All dressed up in Kimonos

Elijah and I went to a kimono dressing class. We tried on the yukata kimono - casual summer kimono - with a hanhaba obi - the belt. Putting on the kimono is a 20 step process - for real. There really is 20 steps to putting it on and tieing it properly.








As usual the Japanese women fuss over Elijah. The entire experience was amazing! The attention to detail each woman put into helping us put on the yukata kimonos was incredible.

Ever hiked with A LOT of elementary school kids?

We took a field trip (nature hike) to a large lake that is by the base. It was quite an experience.

150 or so kids trekked through the hilly woods of Japan (literally). They were woods...not a well-paved out leisurely stroll! It was roughly 2 miles there and 2 miles back. Now I didn't realize that we were going to be hiking for 4 miles so I decided to get my workout in before I left for school. Hmmmmm 45 min on the stairs AND hiking with kids that spend more time playing Playstation rather than playing outside at the 60+ parks that are on this base - was no joke!

We made it! Elijah had a blast and did NOT utter a single complaint about walking or being outside - the boy loves to play outside - generally plays outside for about 7 hours a day during summer months!

Now that the summer enrichment program is over, he is free to sleep in and play outside even more!

Elijah's FAVORITE shirt

he takes his job pretty seriously. He:

- locks the door, with the chain and door stopper EVERY time we walk inside

- holds doors open for me and makes sure the elevator doesn't shut on me

- takes out the trash when it gets full - WITHOUT me asking

He'll make some young lady a great husband one day........as great of a husband as Eddie is to me!!

Yeah for Skype!

Just a quick note to let the world know that I really appreciate the invention of Skype!  

I've been able to video conference with friends since we got here, but recently I have had a special treat.  A few months ago my mom downloaded Skype and now I get to see my mom, dad, sisters, nieces and nephews in Georgia!  Just last week Eddie's family downloaded it in Houston and Phoenix.  How cools is that!  I get to talk to and see my relatives all around the world!

It makes being so far away a bit easier!  YEAH for technology!

Super 'Wal-Mart' Japanese Style

Here are some pics of what I would like to call Super Wal-Mart.  No, it is not a real Wal-Mart, but it is just like one. 

Have you ever seen a 'Nose Roller" and does it really make your nose more narrow?

Japanese women that work in McDonald's ALWAYS wear skirts, with stockings (remember those) and heels!  Try to find that in America.

Quick quiz...is this food real or fake?  It's all fake.  At the sit down restaurants they have display cases of the food they serve and when you order a meal it comes out looking EXACTLY like the display.

The aisles in the Aeon Super Center...so I am sure this doesn't amaze you, but the stores here aren't huge like back in America.  So we were really shocked.

Why are these eggs speckled?

......and these were really DARK brown!

holding his Pokemon toy.....there is NO shortage of Japanese anime or cartoon character toys here......Elijah is thrilled!  

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

I really enjoy being overseas, but it's holidays and special occasions that make me miss being closer to extended family.  This Father's Day is no exception.  Happy Father's Day Daddy!  Here are a few things that I am thankful for on THIS special day:

1.  Your 22 1/2 years of dedicated military service!  If I've never told you before I admire you!  Honestly I do!  I have always considered it a blessing to grow up in different locations around the world!  I mean how many people can say they went to school in Germany, learned German in K-2 grade and practiced bomb drills in elementary school during the Cold War?  

2.  Teaching  me that it was NOT acceptable for boys to honk their horns in our driveway in order for us to come out and meet them.  I know they were afraid of you, but it did force them to respect us by requiring them to walk to the door and be 'man' enough to knock on our door.

3. Always being open and willing to talk to me about the circumstances surrounding my birth.  It has always been an open discussion and has allowed me to not feel guilt or shame.

4. I remember your flood light that illuminated up to 1 mile!  I also remember that time you thought some boy was sneaking around in the backyard and you pulled that flood light out to check out the scene.  Thank goodness there were no boys back there - whew 6 daughters - I am sure you had to do what you did!

5. Though I still don't take NyQuil as an adult, I still remember having to take it whenever you would hear me cough or sneeze......even if I was on another floor of the house.  Why was it always the green kind too?  I think I still have reservations about taking liquid medicine because of  the nauseating smell of green NyQuil.  I also remember having to drink a glass of milk to 'mask' the taste of it. GROSS!  Though I hated it; I don't remember ever being sick enough to miss any school.

6.  Teaching all 6 of us that doing something to the best of our ability was the only acceptable way.  Doing enough to get by was not accepted.  I remember one semester I dropped from a 98% to 95% in Spanish and you looked at my report card and said, "What happened in Spanish?"  I thought to myself that it was still an A, but at the same time I knew that I could have done better. 

Thank you for these life lessons!  I love you....... I wanted to wish you a VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!   

I love you Daddy!

Old School Pics

So my mom just sent me some old school pictures!   I was and am STILL super excited about seeing them.  I just wanted to point out a few things:

1. I noticed how I was in the front and the middle of every picture - just like Elijah's school photo.

2. Does my dad look like a character on the movie I'm Gonna Get You Sucka?

3. Notice the fat rolls on my legs - outside with no shoes on riding a tricycle - precious!

4. Does my oldest sister's hair resemble Dave Chappelle when he imitated Rick James? Love you Erika! Click here to do your own comparison.

5.  Thank the Lord for braces!

Honestly I could go on and on about these 2 pictures .... enjoy:)

We are missing my youngest sister, Juliette, in this picture.  It was taken when my dad was stationed in Germany - early 80's and she wasn't born yet.  Yes 6 girls - my poor dad!

Does calamine lotion really cause itching to stop?