Vacation's over.

It is starting to feel like the vacation is over. Christian is leaving on TDY soon, we have church callings, and I've already backed into something with the car. I've been thinking...OK, this was fun, but now it's time to go home.

So now is the part where I vent. (Feel free to move on if you don't want to hear my bitching.) I miss Target. I miss Wesson. I miss being able to call people at a normal time of day. I miss driving past a building and knowing what it was because I can read the sign. I miss being there for the important events in my loved ones' lives (like my two wonderful friends having their babies). I miss my family and friends. I miss all things familiar.

Here's what I don't miss: Snow. And Wesson's hair. And all things familiar.
Yep, I'm a woman and I'm complicated. I think now I'll go frost the coconut cake I've been working on today. Baking always makes me feel at home.

Jackson turns 5

As much as I tried to convince Jackson to stay 4 forever, today he turned 5 years old. When our kids have a birthday, we spend the day doing and eating everything they want. So for Jacks' big day, he chose to go to the movies to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, to McDonalds for lunch, to his favorite park, and finally to the beach. He topped off the night with a dinner of Cookie Crisp cereal (his choice, not mine!) and jumping on the trampoline with Dad. He also requested I make him a white cake with pink frosting. I was happy to make him pink frosting for his 5th birthday, but if he asks for the same thing when he turns 14, I might be concerned! I think he had a great time. He also assured me that even though he wasn't four anymore, he'd still be sweet and loving at five years old, just a little taller. I love this boy.

Uncle Chris Rocks!

My little brother came to visit last week--our first visitor! We had such a great time. Partly because there is so much to do in Okinawa, and partly because Chris is so fun! We went to a ton of parks with the kids, hit the beach, drove north to the aquarium, and toured a japanese castle. Chris was game for everything. He ate all the local food, explored places I had never been to, and played with the kids. There is a reason why he is everyone's favorite uncle. I can't seem to say enough great things about Chris. I'm so glad he's my brother and I feel really touched that he made the effort to come to Japan to see us. Uncle Chris--YOU ROCK!

OCD overload!

Well, the good news is that we received our shipment of household goods on Thursday. Man is it good to see our things--especially our comfortable beds and couches. The bad news is that the house is a DISASTER! We had the movers unpack the boxes because someone here told us that if you take care of it yourself, you also have to cut down all the boxes to a regulation size or the garbage people won't pick it up. I just couldn't handle one more thing, so we asked them to unpack. Their version of unpack was 1: slice open the box 2: turn over and dump 3: move on to the next box. Needless to say, my compulsive need for organization has thrown me into a tizzy, filled with anxiety over where everything is going to go. We have moved from a 2200 square foot house, to a 1200 square foot house. But I'll say this, and I mean it with all sincerity...I have a testimony of tupperware. Above our stove is a completely useless cabinet. And what have I done? Turned it into a tower of tupperware. When I look at it I am filled with such pleasure. I know...I have a problem. No worry, my husband is a shrink.
In a related story, after we got Sydney's room put together, I went in and found that she'd labels her dresser drawers. I totally did that as a kid. I'm sure Laura, Jamie, and Summer are having a good laugh over this one!


And finally, Happy Valentine's Day! We made red velvet cupcakes and it was a pleasure to have all my kitchen gadgets around me while I baked.

Happy 38th!

Happy Birthday Christian! He says he's officially old, but I think he's never looked better. He actually gets the day off work (they are giving them the day to watch the superbowl--I think the military is run by MEN!) so we are going to celebrate with him all day.

Nice view

Ever wonder what government issue furniture looks like? Well take a look. It's kind of like a bad hotel room. But it's better than sitting on the floor. Another couple of weeks and our stuff should arrive. Literally. Can't. Wait.












The military is in the process of painting the older homes on base, which includes ours. So the last few days they've been building scaffolding around our house. It's kind of fun to watch. Anyway, this is the view out the back of our house.

Jack goes to preschool

We finally found a preschool for Jackson! Today was his first day and he didn't fuss about going at all. It might have helped that he started with another little boy we know from church. He went right into the classroom and sat down to sign his name. They asked me if he knew how to write (which he doesn't--at all) and I told them he needed lots of help. To which he replied, "I make REALLY good J's". It's true. It's the only letter he will write, but he does it well. I'm sure you can see from the look on his face, he thinks he is too cool for school!