Versatility.

About fourteen months ago, I went to The Shipps' wedding.  I was 8 months pregnant and living in a town full of pregnant people and people with babies that did not have a maternity store.  Since the wedding was near my home town ( let's say about a half a mile from our old ranch), I flew down to spend the week with my parents down town and decided I would shop for something to wear when I got there.  My mom picked out a few different spots in the same area we could drop into.  Boutiques (my favorite), that we just didn't have at good ol' Camp Lejeune.


By the time we got back from visiting my Grandma, it was late afternoon, and we had to head to the country for the rehearsal dinner.  The problem was, we still hadn't shopped, we needed to go to the house in down town first, and getting out of the city could prove to be a little problematic.  We had gone up to the shops a couple of days before, but had gotten there too late, so they were closed.  The good part was, we were pretty sure we knew which one we wanted to go to.   We did some speedy shopping, I found some adorable stuff, including this outfit for her wedding day.

 

Before we moved, we garage saled nearly everything we knew we could do with out.  I even had this dress sitting out for a little bit, but wanted more out of it than the normal cheap, garage sale, maternity dress, so it never ended up selling.  I was ok with that.  I was pretty sure that with the right belt, it could be really cute.  I also ended up keeping another sweater I got from Nine Maternity  That day that I wear often these days, and it looks over sized, but I like it that way.  Any way, I finally got a belt and tried it on together just when Red was coming in for lunch.  I wasn't quite sure about it, but he said he really liked it!

I love it when I can "recycle" things!

**note:  Erica, yes this is why we were late.  I'm sorry it wasn't something more noble than shopping, like saving a child from a run away wagon or feeding the hungry.

**note2:  That's my living room!  Please don't pay attention to the scattered toys.  Thanks.

My Second Addiction.

Bedding.

I love bedspreads. And pillows. I walk around the aisles picturing all of the different rooms I could put together.  Many times, I feel as if I have found the most perfect look for our room.  Yes! I think to myself, this is definitely it!  Red and Gold.  Red and gold everywhere.  I continue on to excitedly call Red, tell him I will be buying this comforter set with matching pillows and I have to look for curtains and a rug to match.  Also, hopefully some new photo frames for the walls.  So dinner will not be happening like he expected,  even if we did invite fifty of our closest friends.

When he deployed after we got married and I was pregnant with Pumpkin, I bought a new down comforter, and four different duvet covers.  I excused myself with the fact that I was also trying to make our guest bedroom nice, and we had just gotten married about 9 months ago, I needed to start collecting!  This is when I first recognized that what was going on here was a serious issue.  Really, Red figured it out when asked why I was going to Target so often.  After I told him about the merchandise, he was a little dumbfounded.  We ditched our original red and gold for a geometric shape duvet with a down comforter, then, a plain one.  Now, brown and green and tan and red.

Today, it struck again.  When we first arrived to Iwakuni, we got into housing a lot faster than we had expected.  Great! Right?  Mostly.   We were in our house, which was wonderful to be in our very own living room that was not also the kitchen/ closet/ Pumpkin's Room/ bedroom.  So that part was wonderful.  We headed down to the Lending Locker and got some silverware, plates, cups, cooking utensils, etc.  We were able to get temporary furniture!  Waiting room style couch and chairs and a coffee tables.  They let us use dressers and a bed, too.  However, we had no towels, or bedding.  I was pretty excited about the no bedding part.  That meant I got to go buy a new set!!  We decided on a Martha Stewart ( I love her.  A bunch. ) Blue and silver floral set that had all the bells and whistles.  It contained curtains we couldn't hang up because of the pin hook system that appears to be popular here.  No curtain rods, so that meant no to the use of Martha's curtains she gave us.  I also realized that it was dry- clean only.  A huge no-no in my book.  Do you know how many things I spill on a daily basis?  Do you realize that I have a child?  Apparently Martha didn't.  At least not this time.

Any way, the blue and silver set was doing it's job just fine.  I folded down the comforter if Pumpkin was going to be on the bed, and generally loved it, until a colorful, red, green and robin egg blue baby came into my  life  PX.  Now, I spotted her right away.  Red promptly said " NO MORE BEDDING!'  and not even the saddest of faces could convince him.

Merry Christmas!

Ain't she purdy?

Best of all, Machine Washable!  Woohoo! 


I promise this will be the last time. 

The Green curtains we though we would have to replace? Match. 

The red trunk I thought I was going to have to re-cover?  Match. 

 Color and life in a new room in a new place?  Yes maam.


Bedding success!

Merry Christmas!

There was something absolutely perfect  about this Christmas.   I'm not sure if it was the fact that Pumpkincould enjoy this year more than last year,  and I knew she was going to l-o-v-e her new stuff, the fact that I had really been able to shop for Red this year since I've had more sleep than I did last, or that it SNOWED, but there was something magically perfect.

Santa stopped by our house pretty early on Christmas Eve, meaning we were able to eat the Cookies he " just couldn't finish" and head onto bed.  On Christmas Morning, Pumpkin woke us up a little before 7 and hung out with her Daddy while I made some pancakes for us to eat while opening presents.  She didn't really notice much of a difference at first, then she saw her new kitchen, and we told her Santa had brought her some new toys she needed to open up!  She was really into it!  She would tear the wrapping paper until she got to whatever new toy it was, play with it for a second, and then it was on to the next.   It was so heartwarming to watch my baby get so excited about her new stuff.  You could just tell she was happy!  Red seemed to enjoy his collection of electronics from Santa too.  And me?  I am 100% loving my new Nikon D5000!  Now, I just have to figure out how to use it and get the most out of it.  I've been playing with it, but in January I am signing up for a photography class!  Hopefully it will be a big help, and the best part, it's on Saturday Mornings, so Red will be home to watch the darlin' girl.

After round one, we logged onto skype, and began our "visits" around the world.  In Decatur, Texas my brother ( let's call him Tex because that's the only name that makes sense) was trying to visit our Granny, Aunt, Uncle and their daughters in the Dallas area, but he had to go back to work on the Oil Rig.  Then, we headed up to Arkansas to open the presents that Red's family had sent to us ( they celebrate on Christmas Eve so we got to see every one and sort of be there)  We got to see my two little nephews open up gifts, they are so precious!  The oldest one, B, didn't really know what to think of Skype at first, but we did manage to get a little conversation out of him!  After we left Arkansas, we went back to Texas to visit with my Grandma, Mom and Daddy.  It is always so nice to catch Grandma on Skype!  She is so funny and sweet.  I only wish I could give her a big hug for the holidays.  I know she loves when she has visitors, I just want to be one of them more often.  When Ava woke up from her nap, we got to see Red's Grandma and Granddaddy's house- filled with all of his extended relatives!  Most of them live in the area, so they gather for Christmas Eve.  Uncles, Aunts, Cousins!  We got to say Hi to every one!  I think there was Farkle involved, at least, I can guess.   I imagine the evening was a blast.  I know, I've been there before.  So many fun people all together.

After breakfast for lunch ( thanks to my new waffle iron!  The one that FLIPS. How cool is that?) , Red, Pumpkin and me all headed out to his Sergeant's Building's Community room.  They set up an entire Christmas dinner for any one who wanted to come!  The company and the food was all wonderful.  Baby girl had a blast playing with the other kids and they all bombarded Red to throw them around when he walked up to the group.  Another one of those heartwarming things.  It was really great.

Now, let's get back to the snow.

  It snowed ( mostly) the entire day of Christmas.  I grew up in South East Texas.  It sleeted once every eight years with claims of flurries.  This was a Christmas Miracle for me!!  It was also really unexpected ( for me at least, I didn't check the weatherman's thoughts) It's been mid 50's here.  Then, SNOW?  There might have been some jumping up and down involved.  However, I can not confirm that.  When Pumpkin went down for her nap, Red and me went out on our balcony in our pajamas ( I am sure our neighbors were thrilled.) , watched the snow, and I drank the coffee he made me.  Red makes the best coffee, with out drinking any of it.  It's sad really.  Like making the best chocolate cake and then not having any because you don't like chocolate cake.  Maybe I should threaten his new iPad to make him drink some?  Any way,  after deciding we were cold and needed to get some chairs out there, we went back in and cleaned up the wrapping paper with the windows open and heat on. 

We ended the most perfect Christmas with taking down the tree and wrapping up the decorations.  Our tree had died about 3 weeks ago, and I'm kind of surprised it didn't go up in flames before now.  We vacuumed, re- arranged slightly, and decided we had to go through our photo frames and decide which ones to put up since it felt so empty.  More spacious and clean, but very empty.

Now, we are just getting ready to kick off 2011!  I have a feeling it's going to be a fun, eventful year!

A visit from Mom

My sweet, beautiful Mommy came to visit for pumpkin's birthday last week.  We had so much fun!  After picking her up in Hiroshima, she set up camp in pumpkin's room on a fold out less than twin sized bed and almost no where to put her things, and bless her heart, she made the best of it ( like she always does).

We went on a few excursions during her stay, including the Kintai Bridge, and the island of Miyajima- a beautiful sightseeing place less than an hour from our base.  At Miyajima, there are quite a few attractions other than the scenery ( we will get to that in a minute.)  There are the most adorable deer that love to get up close and personal, in your pockets, kids' strollers, in your bag.  They love to be petted and will follow you until you no longer have anything to offer.  Even then, they will probably still follow.  They are very optimistic little stinkers. 

There are also a ton of little, authentic Japanese shops.  I got an adorable knit hat, and mom ended up getting a poncho ( not pictured because I've been threatened.  It got a little cold, and she got a little desperate ).  Quite a few make their own things and they all sell something unique!  Another thing Miyajima is famous for is the largest rice spatula in Japan?  The world?  I don't remember, but it's huge.  So, if you need a rice spatula, I can hook you up.  There is also a shrine that you are able to tour with a floating Torii gate.  For some one that has never been in a shrine, it was a very new and interesting experience.  Certain things you were not able to take pictures of, and they had a fortune station where you would go to a selection of numbered drawers and pick out your fortune.  I never got one because they are only in Japanese and it says " No translations."  I didn't want to be a bother. 

Then, we went on the cable cars and headed up to the top of Mount Misen.  Wow!  It was absolutely gorgeous.  We could see the surrounding cities and islands on a perfectly clear, sun-shiny day.  When we got to the top- there were signs every where warning us about the monkeys.  " Do not look in our eye.  We are not responsible for what might happen"  There were even free lockers provided so you wouldn't tempt the said monkeys with your things.  We never saw a monkey, but I did keep a close watch on Pumpkin and our things. 

 We rode the train there and back, my first time using the public transportation system out here.  It was so nice.  In the states,  public transportation can be scary.  Here, it is just how you get around.  It is clean, and the people were friendly, all wanting to touch Pumpkin.  It was also pretty fast, we didn't have to have baby in a car seat, and we got to just enjoy the ride.  Hanging on, of course.

I miss my mom now that she is gone and not sleeping in my baby's room any more.  But I am sure she will be back again soon!  After she left, it hit me.  I moved to Japan.  No more " in the middle of a move" or " we just moved"  We're here.  Our stuff is here.  Pumpkin is one and we have moved to Japan.  Now, we make our new surroundings home!

Where is that maid?!

The kitchen is not cleaned, the toys are not picked up, the floor is not mopped!

Ok ok, I'm fired.  I get it.  I have no excuses.  Um, I put away the enormous amount of laundry I had?  My kiddo has a fever and I felt so bad for her today I stuck with her most of the day?  I'm tired.  Do these count? No?  Get with it?

Ok.  Fine. 

The Iwakuni Cookie Lady.

That's what you can call me.

It all started when one of Red's Sergeants joined us for a meal, and I had some cookies made.  He had one, and then proceeded to beg for more.  If we saw him on base, he threatened to (try) to dismantle my recipe and figure it out.  I didn't tell him that's impossible.  I just told him I would make him more.  I guess I wasn't keeping up properly, because Red came home from work and says " Ten bucks for a baggie of your cookies like you brought me when I was on duty."  So, I say " Oh, well, ok. If he really wants them that badly."  So, I make a batch and send an extra for Red to let the other Marine's in his shop share.  He came home today with a pink post-it note ( I am not sure what a bunch of Marines are doing with a pink post-it, but I figure they're pretty tough so I will over look it for now.)  Fifteen of them would like a batch of my cookies for ten bucks a batch.  One of them requested I make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

I just do as I'm told.

They are Marines after all.  Kinda scary.

Of course, this means we brain storm about business propositions.  First Chocolate Chip, then Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.  Then who knows?!  Banana bread?  Texas Brownies?  Rice Krispie Treats?

My older brother that likes to pick on me for not being coordinated and not really having a knack for anything has decided that this is my "thing".  Cookies.  I wasn't sure if he was making fun of me or actually being encouraging.  That's the thing about big brothers.  They are always questionable.  Not that I'm still bitter about the times he would wait for my parents to leave, tie me to the chair and lock me in the study.  No, I'm surely not.  I've moved past that.  It's just that he's my big brother.

Any way, I have to go wrap up my cookies to send off with Red in the morning.  I hope that I am actually making some sort of a profit here.  I haven't calculated my cookie costs yet.  So I guess I need to do that.  Then, I need to make this, figure out what to do with the rest of it, and sing Jingle Bells.

The Pioneer Woman

is doing a give away!

First off, let me start by telling you how much I am in love with this lady.

She has four children, a husband who she calls Malboro Man, and she home  schools, bakes, cooks does photography and then blogs about her life in the Oklahoma Country in  her own hilarious style.  I have to admit, I've never met her, but I feel like I know her.  Like we cook together on the weekends.  Like every time I check her blog I am calling her saying " Oh hey, Ree, what's up?  Oh!  You had Bridget showing you how to decorate cookies?!  Awesome, let's try that out soon!"

So, let's recap:  She inspires me.  She is on an adventure in the country with her husband like I am on an adventure with mine in another country.  She is doing a give away that you should all enter, because I am pretty sure I can't, because of the whole " U.S. Resident" part.  I don't think we're technically U.s Residents any more.  But I am going to check any way.  I just asked Red for one of these for Christmas because mine is old.  Not too old, but a new one would be awesome.  Especially for picture printing.

Any way, you should really keep up with her.  She's a sweet gal.

Shopping in Japan- Kawaii!

The other day, Red and I went out to a department store called You me Town in Iwakuni.  While we've lived here, I have really admired the Japanese style of clothing.  The women just wear the cutest stuff, all the time.  I very rarely see jeans and t-shirts with tennis shoes.  Most of the time, they are wearing layers of leggings, sweaters, scarves, hats then the most adorable high heeled booties.  I just love it!  I think that their style is so different and I want to adopt it.  I realize that as an almost six foot tall blonde American girl this isn't totally possible- But I want to do my best.  While checking out at the first little area of You Me Town that we wandered into, I found these:

Tweezers!  They will help your beauty.  For your relaxing time.  

I had to buy them.  Tweezers with hearts for my relaxing time??  I just couldn't pass it up.  Besides, they will help my beauty.  And every one could use a little beauty help.

This is everything I got.  It was like a small boutique.  The cutest kitchen mitt ever.  Some stationery kits for letters, a hair tie with a flower ( it has metal though, ouch!) And of course, my beauty helpin' tweezers.  They also sold therapeutic oils and scents, bath soaps, jewelry, coats, hats ( I thought I had bought one... but I guess I put it down? What country is this?  Why is it tomorrow?) It was sooo "Kawaii!"  The Japanese word for cute.  In my lack of knowledge for Japanese, I knew I would find a need for the word cute.  Just kidding.  It's what people say when Pumpkin walks by, and some one translated for me.  The people are so kind here.

This brings me to the clothing store I found.  As I mentioned above, I really adore the style here.  Such a step up from Camp Lejeune where jeans, sweats and t-shirts are the norm.  Don't get me wrong, please.  I love jeans, sweats, and t-shirts.  I love to wear them.  I love people that wear them.  I just love dressing up in adorable sweaters more.

Any way, this brings me to the leggings.  I find the store, and go to try on the above gray sweater.  Red had gone to pay for some curtains we had picked out while I browsed, and came back just in time to see me ask for a dressing room.  The sales lady was very kind and opened the curtains that closed off a small section in the middle of the room.  As I started to step in, she stopped me and pointed for me to take off my shoes!  So I did, revealing my yellow and green polka- dotted socks and made my way into the dressing room.  I put on the gray sweater, and come out to show Red.  She said something that I wasn't able to understand, but I could tell by the way she was talking that it was good.  I just asked her, "Kawaii?"

"Kawaii!"  With an enthusiastic nod.  

Then she signed "Just a minute" and headed off, returning with the bright red sweater and gave it to me. I said," Arigato!" ( Thank you) and then pointed to my pants.  I had seen all of the different leggings in the store, but wasn't quite sure what they would put together, and what would be considered fashionable according their style.  She understood me, and came back with these:

At this point, let's just get something straight.  I don't wear leggings.  I am "pear shaped", and like I said, nearly six feet tall.  In order to wear leggings, a tunic and look lean, one must wear flats or high heeled boots.  In flats, I tend to look like a clown, and in heels, I tend to be feared as Amazon woman.  So I usually just write off the leggings and a tunic idea.  On this day however, I was wearing my black, flat suede boots. So, she had me put those on after I put on the gray sweater and the red sweater with these leggings.  Then, something amazing happened.  Red managed to not even laugh and say " uh. no."... and I kinda fell in love.  Yes, they have snow flakes.  No, I wouldn't typically wear them.  So, I looked at the sales lady with my whole outfit on, and said " kawaii?"

"Kawaiiii."  - Enter enthusiastic and seemingly sincere nod.

She could have just been lying to me.  

As I left the store, she could have texted a friend about the gullible American she just put in those horrendous  Snowflake print leggings they haven't been able to sell yet.

But I think not.

Let's just take a look at these up close.

So, we are checking out after making my decisions, and I ask Red if he remembers what the Japanese word for American is.  I wanted to tell her that this outfit was very different from my previous American style.  I'm sure there's similar stuff, but come on.. this is kawaii!  Bottom line, I try to ask her what they call Americans in Japanese.  It came out like I was asking her to confirm that she was Japanese and we were Americans.  She looked at me like I was a complete nut case and said something in Japanese to her co-worker.  Then, they both looked at me like I was a nut case.

Then, we left.  Sort of awkwardly.

This is good right?  They probably think Americans are reeaaal smart.

Two years.

I never ever thought that two years could involve so much activity.  So much going, so much moving and doing and seeing. 

Year #1:  Move to NC to join my hubby after our wedding Dec 6th.  Get dog, name her Izzy.  Decide Izzy needs more space, decide to buy a house. Find out there is a baby joining you on the same day of the inspection.  One week later, find out about deployment. Move into house, build fence, meet amazing neighbors, settle in.  Red deploys while my belly grows.  Red's deployment gets cut short just in time to have a sweet baby girl.  Begin year 2 four days later.

Year # 2:  Red decides to pursue recruiting.  We visit Texas and Arkansas.  Get orders to Japan instead of recruiting.  Embark on that journey.  Baby starts to crawl.  Paperwork.  Visit Florida.  Visit Arkansas.  Visit Texas.  Visit Arkansas.  Visit Texas.  Return to NC with 2 days to prepare for movers.  Baby walks.  Movers come, family comes.  Move to Japan.  Live in TLF for a week and a half.  Move into permanent housing. First shipment comes, Cody trains.  Second shipment comes.  Mom comes to visit. Baby girl turns 1.  

Today, Lord help us, we will begin year 3.  Do you think we might get to catch our breath?  Marriage is a fun adventure and all, but um, I'm a little tired. 

Have I ever mentioned the "theme" of our wedding ceremony was  " Expect the Unexpected"?

What country is this?  Why is it tomorrow?

No really, I can remember my roommates asking me, " Why do you need to get married now?  You've only known each other a few months, and planning a wedding in three months?  Why not stretch it out?"  My answer was simple, but it didn't really make sense at the time.  To me or any one. " I just feel like this is the next step.  We know we love each other, and it's time to get married."  

As a person who has a tendency to be rather willful and stubborn, God gave me my person.   He knew I needed Red.  Red helps me to "Expect the Unexpected"- God is always in control.  I have control over nothing.  My plans will never be as great as The Lord's for our life.  Red loves me when I irritate myself. Red gives me a big hug when I get mad.  We argue and then laugh at ourselves for getting mad to begin with.  We are learning to rely on God and each other.    I am thankful that we are on such a crazy adventure.  Even though I'm not really good at adventure, I have to get better now!  

I can't wait for year three.

Cloth Diapering, the basics.

 *Caution*

Some of this post may involve washing "yuckies" from diapers.

There are no pictures though, I promise.

The above, being modeled by my beautiful girl, is a Cloth Diaper.  That's right people, I wash her dirty diapers. In my washing machine.  At home.  With really hot water.  We made the decision to cloth diaper pretty early on, mostly based on the money it saves.  The average child from birth to potty training can go through any where between $1,000-$1500 in diapers.  We spent maybe $400 on her "stash" of 30 pink, green, yellow orange and white bumgenius 3.0's, and they grow with her.  Fitting babies from 5-35 pounds, if we take care of them the right way, they should last us until she potty trains.  Unless she doesn't potty train until she's 5.  But, I really think we would have bigger issues at that point.  When I started researching it more, I realized a few other reasons to cloth diaper; less chemicals sitting on your sweet little baby's bottom, less diapers filling up land fills ( each child using disposable diapers can fill up land fills with a ton of diapers that take almost 100 years to biodegrade.), and honestly, just an easier way of doing things.

My friend was asking me the other day why she should use cloth diapers, and I realized, not too many people realize the amazing freedom they can bring your family.  I don't have to run out and buy diapers because we're almost out.  I don't have to take out the trash every time she makes a stinky ( sorry, is there a better way to bring that point up?)  I just put them in my washing machine. I do a cold rinse, a warm wash with an extra rinse using no soap, then, a sanitizing cycle with two scoops of Rockin' Green that involves a presoak, and an extra rinse at the end. The process takes a couple of hours, but honestly, all I have to do is press the buttons. Then, I put them in my dryer, take them out, stuff the liners in, and put them away.  Easy as pie!

I am no expert.  I found BG3.0's and decided they were the easiest, cheapest way to cloth diaper for our family.  Others use all sorts of different kinds.  Pre-folds and covers are one that I don't know too much about, but I have heard of people using them with love! This blog, here has the different types of cloth diapers, and is a great general how-to.  There are videos on you-tube to help explain all of the steps, which can seem a little scary if you think about it too hard.

But you can't let it scare you.



Here's what we did and do.

Purchased 30 bum genius All In One's.  Enough to last two days.  A lot of people recommend using a place like Jillian's Drawers to test out different kinds of cloth diapers to figure out what you like best and what works best for your family.

We ordered this diaper sprayer, that way all of the yucky goes into the toilet, and you don't have to have any contact.  ( Fact: Breastmilk is water soluble and does not actually have to be rinsed before the wash.  I couldn't do the whole yuck in my washer thing.  So we used this often.)

We wash and use a TON of Rockin' Green products.   We use their Detergent for all of our clothes.  ( I did a soak on some of Red's PT gear and cammies one day, holy dirt colored water.  Thanks, tide.  Not only are they the number one rated Cloth diaper detergent, they are really user friendly, a mom is the creator, and they only use natural stuff.  The scents are amazing too! Smashing Watermelon's is a favorite of ours.  Also, the shipping is great and if you follow their Facebook page you can find some good info and deals.

We try to take care of them!  Make sure to put the velcro straps on the wash tags before washing, that way they don't pull and pill.  It's been one year for us and all 30 of our diapers are still in tact. 

We got 2 huge wet bags for the diaper pail, and two small wet bags for going out.  This helps to keeps any icky smell and or leakage in that bag. 

Recently, we added on cloth wipes.  I was going to make them myself, and my wonderful friend Erica, got wind of my lack of sewing machine, and sent me a ton made out of receiving blankets!! She cut them, hemmed them and I fold them together and mix up some water, baby oil, baby wash and maybe a bit of diaper cream for the solution.  This way I don't have to keep a trash can just for wipes.  Might as well wash them all, right?!

So, I am just a basic cloth diaper-er.  I do it for my baby, my wallet, and the planet.  I really do love it.  I love knowing I am doing some thing good, and it is so easy.  I love taking care of my sweet baby, and seeing that fluffy bottom!

Kintai Bridge

Did I mention my mom arrived safe and sound??  We are so happy to have her here!  Today, to get some sightseeing in, we decided to head out to the Kintai Bridge that is in Iwakuni.  It was the most beautiful, perfect day to go.  

Not only was there not a single cloud in the sky, the Maple Tree leaves are all sorts of beautiful colors.  We mostly saw this beautiful bright red and orange.  Just take a minute, soak that beauty in.  Fall.

 We didn't make the hike up to the castle, but there was so much more to the area than I had thought there was.  When we pulled up, we had some corn, meat on a stick, cooked by a blow torch.  This made me all huh? But I didn't ask any questions.  It was so good.  Then, we ate rice balls dipped in some sweet sauce warmed by hot stones.  The taste of these were very good, and since we didn't exactly know that they were rice balls at first, we were kind of put off by their doughy, sticky inside.  We thought they were some kind of potato like we had eaten in Miya Jima.  Good, but not quite the same.  We also got a baggie of oranges for 350 yen since Pumpkin has a new found love for them.  After we walked across the bridge, we saw 2 or 3 different ice cream shops, and decided to grab some from the one that has 100 flavors and my mom had heard of it.  When we walked up, they handed us an english menu ( I wonder how they knew..) We ended up getting plain vanilla ( Red), Satsuma Orange( Mom), and Iwakuni Chestnut ( me ). Then, we all had a taste of each other's- It was wonderful!  So yummy, even Ava enjoyed all of the different flavors!  They had flavors from green tea, to hershey's chocolate, to soybean!  Then, we walked around to the Rare White Snake exhibit, which included about 3 or 4 of these horrible looking long, slithery snakes piled on top of each other and a bunch of spine- shivering long skins in cases that belonged to one of those things at one time.  Apparently, this part of Japan is known for these rare white snakes.  Yay.

As we wondered around, we went to a few different little areas, we came up on something that looked like a shrine, but we didn't go into it.  We did wander up a small trail and ran into this small park with a little pond and water fall.

 Then, we let pumpkin loose!  She loved it out there,  wild and free.  She chased a couple of pigeons and just had fun running around and playing with who ever was fencing her in at the moment.

 

All in all, it was a wonderful, peaceful, beautiful time.   I can't wait for the spring time when the cherry blossoms bloom and fill the air!  I want to go out there and have a picnic every day!  I absolutely loved it, and I hope pumpkin will grow up loving it too.  

Oh yeah, our house rented out in North Carolina!

"Guess what Lieutenant Dan?  We ain't gotta worry about money no more.  That's good, one less thang."

Ok, so we don't have to worry about our mortgage any more, but we still have to worry about money.  Darn it.

One year.

Pumpkin head- Brand new

I am amazed at how much can happen in one year.  This time last year, we were sitting in a hospital room, ooh-ing and aahh-ing over the miracle that had just come into our lives. Pumpkin was born just after 5 p.m. on a rainy afternoon in December.  I significantly remember it being rainy, because Cody had to go down to the car to grab our bags that we left in there in case the nurses sent us home like they had the day before ( oops. ) Also,  every. single. Doctor's appointment I had, I drove to in the rain.  Always, no excuses.  The day of her birth?  We drove to the hospital in the rain.  Very slowly.  

Immediately, Red had the power to calm her down.  While getting her first bath and while the nurses were doing all of their pricking and prodding, all Red  had to do was take her sweet little hand around his finger and talk to her.  Since he had spent the majority of my pregnancy either training or in Iraq, I was concerned about her not knowing her daddy's voice.  I was so wrong!

Listening to Daddy, brand new.

Over the next few days, my Daddy came in, Red's parents arrived and we had a few come and go visitors in the hospital.  We buckled pumpkin in her little green and brown car seat, snuggled her up in a pink blankie, pink hat and snapped her in the car seat base that had been installed for four weeks, and drove to our home as a family. 

Pumpkin- Day 3, going home.

We celebrated our first wedding Anniversary when she was 4 days old.  Since my mom was visiting, we went out for a quick dinner to celebrate.  I may or may not have checked my phone a million times, and we may or may not have been in and out of there in under an hour, but we celebrated, dag- nabbit.

 Our first wedding anniversary.  Izzy saw that we were taking a picture, and sat down in just the right spot!

 

  

   Pumpkin showed us that million watt smile early!   Look at those dimples.. you can't tell me that's "just gas" The only reason babies supposedly smile at a week old.

Sleeping peacefully and so sweetly in her car seat. 2 weeks.

With Daddy, 2 months.

 

  We watched sweet baby girl learn to giggle, We started using cloth diapers, we watched her smile and talk and we did some crying too.  She rolled over, she sat up, she learned to crawl. 

Ava- 4-5 months

We found out we were moving to Japan!  She learned to pull up and cruise.

 6 months, Panama City Beach

She learned to love the beach, chase Izzy around the house, and play in the water.  We went to Panama City beach for a family vacation with our Arkansas family, did a family reunion, and visited Texas

8 months

 9 months

We moved to Japan!  Ava learned to sit on an airplane for hours and hours, that playing in airports can be really fun, and moving means a lot of changes.

piggie- tails!  Sorta.

About to blow out her birthday candle!

Then, just like that, an entire year passed us by.  Our "wittle bitty baby" Isn't so wittle bitty any more.  She lays her head down and tells you " ni- ni"  She runs around on the play ground, and inside.  She wants to help in the kitchen, with the laundry and with hugs ( turns out she's really good at that).  She snuggles and hugs and loves.   She knows what she wants, and feels free to let you know exactly what that may be.

We celebrated her birthday with her favorite dinner- cheese tortellini ( uhm, I think we're related?) and carrot cupcakes, she really just like the icing.  It was raining outside and Pumpkin was happy.  We opened up pink presents and put her to bed with the same pink blankie we took her home in just a year ago.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!  We will always love watching you grow and change. 

Happy December!

Just a few things:

Table cloths make great tree skirts.  I will make one later- for now, red table cloth arranged in a circular fashion at the base of my tree works wonderfully.

Don't hide presents to wrap in your child's room when you plan to wrap them during nap time.

 

Get a stocking hanger from Kirkland's if you don't have a mantel.  

Resisting the urge to hang lights on the inside of your living room is not easy when you love Christmas.

I bought a Christmas Sweater.  It has gold Christmas trees on it.  C says this makes me an old lady.  I say it makes me a happy old lady that's going to bake him and Santa lots of cookies, embrace it.

Decorating your home with command hooks isn't as easy as it sounds.

Ava's birthday is tomorrow!

I've been so busy wrapping Christmas presents.. I haven't wrapped any hot pink birthday girl presents yet!


It might have to wait until tomorrow though...  because...

My Mom is flying in tonight!  Wahoo!




We might drink tea, make lentil soup and play a lot with Pumpkin  Hopefully she will help me re-tie the bow I tried to make pretty enough for the top of the tree. I finally got it "better" than what it was..  But it's still pretty pathetic.  Did you see it up there?

A little blue slip... or ten.

After going to Hiroshima to check out ToysRUs a couple of weeks ago, I decided to finish up Christmas for Pumpkin Online.  Don't get me wrong, there was a great selection, I just had a hard time figuring it all out.  I wasn't able to be certain about the age requirements, assembly instructions.. etc.  So, I hop onto Target.com, aware that it could take a long time to get all the way here with cheaper shipping, I wanted to start early.  As I check out, I change my billing/shipping info to our new address, and click "check- out".  I only missed one thing, the shipping address hadn't changed.  Pumpkin's Christmas was on the way to NC!  I call the Target help line, and some woman starts talking in Japanese.  I try again, same person, same language.

Finally, I just decide it will probably get forwarded here, right?!  I mean, we gave the post office our forwarding address!  Psh, we're smart, I got this.

Then, I track the packages about a week later.  Delivered.  Hm, that's not really how I was hoping it would work out.  My amazing neighbor is all " Hey, there was a package out side your house, so I picked it up for you.  Want me to return it?"
" uh, Yeah!"  I tell her there should be a few more coming in, but I am just so thankful she would do it!  So, I re-order her Christmas presents from Amazon.com which is quickly become my most favorite shopping site!

Then, yesterday comes around.  I buckle Pumpkin in the stroller on a beautiful Monday morning, get in the elevator and head across the street and around the corner. I open up my cute little P.O. box and take out a couple of blue slips, indicating packages! Then, I reach in to double check, just to make sure there isn't any more...  about seven more fall out.  I have ten blue slips in my hand, a stroller in the other.  The lady standing behind me mentions something about how happy that is " It would be even happier if I had a car!" Or if I could drive... Or if I had my cell phone  to call my husband who can drive AND has a car... She says " Oh, I could load them up and take them for you!"  For real?!  My day has been made.  So thankful for good Samaritans just hanging around!

We load up the majority of the shipment from Amazon, and, two packages from Target.  That means we have a couple of " multiple" gifts.  Looks like we will be donating to Toys for Tots! This wonderful helper gets to my building before me, grabs a shopping cart, starts to load up the packages, and puts me in the elevator with it!  Bless her heart!

I get home, find my cell phone in the toy box.  Don't you wonder how it got in there..  and call C.  He's like, " wait for me!  wait for me! I'll be home for lunch and I want to open them with you."  So I sat there.  For an hour and half, surrounded by packages!  Resisting the urge to slash through the tape and open them all, I put them up high, and played with Ava in her room.  On the ground.  Patience has never been my strong point.

Needless to say, the packages were opened, wrapped, bowed and put under our tree.  Well, stacked behind it.  Life with a toddler!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ava- Thanksgiving 2010

What a great Thanksgiving!  Red got home from duty, went to sleep after staying up all night, and Pumpkin and I got to cleaning.  We did laundry, dishes and vacuumed, she is always so happy to help!  Then, after she went to for a nap, I got started in on some deviled eggs.  Shortly after, our friend Courtney came by to join in on the cooking.  We made sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and strawberry spinach salad- yum!  Red Deep-fried the Turkey.  When he brought it up from downstairs, I have to admit, I was worried.  It looked, quite, um, charred?  However, he quickly averted my fears when he peeled away that tiny layer of black to reveal, juicy, tender sweet turkey!  We injected it with a Spicy pineapple rum sauce from Pampered Chef I had sitting in the pantry.  Then, we rubbed it down, on the inside and out.  I wish I had planned that more thoroughly, we could have roasted some pineapple with it!  We enjoyed a very relaxing day of cooking.  Since it was just the three of us, we were able to have dinner whenever every thing got ready and clean up as we felt like it and in between eating desserts.

Tomorrow, we get to decorate for Christmas!!  I am so excited to pull out those boxes and try to find a Christmas tree.  I always flash back to a memory of my Mom, dad, brother and myself at a Christmas Tree Farm with a saw.  We had found the tree, and dad and my brother were cutting it down.  We hauled it back to the suburban, tied it on top, and took it into the house.  Christmas always seems like such a wonderful time of year.  The smells, the flavors, the cookies!  I love it all.  This season seems so crazy.  Thanksgiving kick-started the long list of things to celebrate for our family.  Next week, Ava's first birthday.  Four days later, our Second Wedding Anniversary.  Then, Christmas, New Years and Valentine's day!  I am so thankful we have so much to celebrate.

I have to wait until tomorrow to eat this...

The Best Sheet Cake Ever


Just LOOK at it!  Ok, and no, it's not the exact same recipe.  Give or take about a half a stick of butter in the frosting, which I actually think I am going to have to start adding because my frosting was too thick. 


I grew up calling them Texas Brownies.  Eat this stuff right after a bowl of  Cowboy Stew  and you will be one happy cowboy, or girl!  Cody ends up eating four or more bowls of this each time I make it, and it freezes great, so I always keep some in the fridge!


So far I've chickened out on the Peach Cobbler Rolls .  After Ava is asleep and the dishes are done I might have a change of heart and get wild since Cody has duty at the barracks tonight.  At least I know all of my food will actually still be here tomorrow!  I will just have to make sure to keep him out of sight until dinner.


When we found out we were coming to Japan and would be here just in time for the Holidays ( little did we know we would have all of our stuff!)  We started talking about what we would do to celebrate.  We usually both do big things with our families, and were looking forward to doing the same this year since pumpkin was too new to travel last year.  Red kept on mentioning deep-frying a turkey like his dad had always done.  I have to admit, this idea turned me off slightly.  Then I got to thinking.. the Turkey is the biggest part of the meal.  I have never cooked a whole turkey by myself.  If Red deep-fries one, then I don't have to worry about making it and causing potential disappointment!  Sure babe!  Deep fry seven turkeys if you want!  Then, we ended up deciding against it because we were pretty sure the fryer would never get used and our space is slightly limited.  Today, our fried turkey thanksgiving dreams came true!  Some of our neighbors told us we could borrow theirs!  I love how things work out!






Ok,  time to prepare the little one dinner so it will be ready by the time she wakes up from her nap.


No, I am not eating the brownies.  Or the banana bread.  Or the Kringle.  It's for Thanksgiving, conflabbit.

Oh 0630, how I hate and love you.

Red's alarm goes off.  It is 0625.  He hits snooze.  Not five minutes later, a familiar sound fills the room.  I've heard this before.  This is important.  I have to get up now.  I look up at the monitor, all of the little dots are up in red, that means it is definitely time to get up.  Why you ask?  The darling child is awake.  In hopes of a few more minutes, I snuggle up with her while Red goes to get ready.  She sits up, looks towards the door, climbs off of the bed by herself and picks up her monkey and stands at the bathroom door.  " Dada? Dada. Dadadadada." I pick her up and bring her back to bed with me, she puts her hand in my mouth, waits for my eyes to open, and smiles.  Goodness it is wonderful to wake up to that!  ( The smiles, not a small hand digging in my mouth.)  She gets off the bed by herself again and heads back towards the bathroom door.  By this point, I know it's all over.  She is awake and it is 0630 in the morning.  This means, for me to achieve my goal of waking up before her to have a little bit of time to wake up and get ready for the day I would have to wake up around Six A.M.  That is way too close to five for me.  

However, I do enjoy the benefits that being awake before 7 am brings.  Like, by the time we have finished diaper change, breakfast, play time, snack and get dressed for the day I am not embarrassed that I haven't made it into clothes and make up.  Until about 1 p.m., you can actually feel awake and accomplished for the day.  But by about 2, I needed a nap.  


Guess this is going to take some getting used to!






We all went to the commissary when Red got off of work tonight.  We nearly shut it down, but we made it out with all of our Thanksgiving ingredients!  I am trying really, really hard to make this one less of an "event" this year.  Just relax, I mean we just moved across the world and we're tired.  But, all of my life, Thanksgiving has been our family reunion ( literally).  So, there would be tons of people who brought tons of food.  Lots of different dishes to fall in love with and attach to Thanksgiving.  My list?


Cornbread Stuffing
Sweet potato Casserole
Kringle
Spinach and Strawberry salad ( yum, yum, yum!)
Mashed Potatoes
Peach Cobbler Rolls
Deviled eggs
Texas Brownies

Etc, Etc..  While this makes no sense to feed a small group with this many items, I am totally doing it anyway.  It's tradition.  I'm at least cutting the list down by half right?  It surely won't be the same as having all of my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and second cousins ( and Mom and Daddy!  Taylor, you too.)  We won't go to the church the night before, spend the night and wake up early to start cooking.  My Aunt B won't call me "sweet thang" and the Thanksgiving place-mat with my name and birth year won't be here.  And no, we probably won't play "brown Turkey" or have a talent show.  But one thing is for sure.  I am thankful that I have my family.  I am thankful I have a husband that loves me and a daughter that is so full of life.  I am thankful to have food to prepare and mouths to eat it.  I am thankful that we are happy, safe and warm.  Every year things change.  Some small, some big.  The love that holds the traditions together, will not change.

Surprise!!!

Are you ready?

You may need to sit down.

This effects you greatly.

We have our stuuufff!!!

I got the E-mail while Red was gone this past week.  It said the earliest available day for delivery was the next morning.  First, I happy danced, and then Pumpkin joined in.  Now that was some sort of cute.  The very first thing I did, was call Red.  Since the service isn't the most reliable, I couldn't get through.  So I said to myself " Hello, this is a sign that you need to just get the shipment any way, and surprise him!"  I knew I couldn't do it alone.  Pumpkin is sick, and I was coming down with the same thing.  Even if we were both healthy, that little booger doesn't nap long, and trying to keep her contained with a group of movers all by myself?  Not so much.  I called my friend here to see if she had anything going the next morning and if I could enlist her help.  Courtney is very sweet, and even voluntarily watched Pumpkin for the Marine Corps 235th Birthday Ball.  So I was hoping I could pull another sweet act of kindness from her.  To my joy, Courtney agreed and said she would be over in the morning right before the movers.

We happy danced some more.   

The movers arrived about 0830 Thursday Morning.  Since we received our express shipment on Friday, when Red left, the process was still fresh in my mind.  I went down stairs, confirmed the crates were ours and gave them permission to open them.  Upstairs, they lined the walls and corners with padding to protect them from getting bumped, and put rugs down on the tile to make sure it didn't get marked.  I was checking out the inventory sheet, and realized that there was quite a few things missing.  No couch, recliner, washer, dryer, Ava's dresser.  I thought maybe they don't put the really big stuff down?  Weird.   As boxes started to come in, we learned very quickly that the actual inventory they were moving in went past number 290, and my list only went to number 260.  So, for every item that wasn't on my original inventory list, they listed for us.  Apparently, in the hurry of the move, we didn't check the mover's inventory list back in the states, and are very lucky all of our things arrived and are in good condition.

While they were hooking up our Washer and Dryer ( I had our H.E. front loaders sent here because they were a recent purchase and they clean Ava's cloth diapers so well along with the rest of our laundry), the man hooking it up said " excuse me, dryer a challenge."  The plug didn't fit.  Awesome.  As much as I tried, I could not get my four prong plug to fit into my three prong outlet. Next, he told me not to use my washer until I went to get new hosing since it was leaking.  Minor road block, right?  All I have to do is go to the PX, check if they have an adapter for the dryer since the sell the same one there and find some replacement hoses.  I have tools now, I can do anything as long as I have directions. 

If it were only so simple.  The movers left, and Courtney stayed all afternoon helping me unpack and organize my kitchen!  When I needed a break from being surrounded by boxes, I headed out to the PX in search of said items.  The manager said, " We are all out."  When I asked him what I should do next, he said to go to the housing office and to the Self-help desk and see if they had any.  By that time, it was too late in the day and they were closed, so Ava and myself had some dinner and hit the hay.

The next day, I enlisted some extra help. Red's sergeant told us to call if we needed anything.  Ava needed to go to the doctor, and I needed to go to the Family Housing Office.  Since I don't have a driver's license  here because I am too chicken, I asked for a ride.  He drove our sweet 1996 model minivan for us, and I was able to find a new dryer cord, and hoses for the washer.  After he dropped us off, Ava went for a nap, and I decided to put on my tool belt.  ( just figuratively, I don't really have one.)  After finding the right tools I needed, I set to work on replacing the leaky hose.  Not a problem!  This fixing stuff is easy!  I put a load of diapers in the wash and set out on fixing the dryer.  I unscrewed the back, took out the old plug, and screwed the new one in like the directions said.  While I was having some problems with a stripped screw, the washer starts to lose it.  It is bouncing every where on the spin cycle and I nearly get trapped in the laundry room.  I turn it off and back on, to try again.  I manage to get the cord plugged in, and right after I hear a little *zap* and see a small spark, the washer starts to bounce again!  I climb over, and shut the door to the laundry room, thinking the washer would just bounce for a minute and be done.  I was wrong.  It got worse.  Ava wakes up, and I have to not let her get under my feet while I am trying to get to the dryer to turn it off, or at least unplug it since the drain pipe has come loose and my floor is soaked.  After I get the beast turned off, I throw a towel down and try to move it with out being able to actually get in the laundry room.  Cody's sergeant comes back over and is able to move it out of the way for me. Deciding to just dry the diapers since they were almost done anyway, I load up the dryer and turn it on.  At least I tried, it did not turn on.  By now, it is time for some play time, dinner and bed.  

After she was fast asleep, I talk to my brother on skype who is waiting for his continental breakfast.  I tell him about my issues with laundry, and he asks if I have checked my breaker.  I tell him no, and go to do it.  I flip the switch off and back on and here bzzzzzz *pop* Then, I look to my laundry room, and it is filled with smoke.  I turn the breaker back off and check for a fire.  There wasn't one, so I check on Ava to see if her room was clear and put a towel under the door.  I opened the window to air everything out and return to my computer where I am chatting with my brother.  He tells me there is no risk of a middle of the night fire, but I am not convinced.  I shoot a text to Courtney, to see if her or her husband, Tom know if I am still in danger.  They said they had no idea, but came to check it out any way.  Tom unplugged everything and I felt much better about that!  Before going to bed, I was so completely thankful that Cody would be home in the morning. This surprise stuff is hard work!  


This morning, I was able to get up with Pumpkin, have breakfast and get some final organizing done on the front part of the house.  That way, when I told him all of the stuff we had to fix, he would be in a good mood.  I heard the doorbell ring and a knock.  After opening the door, I tried to hold him in so I could get him to close his eyes.  No such luck.  " Is that my recliner??  Our stuff is here?!"  I smiled and nodded while he stumbled around in shock at our things.  He headed towards the back of the house, I handed him Pumpkin and stopped him.  " Listen... I had a few things happen."  Bless his heart, he laughed, checked it out and fixed the washer.  Then, we headed over to housing, picked up a new dryer cord and called the trouble line to get an electrician to come fix whatever I did wrong.  ( I still blame the outlet, it was burned and I followed all of the directions!  Surely it has nothing to do with my lack of experience.) Then, we got to work on unpacking the rest of our stuff.  

Got to love him!