Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you back in the states, here in Japan its a bit after midnight so our Turkey day is over. We had a wonderful day, took pictures this morning, hopefully going to send out cards this year (send me you address if I don't have it). Then had a nice Dinner at a friends house. My good friend Bekah was so kind to invite us over last minute when we realized Thomas wasn't going to make it home in time. He is still in Hawaii. He has been in for a little over 2 years, and this is the first holiday we have spent apart, so I'm not complaining. I'd already bought a Turkey so we will probably have a nice dinner when he gets home.

This morning I was reading a Thanksgiving book to the kids, and on one page it showed the mother and children preparing the food. So I stopped to talk about all the different foods we eat on Thanksgiving. Carrots, Turkey, then Braden pointed to the potatoes and said "rice balls". "No sweetie, those aren't rice balls. Those are potatoes." "What are potatoes?" I think he has been here too long. It turned into a long discussion because he just wasn't quite sure why the family didn't want rice with their dinner. The funny thing is, he will rarely eat rice. Dayton shovels it in his mouth though. Put some curry sauce on it and he will eat it until he physically can't move.

Today we also talked about the things we are thankful for.
I am Thankful for my Family. My children of course, each one of them enrich my life in a unique way and I simply can't imagine who I would be without them. Thomas, just for putting up with me. If you know me, you know that in itself is deserving of a congressional medal or something. Seriously though. He takes care of us. He works long hours and sacrifices a lot so I can stay home with the kids.
I am thankful for my family back home. For my Mom, her husband, my Brother, Thomas Mother and his Brothers and Sisters. I don't see them often enough, but I know if we ever need anything they are there.
I am thankful for my friends here that have become my family. Friends that will watch all three of my kids at a moments notice, friends that will bring by gatorade and saltines when we all have tummy aches, and friends that keep me company when Thomas is gone or working his funky hours.
I am Thankful for mine and my families good health.
I am Thankful we have a steady income.
I am thankful Gas is dropping almost $2 here tomorrow! Yippe, no more $4.06 a gallon.
I am Thankful for my nice warm concrete house that keeps me dry and safe from nasty typhoons.
Lastly, I am thankful for my nice warm bed I am leaving to crawl into now.

Oh, and here is a picture I took this morning. Not the Christmas card one, just another cute one of the boys. I promised them drinks from the machine if they were good, and boy were they.
They love Japanese soda. Dayton drink has Jell-O in it!

Playing with Dayton

Dayton, where is your belly?
*insert his snicker from him because he knows his tongue isn't his belly*

Dayton, that's not your belly! Where is your belly?

Good Job!


Dayton, where are your fingers?

Good Job!



Dayton, where is your mouth?

Wow! You are so smart my little wonder child ;)



Dayton, where are your ears?

Good job boy!


Dayton where is your (pause for suspense and excitement on his part) HAIR?

Ha, he knows where his hair is!



Dayton, do you have feet?

Ahh, you do have feet! Those are good for walking right Dayton? Uh-huh!


Hmm, what about your hands, where are your hands?

Oh, there they are! I bet those hands are good for playing and eating! Dayton agrees, uh-huh!

What about your nose? Do you have a nose?
(imagine you hear him snorting)

I love your nose Dayton, and all the rest of your perfect little parts!

You see it?

My little weather Geisha over to the right? It says it is 61̇̇̇̇̇º. I think it just barely made it to 70º today.
LOVE IT!

A day in the life of Braden

Thomas left on a little mini-vacation disguised as work yesterday. As he was packing, I wanted to send him with a camera. I found my little silver p&s, loaded it with batteries, and noticed there were pictures on the memory card. Apparently Braden's pictures. Since I have nothing fun nor interesting to write about I will take it upon myself to narrate from his point of view.


This is where we go to find cool sea glass and crabs. It's my favorite beach.


I gave the camera to Mama and she took this one of me and my amigos searching for sealife.


Some of my finds.


Keegan's finds.


Dayton freeing the crabs. Run away crabs...ruuunnn aawwwwaayyyyyyyyy



This is my little brother Dayton. He looks like he might be trying to find his belly. When you ask him where his belly is now, he sticks his tongue out. Weird.


That's Moms arm making a grand appearance. Notice the nice Fossil watch. She bought it at the BX, the only American place to shop here. She paid too much for it I am sure. I think I heard Daddy tell her that. The, when we went back to the states earlier this year, it quit working, then it started again, then it quit again. She bought 2 new batteries. Still didn't work.


The Japanese Emina (not to be confused with enema(I, Mama, added that part, not Braden) mini van. This van has a partner that looks just like it, can't remember the name, but everyone we know has one. Except us of course. Mom HAD to have 4 doors. Oh, and the only vans here with 4 doors have 4 doors that open like car doors and you have to fold the middle seat down to get into the back. So, while being greedy with the number of doors, she has caused herself alot of headache having to fold seats up and down and down and up and where was I? Oh, and the fact that each and every time we stop she has to walk around the van and open all 4 doors, because there is generally only a few centimeters between us and the vehicle we are parked next to. Mama says if I hit another car with my door I have to walk everywhere we go for the net 2 years, or ride on top. I will choose to ride on top. I wonder if I will be going faster than birds if I am on top.


Ohh, this is a great angle for me. In Japan Mama lets me ride in the front seat. No airbags and everyone drives so s l o w. Score for me.


This is my Mom's computer. she spends too much time here looking at pictures, reading blogs, reading news. She doesn't let me play my webkinz enough either. We need another one of these.


That's her hands on the keyboard. Probably writing a blog or IMing with Rachael


This is our parking space out front. I took this shot because I am an art genius and totally see the abstract beauty in this particular angle. Mama made it blank and white for me.


This is the garbage man. He is showing his peace sign. Everyone shows a peace sign here when a camera comes out. Weird. Japanese people are so nice. I want to be Japanese when I grow up.


Practicing a headshot for facebook in a few years.


...kitchen floor, garbage can, Keegans ultra skinny leg with (clean?)socks, Daytons magnetic letter 'Z'. Not sure why this one made the cut.


Base housing, ghetto ceiling tiles, 1980's mini blinds. Curtain rods that are warped because me and Dayton tried swinging from the curtains. Note for those interested, it didn't work.


Who is that girl?


My toes, no Cocoks for me.


The neighbor trying to fix Daddys car. Mama broke it while he was in Alaska.


Already explained this. A friendly smile and a peace sign from a complete stranger stopped behind us at a redlight.

Oh Baby!

My neighbor Nicole gave birth to a baby boy back in October. One afternoon she walked over to thank me for a gift Keegan had brought over earlier and I asked if she was having newborn pictures taken with anyone. She asked if I knew Aviva. Umm, yeah, a little, I was just with her this morning. Well they planned to have her take the newborn pics. Aviva the baby model thief ;) But, lucky enough for me, and me only, Aviva couldn't work them into her schedule soon enough for a newborn shoot. She was however kind enough to loan me her 1.2 to play with (which I must add is worth more than the van I drive).

These are the pictures I ended up with. I got a little crazy with my editing, but I am still learning s l o w l y....

Dad is a Broncos fan, hence the personalized cloth diaper.


It was a few days before Halloween and the pumpkin was sitting there begging to pose for a pic too.


All bundled up like it ain't still 80 degrees here. Made for a cute fall shot though?


This baby is their 4th, the oldest is a girl, whom Keegan loves to play with, the other three boys.
Isn't she gorgeous.

Similarities?

I found this while cleaning out Keegans desk this morning.




On the flip side of the paper.

Don't I look pretty :)

Our Little Secluded Beach

That is always empty.
I have been to this spot a few times assisting Aviva on photo shoots and we always talk about how gorgeous and secluded it is. We've never seen anyone down there.



Braden making sand angels, no snow here!


One night we went with the boys, a few friends, food and sand toys to enjoy an evening at the beach all alone.
As we were walking down the path leading to the beach I noticed a bunch of Japanese guys heading back up the path? Huh? Other people here? Lots of other people here!? We get down to the beach and we find they are filming a movie at one end. There are lots of people and lots of equipment, luckily the beach is a good size and they were at one end, while we could enjoy the other end.
**Side note, when we got to the beach I had to tease Thomas that we looked like the family from Big Love. Our friends that came along were without husbands as one is deployed and the other was at work. So as we walked down the path it was Thomas, Me, Missy and Maria all with babies on our hips followed by the seven children that were old enough to walk. So 1 Thomas, 3 Women and 10 children.**

We watched them film a few scenes, a BBQ, a little argument, scuffle in the sand, then down the hill comes these people dressed in Power Ranger like costumes! The boys were star struck. Could it be? Real action heros on the same beach as us? You bet it was. The boys watched in awe as they filmed a few shots, complete with lots of jumping, kicking and flipping. It was awesome and definitely a nice surprise and entertainment for the kids.

Lessons Learned...

In the past few weeks I have learned a few lessons. I will share them with you now.

Lesson #1
I cannot physically be responsible for another live animal at this moment. We had to give dog to a new, just as loving home. We were really only fostering her through a pet adoption program and hadn't yet formally adopted her through the vet. She was a great dog and Dayton and Braden miss her the most even though Keegan was the one that initially had been pleading for her. I feel like I am denying them an important part of every persons childhood by not having a dog. Especially since they really love them. But, after having to chase the dog dow 2-3 times a day and her terrorizing the kids on the next street by jumping all over them like they had beggin' strips hidden underneath their clothing (just wanting to play of course, not really injuring them) we had to find her a new home. A home with just as much love and a fenced in yard.

Lesson #2
My kids become possessed little people when put in front of a video game. Thomas and I have talked about getting them a Wii for a long time. We decided he would pick one up while he was in the states last month. Well, once he got there, I decided not to get them one right now. It's alot of money and I didn't think they were quite responsible enough at the time. So, this past weekend I walked into the BX and there were Wii's! Wii's everywhere. I picked one up and walked around with it for awhile, then tried to call Thomas at work and never could get through to him. I decided to buy it, as I knew it would be the last chance to pick one before Christmas.
A few days alter our friends let them borrow a Nintendo 64. They loved it! Loved it so much they tried to kill each other the next morning over a game. Literally they were beating each other with the remotes. Umm, yeah, the Wii was returned. No video games in this house for a long time.

My kids are going to hate me..

but Dog may be looking for another family to live with if I ever find her.
She is currently missing and I am here alone with 8 kids, so I can't exactly go searching the neighborhood for her.
She runs away each time the kids open the door. Between my three and the parade of neighborhood kids coming in and out it makes for us losing the dog about twice a day.
I can't keep her and my sanity, the kids will forgive me one day if I get rid of dog, If I go crazy and drop them all off at the shelter maybe not so much. That's a joke by the way.
Anyone on Okinawa want a dog?
She is super sweet, except for jetting every chance she gets.

*Update* I just went outside and she ran up from behind me. So she is safe and sound now. But still possibly looking for a new home.

Best Friends

Dayton and Dog are the best of friends now.
Last week while playing outside I tuned the sprinkler on just a bit so the pup could get a drink and Dayton could play in it. Dayton decided getting a drink was a better idea. I missed the shot of them both drinking together.


This was a few days ago, Dayton had spilled his 'nack' as he calls it (bowl of cheerios). He and dog were in a mad race to see who could find more.


I didn't do such a great job with my focusing here, but you get the idea.
This was AFTER bath too :P Dayton dragged the kennel into the livingroom and got inside with the dog to lay and watch TV.