Halloween Carnival Yokosuka Year 2!

Last night we went to Yokosuka Bases Kids Halloween Festival. It's just perfect for my kids ages. 3 $ for kids, Adults free and they get Candy and Prizes perfect for little ones. An added bonus is they get to wear thier costumes more than one time.
Check out the FEW pictures i got from last years festival by clicking this link----> Last Years Halloween Festival <----- I cant believe how much the kids have grown, especially Olivia, in one years time! Now check out the few i got this this year. :) --->

There was a kiddie Haunted house and a bunch of games/activities.

We saw a lot of our friends @ the Festival, this is Olivia M., Olivia's friend.

Evan saw some of his friends too, this is Garreth and his Brother Gavin is a good friend of Evan's.

Evan did really good on these "throw the ball games"... and made it in the hole a few times. (Even when Olivia could not!)

Aw... Evan was an ANGEL!!!! He was so well behaved, i thought... where is my Evan. haha
He is just growing up so much, and i was proud of him in a big way last night.

Yesterday was SO rainy and Wet! Windy too. Not a fun night to be out in the weather.
But, we had fun anyways.

Update on Us (no pictures)

Here is a little bit of an update on what we have been up to around here.
The blog has been Quiet in all honesty. Most of what i have been posting has been about the kids/school and so on. We have not been "siteseeing" or "exporing" in a while. It seams like life has just caught up with us. I do want to get out and into Japan more and find things to see... but we have just been busy! On another note, we have been staying off the Public Transit (Trains) mostly because i have been a little overprotective. I just dont want to get sick!! I feel like being in close contact with strangers in a big city... thats just asking for it. So, we have been driving a lot. I do plan on taking a trip to Yokohama via train soon and maybe a side trip to Kamakura for some Fall pictures, but ... i want to pick up some mask's 1st.
(I know, me again, being paranoid!)

So, today is Thursday ... but on Monday we (the kids) went up to Ikego School and got in line for the Flu Shot. Both kids got the standard ole' shot... no nose-mist stuff for us. We have to go back on the 19th for the "booster".
That day was also Olivia's 1st girl scout meeting. :) Fun fun!

This past weekend we went and visited Blue Street in Yokosuka for a little Fair-Type-Fun. I will be blogging that soon. We enjoyed kids games and FOOD, the Japanese food vendors are just beyond amazing!

We have been eating out and trying new foods, but i have been bad with keeping the camera with me, so... look for more food posts, once i get better at it! haha

Ethan has just started a new position at work (yay for him) ... It's longer hours and he seams to get home later (booo for us!). He is enjoying putting some skills to work, but it's hard to get used to him being @ work all the time again.
This weekend he is going out of town for Boy Scouts... I cant complain, because he really does try to limit his Volunteer time to once a week and one weekend a month.

Evan is loving his new school, and i am loving it too! :) The decision to place him in Pre-K type of school has been amazing, and i cant say enough about it. He is just blossoming and learning and enjoying new friends and teachers. On a sad note, his Teacher will be leaving soon, as PCS season is here. :(:(... I am happy though that he wont loose his Teacher Aid, as i like her a lot!!!
I will be sad when he leaves this place next year... but i know he will have a blast here in IKEGO Kinder.
Evan's upcomming events are Halloween Parade and Celebration and the Fall Festival. :)

Olivia is also coming right along in pretty much every way!
She is enjoying school and is soaking everything right on up! 2nd grade is just so fun, and brings back a lot of memories for Ethan and I. Some of the Topic's she brings home to talk about even get Ethan and I into Heated disscussions. haha.
As far as 'school' goes. She is doing well in Every area, but ... Math is her strong suit. This is no shocker, because Ethan was always good at math...
She now takes Extra Math @ School for the Girfted Program & just this week we were sent home yet another Math focused "group" permission! So, she is just getting in all the math she can handle! haha.
As you know, She has just started Girl Scouts... and we have some upcoming events with this too! (And were excited) She will pair up with a girl/family from a Japanese Troop and go Trick or Treating! :):) and sometime in November we are going on our 1st girl scout field trip! We're going Mikan picking (Japanese tiny winter clementines). We will take the train, and ... for both events, she will earn a patch for her vest. :)

Other than all that and the fact I am driving everywhere ... things are good. haha.
I will know more about Swimming for the kids after this weekend. Ethan and i have talked about it, and i think we are going to try and get the kids into swim lessonns. It should be something fun to add to the list of stuff we are already up to.

In BABY News--->
I am about 23~24 weeks now, and in full pregnancy swing. haha
So far, on most days i feel great.
I don't have much to complain about. Well, ... except the fact that i am 5 foot 9 and a "real" woman and ... so i have ZERO Chance to buy anything Clothing related in the Japanese world...haha.... so i have to rely on the America store on base and / or online ordering.
The American store does not carry but 2 racks of Maternity clothing! WTF! And i seam to have bad luck with online ordering. So, i have to be thankful for the big bag of maternity clothing a friend gave me, and ... the odds and ends i find at the American store on base.
I have to "make things work" most of the time.
I have got some nice comments though, about how i don't look so pregnant really... or just comments i consider to be flattering. So, i guess all is good. I do have a belly... but... it's not that big just yet, i guess. haha.
We have our Doc apt next week and i am again dreading it. (I hate worrying about how much weight i have put on... as of 20 weeks it was 2 pounds).
I am thinking soon enough i will be going in for the sugar drink test and my RoGham Shot. Things are just trucking right along.

I hope all is well with you (Family&Friends!)...
We are just looking forward to this fall/winter holiday season. :)
End Update ~ hahaha

Pumpkin Carving!

Yesterday Ethan wanted to go ahead and carve our pumpkins. He is going out of town this weekend, again and so he wanted to make sure the kids had their pumpkins carved before Halloween.
Both pumpkins were pretty easy and quick to carve, especially with the new scrapping tool he got this year.
Enjoy the pic's below. :)








Evan trying to carve himself. Ethan did 99% of Evan's pumpkin.

All done, and Ethan did this design free-hand!!



Olivia's pretty excited, don't you think?
Her expression's are wild sometimes.

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

Yup... you need to clean it out 1st. :) lol

Eww, again.

Ethan and Olivia stayed up to carve her pumpkin. I decided to hit the sack early, as i was SO tired. Evan crashed out too.
To my surprise Ethan let Olivia carve the entire pumpkin out herself, and... he also drew her design onto the the pumpkin, to make it easier.

She did an Impressive Job! :)
I was shocked when Ethan said she carved it.
She is just like her Dad! :)

Oh and here are the kids TRYING to be Spooooooooooooooky. haha
They are Silly silly children!

Mikoshi Parade... Snacks and Games!

A few weekends ago, there was a Mikoshi Parade near the Main base. We tried to make it to the actual Parade, but ... we were lazy and chill'd at home all day.
We decided to head out anyways, and hit up the Food and "game" booths, for the kids.
We had a very nice time, and it was nice weather.
Check out the slideshow! --->or click here for the slide show, if you receive this via e-mail<---
I added caption's this time, and i hope the slide show 'thing' is working out.
It's much easier for me, ... if you like... give me feedback. Photo's or Slide show?

!~Girl Scouts~!

Yesterday was Olivia's 1st Girl Scout meeting. :-) She was so very excited to join a group JUST for Girls. :-) She Insisted to wear her full uniform yesterday (minus the shirt, as its just way to big)... We had no problem letting her. She did not wear her Vest or anything to school. Those things were stashed in her GS Backpack. So, she looked Adorable in her brown skort, knee socks and white shirt.
The other little girl who also wore her full uniform for the 1st day went home VERY sick from school :( (I hope she feels better soon!)... Olivia did not feel out of place thankfully, although she was the only one in uniform bottoms.
Below ---> Olivia before school.

She HAD to have the Girl Scout Scrunchy! haha.
She did wear it all day.

This is picture is from after school, getting ready to walk with the troop to the meeting room.



1st meeting, Her leader is AMAZING and really has her 'stuff' together. I am soooooo happy she is Olivia's Leader this year. (The co-leader is awesome too!!!)
I am looking forward to an awesome year for Olivia!!!
I also registered as a Adult Member, so i hope to be involved in events and so on.



Learning the Friendship hug/handshake thingy.

S'mores for a "snack". :) Thanks Paula for an awesome meeting.
I will not be at every meeting, but ... i wanted to sit in, for the 1st meeting.
She is going to have a Great Fun Year!

Evan's 1st Birthday-Party-Invite!

This weekend Evan attended his 1st Birthday Party!! His little friend from the Navy Lodge/Neighborhood invited him. BOY was he Excited!!!! This was a biggie for him. He made sure to let me know what gift he wanted for him, how to wrap the gift and so on. He is just getting SO big these days!
He had a blast! Here are a few pictures of Evan... having a blast with out Olivia. :) (This is pretty rare!)

Below: Evan heading to the party. He was so Excited!


A balloon race......


The best idea in the world, a Bounce House... indoors! :)


Balloon fun...


Cake time :p


And best of all. His Mom let him open all the gifts, so all the kids got to play with them. :)
Evan really had fun picking out the gift for him, and... he even got to try it out too. :)
They all had fun!


With 3 'guests' and the birthday boy and his brother... it was a PERFECT size for a 4 yr olds birthday. :)

Yukuta Fun

On Saturday the kids and i decided to try on their Yukuta's.
I bought them, um... in the spring, and i wanted to make sure they still fit.
The both have Costume Parade's @ school coming up, and i thought its a perfect time to wear them. (It has to me "book" related.)
Anyways, the kids just took over, and told me what pictures they wanted.
So, i think because it was all their idea, the pic's turned out SO good! :)

I am not a pro @ these yukuta's... so i am not sure if i put them on "correctly"... but they looked cute anyways! :)
Enjoy the pic's! :)

I Love Fall!

Fall is my favorite time of year!
If i could just live in a place that was 55~73 all year long, i would be in the best mood all the time. :) This weekend was just beautiful around here, 60's and 70's all day. We had no rain YAY... and clear sky's. So, Ethan and I did some "fall" cleaning. We spent most of everyday outside cleaning-out both sheds and putting up some Fall Decor'.
The only thing i wish we would have done is BBQ, but... no such luck.
We did get a lot of things accomplished, and it feels GREAT!
I love to "clean out".

Oh and the car looks like New!!! Now is the time to take pictures for you all (family& friends).... Maybe i will tomorrow.
We detailed the car and steam cleaned the mats. :) It feels so fresh! :)
All in all a wonderful productive weekend! :)

Typhoon Melor was a No Show... So We--->

Hung off the Walls instead. Obviously... when were not napping ... they were bored.

(hahahahaha)

!~Evan got a new 'do'~!

Yesterday i took Evan to get a Haircut!
We could not handle the "mop" look anymore.
I adore his new 'do'................... :) He does too.

Melor is heading our way~!!

Well it looks like we will be seeing Super Typhoon Melor in the next 72 hours.
I love storms, so i dont mind One Bit.
I'll let you know if we see some action. :)
Maybe the kids will get a day off from school~ FUN~!!!

Our 1 yr Japan~Annaversary!

So, yesterday was our 1year Anniversary of arriving here in Yokosuka Japan! :)
We decided to take the kids for a fun day. The day was All about the Kids and Fun!
Evan has been asking for almost the entire year to "go to a Geo Tracks store"... (TRU).
So, yesterday was all about Evan and Olivia enjoying themselves Out-in-about in Japan.

So, we drove out of our comfort zone, and found the TRU. :) We also found other fun things to do/places to go on the way. :)
We are excited to get out more this upcoming year. :)




This toy was so cute!
Once you turned it on, it "pooped" and "cooked" the pay food.
Adorable!
I took a video of it, i will try to share!


Olivia and Evan got to pick a toy.
Ethan and I had fun helping them put their toys together. :)

OMG, i helped Olivia, and her toy is so fun!
Look for more pictures of her toy soon.

Oh and we bought the new baby something too!
Her 1st Item!!

After we went to TRU we went to dinner at a new place. It's Called Jonathan's.
It was really good, and we had a relaxing time!

This was my meal, and wow... it was delish for under 10$.

Ethan's Meal

Both kids got the same meal... and i really liked Their meal!
It was called Onigiri Set.
Whats in the wrappers? Rice Logs!
Both kids Ate them Up! Loved Them!!!

The restaurant was on the 2nd floor...
Olivia eating her Onigiri.

Evan, being a Goofball. :)

We had a Really fun/relaxing day with the kids. :)
And.............. that's all that matters........................