Sunday's Best

This year, I really wanted to grow spiritually.  I've struggled with my faith for awhile now and every year it weighs more on my heart.  So that's why I've made it a point to focus on my religion this year.  M and I have struggled  with it too.  I grew up catholic, he bounced around a few churches and religions.  We couldn't really find a happy medium.  Well, I wasn't really willing to budge.  {I know such a B} I was scared, Catholicism was all I knew, for a long time I thought he would convert.  Change is very hard on me, especially when I was younger.  We got married in a Catholic church and baptized both of our kids in the Catholic church, because that's all I knew....it was a safe bet.  But here was always a part of me that felt like it wasn't the right fit for our family.  I know how the church can be and how intimidating it can be , M was always such a good sport and very supportive.   I knew I wanted something different for our family, to be comfortable in a church and to have religion in our household. 

For the first time in a long time, I agreed to go to a church that wasn't catholic.  This was a BIG {huge, gigantic,ginormous}  Truth be told, I was always so scared.  The catholic church is so intimidating, I thought that's how most churches were going to be like.  So I asked a friend {who grew up catholic too} about where she goes and she told me of this church that was so friendly and welcoming. 

The first Sunday of 2015 we went to Calvary Church.  It was like a breath of fresh air.  It was so different.  When we left, I felt like I understood what the pastor was talking about.  I understood the passage in the bible in a whole new way.  I was able to understand the passage and I could relate to it in my everyday life.  After the service we went out to eat and M and I were talking about the church.  We talked about how much we liked it there,   I was so happy to have found a place that fits our family. 

We've gone every Sunday since, and every time I'm more convinced that this church is great for us.  I'm definitely not knocking the catholic church, it was really great for me growing up.   I've learned a lot from it and its word.  It got me through a lot in my life.  It was great for my mom, dad, brother , sister and myself before I was married.  But once you get married and have a family sometimes what worked for you growing up with your family, doesn't always work the family you've made.  As of right now, its still very new for us.  Its still the same bible and the same teachings, just in a different way.    I feel so terrible about waiting so long to find a church for our family.  I guess, its better late then never.  I'm just so happy for myself and my family.  2015 you are so awesome so far!!!

Our Sunday routine now consist of church a lunch out.  Last Sunday we went to one of our favorite sushi spots!! Yuuuum

Sunday Fun Day...

Sunday Fun day.  I always love these days.  Spending time with the fam is always a good time.  The weather here has been touch and go for the past couple weeks.  One minute it’s rainy and cloudy and the next it’s sunny and warm.  Luckily for us, on Sunday it was a lil of both and we were able to get out and enjoy ourselves. 

We went to a park on base.  We took Mills’ soccer goal, soccer ball, kite, and bike.  I wasn’t sure what she wanted to play with, so we brought a variety.  She is such a funny girl; she played with all of them.  We were there for awhile so she had plenty of time to play with it all a couple of times.    I also took my new camera with us!  I ended up getting a Panasonic GF3!  I love it.  I’m still reading up about it in the manual and trying to figure it out.  There is so much info and stuff you can do with this thing it’s a little overwhelming.  But I was able to get lots of good shots of us!  Its crazy the difference between my old camera and my new!  Can’t wait to be fully versed in all its functions!  Haha I doubt that will ever happen.

Bios on the Hill

Welp with our last year in Okinawa coming up I'm determined to see all this island has to offer before we leave.  Plus getting out of the house and breathing in some fresh air every once in awhile doesn't hurt.  Oki is small, but beautiful and has so much to do.  So this weekend Bios on the Hill was on the agenda.

I wasn't sure what this place was.  When we first got here back in 2010, I collected a bunch of pamphlets of things to do and this was one of them.

This place was SUPER pretty!  Only 20 min from our house.  This place is famous for their orchids and it smelled so nice!  Just walking in the entrance the aroma was intense. In a good way!  It was kind of like a really pretty park.  We paid to get in and paid for the boat ride.  Unfortunately the boat ride was in Japanese and we couldn't understand anything.  Mills had a good time and it put Nono to sleep so I was happy with it.  Then we played with the animals there.  There were goats and pigs.  You could actually feed the goats and walk them.  Mills had a great time feeding them.  We tried to talk them, but they were a lil too strong for her.  She was just happy to feed them carrots!  There was also an awesome playground with these huge swings.  Mills and her dad explored while Nono and I enjoyed a nice bench and he ate his afternoon lunch.  All in all a really pretty place.  We'll be back in the summer when the lilies are in bloom and we'll pack a lunch for a picnic!

On the boat tour

Water Buffalo

Ended the day with some ice cream!

On a side note>>>

{I'm in disbelief that it's already Thanksgiving next week!!!!!!!!}

{I need to make our Christmas cards ASAP}

{I need to buy the kid Christmas outfits}

Sunday Fun Day

It's been awhile since we haven't HAD anything to do over the weekend.  Usually we have a birthday party, baby shower, or some sort of prior engagement to attend. Since those events take place on Saturdays usually our Sundays are spent running errands or getting ready for week.  However this Sunday we were able to use it for ourselves! 

We woke up a lil late, around 8ish.  He had a baby shower the night before and got home pretty late.We laid in bed for a while just hanging out with the kids, talking and drinking coffee.  After we decided that it was time to get up, we got ready and headed on base for the breakfast buffet. After stuffing our faces I didn't feel like going home so we decided to for a drive and see where the road took us.

Procrastinating on starting the day

All dressed and ready to go

 Being that we live on an island and it was Sunday we didn't go very far and we ended up at the 100 Y store.  The 100 Y store is like the Dollar Store in the states but 100 times better!  It really is a beast of it's own, you can find anything and everything you need at the 100 Y store and it's great quality unlike the similar stores in the states.  I don't think I've ever walked out of there without a full shopping cart.  The Japanese really know what they are doing when it comes to these stores.  We had a good time, filling the cart with snacks and nick-knacks. I always enjoy getting snacks I've never heard of and trying them, because Japanese have some unique snacks and flavor combos.

Japanese Snacks

Banana drink, not good :(

Mills found these "Power Rangers" rice toppings

 After the store we ended up just taking a drive, both the kids were sleeping and Morgan and I were chatting up a storm.  I always love times like those and just doing whatever.

Sleepy Head

Sunday driver

 

 

 

On a Side Note>>>>

{Nolan has been drooling and chewing his hands, seems like teething is beyond the horizon}

{Mills is sick today, no school for her.  She is really sad about it}

{Decided to play Fantasy Football with my hubby's league this year, already sucking! Ugh!!}

MIA

So I've totally been MIA this whole summer.  With Nolan arriving and Mills taking a break from daycare, I've been a little busy.  Well not so much busy more tired. 

Mills Last day at Daycare and her Bday celebration with her teachers and classmates

Well its official, summer is over and done with.  Unfortunately we did not do as much as we had hoped to do.  I think we forgot how it was to have a newborn.  It's also excruciatingly hot and humid here in Okinawa, that taking out a newborn in this heat is just pure torture.  I really tried to limit my outings with him to few and far between.

This summer we had a number of Birthday parties that we attended.  Most notably we had Mills' 3rd birthday party!  Morgan picked out the theme this year.  He went with watermelons, its a great summer treat and her fave fruit.  He held the party at a multipurpose room at our friends apartment.  The party had a jumpy house, sugary treats, good food, games, and great people.  We had a blast and we know Mills had the time of her life.  I can't believe she is already 3.  Although she kills me every now and then, this age has been super fun and I wish I could just stop time.

Elijah's 2nd Bday

Party Games

July 26, 2012

Happy 3rd Birthday

Another great thing that happened this summer is Mills started gymnastics!  Being here on Oki, the extracurricular activities have super long waiting lists.  I had actually signed her up 4 months before she was able to start the class. I almost lost hope that she would get in a class, I actually signed her up for several classes mostly dance and this was the first class to have an opening.   I was really surprised how much stuff her coach was teaching her and how much she loved it. She is always asking about going to gymnastics and trying to do gymnastics in the house, we don't let her due to safety issues.  I'm glad she is so happy doing gymnastics, and who knows maybe we'll be in the 2024 Olympics :)

First Day of Gymnastics

 Most of our summer was spent lounging around the house or going out to eat and running errands here and there.  Since its been a few months now, I'm hoping that we get our routine going.  I'm a much better person when I've got a routine going.  Now it doesn't necessarily feel like fall, its still pretty warm and muggy out. It does cool down, so hopefully we'll do more now that the weather should be getting better.  Till the next post!

Breakfast on a Sunday morning

Nolan after a bath

Mills First haircut

What chu know bout Dragon Boats??

A few months ago, Morgan decided to get on to the Navy Dragon Boat team.  As if he didn't have enough on his plate with work, basketball, school, and another baby!!!  What a nut!  Either way, he got onto the team.  They practice twice a week and have races about every other weekend. I've never seen a dragon boat race in person.  I've seen on TV when there are like 30 people in a boat and there is a guy beating on a drum to keep everyone on the same pace.  I guess they don't do that race until the winter time in Okinawa, so they still have races but on a smaller scale. 

A couple weekends ago was the first time me and the kids could go watch him race.  I honestly didn't really want to go because of Nono.  I knew it was going to be hot and how was I going to take care of Mills while Morgan was racing?  But I really wanted to see him and go to my first race.  Plus he told me that it was going to be at a nice beach and resort.  We packed up the Van and went early on a Sunday morning.  I was able to meet his teammates for the first time and meet the ladies of the Lady Navy dragon boat team.  There were lots of teams there, mostly Japanese.  The resort was beautiful and it actually wasn't that hot of a day.  Mills had a great time playing in the sand and water.  She especially had a good time cheering on her dad.  Nono on the other hand, was hot and sweaty.  Poor guy!  He behaved the whole time though! 

Unfortunately, their team didn't win.  Actually...they sank their boat.  They were doing sooo well at first too.  The ladies team won the whole thing!  All in all, it wasn't a shabby way to spend a Sunday afternoon with my family!

Mills n Daddy with a Dragon boat

Me and the kids at the beach

Navy Dragon Boat Team

Getting a banana boat ride back since they sunk their boat :(

Mother's Day 2012

Mother’s day!  Got to celebrate my 3^rd Mother’s day!! It would be great to have a day monthly, but I’ll take one yearly :P.  Being that I’m pretty far into the pregnancy I didn’t feel like doing much, just wanted to eat (of course) and hang with my fam.  Started the day off with breakfast made with love from my husband.  Basketball play-off games were on so we caught a couple of those.  I still can’t get used to watching sports so early in the morning.  Morgan and Mills gave me a gift, it was a handprint painting using both of their hands.  Soooo cute!  I love gifts that are handmade, and Morgan is really good with stuff like that.  I wish I could be better at it.  Mills kept wishing me Happy Mother’s day all day, it was really cute! When she gave me my gift she immediately reminded me to say Thank you!  She is a stickler for manners! Lol.  I really wanted to spend time with my fam and make sure Mills had a fun day, we decided to take her to the beach so she could ride her bike down the boardwalk.  It sounded like a good idea at the time, but it really wasn’t.  One it was hot and humid out, and being almost 9 months pregnant it’s not much fun to walk around when it’s hot out.  I was so miserable and I couldn’t keep up with Mills riding her bike, nor could I keep up with her at the playground.  I had to cut our trip early because I was not feeling well.  I felt so bad for Mills, she really wanted to ride her bike and play at the beach.  I offered for them to just drop me off at home, but Morgan wanted us to spend time together. So, we picked up some hot dogs to grill and went home, filled up Mills’ pool and hung out on the balcony.  Mills was splashing in her pool, Morgan was on the bbq, and I was sitting at the table eating chips and salsa.  It was a really nice afternoon!  That night we ended up going to one of my fave restaurants on the island for dinner.  All in all, I had a wonderful mother’s day I couldn’t have ask for a better family!

My gift from my Loves!

Sunday Fun Day!

This weekend we were blessed with some good weather.  Morgan had 2 basketball games this weekend, so we had to plan accordingly for our activities.  I was craving something sweet, so I made apple pancakes and breakfast sausage.  SOOOO GOOD! Our was pretty mellow, which is something we needed. Nice weather plus family time, makes me a happy person.  A few weeks ago we got Mills a kite, can you believe I’ve never flown a kite before?! I know…. seems like something every kid should do.  Anyway, since it was a nice day and Morgan’s game was later in the evening we decided to take full advantage and go to the park.  We took Mills’ bike, her smartcar, and her kite.  We also brought some sandwiches, cuz I can’t go anywhere without food.  She had a BLAST!  I mean we all did, it was such a nice afternoon but the highlight was definitely Mills flying her kite. She was so excited, she was screaming.  I too took the reins for a little and I got to fly a kite for the first time!  It didn’t last so long cuz Mills was being a hog! Haha But I didn’t care, I couldn’t get over how excited she was.  Now I want to buy all sorts of kites!  Who would have thought how entertaining flying a kite would be?  After that we went home took a family nap…gotta love those!  Then ended the day watching Morgan play basketball, unfortunately his team lost but we had a good time cheering in the stands. 

On a side note>>>

{I feel like I've had this cold forever}

{I really need to get a coaster for my desk at work, water rings are not cute}

{Mine and Morgan's 9 year anniversary is this weekend.  I got his gift in the mail, its taken all of me not to give it to him prior to Saturday.  Self Control!}

Sunday Fun Day

For our Sunday Fun Day this weekend, we took a trip down to the southern part of Okinawa with the B fam and went to Thai in the Sky.  It’s a Thai restaurant.  I’m not really one for Thai food, but 1) I’m pregnant and hungry 2) I heard this place was to die for.  I don’t eat spicy foods either, regardless of Thai food being known for their spiciness. I stay away with no chili and I’m just fine.  I this place was a bit of a trek, it was well worth the trip and we will be coming back again. 

We got there, the place was packed.  We were told a 30 min wait.  Since we drove like 45 min to an hour to get there, we waited.  The wait wasn’t even as long as expected, it was really about 15 min.  The restaurant takes reservations, which most people had that came in, maybe next time we’ll do that before we leave so we can be seated right away.  The place was very English friendly, ( a lot of the places in OKI have a separate menu for English and usually it doesn’t have all the items they offer) everything was translated with pictures.

 As soon as we ordered, our food came out immediately.  I don’t know how they did it???  The B family ordered about 5 things and we ordered about 5 things, literally within minutes food started coming out.  I was expecting to wait and I was already starving.  So I was definitely happy with our quick service.  The food was so delish.  I couldn’t help but pick at everything, except for the curry the guys got I was afraid it might have been spicy for me.  Everything else was fair game.  The plates of our dishes took up almost our whole table.  We ate till our hearts content and then some.  After our feast Mills and I even shared some dessert. Nowadays I get dessert everywhere, I have quite the sweet-tooth.

After we came up for air and rested for a lil bit, we paid for our food and enjoyed the scenery.  The restaurant looked right over the water.  There were benches, chairs, and swings placed all over the back for everyone to admire the view.  It was really pretty.  The Dads took the girls exploring while me and the other prego (Len) hung around.  We weren’t up for all the exploring.  We could hear the girls laughing and having a good time. They were all probably walking off all the food they just consumed.  We took some pics of the girls playing and pics of the view.  That day was totally a fun day, especially for our tummies’!

On a side note>>>

{I have a doc app this Thursday, going to check up on how the baby is doing.}

{Played the baby Bob Marley, he kicked a lot!  Don't know if that means he likes Bob or not.} 

{Found an aweseome farmer's market this weekend.  Wish I knew about it sooner.}

{It's Fat Tuesday, don't know what to give up for lent??}