Busy Days

We have had such a busy week! I just transferred all of our pictures from the camera to the computer. So this first one is from last week but I thought I would share it anyways.

Last Monday Grace had to say goodbye to our mama-sans.
I don't quite think she understood that we wouldn't be picking them up this week like we have been doing every Monday for quite a while. They have been coming since Grace was just 5 weeks old so they have become her friends. Every week she would run to the door as soon as she was dressed so she could go pick up her friends. And lately she was so excited about coming home to play with her friends that she couldn't nap! Of course we enjoyed having a clean house. And they sure did a great job and cleaned things that I would never think to clean (who cleans the light fixtures EVERY WEEK?) We are really going to miss them!!

{Kuniko-san, Grace, and Jinko}

This last weekend was a 4-day, which when you are moving and trying to out-process it just means less time to get things done and more time in lodging. We had the final inspection at our house that morning. It was supposed to be earlier but our housing agency wanted to move it to Friday. That afternoon we transferred my van over and now we are down to 1 car. Dustin's car is sold and transferred but the guy who bought it is letting us drive it until we leave!

Saturday morning I went to breakfast with a friend and then to the second hand kimono sale that was going on. Dustin took Grace to get a few things done that morning and then they went to the sea wall and watched the waves in the ocean. After that they went to a park where Grace ended up splashing in the puddles! That evening we went to a friends house for dinner and games.

Sunday morning we decided to take a walk to the BX since it is practically just across the street. We started looking in the little souvenir shops and then ended up almost finishing up our Christmas shopping! That evening we had church and afterward we headed to American Village to ride the ferris wheel! The tug-of-war contest was going on that day down in Naha and we had thought about going but after a tough week with very little sleep for Grace last week we decided to stay in the hotel and rest Friday night instead of going to church then and skipping the tug-of-war. We had heard there would be fireworks to close off the festivities so we wanted to try and see them from the ferris wheel. We timed it just right and did 2 rides on the ferris wheel (almost 30 min!) but never saw any fireworks. But that is OK because the pretty lights on the ferris wheel are just as good as fireworks to Grace!

{We got a free "mini can" for doing 2 rides. Grace liked the grape Fanta}

{Glow sticks we got as prizes in our kids meal at Antony's Pizza - we got 3 slices of pizza and 3 drinks for $3.79 with our buy one combo meal get two kids meals free coupon}

{The Ferris Wheel all lit up like fireworks}

On Monday morning we headed to Torii beach to collect a little more sea glass (boy are we going to have some boxes to mail back!!). I want to get 2 clear vases (a small one that will fit inside the big one) and fill the space between them with sea glass. I think I will try to find some silk hibiscus or cherry blossom flowers to fill the vase and put it in our entry way. I have not been happy with the amount of blue, turquoise, and green sea glass I have so I had to go back. If we end up back at the beach I am sure I will try to find more :-)

{Tired of picking up sea glass and ready for a snack}

Yesterday evening we bought Grace an inflatable Pooh kite. She got to choose between Mickey, Pooh, and Elmo. She didn't like it when Dustin had the string and the kite went into the air. I think she thought the kite was being taken away from her. But she did enjoy holding on to the string!

Today was our last day at Bible study which was a bit sad. Some of the ladies I have known the entire time we have been here. We have some more errands to run this afternoon after Grace wakes up. And tonight we are going to Kiddie Disco at the O'Club. I heard they may even have a clown there!!! And tomorrow is going to be another busy day. I have my last doctor appointment here and we get our deposit back from housing. I am sure there are some other things Dustin will need to do. Friday is his final out for all of his military stuff here.
We are getting so close to Tokyo and Disney!!!

And my van will be waiting in my garage when we get home. My parents are picking it up this Friday!! So all the busy days equal exciting days as well!

Slowing down

We have been a little too busy lately. So today we decided to stay home until after Grace's nap and then we were back home for dinner! We will probably do the same tomorrow. Grace has been getting up early and has been having some late nights (due to cutting a new tooth, 5 shots on Friday, she just got over a cold, and last night we went to the ferris wheel and didn't make it home until about 30 min after bedtime) so tonight we stayed home and I put her to bed early! Hopefully she will catch up on the sleep she has been losing lately.

So today during our little outing we went to see Daddy at work (he has staff duty) and then we went to the craft store to pick up the pagoda I made a few weeks ago. I was very pleased with how well my pagoda turned out. I think tomorrow I may try to find a light to put in it! And then we walked to the BX. We were shopping and Grace just wanted to get down and play. She took off walking all over the clothing department and playing peek-a-boo around the racks of clothes. She is just too cute!

This next week we will be heading to the airport twice. My mom is flying back home and we have friends going on vacation. It looks like we will be spending this Christmas just the 3 of us since all of our friends are going to be gone.

I will leave you with some pictures (in reverse order!) from our busy Saturday.

{underwater castle}

{hard to get a good picture with 2 girls who just want to run and play!}

{Go Army, Beat Navy!!}

{sporting her Army shirt I made}

{ready for the game}

And here are 2 videos from our ferris wheel ride. This was what Grace did about 13 out of the 15 minutes!

Little Monkey

We have a little monkey on our hands!! Not only does Grace eat a ton of bananas, she has also started to climb. Yesterday I left her playing at her toy table to walk in the kitchen and put her fridge phonics toy up and about a minute later my Mom walked into the living room and found her standing on the sofa. There was nothing in front of the sofa other than her toy puppy so we are thinking she must have carried it over and used it as a step stool (that was the toy she was playing with when I left).

Today was a busy day for her! We went to the Army Navy football game here (Army won!!!!!) and then afterwards we went to dinner with our friends. We went to a neat little pizza restaurant that had a beautiful ocean view. After dinner we went for a nice little walk and explored an underwater castle. Well, at dinner Grace was trying to climb onto the table. Then she was trying to climb the steps of the castle. She is too brave!!!

We decided to top of the night by visiting the Ferris Wheel at American Village. There is this huge ferris wheel that sits on top of a 3-story building and at night it is lit up with pretty lights. Grace LOVES looking at the ferris wheel so we decided to ride it. It was a 15 min. ride and it went really, really high. We were a little nervous that she would get too fidgety sitting there but she didn't at all until about the last 2 minutes. She really LOVED the ride!! I think we may have to go back again sometime :-)