Sunday, August 31, 2008
Dad...
I received a phone call that my Dad had a heart attack yesterday morning. He is in ICU and just had 2 stents placed. It makes me so sad I am so far away and can not even talk to him to tell him how much I love him.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Daddy and Javan time at dinner
Preface: Steve had grown his mustache out for a while prior to the following conversation.We were out having dinner and Steve was grilling it on our table while Javan was waiting for his food.
Javan: (laughing so hard he couldn't hardly even talk and pointing) "Daddy, you have a mustache"!
Steve: (all of us laughing because it has been there for like forever now) Yes, Javan I do, I have had it for a while now.
Javan: (Looking serious) "Is it real"?
This kid can come up with some of the funniest stuff! I can just see Steve putting on his mustache for dinner...
Javan: (laughing so hard he couldn't hardly even talk and pointing) "Daddy, you have a mustache"!
Steve: (all of us laughing because it has been there for like forever now) Yes, Javan I do, I have had it for a while now.
Javan: (Looking serious) "Is it real"?
This kid can come up with some of the funniest stuff! I can just see Steve putting on his mustache for dinner...
The NeoPark Experience
My babies are getting ready to go back to school and I was feeling like a little bit of a slacker mother since we have been so consumed with the moving process and settling in. My friend Denise had mentioned that there was a place South of us called NeoPark that is like an animal sanctuary. You actually walk through and can feed all the bird and Lemurs and really anything else that you can get close enough to feed. (Shhh...don't tell the staff of NeoPark I just told you guys that)
We loaded up the kiddos and another friend of mine, Carmen and off we went to explore the wildlife of Japan. What a fun place!!! Only with a crew of 7, 4 of them being children can you have so many mishaps and laughs. The birds are so funny, they totally know when you walk up to the glass door to go outside that you have food and boy are they ready for ya.
Javan was not so hip on the birds considering most of them were as tall as he was!! In this picture he was literally yelling, "Mooommmmmyyy, HELP!"
With so many birds comes bird poop and Marissa could not resist falling right into the excitement of their excretions. Marissa, you bring so many good stories to the table. I love you soooo much!
These birds were great, there were so many of them I have never seen before and they would walk right up to you. We took all of our left over crackers and Denise brought raisins to coax the Lemurs out of the trees. Their tiny lemur hands are sooo soft, like a newborn baby and they are so gentle taking the raisin from your hand ever so carefully. I wanted to bring the little guy home!
Bad hair day
Denise and the kids feeding the lemur.
Now you have to come with me to the Afurican Savanna. Yes, I said Afurican Savannah. That is Engrish. In the Afurican Savanna they have all the exotic animals you would normally see in Afurica, Like the rare Doxon, and Chihuahua. It still makes me laugh just writing about it! They have dogs on display! Yes, they have dogs as exhibits AND you can pay 200 yen to go to the petting zoo to pet the rare species. We had to do it in the spirit of exploration. Along with about 10-12 dogs they had a Little baby boar that ran around and mingled with the dog peters. He was small and cute and commanded your attention. Javan got right down to his level and was petting him and the little guy licked his chin and made us all laugh, awww so sweet. Marissa thought she too wanted to do this so right to her bottom she went to pet the fella. She did not consider that she had bird food in her pocket and HOLY PIG!! That little pig attacked her and was squealing and nipping the whole time. All we could do was scream as she fought the pig off! Everyone was screaming - American and Japanese alike! She made it out unscathed but I do think she will not travel the Afurican Savanna again anytime real soon.
Engrish:
The very rarely seen mixed breeds of the Afurican Savanna.
This little piggy was the naughty one, I am so happy Javan did not have food on his face after lunch! We would be having a pig roast!
That was about all the excitement we could stand for the day, a few more visits with some monkeys and HUGE fish that are from the Amazon and we finished up the perfect day with a group photo! Traditional Japanese garb complete with the accessories. This is when you finish and are about to leave the park for $5.00, can't beat it!
Only in Okinawa can you: Fall in bird poop, feed a lemur, see wild chihuahuas on exhibit, be attacked by a baby pig, feed ginormous fish and dress up in kimonos for a photo opp. all in one afternoon! Gotta love this place!
We loaded up the kiddos and another friend of mine, Carmen and off we went to explore the wildlife of Japan. What a fun place!!! Only with a crew of 7, 4 of them being children can you have so many mishaps and laughs. The birds are so funny, they totally know when you walk up to the glass door to go outside that you have food and boy are they ready for ya.
Javan was not so hip on the birds considering most of them were as tall as he was!! In this picture he was literally yelling, "Mooommmmmyyy, HELP!"
With so many birds comes bird poop and Marissa could not resist falling right into the excitement of their excretions. Marissa, you bring so many good stories to the table. I love you soooo much!
These birds were great, there were so many of them I have never seen before and they would walk right up to you. We took all of our left over crackers and Denise brought raisins to coax the Lemurs out of the trees. Their tiny lemur hands are sooo soft, like a newborn baby and they are so gentle taking the raisin from your hand ever so carefully. I wanted to bring the little guy home!
Bad hair day
Denise and the kids feeding the lemur.
Now you have to come with me to the Afurican Savanna. Yes, I said Afurican Savannah. That is Engrish. In the Afurican Savanna they have all the exotic animals you would normally see in Afurica, Like the rare Doxon, and Chihuahua. It still makes me laugh just writing about it! They have dogs on display! Yes, they have dogs as exhibits AND you can pay 200 yen to go to the petting zoo to pet the rare species. We had to do it in the spirit of exploration. Along with about 10-12 dogs they had a Little baby boar that ran around and mingled with the dog peters. He was small and cute and commanded your attention. Javan got right down to his level and was petting him and the little guy licked his chin and made us all laugh, awww so sweet. Marissa thought she too wanted to do this so right to her bottom she went to pet the fella. She did not consider that she had bird food in her pocket and HOLY PIG!! That little pig attacked her and was squealing and nipping the whole time. All we could do was scream as she fought the pig off! Everyone was screaming - American and Japanese alike! She made it out unscathed but I do think she will not travel the Afurican Savanna again anytime real soon.
Engrish:
The very rarely seen mixed breeds of the Afurican Savanna.
This little piggy was the naughty one, I am so happy Javan did not have food on his face after lunch! We would be having a pig roast!
That was about all the excitement we could stand for the day, a few more visits with some monkeys and HUGE fish that are from the Amazon and we finished up the perfect day with a group photo! Traditional Japanese garb complete with the accessories. This is when you finish and are about to leave the park for $5.00, can't beat it!
Only in Okinawa can you: Fall in bird poop, feed a lemur, see wild chihuahuas on exhibit, be attacked by a baby pig, feed ginormous fish and dress up in kimonos for a photo opp. all in one afternoon! Gotta love this place!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Eisa festival of 10,000 dancers 2008
So I have felt a little guilty of not sharing more of the Japanese culture with you guys because we have really been hanging around the house so much. There is so much to do and see here I find myself almost irritated that we are not out EVERY weekend seeing and doing more. I have to remind myself quite often that we are here for 3 years so try not to rush.
The kids only have about 2 weeks or so until school starts so I really want to get them out some before the big "1st day". We went last weekend to the 53rd Annual Eisa Festival of 10,000 dancers. This festival actually started as a contest between groups of dancers performing their cultural dances for judges. The dancers vary in ages from very small to very old.
We had an awesome time and the sounds of the large drums just resonated deep in your chest. It was really spectacular! Of course, it did begin to rain but I did not mind at all since it kept it kinda cool. Here are a few pictures of the Eisa Festival, enjoy! we did...
Little guy getting ready for his groups turn.
Hmmm... I can't get blogger to download any more pics right now, I'm so upset because there are some great pictures. I'll try to post more later!
The kids only have about 2 weeks or so until school starts so I really want to get them out some before the big "1st day". We went last weekend to the 53rd Annual Eisa Festival of 10,000 dancers. This festival actually started as a contest between groups of dancers performing their cultural dances for judges. The dancers vary in ages from very small to very old.
We had an awesome time and the sounds of the large drums just resonated deep in your chest. It was really spectacular! Of course, it did begin to rain but I did not mind at all since it kept it kinda cool. Here are a few pictures of the Eisa Festival, enjoy! we did...
Little guy getting ready for his groups turn.
Hmmm... I can't get blogger to download any more pics right now, I'm so upset because there are some great pictures. I'll try to post more later!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Somebody thinks I am worth a $10.00 weed.
My baby boy is the sweetest thing in the world. Love is so blind, I can find myself SOOO irritated with him at times and then he does something so sweet and innocent it almost makes me cry.
Today he brought in this pretty little weed of a flower and handed it to me. It is not uncommon for him to bring me dainty little flowers occasionally and I give him a little hug and we go on our way.
Today, the flower today was different. Apparently Javan had found $10.00 while playing outside with all the kids and he was so excited. Sadly, one of the older manipulative boys pulled a mean trick on little Javan and said he would "trade" him something for his ten dollar bill. The boy ask what Javan wanted-
Javs story:
"I told him I wanted a flower thiiiiiiiis tall (as he held up his little hands) to give to you"
Who would really pay $10.00 to buy me a single little flower? I know who...my baby boy. I wish it could stay like that forever.
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