly Japan is.