New Year - New look

With the new year coming I thought I'd make a few changes.
A new year calls for fresh approach and look. This is something I have been thinking of doing for. Let me know what you think.

Secret Santa 2008

Kori hosted a Santa Swap.
Mind you my mail goes to the base post office not to my home. So, when the dad gets home we usually jump up and go off base or to another base. Then way later we remember the mail.
That said. We checked the mail and look my Secret Santa came. My Santa was Wep.

I have not pictures of the wonderfully wrapped gifts because I tore into them like a six year old. I did save a tiny part of the cute tree paper.

I didn’t get any wrapped gifts this year. So this was the best. I however, have to fight my girl off. THESE ARE MINE!

I got:
Handmade knitting needle case
Two skeins of hand dyed wool (just got a yarn swift in the mail same day)
A cool button covered journal (I saw this few months back and wanted it)
Blueberry and baking scented soaps
Apple, baking scented and “Jolly-Ho” scented Knitters balm

From my neighbor back in San Diego some Trader Joe's cookies. She is the greatest. I love these cookies. It is like waiting for the Girl Scouts. They only come once a year.

Merry Christmas from Okinawa. And Happy holidays too

Dec 25, 2008
Almost 8:30 am here...the girl almost slept in. The boy was up with the sun. Dad and I tried to keep him quite as log as we could. I looked over a saw that Dad had gone back to sleep. Oh no he didn’t. I told him we should wake the girl and have Christmas.

Then it took all of 10 minutes to open play with and ask for breakfast. The boy got a fit the shape to the hole set. The girl got a doll house, barbie and Dora skates. Dad got to be home from the SAND BOX for a major Holiday. I got my family together.


Pancakes & bacon for all. The boy in his highchair eating the mini pancakes I made him. The girl eating so fast that she need to take on one of Dad’s three. Me late to the table ~I am the cook!!!

Now Dad and boy are in big breakfast comas.
The girl and I just finished playing Candy Land and Shuts and Ladders. It is harder to let her win than I thought it would be.
Now the girl is playing with her new fisher price loving family doll house that only comes with a family, one table and chairs for this 7 plus room house.

Quiet house and feed and happy family that is what a am so grateful that I got for Christmas.
Love to you all

REAL MOMS

TattooedMinivanMom who posted and added 17-20 found this list over at Swirl Girl's place. Swirl Girl challenged anyone who wanted to add to it but she said "NO Ozzie and Harriet shit."

1. Real Moms don’t flinch when they talk about boobs. They do make you laugh your brains out.

2. Real moms go on vacation and learn to play traffic cop
3. Real moms brag about their kids
4. Real moms do not mince words when they present the truth
5. Real moms juggle
6. Real moms “resist the guilt and embrace the journey”
7. Real moms don’t give a damn to media generated Mommy Wars
8. Real moms have kids with potty mouths
9. Real moms know that real life is not like TV sitcoms
10. Real moms carry on a telephone conversation while their child vomits on the couch
11. Real Moms think farting is really, really funny.
12. Real Moms wear crowns.
13. Real Moms deal with a lot of shit.
14. Real Moms put the needs of their children ahead of their own whendealing with a lot of shit
15. Real Moms also discuss the facts of life in a mature and thought provoking manner.
16. Real Moms prepare their children for a future full of possibilities for a better tomorrow.
17. Real Moms wipe butts and clean up puke without puking themselves.
18. Real Moms watch Disney Channel and Nickelodeon and act REALLY interested.
19. Real Moms look out for AND stick up for their kids.
20. Real Moms take the good with the bad.
21.Real Moms work and/or stay home

22. Real Moms mom!!! (Real children = real mother)
Now, I added my two cent

some Okniawa pictures

From my bed room's small balcony we watch the base Christmas parade and the sunset on the ocean. Love the view.

As you can see we live in a tower complex. They are nine floors with eight units each floor. My building has about three to four families on each floor. Meaning the children are louder than I think.

Here is a picture of a display at Jusco = Japan United Stores Company, a chain of general merchandise stores.

Inside they have performances of local troupes.

This is the little padded area for children to just run and jump.

They have a huge game room. Even games for toddler down at their height. Here is dad and girl playing some Japanese drum game. (she is on a foot stool)

In same neighborhood of Jusco is the Gigantic Farris wheel.

Here is my beach. They warn of enter the water at your own risk due to the violent riptides. BTW look how close I am the the water for typhoon season.

Here is the girl at the water. Then you see the shadow of the boy on my shoulders as I take pictures.

writing assignment: diamond at clovers for Christmas

Writing assignments from Mama's losin it Writer’s Workshop. The prompts I write about are (1 of 5):
# 2.) Describe a favorite Winter memory.

Years ago (I was about 12) there was a small department store Clover. It was a discount chain of stores in PA.
It was almost Christmas. Shopping all day. Me and my mother. The day was a bit col, but still great. By 8:30 PM we had one more stop to make. A few bus rides later we get to edge of the Clover's parking lot.

Anyway, my favorite memory was as we walked across the parking lot the fist Christmas snow fell. In the parking lot lights it looked like diamonds falling from the sky. With it being late on a weekday the lot was deserted. It truly was a white blanket. With only two sets of bootprints, mine and my mother's.

When ever I want to get that Christmas small miracle feeling I recall that night and I feel light and quite like the snow.

My favorite color / favorite man

My favorite color is purple. Then any shade there of.

It is the only color I feel is special in nature. The sky is blue or grey, the sun is yellows, orange, and reds, the grass is green, and the earth is brown. Everyday things.
Purple/ Violet is in the rainbows, flowers and sunsets.
These things all last but for so long. Magical gift from God.

Anyone who knows me think my home is covered with purple.
Surprise, surprise. No. I have this compulsion that I can not force others to live in what I think is cute. (children don't count) I could never ask my husband to live in a lavender land.

Loving me the way he does by putting up with my moods and giving me almost everything I ever ask for. ( I asked to move to Japan and the only orders he could get his hands on was Okinawa. This wonderful man moved across the world for me. He is the MAN!)

He picked out my car

LOOK AT MY CAR

I know it looks more blue than purple. I see only the purple.

Purple!

Carrots in Okinawa

The base I live on is small and has a very limited selection on almost everything. So, a lot of times (every other day) we go to another base or to the American Village in town.

I got some carrots from this store call Jusco. The one on the lest is the Okinawan carrot and the right is the western American style carrot. They taste tarter. I think its because they are organic or used mainly for cooking.

I have seen carrots depicted in Japanese cartoons and thought it was a dramatization. Now I know that is how the really look

Ryo-Ohki is the carrot loving rabbit from the Anime eries Tenchi Muyo. Property of The Pioneer Corp./ Geneon

The cake pictures

Here is a picture of the boy's first birthday. Also, the "me too girl". I got her own little cake just to keep her from trying to take over the boy's.

Ding... they are ready!

The arm warmers are done and ready to be mailed off to the states. I hope this keeps Sunny warm in her cold office. They are Gween!I was done November 28th but I just found them again after opening all our boxes from the move.

Plus some coin purses for her and her girl.

See Whatifknits for the pattern.

By the way this is my first project on Double pointed needles. Happy me.

writing assignment: New roads

Writing assignments from Mama's losin it Writer’s Workshop.
The prompts I write about are (5 of 5):

1.) Allergies much?
I have this girlfriend Sunny who’s daughter Smiles has allergies. When Smiles was young she understood what allergies were and that some foods made her sick. However, when someone offered her anything that had the icky food stuff in it she would accept it anyway. She would then get sooooooooooo sick. When asked why she did that knowing she would get sick her answer was “they offered” Smiles was about 5 or 6 at the time. (To my memory)….

2.) Worst dentist experience ever.
My worst dentist experience was during a procedure when I was getting a cap put on my front tooth. This was back in the early 80’s (yes I am over 30)…the dentist was shoving some wooden splint between my front teeth and I tried to tell him it hurt like hell and that he was pushing it in to far. He told me to shut up and be still. (I was a child at the time with no rights back in the day) Once he noticed the splint was broken he yelled at me and said it was my fault.

3.) Describe a "new road" you've taken in your life.
I have always stepped back an allowed other to go first and put my wants aside for the good of the family, the friendships, and the work.
Not any more my new road is only wide enough for one at a time and I am going FIRST FOR A CHANGE!

4.) What would you say to a mouse who could talk?
Get out!

5.) Who is the best listener you know? What makes him or her such a good listener?
Sunny is the best listener I know. Because she doesn’t allow bull$h!t.
She doesn’t take sides. So, I know she is taking in what I say with no bias. Plus she loves me.
My old neighbor Lala is a close second. Because she gets so excited when you tell her about good things in your life. It makes your joy allthe more.

Sponsor gift

Officially the Marine is the sponsor. However, many Marine families take on sponsor job. That was the case for our sponsor.

They are adopting a two year old girl and I want to do something personal for them.

So, I am thinking a blanket.

If I crochet, it will be quicker.

If I knit it would be the Elizabeth Zimmerman Garter stitch blanket. Seen here by Simple Elegance

I am here

We moved into our new home Tuesday.  We slept on the floor that night.  Wednesday our house goods came.  Then we spent three days looking for the GD lamps.  They were in a box marked kitchen (by the movers not me).  Every day we go shopping and get home to realize we need another house thing.  Like vinegar, coco power, and night lights.  I want a cup of home made hot chocolate. 

It is the end of typhoon season here.  It is also their winter.  Low of 70 on a good day.  They are in full winter gear too.  

I have so much to show you.  Later, today ( it is 1:30 AM here) We are going to American Village.  It is a touristy type area.  With shops and you don't have to know to much Japanese.  The Okinawains are sooooooo nice. You, will have to have yen.

So, you understand cost here.  The yen rate is 93 cent to a 100 yen.  ( yen is in the 100's , so it is about a dollar)  Bell peppers are high in the states, but here they are about $5.00 a pound. Apples too.  Most off all the produce on base is high.  I have to find some place off base soon.

The boy is one

Today is the boys first birthday.  

My baby is gone.  Replaced by this small child that kinda needs me.

I still feed and change diapers.  They days quite snuggling and him just looking up at me like I was his whole world are gone.  

He wakes up looking for the girl.  He loves his sister.  They are three years apart, but he finds her entertaining.  She thinks he is a doll/puppy.  She is in this stage of trying to feed him anything she has in her hand at the time.  Recently she tried to feed him nerd's candy.  Of course he likes them.

I will add pics soon