The busy weekend is over...

The cookout was a success! We didn't have as many people as planned for but that made for plenty of food for everyone. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and the food was really good. Burgers, Hot Dogs, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, a wide variety of chips, pineapple, brownies, cookies, pudding, and MORE! It was a gorgeous day too so we pulled the chairs out to the backyard and sat outside for hours.

On Sunday we got up early and made it to ITT and on the bus. Everything went pretty much exactly as scheduled. We had a wonderful time but we were exhausted by the time we got back on the bus for the trip home. I think it must have been the climb to the top of Mt. Gusuku (which, surprisingly, Heather made it to the top!) Here are a few pictures from Ie Island.

Heather in front of the Ferry

Outside Niya-Thiya Cave

Wajee View Point - Our favorite view so far!

Dustin at the top of Mt. Gusuku

In the field of Lily's

Dustin asked to take a picture of the band and this lady ran and put on make-up to take a picture with him!

Dustin using his chopstick skills at lunch

This weekend

On Saturday we are hosting a cookout for Dustin's RSOP team and their families. We are going to grill hamburgers and hot dogs and have lots of sides and desserts. We are expecting quite a few people here - probably around 20. Everyone seems pretty excited so it should be a lot of fun.

On Sunday we have tickets to go to Ie Island to see the Lily Festival. Evidentally, about 1 million lily's bloom around this time of year so we are hoping they will be in full bloom on Sunday. The trip will be something like this:
7:15 Leave ITT
8:30 Arrive at Motobu Port
9:00 Leave from Motobu Port on the ship
9:30 Arrive at Ie Island
9:50 Arrive at Ernie Pyle Monument (take 10 min)
10:10 The Cave of Niya-Thiya (take 30 min)
11:00 Wajee (take 20 min)
11:40 Mt Gusuku Yama (take 35 min)
12:30 Lily field park (take 90 min)
14:30 Arrive at Ie Port
15:00 Leave from Ie seaport
15:30 Arrive at Motobu Port
17:00 Arrive at Kadena ITT and go home

As you can see it will be a very busy day. We are not sure what the little stops are but I guess we will find out. They take the bus to the island so we have transportation there and will be able to see more than we would if we had just gone on our own. We will post a picture or two when we get back!

The Mover's Were Here! (and you can definitely tell)

Our second and final shipment finally made it all the way from El Paso, TX. The mover's delivered it on Friday. Everything went very smoothly and we have yet to find anything broken! Friday was also Dustin's birthday so he had a good reason to stay home for most of the day. Almost everything is unboxed but the only room that has been cleared so far is the kitchen. Now we need to figure out where we want the furniture and where we want to hang all of our beautiful hangings!

A little McGriff on the way!!!

We are going to be parents!!
Yep--no kidding, it was April fool's day and we found out Heather was 5 weeks pregnant. We cannot express in words how overwhelmingly wonderful it feels to know that a little one is on the way. The expected due date is December 8th, 2008. Other than receiving wonderful news, we are settling down in our new house and Heather is beginning to unpack our first shipment. We are still waiting for all of our big furniture and clothes! Dustin has been in the field for 5 days, but was fortunate enough to come home Friday and Saturday night for a shower. He gets out of the field next Thursday. We are also planning a trip to one of the uninhabited islands around Okinawa for next Saturday. You can go to Naha and take a ferry to the islands for a few hundred Yen (7 bucks). Well that pretty much sums up the McGriff happenings for the last week or so. Till next time,

Dustin and Heather