Quick Reflection for 2014 and Quick Resolution for 2015...

2014

My favorite experience of 2014 was our staycation with our friends to celebrate Morgan’s Birthday and Memorial Day weekend!  It was such a fun weekend of family and friends!  Made memories for a lifetime!

My biggest accomplishment was all the cooking I did this year!  I’ve always been so terrible and scared of cooking.  When I did cook it was very easy recipes with minimal skill needed.  This year I’ve learned more recipes and even took a couple classes to help me out.   I pushed myself more because I wanted to cook for my family.   I think that I’m finally getting the hang of cooking.

My favorite place to visit was South Korea!  We only went on one vacation this year out of the country and it was Seoul, South Korea.  We had an awesome time!  I was actually a little skeptical because it had never been one of those places I cared for seeing, but Morgan kept saying I would love it.  And he was absolutely right!  We had a great time, I would go again!

The best meal is……. sushi!  I love sushi so much that I took a class in how to make it.  Since being here I’ve branched out more and tried different and exotic kinds!  I am always in the mood for sushi 365 24/7

If I have a free day, I like to relax with the family!  Nothing beats a day of hangin in our jammies , snacking, curling up on the couch and watching movies.

My favorite book, I feel terrible, but I don’t think I finished a book at all this year.  I did read lots of cook books though! lol

My favorite movie this year would have to be Lone Survivor.  I’m actually not sure when it came out, but I know I saw it in 2014.  It was so good and very sad. 

One way I’d like to grow in 2015 is in my faith.  I haven’t been religious in a very long time.  I think that’s why I feel empty sometimes.  I’m going to make it a point to get more in touch with my faith.

2015

I want to continue to strive to be a better mom!

I want to try to learn more about cooking and baking!

I want to stop being impatient.

I’d like to visit the Philippines, Tokyo, and Osaka.

My goals for this year are to be a super mom/wife, eat better, drink more water, pay off debt, read more, and get out more.

Happy Birthday America

4th of July Recap

I've totally been slacking.  All my posts are late, well better late then never.  The typhoon kinda got me off track.

We spent 4th of July like we always do on Oki, with our annual Ikei beach bbq with our Oki fam.    We go to Ikei beach and spend the whole day BBQing and beaching it.  Its a fun traditon because all the families get together and bring a ton of food and drinks!  All the kids were having a blast going back and fourth playing in the sand and the water. This year was especially fun because Nolan is a lil older so we could play in the water a lot more.  We had a blast making sand castles and splashing in the water.  We got to the beach at 10 and left at 6!  It was a long full day.  I was super surprised because the kids didn't even stop for a nap!  They were determined to have lots of fun and soak up the sun.  The ONLY downside is that there are no fireworks at the beach.  Since we live in Japan, they obviously don't celebrate the 4th of July.   On base they do have fire works, BUT its the only firework show on island so as you can imagine its packed.  By the time we got home, the kids were already so exhausted that we just shower them and put them in bed.  We didn't dare venture out after that long day.  Till we meet again Ikei beach!

Ikei Beach

Playing with his daddy

Floaty fun

Family shot

Oki Fam
{This isn't even everyone who came, this was everyone who lasted till 6pm}

Typhoon Talk

First typhoon of the season hit Okinawa on July 8th.  It definitely came in with a bang!!!   We've been here for a few years now and we've learned that typhoons aren't really that bad.  Its a lot of wind and a lot of rain.  We normally just hang out inside, watch movies, and cook up a bunch of food.   Its pretty standard, don't want to be outside in all the mess.  Plus you would probably get blown away.  We really just have family time and its nice to hang out together.

During typhoon season we like to keep stuff on hand, just in case one hits.   Usually we get a couple days notice before one hits and they can come back to back.   Being prepared at all times is key.  For our "typhoon kit"  we keep water , batteries, flashlights, canned food, and candles.    Plus the grocery store gets nuts before one hits, since most people are stocking up for the typhoon.  When I hear about a typhoon hitting I usually only have to grab a few things at the store, just a hit and run.

Typhoon Neoguri was originally forecast as a category 5 super typhoon. BTW category 5 is the highest category! I usually don't freak out, but when I saw that locals were freaking, I knew I should be worried.  So I bought  extra just in case.  The typhoon was expected to hit late afternoon on Tuesday July 8th.  Winds already started picking up on Monday morning July 7th.  I wanted to take the kids out to play at a park, but Nolan got sick and we had to spend Monday hanging at the hospital.  By the time the kids and I got home, Morgan got home, so we had to prepare.  Morgan was outside tying things down and putting stuff away.  I was inside getting all the typhoon gear out so we wouldn't have to search for it.  I was also doing laundry.  haha During typhoons there is a lot of downtime so folding laundry is a perfect activity.

The typhoon came Tuesday.  Luckily it hit Okinawa as a cat 3 and not a cat 5.  There was lots of wind and rain.  I always get a lil nervous.... the winds were just so crazy.  But the houses and building on Oki are built to withstand typhoons, still nerve wracking tho.  People on Facebook were posting pics , it looked pretty bad out.  We just hunkered down, ate, and watched movies.  We did loose power for a few hours.  That was lame because that means no ac and it was getting humid.  We were lucky to only loose it for a few hours, I've had friends that lost it for a full 12 hours.  In our neck of the woods the typhoon was pretty uneventful.  It did hang out on the coast a lil longer then expected and did bring a down pour of rain, thunder, and lighting.  I believe the estimate rain fall was 34 inches.   There was flooding all around town.  After all is said and done, there was lots of damage all over the island.  Unfortunately I did hear of 2 deaths. For us, we were fortunate to not have any damages from the storm.  Wednesday after we got the all clear , Morgan was out cleaning up all the debris and untying the outdoor stuff.  Once the power came back on {Wed. afternoon} I started clean up inside.

Nolan playing with his Hot Wheels

Amelia watching on her Ipad

Hanging in bed watching Netflix

Made some Turon

Made some spicy kimchee soup

Hopefully that was the worst one of the season.  There is even another typhoon forming, hopefully it doesn't pass us or it dissipates.   Typhoon season is here and we're ready.



Pictures of damages throughout the island//

{Not my photo}
Car flipped over on base

                              

{Not my photo}
Car crushed by fallen tree

{Not my photo}
Restaurant in Naha 

{Not my photo}
Flooding

{Not my photo}
flooding