Our House

I know everyone wants to see our house here in Okinawa.  Well, it looks exactly like the other one I posted.  But, I like to please my readers - so here is a picture of our house.  Oh- and when I said everything is cream - I lied.  I have started painting inside and everything is Almond (the yucky color of ligh switch covers and electric outlet covers), ceilings and everything!

Excuse the bags and bins of rocks, we are going to try a simple Japanese garden in our front yard.  Japanese gardens like rocks!

This is the back of the house, which you actually see first.  The road drives past our backyard and then you turn into our cul de sac to get to our front door.  We have had half the people go to the backdoor and the other half the front door!

So far things that are creepy or kind of cool - wildlife.  Everything here is on steroids!!  The fruit bats are the size of a cat with wings.  The walking sticks are 5 inches long.  The snails are 3 inches long by 2 inches, grossssssss!!  The geckos are not too bad, but they have translucent like skin, which creeps me out!!  We also had a Habu spotting at our neighbors (poisonous snake)!!  Almost forgot - we have shrews!

Fishing in Wisconsin with the Kids

Jason did his fatherly duties before we left Wisconsin and took the kids fishing.  I ended up on the outing under the ruse of "you need to take pictures."  Ha - Running 3 poles and 3 kids is more than 2 parents can handle!!  Jason was constantly re-worming hooks, untangling line, and running when ever we said we had a nibble (I am clueless).  All in all we had a good time and the kids actually caught fish (Thank you Hawleys for showing us the spot).

Grahm loves the worms, unhooking a fish, etc.. (don't ask him to wait for a fish to bite).  Jayce loves casting his line and catching a fish (but, don't make him bait his hook or unhook a fish).  Charlotte loves everything as always.

There were the little schools of fish that were too tiny for a hook but would devour your worm as you reeled it back to shore, Jayce managed to snag one.

The look says it all!

The Milwaukee Zoo - Dinosaur Exhibit

If you stay in one place long enough you might get to see some of the visiting exhibits more than once.  The zoo was on the boys list of things to do one more time before we left Milwaukee.  We headed over with our friends the Hawleys (the Dads were working) to see the animals.  We had lots of fun and Charlotte is at the perfect age for zoo visiting - she loved everything (it was her first time - I know - bad Mom).

One really fun thing was the Dinosaur Exhibit was visiting again.  These dinosaurs are robotic.  They move and make nosies, one even sprays poison (water).  The first time we saw the dinosaurs was in 2006.  The boys were a little nervous then.  This time they put on their brave faces and showed all the girls how not to be afraid.  I think turning your back on a dinosaur to get your picture taken can be a little unsettling.

Time Marches On!

2010

2006

Spring Soccer

Encouraging his team!

Even though I have not documented it, Jayce did participate in soccer this spring.  So far it is his favorite sport!  These pictures are from the last game of the season.  We had wonderful coaches (parents) who really keep things running.  Thanks to them for the past two years of soccer!

In the mix.

Way to hustle!

Supporting big brother can be so tough!!

Our Wisconsin Rummage

About 2 weeks before we left Wisconsin we had a rummage sale in an attempt to downsize, de junk, and of course pad our wallet for the move.  I am not sure we really succeeded in any of the areas.  Our neighborhood had their annual rummage the weekend before and I was not aware of it until the day before and I was not ready - so we missed out on advertising.

We really only had the locals who stopped by.  Jayce and Grahm tried to sell Krispie Kreme doughnuts, soda and chips.  After paying us back for the doughnuts and a charitable contribution of sodas from the parents - they each pocketed about $12.

We managed to sell all of the larger items (I don't think I could have moved them one more time).  The clothes - hardly any sold - so we donated them to a friend to sell at her annual rummage.  The rest we hauled to Goodwill.  All in all we almost made enough to buy our new couch (still sad to see ol' blue go).

Mostly we spent two day goofing around in the front yard!

Jason's Last Wisconsin Adventure

About a week before we left Wisconsin Jason and two friends from work (Mike and Josh) chartered a fishing boat to pit Man against Salmon on the Great Lake Michigan.  I am still unsure who won and who lost, but the few they brought home were tasty!

I think the biggest competition out there was who's fish was biggest!

My only personal question is:  If you catch the biggest and the littlest, do you still win?

Day 7

Day 7: Picking our home.

Today our totally awesome sponsor hauled us around again. She and her two girls took us to complete the paperwork on our new van - now we can drive. Then she took us to look at our housing options. We were really disappointed that they would not offer us a 3 bedroom (with "bowling alley") on Camp Foster, but after seeing the 4 bedroom option on Kadena we are happy. The hardest part of making our decision was that everyone we have met attends the same church, we will have to go to another one. The home will definitely take care of our needs for the next 3 years.

After she dropped us off at the hotel, we decided to do some adventuring of our own. Jason had some errands to run. So he got behind the wheel for the first time!! We don't have a decent road map of the island or of the bases - so this was an adventure. We managed to drive from Camp Foster to Kadena Air force base without getting lost. We ran a few errands - we have cell phones now, we are real people again. Then we headed back to the Camp Foster, Jason had to go to Dental Headquarters. He had only one mishap and I don't think it was his fault - but it is fun to tease him. He had to squeeze the van between two rows of cars parked on both sides of a narrow street. Our trim grabbed someones tire that was rotated and sticking way out - oops!! No damage done, except maybe his pride.

Jason did make me drive later from the hotel to the post office, then to the commissary and back to the hotel. I did it and now I am not so scared of driving, it will take some getting used to. Every time you go to signal - you turn on your wipers (Jason had the rain to cover up his goofs!), also I keep hugging the curb!

At the commissary we bought a few Japanese treats!

The tube looking things are popscicles -yummy.  CCLemon is fizzy lemonade.  The drink pouch with the apple is really jello in a pouch - the kids don't love jello, so this one is out for us (by the way - made by Coca Cola).  The white one is a water drink - has milk and lactic acid in it - kind of yogurty tasting!! Trying the treats is super fun.

It has been cloudy everyday we have been here and rained for at least a few moments almost everyday!

Day 6

Day 6 - Newcomer Orientation;

Today was Newcomer Orientation, which means we spent several hours watching PowerPoint presentations about different aspects of living in Okinawa. Our super fantastic sponsors had signed us up for childcare so we didn't need to worry about the kids.

How the day actually went: At 6:45am we catch a bus with everyone else headed to orientation. We were told they would stop at SAC (School Aged Childcare), CDC (Children's Daycare) and then orientation. The bus drove us directly to orientation. As we were leaving the bus, the bus driver informed us to stay on the bus if we needed to go to CDC. We explained that we were keeping Charlotte, but needed to take the boys to SAC. He told us that they would take care of SAC inside. So we headed in and never saw or heard anything about SAC. So we punished our children for our inability to go ask and they stuck with us for the day. We had the Didj and leapster, sack lunches, snacks and a few toys.

The orientation started at 8 and ended at 12:30. Charlotte threw up twice (once on Jason's uniform and once on me)!! Jason and I both passed our driving test at 2pm, got our laminated permit by 3pm and headed back to the hotel. Our super patient sponsor shuttled us around and waited for us to get everything squared away.  She then took Grahm and Jacye to her house to play and get some wiggles out.

Charlotte was a little cranky at the hotel, but then started wrestling Jason and begging for tickles - she kept down Goldfish and some sprite so we decided to...

At 5 we headed to Jusco, a Japanese version of the American Mall for dinner and fun. Our sponsors took us (we will finish up the paperwork on our vehicle tomorrow, now that we can actually drive) and the Palmers. We had 9 children 8 years and under!! The kids wanted McDonalds for the Japanese toys. The happy meals come with a choice of corn and a few different drinks. We ventured to try some other choices - Jason had some soup and I had pork cutlet and curry!! The kids then spent time in the arcade area and learned that you don't always win. They ran around giggling and entertaining each other. Charlotte made friends with some teen girls. They would squeal every time she would wave at them. After we got a picture of them together - they touched her cheeks, belly, begged for high fives. I think Jason and I were very entertained. (I did receive a warning from our sponsor that some times you have to tell them to back off a little bit - I guess they love blondes). We then headed back to the hotel - Charlotte threw up again in our sponsors car. I am sure they will be glad when we don't have to rely on them so much. I think we will have to have them over for dinner and babysit for them for a month to repay the kindness!!

Day 2 Hanging out BBQ - freaking out about housing

The Stinchfields wanted us to immediately feel welcome to the island and invited us to their Branch Presidents home for a BBQ.  It was nice to get out of the hotel and have several couples to ask questions to about living here.  Everyone was very nice and we received lots of good information!

By this point we had seen the inside of two different homes and I was freaking out about how I was going to live here for 3 years.  Everyone has made their homes feel nice and welcoming.  They have them decorated really nice, in fact I am stealing ideas and wondering how I am going to do the same thing in my house.  It was just that I was moving from my house, the house I had remodeled just the way I wanted it to these concrete cream colored boxes.  I went to bed feeling anxious.

Day 3 Church - feeling better about housing

We went to church with the Stinchfields and met even more wonderful people who had lots of advice.  In hindsight, having the fellowship of the church and the immediate support group that is built in helped us a ton.  We had dinner with the Stinchfields and I got to look at their home again, and the home of another member and I was feeling really good about the housing.  Maybe a good nights sleep helped!  I was mentally putting my things away in each of the different housing types and this was going to work just great.  (Hope you are hearing Annie singing "I think I'm going to like it here.")

Day 4 Laundry - teary Charlotte

Today I tackled some laundry and had Charotte crying most of the day.  She woke up at 6am and fell asleep between 9 and 10 (she didn't stay up late either!!).  The nap helped a little.

Day 5 Park - Charlotte crying to go back to Idaho, to hard here.

This morning was hard to get ready for the day.  Charlotte started being really fussy again.  She cried that she wanted to go back to Idaho.  She also said that it was too hard here!!  She is only two!!  I can understand her feelings, the first time I talked to my Mom since we arrived on the Island when I hung up I wanted to cry.  Too bad I have an audience of 3 to keep the brave face for. 

One thing I have noticed about our transition is that my kids deal with things completely differently than I do.  When ever we drive somewhere they want to ask 100's of questions and I want to sit in silence.  Silence to deal with everything that is new, to relax for a minute.  It makes it hard for me to cope when I want them to be quiet and yet I know they need me to answer their questions and talk to them as they make this huge adjustment. 

Today we went to a local park, probably recognized by its Pineapple shaped restroom!!  The parks here are really cool.  The slide was constructed of concrete, they have the coolest climbing ropes ever.  The kids loved getting out of the hotel and hanging out with new friends - The Stinchfields and the Palmers.

We made it!!

Well we made it to Okinawa and now our new adventure begins!!

Not our house, just one of the many look alikes!

Day 1: The airplane
We left our hotel in Seattle at about 10:30pm Wednesday night.  We found out at the airport that our weight limit for our luggage was 70lbs and not 50lbs, we should have stuffed them with lots more stuff (well we didn't take our maximum number of luggage - hauling around 3 kids, 6 suitcases and 3 car seats was plenty!!).  We went to the gate and the kids settled in - They all eventually went to sleep.  Unfortunately Grahm was very tired and I was unprepared, he had at least on accident while sleeping.  None of the open gift shops offered shorts.  We felt so bad and he was a good sport about it, they eventually dried.
Our flight was slightly delayed, we boarded at about 4am Thursday.  The kids went back to sleep for awhile and then entertained themselves with their backpacks and the one kids movie the airplane played (yes - only one).  We had two stops before we reached Kadena Airforce Base on Okinawa.  One of those stops we had to deplane and then were able to wait in a small waiting room!!  We climbed off the airplane 17 hours later in Okinawa.  The airport at Kadena was very small, things went smoothly and we met our sponsors the Stinchfields (Matt and Chelsea Rowans family). 
Definitely hot and muggy - but I like it. 
Now the story gets even better - they brought 2 cars to get us to the hotel in.  They borrowed one car, so we would have two large vehicles to transport people and luggage.  Well, we found out after we were all loaded that something was amiss with the borrowed vehicle and of course it was the girls driving this car.  We called the boys back to jump us and they headed off to check Jason in and we headed to the hotel.  We made it to a busy intersection (at the stop line) and it died completely.  We had fun trying to get help - one nice guy tried to help us, but he didn't know how to open his hood (everything is in Japanese in your cars).  Then another group came to help and we pushed the car onto the sidewalk (the whole time I was thinking - please don't leave me and the kids (some of them hers) alone and go find help).  We were able to get it jumped, we once again summoned the boys who this time were going to follow us to the hotel.  We didn't make it.  We had to abandon the car and the luggage.  Bad alternator.  The Stinchfields were great and it made our adventure that much more memorable - Jayce made an instant friend with their son Hayden.  We are so grateful for all the help and friendship they have given us!!
Other initial thoughts - everything looks the same (on the bases).  Every building is the same. 

I will be doing some back blogging of our last days in Milwaukee and our vacation with family in Idaho and Utah.