I remember our first year here when everything was new and I made a new post almost twice a month. Now that we have been here a year, it feels more like home and not a foreign country. Here is what we have been up to lately....
Branch Activity- carnival
What would summer be without swim lessons?
Date Nights- Curtis and Brooke went on a date and Spencer and I went out. Brooke looked forward to her daddy-daughter date for weeks. The next day she wanted to do it again. We have decided to make it a monthly routine.
We just so happened to meet up at the Yogurt place. I guess great minds think alike.
A view from the top of the Ferris Wheel. Amazingly I was the only one who was slightly nervous at the top.
No idea where this was, but I love the beauty of this island.
Brooke started preschool again this year. She is at the same school as last year and she just loves it. Every day she wants to know if it is a preschool day. I am amazed at how much she has learned and also her love of learning. This first picture was her check up before school. As you can see she gave herself her first haircut. I had to keep telling myself that it could have been much worse. She even cut them pretty straight across. What you see is after almost 2 months of growing out. Headbands have been my favorite accessory.
Spencer did a short session of soccer. I think he was more excited about the idea of playing soccer than actually doing it. It took him a while to get in the groove of things and by then the class was over. We will probably put him in again when he is a little older. I saw this scene of my family on the lawn and it made me smile. I remember going to practices and games on Saturdays when I was a kid. We used to drive past the park in California and see all the families there watching their kids....and now we are there!
Last minute "what should we do today" and we went to explore Katsuren Castle (or something like that). It is amazing that it has been there since the 14th century. The kids enjoyed climbing the steps to the top and the great view.
Some more spur of the moment fun; miniature golf is free on base so we can stay as long or as short as we want and it's always worth it.
One morning we ended up at the park with 4 of the other Mormon families in the neighborhood. We slowly turned the playground into a water park. It is times like these that the kids have the most fun.
One Monday for Family Night we thought we would go catch some more fish for our tank. When we got there the tide was way too high considering we didn't wear swimsuits...although that didn't stop Spencer.
A few weekends ago we decided it was time to take the kids camping. We hadn't been since Brooke was about 6 months old so it was an all new experience for them. You could not contain their excitement for going up to Okuma to camp for one night. Brooke told her whole preschool class and Spencer went outside while I was getting packed and tried to tell any neighbor that would listen. By the time we got up there it was almost dark but the kids loved the campfire and making s'mores. The excitement lasted until they laid down on the floor of the tent (no we didn't give them a mattress- bad parent award). All of a sudden camping wasn't as fun because it wasn't comfy cozy. I don't think they went to bed till 10:30. The sun woke us up at 6 which made for some super cranky kids that day. It was too bad the weather wasn't great because camping on the beach could be the best way to camp!
Last but not least, of course we have been to the beach. One day we will really miss not being able to go to the beach anytime we want. This time Brooke actually got in the kayak- we are making progress!
Seashell beach with friends
