4th of July

Here are some pictures from the 4th of July. We saw 2 parades and a great firework display (with several other displays in the distance). Grace enjoyed the candy that was thrown during the parade and they both really liked the fireworks this year! 

4th of July Parade

We spent the long weekend visiting Dustin's family in Joplin, MO. We wanted to enjoy some festivities so we joined some friends for his hometown parade on Saturday. It was a hot day, but not nearly as hot as it has been here in Oklahoma. I think we were there on one of their very first triple digit days but we enjoyed a but of the cooler weather!

Our friends invited us to a family get together to watch a firework display that night. Even though this was in someones backyard and put on by an individual it was one of the best shows we have ever been to. The display was set to music and we watched from the inside in the sunroom. This was Olivia's first time seeing fireworks and after a few minutes of looking at them she fell asleep!

Fireworks!

On Saturday we drove up to Nago (about an hour away) to watch the largest fireworks display on Okinawa! Every summer, the Ocean Expo Park puts on a show lasting about 45 minutes with about 10,000 fireworks. It happens the Saturday before Marine Day, which is always on a Monday and last year fell on my birthday. We had decided to just found a place to park and watch the fireworks from the car. We didn't want to go early and pay to get into the park and then have to deal with the loud booms which frighten Grace. We saw a little spot along a sea wall with a lot of locals and after driving a little further and finding several roads had been blocked we turned around and went back to join the locals.

{Getting ready to watch the fireworks}

We saw a few fireworks and then they stopped and we got a little disappointed but everyone seemed to be staying so we stayed a little longer. Then we saw a few more across the ocean at a different location and then they stopped. Again, everyone was staying put. Then the real show happened! I guess we just got a little warm-up before the real show began.

This was by far the BEST display we have ever seen! I am sure it would have been a lot better if we were closer since we were not able to see some of the fountains because of buildings and trees between us and the show, but then Grace would not have enjoyed it near as well since we would have really heard all of the booms.

Here are a couple pictures of Grace enjoying the show. Her expressions are priceless!!!

{Oooooh!!!}

4th of July Pictures

These are some of the pictures we took at our church's BBQ on the 4th of July. They try to bring a little bit of America to Japan each year and they did a good job!

There was a kiddie pool set up and we didn't think Grace would want in since there were so many kids in it but she proved us wrong!

After some time in the water she decided it was time to swing!

And she played basketball with her Daddy and several Japanese girls (one of them was playing in HEELS!)

She was SO independent! She would just walk around, check out the pool, go play with other kids. There were a couple of older girls who would tell her she needed to go back to her Mommy when she would go to play with them.

After it got dark we went up on the roof to watch the fireworks. We were far enough away that they were not too loud, which made Grace happy. But there were some clouds that blocked about half of the fireworks.

Happy 4th of July!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!

{Grace modeling the dress I made for her}

We went over to our friends' house last night for pizza, puppy chow, and fireworks! The Army post here had a beach party and capped it off with fireworks and we had a great view from the backyard. Grace is not a huge fan of fireworks. She talks about them and says they are pretty but when they start going off I feel like a eucalyptus tree and she is the koala bear. She is going through a phase where she does not like any loud noises (fireworks, thunder, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, etc)

This afternoon we are going to church for a BBQ. There is going to be a pool and slip and slide set up! And to top everything off, we will be able to watch the fireworks display that the Air Force is putting on tonight from the roof of the church!! I think we will be far enough away that it won't be so loud but close enough it will be a great view.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

We went to ITT today and got tickets for the 14th Christmas Fantasy at the zoo! We are planning on going Christmas evening. There will be a laser light show, fireworks, and SNOW!! And we get to go in a japanese-style igloo!

On Christmas Eve we want to make it a tradition to go see Christmas lights so we picked up tickets to go to the Southeast Botanical Gardens marché de Noël. We went last year and they had a wonderful display of lights and a laser light show and fireworks. I think Grace is going to have a very good time both nights!

So now we have some fun plans for Christmas!!

Getting back to a routine...

We have enjoyed having my parents here for the past few weeks (my Mom was here 3 weeks and my Dad for 10 days). Grace really enjoyed having her Grandma and Grandpa here to play with her and spoil her rotten! I think we did more in the short time my Dad was here than we have done since we have been on this beautiful island. Grace took most of her naps in her carseat while we were driving from one place to another.

We started out by going to Okinawa World and Peace Prayer Park the first day. Day 2 we drove to a few other islands and saw some castle ruins. During the week while Dustin was working we did quite a bit of shopping and ventured to a few places like Shuri Castle and the Japanese Naval Underground. We had lunch at the Tea House, which is a neat little restaurant overlooking the golf course and flight line, a couple times and went to a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant once.

The last weekend my parents were here was a 4-day for Dustin so we stayed busy! Friday we went to a beach so we could have family pictures taken for our Christmas cards then we headed up north. We stopped at Maeda point to see the wonderful scenery on our way to the Busena Resort Underwater Observatory. Grace loved it! We walked out to a building that had a winding staircase that took you underwater and there were several look-out windows where we could watch lots of pretty fish. Afterwards, we kept driving and went to the Pineapple park. This was our 4th time going and it is always a treat. Who doesn't love eating pineapple??

On Saturday we went to Naha and shopped at Kokusai street. We parked at the Jusco (shopping mall with free parking) and rode the monorail to one end of the street and took off walking. We bought Grace a cute little dress and we got some ice cream at Blue Seal. I have a new favorite - Caramel Machiato! On our way home we stopped by a flightline fest and saw lots of helicopters and airplanes. Grace got to ride a train and visit the duck pond and she even won a couple toys!

Sunday was a little more relaxing but busy nonetheless. Since Grace loved watching the fish so much at the underwater observatory we bought her a fish tank! We picked it up on Saturday morning and then on Sunday my parents cleaned it up and showed us how to set it all up. After it was all ready we went to a pet store that is only about 5 minutes from our house and bought 4 little fish! They now have names - Mickey, Minnie, Tom, and Jerry. That afternoon we went to the 100 Yen Plaza near our house, then we went to the lighthouse on Cape Zanpa, and finally we went to dinner.

Monday might have been the longest but most exciting day. We drove up to Okuma (military recreation area) and went on a snorkel trip. Grace was not too fond of the life jacket she had to wear but she loved swimming in the ocean! Afterwards, we got back in the car and drove to the northern most part of the island - Cape Hedo. And then we went on a trail through some bushes and rocks to see a panoramic view. I don't think we will be doing that again! We decided to take the scenic route (aka: the longest route) back home. I think it took us over 3 hours! We have been that way twice and I hope there is never a 3rd. There is not a bathroom for the first 2 hours of the drive. I think this was discovered both times we took this route.

So now we are back to trying to get back into our routine. Grace is missing her grandparents pretty bad I think. She has been super clingy and won't let us out of her reach. I even had to lay down with her for her nap this afternoon and she would wake up if I even turned so I wasn't looking at her.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the last few weeks that my Mom took.

One evening we were able to watch fireworks from our balcony!

So cool!!

The Lighthouse

at Cape Zanpa

Cape Zanpa - it was very windy and the sun was right in our eyes

After her swim

She didn't want to get out!

The life jacket wasn't too comfy

Excited!!

The duck pond

On our way to the underwater observatory

Grace and Dustin at Okinawa World with the Shisa Dog

I left Grace at home with her Grandma. When I left she was napping. When I came home she had ate yogurt, made a big mess, and just HAD to go swimming to get clean :-)

She got a bunch of balls to put in her pool!