Keepin' Up With The Tidwell's

Beau Loves Justin Beiber

2012-02-09T23:28:00.003-05:00

Baby, Baby, Baby Oh......these kids love this song and more specifically, this line in the song. It is on repeat now in my head, but seems to brighten their days. My boys like Mr. Beiber! Not sure if that should worry me or not, but as long as they aren't dressing like him, I'm good for now. Their daddy thinks the kid needs to pull up his pants and lose the earrings, so for now listening to him doesn't equal watching him on TV. Living in the Okinawa bubble seems to be working in Fletcher's favor.....temporarily. :)

Vivid Imaginations

2012-02-06T22:55:00.004-05:00

I love listening to the boys invent scenerios when they play together. These two always have wild imaginations and have since birth. We're blessed that their little minds have occupied them through multiple long plane rides, layovers, traffic, etc. However, Beau's imagination prolongs bedtime from time to time. The other night it was a dragon biting his toe in his bed and just gets more elaborate as he re-tells his story. Last night it was Darth Vader. This video is just an example of how that goes down.

Cherry Blossoms 2012

2012-02-04T05:33:00.005-05:00

Unlike our adventure last year up to Nago, this year we actually got to see some beautiful cherry blossoms. We're blessed to have Fletcher still home and we're taking advantage of every second. Bonus time is not lost on us!:) The Cherry Blossom Festival was actually last weekend, but we learned our lesson last year not to be too eager. Waiting an extra week was key, I think. The boys hiked their way to an awesome playground. Seriously, the playgrounds here run circles around the ones back home. We took lots of pictures, so bare with me as I post some of my faves.

Extra Daddy Time

2012-01-29T01:55:00.003-05:00

Fletcher has gotten a few extra days home and we're all thrilled about it. So what have we been up to???? We've made an attempt to play jacks (on the carpet), we've been playing police officer, watched Star Wars (Mommy thinks we're still too young), and tried on our new school uniform at least a dozen times. Bennett looks like a little man in it. And posted a picture of our little Linus because Beau doesn't stray far from his blanket.

So Proud of Bennett

2012-01-24T04:46:00.003-05:00

I'm having a proud/bragging mommy moment today. Bennett was asked by the school director to move up to the Kindergarten class starting February 1st. She said he had mastered all the skills in his class and he's a very smart boy. He works hard at his homework and does a great job paying attention in class, so I couldn't be more proud. Way to go, Bennett!!!

Winter Weather

2012-01-19T04:41:00.002-05:00

It's winter here and in the 70s, SO we're at the park or outside ALOT! Just a few pics of my boys playing.

Boys' Day Out

2012-01-19T04:32:00.002-05:00

Fletcher took the boys for an ice skating outing and even have pictures to prove it. After hitting the rink, they had dinner at one of our favorite stops, the noodle shop, and then ice cream at the Big Dip (which Bennett sometimes confuses with the Big Dipper in the sky). They came home with a few bruised knees and happy faces.

Is there a dr. in the house? Or 2?

2012-01-14T03:40:00.002-05:00

And our costume obsession continues....The boys have now slept in these costumes two nights and even wore them to their own checkups where they insisted on listening to the doctor's heartbeat and looked in her ears. Thank goodness she had a sense of humor.

31st MEU Dining Out

2012-01-07T01:28:00.002-05:00

Fletcher and I attended a dining out for the 31st MEU last night. It was the first time he's gotten to wear his dress blues since being promoted. I would say it suits him well. Very handsome!

Last Day - Sentosa Island

2012-01-06T22:40:00.002-05:00

Our last day in Singapore we headed over to Sentosa Island to check out the sites. Lots of people spend their entire trip there and it's easy to see why. With Universal Studios and a wonderful aquarium, there is plenty to do. The weather was beautiful, but unfortunately, the boys were worn out. Bennett was running a low-grade fever, so after a few hours we headed back to the hotel to medicate. The tylenol kicked in and the boys made their way down to the pool. Quick recovery! We went to Orchard Street for dinner and almost made it home without any Grizwald moments......BUT something didn't set well with Beau and he left his mark all over Fletcher in the middle of hundreds of people in the train station. I wish I could have been more helpful, but all I could do was laugh and take a picture. Not a good team player moment for me. Beau also recovered quickly and all was well with our crew for departure.

Christmas Day - Siteseeing and Dinner with Friends

2012-01-06T22:13:00.004-05:00

Christmas Day started off with playing with our gifts from Santa. As you can see, Santa was kind enough to deliver the boys big request all the way to Singapore. The Darth Vader suit! We had two excited little boys to wake up to find Santa had found us so far from home. After breakfast in full character, we spent the rest of our morning at the pool. We decided to take it easy that afternoon and explore some of the more historical hotels and areas. We toured the beautiful Raffles Hotel which was stunning, the Fullerton Hotel, walked through Boat Quay, and back through Clarke Quay. Fletcher and I had one of Santa's elves come (really just a babysitter through the hotel, but it went over much better as an elf) watch the boys while we had a date night with friends in Clarke Quay. Dinner was wonderful and we got to meet up with some old friends from California for a few drinks. Actually, I had a few drinks.....Fletcher made it home around 4:00 am (those boys just can't help themselves). Good times with friends both old and new. We had a very Merry Christmas Singapore style!

Day 3 Christmas Eve at the Zoo

2012-01-05T22:30:00.005-05:00

We spent Christmas Eve at the Singapore Zoo. In spite of forecasted rain, we decided to brave the weather and go for it. Well, the forecast was spot on and about the time we entered the zoo, the skies opened up. My resourceful husband bought us all rain ponchos and we were ready to explore. The white tigers were beautiful, the lions were commanding, and the giraffes looked picturesque. Such a fun experience. We finished off our Christmas Eve with dinner in Chinatown with Katie and Sean. Talk about sensory overload....people and things everywhere. Delicious food and fun company made for a wonderful Christmas Eve.

Day 2 - Bennett's Bday and Botanical Gardens

2011-12-30T04:44:00.007-05:00

Day 2 in Singapore, we woke to a newly turned 5 year old. Beau was just as excited for Bennett's special day as the birthday boy himself. We spent most of the day at the Botanical Gardens and it was beautiful. There is an entire section designed especially for children called the Jacob Ballas Gardens. From giant treehouses, to amazing tree tunnels, waterfalls, rope bridges, and even turtles in the pond, the boys were exploring it all. The black swans were also a hit. The boys were super interested while the swans were in the water, but they retreated behind Daddy once on dry land. We celebrated Bennett's official birthday with dinner and gelato in Clarke Quay and made it just in time for the nightly bubble display. Bennett has been asking for snow for a month now, so this was a great substitute.

Day 1 in Singapore

2011-12-28T02:40:00.007-05:00

We took the red-eye to Singapore, so we arrived there around 6:30 am. Lucky for us, we were able to go ahead and check into our hotel when we got there about 8:30. We showered, changed clothes, and headed out to explore the area. Our first day, we spent the morning walking around Clarke Quay taking a riverboat tour along the river to get a better view of the skyline and historical sites. It was a great way to start our trip. We had lunch, an afternoon nap, a swim in the pool, then headed back out to Fort Canning Park which was walking distance from our hotel. It was beautiful with trails throughout. Fletcher's highlight was taking the Battle Box tour which took us back to the surrender of the British to Japan during WWII. We finished up our day taking in the Christmas lights on Orchard Street. That place is a shopper's dream with every store imaginable. We ended our first day with dinner there and headed back to the hotel to rest up for our next adventure.

Sister Time

2011-12-19T23:28:00.002-05:00

Jade and I got to sneak away for a quiet dinner at one of my favorite teppanyaki places, Jam. It's been months (and months) since I've had dinner without the boys, so to be able to enjoy a mai tai and delicious food was such a treat. Exploring Kokusai Street is never dull hence the picture of the frog purses. And the Peace Memorial was especially beautiful with the Eisa performance. Exploring this island never gets old.

Bennett's Bowling Bash

2011-12-18T04:50:00.002-05:00

Since we're going to be in Singapore on Bennett's actual birthday (that and the fact that it's SO close to Jesus' birthday), we had his party this weekend. Bennett's Bowling Bash was a hit! His buddies came to play and enjoy cupcakes. We're so thankful to have a great group of friends here willing to come out and love on our boys. Everyone was bowled and played out as you can see from Bennett's face when he was opening his gifts.....a little tired.

DCC in Okinawa

2011-12-18T04:45:00.002-05:00

When I got an email saying the girls were coming to Okinawa, I knew the boys had to meet them. Bennett and Beau were smitten with these Texas beauties.

Forest Adventure

2011-12-17T19:42:00.003-05:00

Jade's birthday present from us was to go ziplining at Forest Adventure. She loved it and we got to go too......strategic gift-giving. :)

Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-17T19:37:00.002-05:00

Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread houses. Thank goodness Aunt Jadie got the creative gene.

Siteseeing with Aunt Jade

2011-12-16T20:50:00.004-05:00

Jade has been here for about a week and we've covered the island top to bottom. We started our adventure at the Churaumi Aquarium. The boys showed Aunt Jadie the whale sharks, the sea cucumbers, the dolphins, and more. She even got her first taste of an Orion beer. It's been a busy week and we're enjoying every minute.

Best Playmates

2011-12-09T22:04:00.004-05:00

It's not lost on me that the boys actually play pretty well together. Don't get me wrong, there are some "moments", but for the most part they really enjoy each other's company. Thank the Lord!!!! I get a kick out of watching and listening to the dialogue that goes along. They create some funny scenerios whether it's playing school, lifeguards, train conductors, or Santa and his elf, Jojo (which is extremely popular right now).

Beau's Birthday Wish

2011-12-04T05:45:00.005-05:00

If you know Beau, you'll know the one thing he wants is his daddy home. And if you're a daddy, you'll agree you'd do just about anything to make your child's wish come true. That's just what Fletcher did. He jumped through hoops to make it home for Beau's birthday and Beau AND Bennett were absolutely beside themselves (me too). Beau had the best birthday today because Fletcher rang our doorbell last night around bath time. For the first time in a long time, we woke up and felt normal. Feeling super blessed to have my newly 3 year old, my almost 5 year old, and my amazing husband all sleeping under one roof.

Beau's Birthday Party

2011-12-03T05:01:00.005-05:00

Celebrating Beau's 3rd birthday a day early at the Kadena Craft Center. He couldn't have been more excited! We went with a sports theme, so the boys were all about wearing their jerseys. Football cupcakes and goodie bags pumped much-needed sugar into these otherwise calm children. Obviously, kidding. Beau finished out his celebration by donating the gifts his friends brought to the party to Toys for Tots. Bennett was an excellent helper, so he got to open one of his birthday presents early. We've got another day of celebrating, so the party is just beginning.

Tennis, Tennis, and More Tennis

2011-12-02T03:40:00.003-05:00

I'm predicting the Tidwell brothers will be the team to beat. :)

Staying Busy on Thanksgiving Break

2011-11-28T03:07:00.003-05:00

We're literally in countdown mode for Fletcher's return, so we're staying busy and trying to pass the time. We've been to Baba Park where Beau had two spills in a matter of minutes resulting in a busted lip and scratched cheek. Poor little guy. We returned to that park the next day for a rematch and Beau left with no marks on his face. We got haircuts.....real ones! After haircuts, we got celebratory ice cream for making it all the way through the haircut. Beau has a history of getting about halfway done and then bolting (or screaming until I bolt out of embarrassment....both resulting in a one-sided cut). This time we made it and he got ice cream with M&Ms on top. Can you tell how thrilled I was? I probably would've splurged a for car at that point. Bennett was cool as a cucumber, but that's how he rolls. They've built Santa's sleigh and already watched Polar Express more times than I can count. Staying busy and counting days.....

More of Bennett's Class

2011-11-23T21:58:00.002-05:00

Proud Mom and Her Boys

2011-11-23T19:15:00.003-05:00

Most of the time, I'm the photographer, so when I can get a picture with my sweet boys.....I DO! I was so proud of them yesterday at their Thanksgiving Program. What you didn't get to see on the videos were the educational demonstrations the classes performed simply because it was too long to upload. The boys work hard and play hard and although they give their momma a run for her money, their great kids. So thankful for them.

Bennett's Thanksgiving Poem

2011-11-22T23:15:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving Program - Beau Rocked It!

2011-11-22T22:46:00.005-05:00

If you know me well, you'll know the "stage mom" in me wanted to push that little girl out from in front of my Beau.....but I didn't.:)

What We've Been Up To...

2011-11-20T06:20:00.006-05:00

I've been bad about taking pictures lately, so I wanted to post a few just to show what we've been up to. Nothing special, but staying busy between playgrounds, birthday parties, tennis, and more. Last weekend was Veteran's Day, so we had a long weekend. We played outside at the park until the rain started and then headed inside for some water painting. This weekend we had a friend's birthday party where Bennett got his face painted as Spiderman which thrilled him and Beau got the balloon man to make him a Nemo which made for another happy boy. After the party, we went to the Tops in Blue performance where the Air Force musicians, vocalists, and dancers put on an almost 2 hour show and the boys actually sat through it all. The music was wonderful and Bennett was dancing in his seat. Truth be told, Beau slept through the last 45 minutes, but he was still, so I'm counting it. :) We treated ourselves to dinner at Chili's after the show, facepaint and all, to round out our fun Saturday. The boys are growing like weeds with two big birthdays quickly approaching. I have to say, conversation isn't lost on them either. These two little ones are pretty worldly with Beau pointing out in his deep little voice that "last time I was in Hong Kong, I was just a little guy"....true, but funny since the "last time" was the only time. And Bennett has decided that it's probably easier for our Japanese neighbor, Lucia, to just call him "Ben" instead of having to learn his whole name of "Bennett".....Interesting thought considering we've lived here about a year and a half and I have yet to hear Lucia utter one single word, but I'm willing to go with it. Maybe shortening Bennett's name will break ground in their ability to communicate with each other. I'll let you know.

Dancing Elves!

2011-11-20T03:07:00.003-05:00

The boys think this is hilarious! They watch is 10 times a day and still giggle like it's the first time.

Always Playing a Character

2011-11-20T01:40:00.003-05:00

Annoying Whistles and Even Louder Shirts

2011-11-05T20:18:00.004-05:00

As you can see, the last 24 hours we tried to cram in as much fun and quality time with Fletcher as possible. Although exhausted, I have two thrilled little boys. Before leaving Fletcher had a few gifts for the boys. I have to say, I think the giving of the gift time was convenient considering the whistles can make the most piercing sound when blown just right. All 23 hours prior to leaving, the whistles were nowhere to be seen. Right before leaving, Fletcher "remembered" he had a great gift for the boys. Sounds a little premeditated to me, BUT I love him anyway!

Bella Napoli and the Seawall

2011-11-05T20:09:00.005-05:00

Again, to dote on Bella Napoli....so yummy! The view doesn't hurt their case. :) The pizza is delish, the boys love looking for crabs along the seawall, and Fletcher and I can finish a sentence.

Sesame Street Comes to Okinawa

2011-11-05T19:59:00.004-05:00

The USO did a wonderful job bringing Sesame Street over for the kids. The entire show was geared towards military kids and some of the struggles and changes they face. Bennett and Beau loved the music, the dancing, and the free light-up toy they gave out. The added bonus was Fletcher got to join us. After Sesame Street, we went to one of our favorite little pizza places on the seawall for a snack with a view. Love, love, love Bella Napoli! We walked the seawall and enjoyed the view after our pizza.

Home!!!

2011-11-04T01:15:00.003-05:00

He's home! Not for long, but we'll take it!

A Little Defeated

2011-10-31T05:34:00.003-05:00

I pride myself on being able to handle things and usually I can roll with it. BUT this Saturday I was pretty defeated. It was a day when I wanted Fletcher here or just to be home where I had family. I knew living so far away would be hard. I had done it before when I lived in Hawaii, but I have to say, not having a family support system is as hard on me as it is on the boys. They long for it too.

I had worked hard to plan a fun Halloween playdate with some of the boys' favorite friends. I cooked all day Friday in preparation, even baking 50 mini cupcakes (6 at a time in my tini convection oven) for a special treat. I decorated the house and yard with signs for a "pumpkin station" to decorate pumpkins and a "bobbin' for apples" station in an effort to make our own pumpkinfest since there are no pumpkin patches here. I woke excited and ready for the kids to have a blast. My boys had other plans.

Our friends arrived and as the kids began to play, it was obvious my sweet Beau was not on best behavior. Although smaller than most of the kids, I would definitely say he's the fiercest with the least amount of fear. I believe he took a swing at 6 out of the 10 kids by the end of the party and his grand finale occurred when he peed in the "bobbin' for apples" bucket. No kidding and no exaggeration. Not the party I had anticipated. If I had more time to stop that day, I think I would've cried, but thankfully there was no time for that. After our guests left and the party was cleaned up, I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the boys and myself. It's a point as a mom that you ask "What is it that I'm doing so wrong?"..... Needless to say, after the boys had dinner, bath, and bed, I had my dinner (a glass of wine and some starbursts) and was in bed by 8:30.

Sunday morning, I was the teacher in Beau's sunday school class. What a blessing that was. I got to spend time with the kids on the playground and had the chance to see what wonderful kids I really have. Yes, they're strong-willed and quirky. They're definitely not wallflowers or pushovers. They know what they want and have no problem expressing it. BUT they're smart and they're kind-hearted......and most importantly, they're healthy. Beau misses his daddy terribly as we all do, but it's easy to forget he's not even 3 yet. That precious little boy absorbs a lot. He asks daily for Fletcher to come home and I can't wait for that day to come. So while I'm busy trying to teach these boys lessons for life, they teach me a few things. I have recounted my blessings this weekend and I'm ready to take on another pumpkinfest (but glad I have a year before I'll need to worry about it).

Casper Has Yucky Shoes!

2011-10-30T01:43:00.002-05:00

Sweet Friends

2011-10-30T01:38:00.002-05:00

Ms. Katie & Mr. Sean have become very important friends to not only Fletcher and myself, but also to the boys. Bennett and Beau LOVE them and Halloween wouldn't be complete without a stop by their house to show off their costumes. Of course, Katie and Sean surpassed any ordinary Halloween treat with Mr. Donuts! Thanks to our sweet, sweet friends for being so loving to our boys.

Pumpkinfest at the Tidwell Nest

2011-10-29T18:12:00.003-05:00

We hosted a little Halloween party at our house yesterday afternoon for a few of the boys' friends. We had a pumpkin decorating station, apple bobbing, and lots of bubbles and candy. It was a wild few hours, but the kids had a blast. As a mom, I'm happy to be turning the page on Halloween. :)

Halloween Festivities

2011-10-23T01:29:00.004-05:00

We were invited to a Halloween party last night held at the USO theater room. I didn't even know that room existed, but what a great idea. The hostess played Halloween movies for the kids, fed them pizza, popcorn, and sent them home with a bucket of candy. The kids had a blast! As much as the boys love dressing up, this holiday brings as much excitement (almost) as their birthdays. They couldn't wait to put on their costumes which goes hand-in-hand with becoming that character. All night Bennett made deliveries....napkins, plates, pizza, cupcakes, etc. Beau carried around his letter to Santa. He's writing to persuade Santa to take him off the naughty list. His name seems to frequent that list, but we're working on getting him off it. :) Thanks Michelle for including us in your Halloween festivities!

Taguichi Park

2011-10-22T01:26:00.004-05:00

What a beautiful day to spend at one of our favorite parks. Saturday = Family Fun Outside (otherwise, my house is destroyed and so am I). The boys love the roller slide, digging in the sand, and playing in the fort while I get to enjoy the view. Today we brought along our Tonka trucks for help "moving the sand" and it was fun watching the Japanese kids take in these two American boys.

Family Pictures at Cape Maeda

2011-10-19T08:28:00.009-05:00

A few days before Fletcher deployed, we had a friend take a some family pictures. This is what he came up with....

Happy Bday Annette!

2011-10-16T07:35:00.002-05:00

Fun Care Packages

2011-10-11T04:39:00.002-05:00

We went to the post office today to find a wonderful surprise from CeCe.....Captain America costumes. Immediately the boys stripped down and changed into the muscle bearing suits ready to take on the bad guys. Lucky for us, while patroling on their bikes they found our neigborhood was safe. Thanks CeCe for the costumes and jammies!

Rocktoberfest 2011

2011-10-09T07:08:00.002-05:00

We ventured out to Rocktoberfest held at Torii Beach. I was a bit hesitant imagining a bunch of drunken servicemen and music playing way too loudly in the background. Having said that, I realize how lame I must sound. There was a time when I would have been all about free-flowing booz and loud music, but that was before Bennett and Beau graced me with them early to rise and never to nap motto. :) SO we went early and left early, but it was well worth it. The bouncy houses alone made the kids' day. They bounced and bounced to the point I started wondering if kids ever get whiplash from those things. After working up a sweat, we checked out the stage. While snacking on snowcones, we caught the Japanese version of a Blink 182 song. On our way out, we came across our faves.....firemen! It was Christmas in October! I would say we came, we rocked/bounced, we left!

Shisa Park

2011-10-08T08:17:00.004-05:00

As I'm sure you know if you read our blog, shisas are everywhere in Japan. They serve as a symbol of protection, not that we believe in them. The boys love looking at them and comparing all the different types of faces, etc. When we heard about the Shisa Park, we couldn't wait to check it out. With the weather cooling off here, we packed some snacks and headed south. The park is located just past Camp Foster and Futemna tucked back in a neighborhood, and we would have never stumbled across it had it not been recommended by friends. As you can see, the boys had a great time playing on the giant shisa. Fletcher, if you're reading this, not to worry, the boys did not wear these shirts to school. :)

A Lowkey Saturday Night

2011-10-02T23:58:00.002-05:00

The Tree Park

2011-10-01T00:49:00.004-05:00

I'm sure there is a better name for the new park we found, but since we can't read the sign, we're going with the "tree" park. It was terrific! We packed a lunch and brought some yen for apple tea and spent a good part of our Saturday playing. The boys had a blast and even made friends. A kind girl had stilts and let the boys each give it a shot. Definitely missing our 4th member, but doing our best to stay super busy and outside enjoying the weather.

Biking on the Seawall & The Big Dip

2011-09-28T02:09:00.004-05:00

Soaking up as much time with Daddy as we can.

Bearded Boys

2011-09-28T02:05:00.001-05:00

Bath time is always a party!

Saturday Bike Races

2011-09-26T07:41:00.003-05:00

Bennett and Beau are all about their bikes. They ride before school and after. We're blessed to live near some pretty awesome parks with pseudo-tracks, so we frequently load up and go. Beau is convinced he's Lightning McQueen and Bennett loves being Chick Hicks (sp), so the race begins. Fletcher and I are the gas stations......makes for an entertaining afternoon.

Beau & his Pants????

2011-09-26T07:34:00.003-05:00

For some reason, Beau always ends up out of his pants. I'm not even sure exactly how it happens, but without a doubt that child always finds himself exposed. The other day we were doing some boardwork. One minute the boys are practicing their numbers and the next minute we see two little cheeks (about the cutest cheeks on the planet). Beau, on the other hand, seems completely unphased by it all. I wish we could say the same for our sweet (and modest) Japanese neighbors.

More Forest Adventure

2011-09-12T06:55:00.004-05:00

Forest Adventure

2011-09-09T23:54:00.007-05:00

Fletcher and I have been wanting to do Forest Adventure since we heard about it months ago. With Labor Day giving Fletcher some extra time off, we thought this our best opportunity. We made it into a birthday date for me. After a quick instruction session, we were free to take to the ziplines on our own. It was awesome! Fletcher and I both wiped out a few times coming in, but it was all in good fun. Ziplining through the forest with beautiful ocean views.....check!

Ahhhh, the Marriott

2011-09-07T22:31:00.006-05:00

We finished up the last few days of CeCe and Pops visit at the Marriott. We hadn't taken a summer vacation, so we thought this would be the perfect retreat for all of us and a great opportunity for the boys to get to swim as much as they wanted. Swim, swim, swim is exactly what they did. The boys swam before breakfast, came in for a quick meal, then back to the pool until lunch time. They voluntarily took 2 hour naps which tells you a lot if you know how likely these two are to nap. It was a wonderful getaway for all of us. Our friends, Katie and Sean, joined us for the afternoon and dinner which always makes for a great time. Bennett is quite partial to Ms. Katie, so he was on best behavior breaking out all of his manners to impress her. I don't think he's caught on that she's taken, but we enjoyed the good behavior regardless. We spent all of our time poolside having gotten our beachtime in at Okuma, but still checked the Marriott Beach activities on our way to check out. Highly recommend a stay there if given the chance.....we may go back! :)

Fukushen Gardens

2011-09-07T00:15:00.005-05:00

After returning home from Okuma, we had a few nights before checking into the Marriott. Fletcher's mantra is "no rest for the weary" so we were all about checking out these Chinese Gardens we had heard about. Beautifully manicured with more than enough photo opps, we enjoyed our afternoon there.

CeCe & Pops Come to Visit

2011-09-06T02:18:00.005-05:00

I'm playing catch up with my posts, but I have a good excuse....CeCe & Pops came to visit! They arrived on a Saturday night and we left for Okuma the next morning. Since this was their second visit across the pond, we thought they were due a little beach time. That and the only way to beat the heat is to be either on the beach or in the pool. We did both. :) We spent 3 nights at Okuma which is a little military beach resort on the northern part of Okinawa. It's hassle-free with everything the boys could want to do within arm's reach. We went out on the glass-bottom boat, roasted smores, and talked Pops into a hike up to Hiji Falls. Heading home from Okuma, we hit up the Nago Pineapple Park and the dolphin show at Churaumi Aquarium (which I have no proof of since I left my camera in the car). I have a feeling CeCe & Pops may be in for some rest time when they arrive back home.

Okinawa Eisa and Beer Festival

2011-08-20T23:02:00.005-05:00

Summertime means festival season in Okinawa. We love it! Eisa dancers, interesting food, live music, and in this case....beer. I swear the band was playing the japanese version of an Eagles' song, but that may have been wishful thinking. They did, however, have BBQ (authentic I believe solely because the man in charge of the cooking looked southern).

Sunset Playtime

2011-08-20T22:55:00.002-05:00

More Au Bon Pics

2011-08-16T00:08:00.001-05:00

Au Bon

2011-08-15T23:42:00.003-05:00

Au Bon is one of the biggest festivals they have here and it's about the celebration of the ancestors gone before. It's a weeklong celebration and you know it's Au Bon time because you see Eisa Dancers everywhere. Last night after dinner we heard the music and went down the street to the Nagahama community center. All the kids were out in their costumes and ready to dance. The locals were so kind to offer Bennett and Beau each drums and the boys joined in.

Last Day of Swim Lessons!

2011-08-14T02:32:00.002-05:00

We've been up and out the door every morning by 7:15 to make it to our 8:00 am swim lesson. From swim, the boys were off to school and then we often hit the pool again after for fun. It was worth every early morning. The boys had a blast. The swim staff was amazing! And the boys are like fish. So grateful for the wonderful young people that came over from the states to teach swimming. The names "Ms. Chloe" and "Ms. Karissa" come up frequently in the boys' conversations. From the pictures, I think you'll see why.

Ryukyu Mura

2011-08-11T22:38:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy summer and I'm behind on posting. A few weeks ago I took the boys to Ryukyu Mura to watch the Eisa Dancers. It was after a long day of swimming, so we were pretty tired, but never too tired to watch some Okinawaiian festivities.

Swim Lessons Are Paying Off!

2011-07-30T01:51:00.004-05:00

Summer Fun!

2011-07-28T22:57:00.007-05:00

Move Over Federer!

2011-07-15T08:29:00.002-05:00

Swim, Swim, & More Swim

2011-07-12T06:24:00.004-05:00

Bennett and Beau are total fish this summer. Both have been swimming at school and then again after school for lessons. Surely with all this time in the water, we can get these boys officially swimming. Bennett is doing great and is right on the verge of having it down. Beau loves the water, but his little coordination is still coming along. With all the practice these two are putting in, they'll be joining the swim team in no time. Just wanted to post a few pics of the boys in the lessons.

Happy 4th of July 2011

2011-07-05T09:18:00.004-05:00

The boys and I spent our 4th of July at the Renaissance Hotel. The pool is awesome with slides and complimentary floaties (which I love). We can watch the dolphins and dragon boats and even check out a few owls and bats....in cages, of course. For a small fee, we too feel like guests at the wonderful Renaissance Hotel. The boys have been begging to go all weekend and although it was initially planned for Saturday, Fletcher's plans took a frontseat and then again on Sunday. They were patient and flexible, but by Monday I knew we had to go with or without FCT. SO we went without. Fletcher did get to come later which made the day even better. We celebrated America's bday in true 4th of July fashion (except for the yakisoba for lunch)....a little homesick, but proud to be American and grateful to be free!

Slip n Slides and Sleds

2011-07-02T19:02:00.006-05:00

The boys and I went for a cookout at Erika and Henry's to celebrate.....not celebrate anything in particular, but just a general "celebrate" cookout. I've decided I love that attitude. We should celebrate everyday, right? The boys found their house to be better than any theme park we've been to. They had a monsterous hill in the backyard complete with sleds for the kids. When that got old, there were slip n slides and a trampoline with pads and a net. Slip n slides always bring smiles. I have to say Fletcher and I have been blessed with amazing friends wherever we live and Okinawa has been no different. It was a wonderful evening with sweet friends.

Safe Travels Fletcher!

2011-06-29T02:39:00.004-05:00

Round 3 with the 31st MEU! Although we are becoming seasoned veterans with the MEU schedule, we have not come to enjoy it nor does saying goodbye get any easier. We are, however, going to stay very busy with swim lessons and tennis lesson, and the beach, and anything else we can think of.....and document here A LOT (as this is Fletcher's only way of seeing pics....no FB on the ship). Travel safe, Fletcher. We love you and miss you!!!

Fun Day with Daddy

2011-06-27T06:09:00.004-05:00

We're thankful we had a few extra days with Fletcher due to bad weather. We'll take it. BUT today was our last day with him for a while, so we had as much fun as we could. After school, we met at Baba Park and waited for Fletcher to get off work. What a great park! Fletcher was craving sushi for his last meal on island for a while, so we went to the famous Yoshi's.....so yum! The boys loved looking at all the pictures on the wall of the famous guests and, of course, eating with their chopsticks is a must. What's a dinner out without ice cream for dessert. The Big Dip never disappoints! We're exhausted from the day and ready to fast-forward through another deployment. Wishing my love safe travels and a quick return!

Soaking Up Daddy Time

2011-06-23T08:19:00.004-05:00

Fletcher leaves this Sunday, so we're soaking up as much time with him as possible. It seems like we can't get enough time with him, but that's our chapter right now. We really enjoy looking for sea shells after dinner and we love finding new additions to add to our collection. Tonight for some reason, Beau was in total protest to wearing pants. As you'll see in the pictures, he was completely unphased trotting around bare-behind. I, on the other hand, was more concerned that if he fell, he might scratch more than he'd like. We survived with no boo boos on our woo woos and a few fun pics to share. My boys.....how I love their little quirks.

Happy Father's Day, Fletcher!!!

2011-06-19T02:19:00.004-05:00

Today (since we're on the "Asia" time zone....I say that b/c I'm not sure what we call our zone) it's Father's Day here! Only here, so I'll celebrate my daddy tomorrow on his Father's Day. Happy, Happy Father's Day to Fletcher! He's the best daddy to our two little boys. We're so blessed to have him and I'm thrilled to see that Bennett and Beau have him to look up to. His kindness and patience are two of my favorite qualities of his and I hope those pass down to our boys. We love you too much for words!

Fletcher wanted to go to Round 1 today to play all the indoor games and keep the boys out of the sun in the heat of the day. It was awesome! From tennis, to soccer, to skateboarding, to a huge kids play area with massage chairs for the parents. Can I get an AMEN?! We had a blast and it wore the boys out. I have to say I love, love, love my little family of four. I am blessed!

Okuma & The Churaumi Aquarium

2011-06-18T06:30:00.005-05:00

We spent two nights up at Okuma Beach Resort which is a little piece of heaven. The word "resort" on this context does not mean the Ritz, but we literally can walk out onto the beach and enjoy fun in the sun. We kayaked, Grammy, Papa, and Fletcher snorkled, we built sand castles, rode bikes and enjoyed beautiful sunsets. It was wonderful. On our way back home, we hit the aquarium which ranks super high on our list of favorite things. I've said before that each time we go, we discover something new. This time we were not disappointed. The dolphin show was on a much larger scale than the one we witnessed this winter. Fletcher has decided he would like to get those trainers over here to work their magic on our boys. :) Beautiful weather and a splash in the fountain on the way out made for a great time.

Touring Oki w/ Grammy & Papa

2011-06-11T07:54:00.007-05:00

Grammy and Papa made the long haul to come visit us (really to come visit Bennett and Beau), but we'll take what we can get. They arrived sans earthquake or tsunami which started their visit off on the right foot. Grammy is an amazing photographer, so you'll have to excuse my excessive posting of my boys, but with pictures like these.....I just couldn't help myself. Our weather this past week has bordered on perfection and I've been informed it's because the self-elected emporer (Daddy) had a talk with the weather gods. And about this "emporer" business....Dad saw the throne at Shuri Castle and decided he needed one of those. He missed his calling as an emporer. Grammy and I just go with it. :) We've been up and down and all around this island and enjoyed every minute of it. We're savoring our last few days with the panhandle pair. I think they make for good islanders. These pics are of our first few days siteseeing at Shuri Castle, the Peace Memorial, and around our neighborhood.

Bennett Shakin' It

2011-06-03T09:04:00.002-05:00

Cutest Little Duck!!!

2011-06-03T07:19:00.003-05:00

End of the Year Program

2011-06-03T05:31:00.002-05:00

The boys had their end of the year school program today and it was too cute. I'm sure every mom thinks their child's preschool program is adorable.....of course, I'm no different. I loved it! I'll post video later, but wanted to get a few pictures of our family after the program. The boys did wonderfully and we've been blessed to have had a great school year at Santa Monica International School.

More of Ishigaki

2011-05-24T07:16:00.002-05:00

The previous post didn't give Ishigaki enough recognition. We did have all day Friday and Saturday to enjoy the beautiful island (and actually take a few pictures). I just wanted to share a few shots of our family not in crisis mode. :)

Ishigaki Vacay - First ER Visit

2011-05-22T05:51:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we took a mini vacation to Ishigaki Island, a little island located between Taiwan and Okinawa. We had heard wonderful things about the Club Med there and were eager to check it out for ourselves. I have to admit the unlimited wine and extensive "petite club" activities added to our excitement. We arrived early on Friday in time to lounge by the pool. The kids spent Friday and Saturday in the mini-club doing circus school, beach time, pool time, playing in the pirate playroom, and so much more. Fletcher and I took a bike ride down into the local village, had cocktails by the pool, and even tried out the trapeze. It was exactly what we needed......that is, until about 7:30 that Saturday night. It all went down over a game of bingo. After dinner, the mini-club get together for one last activity of the day which just so happen to be bingo that night. Beau was running over to me to show his card when he tripped and fell into the couch I was sitting on. He had an enormous gash on his forehead and bled like it was a gunshot wound. I have never seen so many japanese people fleeing. We took an ambulance to the ER and 4 stitches later Beau was as good as new. As you can see in the pictures, Fletcher and I both were covered in blood. The hotel was kind enough to send a translator to the ER with us which was such a "lifesaver" for lack of better words. The stitches have since been removed and aside from me chasing the little guy around with vitamin E oil and sunblock, all is back to normal (whatever normal is). The pictures are a little blurry because they were taken with my Iphone, but you get the idea.

And He's Off!

2011-05-09T22:41:00.003-05:00

Bennett is riding on TWO wheels! The training wheels came off, Bennett took a spill and decided he wanted them back on. Momma said okay, but the Marine in the house thought we were "regressing". Needless to say, after some practice and coaxing, Bennett is off and not looking back. We're so proud (and a little nervous). He's already decided since he's mastered the bike, he needs a skateboard. Heaven help me!

Feeding the Ducks

2011-05-09T22:31:00.004-05:00

One of the highlights to many of our afternoons is feeding the ducks. The boys love taking our leftover bread down to Nagahama Dam and launching it into the water. Beau makes no secret to the fact that he plans on "shooting those ducks just like Pops does"..... There is a sequence to how it goes. We start off riding bikes, eventually make our way down to the little stream, and finally end up at the beach. By this time the sun has gone down and we head back home for bath and books. Not a bad way to end the day.

Happy Easter 2011

2011-04-23T23:31:00.005-05:00

What a beautiful Easter Sunday it is here in Okinawa! We got up early and headed to the 8:00 service and enjoyed the wonderful message at Koza. After stopping by the seawall to watch the surfers and the fisherman, we went for brunch. When we returned home, the Easter Bunny had left a little something for the boys. Fletcher and I are counting our blessings on this special Sunday. Happy Easter!

Chatting over Coffee

2011-04-18T04:00:00.003-05:00

Neo Park

2011-04-17T02:07:00.004-05:00

Saturday we decided to drive up north to Okuma and have a picnic, then hit Neo Park on our way back down. The boys wanted to show Fletcher all the cool birds at the park, so we loaded up and headed out. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed having our "4th" home to spend it with us. Neo Park is a free roaming zoo that has more birds than anything else. It would never fly in the states, but it's pretty neat (although there are moments when it's gets a little eery). I only wish Bennett and Beau would humor their momma and at least pretend to have a little fear. I think I said about a thousand times "don't stick your finger up to its mouth".....Lord help me!

Tidwell Camp Site

2011-04-17T01:58:00.003-05:00

The boys have been looking forward to their first camping trip ever since Santa brought them a tent. I think it was well worth the wait. Fletcher put the tent up in our backyard Friday after school and the boys couldn't wait to get their sleeping bags situated. I think they arranged and rearranged all their gear about 5 times. I strictly enforced the one and only rule to the tent (which just so happens to be the rule I made up).....no girls in the tent. That meant Momma had to sleep in her bed. It was a quiet evening for me until about 8:15 when I started getting a frequent visitor. Beau decided he's rather hang with me than outside. I can't say I blame him, but Bennett and Fletcher slept out there all night. I'm sure Fletcher would much prefer sleeping in his own bed after being on that ship, but he's doing a great job making up for lost time with the boys.

Fletcher's Home!!!

2011-04-13T22:25:00.005-05:00

Tuesday Fletcher returned home from his second deployment on the USS Essex. This one was a doozy for all of us. I guess with us being new to the island, the first deployment didn't seem to be quite as rough for us as this one. Needless to say, we were thrilled that it came to an end. I was happy to get my husband home, and the boys were happy to have their daddy back. The pictures don't do it justice.

Visiting the Jets at Kadena AFB

2011-04-11T02:15:00.003-05:00

Another Flat Stanley adventure.....we thought we'd take him to see the cool Air Force jets on Kadena. Let us preface with saying that we would much prefer to show him the extra cool Cobra helicopters, but since that wasn't an option, we settled for what the Air Force had to offer. I think it served its purpose. Bennett and Beau were ready to take flight. As their mom, I'm hoping for less dangerous job.

Our Favorite Beach

2011-04-11T01:58:00.003-05:00

Bennett and Beau wanted to take Flat Stanley to Torii Beach, so Saturday we packed a lunch and headed out. The weather was beautiful, so it was a perfect beach day. Although I thought the water was a little cool, the boys didn't seem to mind it. We hope Stanley likes our beach as much as we do.

Flat Stanley Comes Again

2011-04-11T01:51:00.003-05:00

Flat Stanley and I have a long history. He first came to visit me when I lived in Hawaii, then he visited us in Georgia twice, and now he has come to Okinawa. The boys and I made a list of places we thought he had to see before heading back to Texas. Jakkepoe's Pancake House was at the top of the list. Friday after school we took Flat Stanley to have the best M & M pancakes EVER! According to Bennett, he loved them!

Beachin' It

2011-04-03T00:55:00.004-05:00

We've jumped right into spring weather and we're soaking it up. Today we packed our things and headed to Torii Beach. The boys brought their dumptrucks, of course, and I brought my book. Good weather, good boys, great day!

Washi Egg Decorating

2011-04-02T17:34:00.002-05:00

I thought Washi Egg decorating was something for the kids to participate in, but I was mistaken. It is a Japanese way of decorating eggs with beautiful material or in our case origami paper. Great idea except that I had been telling the boys all week that they were going to get to decorate eggs this weekend. Luckily there was a huge bouncy house that helped them quickly forget their purpose in coming. The cookies and suckers didn't hurt the cause either. Disregard the oversized blue shirts the boys are wearing. We had gone to a sports store out in town earlier in the day and once they spotted these "soccer" shirts, they couldn't bear the thought of leaving without them.

Daddy Dolls

2011-03-30T02:43:00.002-05:00

Yeah for Daddy Dolls. CeCe and Pops got the boys these wonderful dolls as an early Easter present and I have to say, the boys have loved them. Their excitement when the saw them for the first time was awesome. Bennett plays with his taking his doll in the dumptruck, etc. Beau has conversations with his telling his daddy all kinds of fun stuff about what's going on in his little mind. I thought I had a picture of Beau with his doll, but somehow it's missing. Such a great gift!

Aquarium Again

2011-03-30T02:33:00.003-05:00

The weekend before last we went to the aquarium.....again. We love it up there and always seem to see something new. This time we got to watch the dolphin show which was wonderful. It was all in the Japanese, so the silly Americans that didn't move back with everyone got a little soaked, to which Beau responded with a shout out calling the dolphin a "yucky, poopy dolphin". We had lunch at our favorite spot right in front of the seawater tank. The highlight of the day for the boys was probably the soda they had at lunch. Yes, soda! The drink menu is limited and.....well, I pick my battles. They paid for it. I ran them on the many playgrounds after lunch to ensure I wasn't getting into a car with caffeine-crazy toddlers. It was a wonderful day spent with two of my favorite boys.

Bubbles, Bubbles, and More Bubbles

2011-03-23T02:01:00.002-05:00

I admit it, I'm weak! SO sometimes I go with whatever floats their boat. Today, it was bubbles!

The Sky is Falling!

2011-03-18T04:09:00.003-05:00

I haven't posted in a bit, but it's not like we haven't been busy. :) Last week's 8.9 earthquake quickly followed by a tsunami sent us all into complete panic for a while. Aside from the fact that Mom had flown into Tokyo about the time the earthquake hit, we also couldn't understand the warnings going off on the speakers around our community. I ran across the street to one of our only English-speaking neighbors quickly followed by Beau, literally naked as a jay bird (we were getting ready to start bathtime). Fortuately, he informed me of all that was going on and we were safe. And even better, after a nightmare 36 hours, Nina made it home safely too. In the meantime, we've been marines in our own fort, firemen putting out fires, two wild and crazy cowboys, and they even tried to make their own swimming pool....and, no, it's not summer here yet.

Sunday Afternoon at the Beach

2011-03-06T01:56:00.003-05:00

It's not quite swimsuit weather, but it's definitely warm enough to hit the beach for some fun. Torii Beach is our favorite beach to go to because of a lot of reasons. 1) the pirate ship 2) the swings and 3) the view!!! A few sandwiches, juice boxes, dumptrucks, and a starbucks for Nina and Mommy and we're set. Starbucks actually came in extra handy considering we forgot shovels. And what's a Sunday afternoon without some ice cream?!

Okinawa Zoo

2011-03-05T07:18:00.005-05:00

We braved the zoo today! I had read the blogs, therefore, the bar for the zoo here was set pretty low I have to say. It appeared the highlight may be a raccoon, BUT that wasn't going to stop us. I'm glad we decided to check it out for ourselves because it was great. It helps to remind yourself that you're on an island and not in San Diego (again with setting the bar pretty low). I have never been so close to a tiger in all my life or an elephant. The safety regulations would never fly in the States. Beau could seriously climb through the gate to hang with the alligators, but I've come to the conclusion that Japanese kids follow the rules on the posted signs. Bennett loved the petting zoo (I had to relinquish my germ obsession for a moment) and Beau is a little more like his momma.....we love animals.....behind gates. Anything that poops on the floor and licks its rear end I prefer to keep at a distance. Even so, the Okinawa Zoo will now be on our list of frequents for family day events. :)

P.S. I loved that the train was called Tex'as. Not sure when Texas got an apostrophe, but I'll take it.

Nagahama Dam

2011-02-28T04:17:00.004-05:00

Nagahama Dam is the perfect place to ride bikes and run wide open. There's a track, a view, and it's pretty secluded, so no worries about cars, etc. Considering it's located about a football field from our house, we frequent this place on sunny afternoons.