Real Food Update, Week 1

While I was emptying our pantry last week, I was bracing myself for a difficult week.  I'm happy to report that this week was super easy!  Sunday I made homemade whole wheat graham crackers, granola, berry sauce for the plain yogurt, popcorn balls, cheddar crackers (yuck!), zucchini muffins, and banana pancakes.  We were prepared to eat foods that consisted of 5 ingredients or less, no processed food, and no processed sugar.  Eating like this makes me cook a WHOLE lot more, but having the luxury of being at home makes this process much easier. 
Brady and Juliette didn't even seem to notice a change.  Juliette will eat anything, so I wasn't worried in the least about her.  Brady gobbled down everything I made and never asked for any of his old treats.  I don't want to go into too much detail, so I'll just say some potty issues were resolved by day 4.  Greg really only participates with dinner, so his life didn't change very much.  I have lost a pound (secretly hoping another will drop off when I weigh in tomorrow) and have had a significant change in my sweet tooth.  I haven't craved anything sweet since knocking the sugar out of my diet.  The only sweeteners I used were honey and 100% maple syrup. 
In preparation for next week I made some popcorn treats (they were a big hit), breakfast cookies, hummus, prepared sweet potatoes to make sweet potato pancakes, more berry sauce, and made an attempt at homemade butternut squash ravioli.  The kids weren't fond of the ravioli and it took too much effort to make if only 2 of us were going to eat them.  This has been a good change for us and I think will continue to be good as long as I stay ahead of the game. 

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

We mailed all of our souvenirs and a good deal of other random things home so we could manage the amount of luggage we had to carry. I sure am glad we did this because I could not imagine what we would have done because we still have 3 suitcases packed full, along with 3 carry-ons! The check-in at the airport was smooth sailing. The airline had everything down to a science and we had no worries. I must admit, I was very unsure about how the plane ride was going to go. The last time Brady was confined in a small airplane the results were not optimal. Brady did GREAT!! He was so well behaved, and I was so proud! The flight lasted about 2 hours and once in Tokyo we were bussed to the terminal, collected our luggage, then it was off to McDonald's! I asked a security guard how to get to the McDonald's and because he looked a little confused I asked where I could find a hamburger (making a circle with my hands, which I'm sure clarified everything for him!). He told me downstairs, I said thanks and walked away. A few seconds later he came back over to me and he had written down McDonald's to make sure he understood what I said and that he gave me right directions. Could you ask for better service? Everywhere we have been the Japanese people have been outstanding! We ate lunch, then took a taxi to our hotel. Again no problems anywhere! Our hotel is beautiful! It has several restaurants and shops, and the best part is that I still can't shop without Greg! We are staying in a military resort and it takes an ID to do anything. I can't wait to buy something at Wal-mart all by myself! We have already taken a nap! No big surprise, right? Tomorrow we are going to try to head out to the fish market bright and early where apparently they fillet fish with Samaria swords! Good times!

Goodbye Okinawa

This is it. It is all over. Nothing left to see here. We have completed our final hours on Okinawa. What a wonderful place it has been, from the kind people to the beautiful scenery, this has been an amazing experience. We have been welcomed with open arms (except for the restaurant that kicked us out) by Americans who included us in their lives for a short time and the Okinawans that treated Brady like a rock star! We have done as much as we could possibly do from exploring the very top of the island at Cape Hedo, watching the waves crash as two bodies of water collided (although it was very difficult to determine where one stopped and the other started) to the very bottom of the island at Peace Prayer Park solemnly reflecting on the devastation WWII left in it's wake. Brady won't remember the time spent here, but I think he enjoyed himself. Greg and I are better for this experience. We had quality family time and truly enjoyed each other's company. We woke up every weekend and had no plans, just deciding on a whim what to do that day. What fun! These are days Greg and I will remember for the rest of our lives! Needless to say, I'm a very lucky girl!!

Final Weekend on Okinawa

Well, we have completed our last weekend on Okinawa and move on to Tokyo on Thursday morning. One more weekend to go! Saturday began like most weekend mornings, breakfast then play until naptime. We were going to try and go to a baseball game, but it started in the middle of naptime, so it was a no go. After running a few errands, we decided to go to the Comprehensive Park. This park is supposed to have several playgrounds, boats, fishing, all kinds of fun outdoors activities. We have already been many places that people who live here have never been, and this is a park maybe 2 people have told us they have been. Well, there were signs that got us on a road it was supposed to be on, but we drove around forever and couldn't find it. To make matters worse, Brady was not in the mood to sit in his car seat. Greg is amazing with directions. I have not been somewhere with him where he has not been able to get us out with record time (except in Ireland on our honeymoon, I think all the love he had for me was getting to his head!). Greg was beginning to get frustrated and because Brady wasn't helping matters we decided to head back to a playground on base. All in all it was a good day and we stayed at the park until we were the only ones left! Sunday was again a typical Sunday, brunch then naptime. You know, it's amazing we have done so many things with as much as this family sleeps! When we woke up it was on to the Jungle. The Jungle is an indoor children's playground with all kinds of tunnels, slides, ball houses, and coin rides. Brady was interested in 2 things, the ball house and a plastic house where he could open and close the door and shutters. All of these fun activities surrounded him and he just wanted to go in and out of this plastic house! Afterwards Greg dropped me off at a salon so I could have a pedicure and the boys went out for dinner. The best thing about my pedicure was the toe art. There were so many choices of designs they could do on your toes. Once you choose your design they hand paint it and the artist has 2 inch long fingernails. Amazing! Aside from maybe a dinner or two, we aren't planning any other adventures. Our next adventure begins on Thursday morning with a 3 hour plane ride to Tokyo. Please keep us in your prayers!

I'm Not Sleepy!

We have extended Brady's bedtime while here so he will be more likely to sleep through the night. It has pretty much worked like a charm until it backfired on us last night. We went through the usual bedtime routine and put him down at 8pm. Well, he didn't think that was a good idea. If I had been by myself, I would have continued to put him in his crib every time he climbed out because he needed to sleep, but Greg wanted to let him stay up so I let him. I don't know why. The next time I looked at the clock it was almost 10 pm and Brady showed no sign of stopping. I told Greg that I was willing to put Brady to bed unless he wanted to stay up with him. Well, Greg decided to stay up, so I went to bed. I didn't get much rest because Brady continued to come into the room and try to play! Greg got him out of the room and apparently had to put a table and chairs in front of the door so he wouldn't keep coming in. Finally, around midnight Greg had enough and placed Brady in his crib. Would you believe that Brady climbed out of his crib and tried to get us up? I gave him some milk and he finally was down for the count. When I woke up this morning and walked into the living space, I thought WWIII had taken place! Apparently, Brady did not want anything in any drawer, any toy in the toy box, none of my personal items in the vanity, and no pans in the kitchen. He just felt like things needed to be re-arranged and he was the only one that could do it correctly!

Fun at the Zoo!

Brady and I were invited to a visit at the Okinawa Zoo on Thursday and boy did we have fun! We started the day at the Children's Museum that was 3 stories tall with all kinds of fun activities. It was filled with several groups of school children on field trips. I find it amazing that even the youngest children here are well behaved. I have yet to see a temper tantrum or outburst of any kind. Parents and teachers can let their children roam and not have any problems (at least from what I've seen). The zoo also had pony rides, go-carts, a train, and petting zoo. The problem was that the caged animals were in small cages with concrete floors and either a rope hanging from the ceiling or maybe a concrete tree to climb on. It was very sad to see no type of natural habitat for them. The lady that organized the trip said she didn't even go visit the animals because she felt so bad about the conditions they were living in. She said she bought a yearly pass just in hopes that the money would go to better care for the animals. At first I thought she was just being over dramatic, but I soon found out that she was not. We did not see all of the zoo, just some monkeys, koala bears, bats, fish, and birds. It made for a long morning and both Brady and I were glad to get back for naptime! I have been very blessed to have met people to bum around with. The first week we were here I met a home daycare provider so she and I have done something almost every morning. Stacy (another NCIS wife) has been a lifesaver! She has really gone above and beyond trying to make us welcome and taking us around the island. We are staying in a temporary housing facility, so many moms have come and gone, but for a few days at a time they were good company. We are about to embark on our last weekend here in Okinawa so we plan to make it as fun as possible!

Weekend Activities

Well, we are coming down to the wire now. We have 9 more days in Okinawa, 4 days in Tokyo, and 1 1/2 days on an airplane! Thursday night we had dinner with a few of Greg's co-workers and this little hole in the wall place. It was a quaint family owned place that served probably the best food we have eaten since we have been here. Brady even behaved himself while he ate. The problem is that when he is done, he thinks we should be done too! Greg took the first shift taking care of him and I took the second shift chasing him around. It is a good thing he is a rock star here because everyone in the restaurant loved him. The cook even came out to see him and hold him for a little while! We are going to be in shock when we come home and no longer receive any recognition. Saturday we thought Greg had a battleground tour, so he got up and left early to meet the bus. Unfortunately, the tour was for Sunday! We just lounged around and Saturday afternoon we went to Kokosai Street which is just like a street in New York. It was lined with all kinds of trinket shops, jewelry stores, bakeries, and restaurants. We were walking along minding our own business when out of the blue an old grandma started walking with us. She kept asking how old Brady was and trying to shake his hand. She was very sweet and I thought we might have a permanent guest walking along with us. We tried to get her picture with Brady and she said "no, no, no" and walked away. What I got out of that was that she did not want to have her picture taken, so we lost our grandma! Sunday Greg had a good time on his tour and I'll have him blog about his experience. Brady and I had a typical day here at the room. The fun for me came Sunday night. I went to a spa and had a treatment by the "Doctor Fish." This was the craziest experience! There was a tub filled with warm water and you put your feet down amongst the fish. It felt like tiny vibrations on my feet when the fish were eating the dead skin cells off. It even tickled a little bit! There was a man across from me that had at least half of the fish on his feet... I'm glad my feet weren't that bad! Today Greg came to pick me and Brady up to eat lunch with him and some different co-workers. We went to this fun ramen noodle place and I really should have taken a picture of Brady eating those noodles! Poor kid, we just have fun watching him having new experiences and many times he is the best entertainment around (except in the playroom where he is over all the toys, so he sits and connects/ disconnects the belt on a baby bouncer seat)!

Girls Day Out!

I’m FREE!!! Monday was girls day out, and although I love my boys I was so excited to get out by myself. We began by going to a spa for a treatment where you lay on warm stone tiles. The room was like a sauna and every 20 min. or so you drink mineral water, cool off, and then return to flipping back and forth on the tiles. It felt very good because I was sore from my massage the day before. I haven’t been so pampered in a very long time! From there we did a little shopping then it was off to lunch. We went to a hamburger place called Gordies and it was the best hamburger I have had in a long time. I don’t know what all was on it, I mean, I knew the usual stuff, but it had a different kind of sauce besides ketchup, mustard, and mayo. Yummy! Then it was off for more shopping. There are stores here with very unusual items and let’s just say some costumes for men very secure with their masculinity! From there we went to pick up Stacy’s 6 year old twins, had dinner, then did more shopping at the exchange on base. By the time I got home I was so worn out and ready for some beauty sleep! Greg and Brady had some good daddy/ son time. I think they both enjoyed being together without mommy there too! They had Baskin Robin’s ice cream, Cinnabon, and all the sand from the sandbox you could eat! The one time I spoke to Greg they were at the park and Brady was trying to see how much sand he could put on his head. Good times had by all!

Surprise!!!

Sunday began like every other Sunday morning here on Okinawa, brunch at the officer’s club. Then it was back to the room for nap time. Have I mentioned how great nap time is? I wanted to go to the shopping district in the afternoon, but Greg kept changing the subject and continued to mention just taking Brady to the park outside our hotel. Do you know how many times I have been to the park outside the hotel? It’s almost too many! Just before they went outside Greg told me that Brady had a late Valentine’s Day surprise for me. Whoo-hooo! I love surprises! Greg had scheduled me an appointment to get a massage that afternoon! He is so fantastic! I love Greg whether he does things for me or not, but it is nice to have nice things done for you. The masseuse weighed 10 lbs tops! She was tiny and boy did I underestimate her strength! She was climbing on the table and pulled me in directions I have never been. I’m talking about a massage so thorough she massaged my armpits and the back of my knees. It felt so good! Then it was off to find something for dinner. We ended up at Kenny’s Beer Restaurant, and what we thought would be a low key, family friendly place (it did have beer in the name after all) turned out to be really fancy! The best part about it was there were no straps on the high chair. So while we were given warm cloths to wipe our hands Brady was standing in his chair staring at people seated outside. We managed to wrangle him enough for us to almost finish dinner before he broke loose, but then in the nick of time a piano started playing and he stopped trying to run and began to dance! Talk about timing! We ended our evening by walking around a shopping mall where we discovered that clothes here are very expensive, like a set of 3 baby onesies was $50.00. All in all I would say the weekend was a success!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I’m not sure what I did to deserve my wonderful husband, but I’m glad I did it! On Friday he brought me some beautiful flowers, 2 boxes of chocolate (1 from my new favorite chocolate place and 1 traditional heart box from the states), and a romantic card about farting. Anyone who has spent enough time with Greg can appreciate that! Since I am dangerous shopping by myself according to the military, Brady and I made a Valentine’s Day card for Greg. Not the most romantic thing, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Saturday we had a nice family breakfast making pancakes and then we all took a nap! Got to love those naps! We went to Okinawa World Saturday afternoon. The trip to Okinawa World was very frustrating! Directions around the island are difficult because there are no street names and maps just give you a general idea about where things are located. We drove around for quite some time before we actually found it. When we arrived I realized that I had left the stroller back in our room. Oops! As we were getting Brady out of the car he was only wearing one shoe. I remember giving Greg 2 shoes to put on before we left and Greg remembered putting 2 shoes on, but there was only 1 shoe in the car. Period. Well, the first thing we went to was the Habu snake museum and snake show. I’m sure this is just one of many creepy, crawly things I’ll do with 2 boys in my life! Okinawa World was set up like an ancient village with areas to do different arts and crafts projects along with a brewery and brown sugar factory. On our way home Greg spotted Brady’s missing shoe in the middle of the street! How he realized it I have no idea, he is just so observant. He slowed down just enough to grab it without getting hit from behind. The great thing was that it didn’t look like it had been run over at all and all the lights still worked on it! I’m not sure why we were surprised that Brady would throw something out the window! He has since lost his privilege to ride with his window down! We ended our Valentine’s Day with a gourmet seafood dinner at Captain D’s!

Another fun weekend!

Close your eyes. Take in a deep breath and imagine the smell of perfectly rich chocolate. Suddenly before you is an array of chocolate truffles topped with flakes of gold or dainty flowers. Perfectly hand shaped candy and indulgent chocolate cake surround you on each side. Now you place a piece of that fine chocolate in your mouth and as it melts you taste hints of raspberry, which is good news because you could not read what was going to be inside the truffle! Let me tell you, I have found a piece of heaven on earth here on Okinawa. Fashion Candy's is the only chocolate factory on the island and I wanted to dance after I indulged in the best chocolate I have ever placed in my mouth! This was a perfect way to begin our weekend. This Saturday entailed a trip to Naha. Naha is the city in the most southern part of the island. It reminds me of New York. Lots of shopping, lots of traffic, lots of concrete, lots of people walking around. Did I mention lots of traffic? I'll be glad to go home so I don't have to hear Greg complain about traffic anymore! I realize how good life is in St. Marys more than ever now because in St. Marys Greg doesn't complain about anything. We had lunch in a tree house. It is a very cool restaurant that sits in the tip top of a tree. The view was overlooking the port. We sat outside and enjoyed the view while Brady climbed around everywhere. While Japan is very family oriented, most of the high chairs we have encountered do not have straps to restrain a very active toddler! That means it takes some serious entertaining or sitting as far away from everyone else as possible. Then it was on to Shuri Castle. This is the only castle on the island that has been restored. It was interesting to take a walk back in time. We came back to the room for a nap and then went to dinner at a local tex-mex place. Every Sunday morning we have had brunch at the officer's club. We now look forward to every weekend, just because we know we are going to eat really well! This weekend we shared brunch with several other NCIS families. It has been nice to socialize with the other families. Sunday night we did a little shopping at a local department store and then had dinner at a Thai place. A musician had set up outside of the restaurant and Brady had a blast! He was dancing and clapping enjoying himself and we had fun just watching him. Brady is getting bigger every day it seems. He repeats many of the words we say and will point to the number 2 and say "tu!". The problem is that he will also point to other numbers and say "tu!". He will answer questions we ask him with "no" or "yah" but even though he talks all the time we don't understand what he is saying. He will even come get in your face, tilt his head like a confused puppy and talk looking you straight in the eye probably wondering why we have these big goofy grins on our faces. Monica is having an all day surgery for her back on Wed. Please keep her in your prayers and pray that the 2 doctors will know exactly what to do to make her feel better. Also, please pray for my father-in-law Bill that he will continue to have strength to take care of all the responsibilities he has. I am blessed with a wonderful extended family!

Date Night

I love my son. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for him. However, I have been with him practically 24/7 since Christmas and I am beginning to get a twitch! I met a woman at the park that runs a daycare out of her home during the day and offered to keep Brady for us if we ever wanted to get out at night. We took her up on the offer and finally had a dinner all to ourselves. We went to "The Barrel" restaurant that is actually shaped like a barrel, very cool! We had roasted garlic salad, tuna roll, bacon wrapped mushrooms, steak with basil, mixed tempura, and a complimentary appetizer that we don't know what it was. YUMMY! It was a traditional restaurant so we had to take our shoes off at the door. Greg and I carried on an adult conversation without mention of children, poop, or snot. It was so refreshing to have a romantic evening with my wonderful husband!

It's a parade!

Anyone that knows me should know that my sense of direction is non-existent. I'm talking it is so bad that when I was a new driver, a friend and I were going to Red Lobster and ended up on the Naval Weapons Station. That being said, for some reason Greg trusted me to try to find the place where they harvest sea salt. I drove past this place 1 time when Stacy and I were exploring so I thought I had an idea of where it was. Wrong. We drove around so much last weekend and Greg was not in the mood to repeat it. So we gave up, and on the way trying to find our way out of wherever we were... WE FOUND IT!!! It had a place where you could make pottery, blow glass, and take a tour of how they harvest salt. We didn't do any of that, but I did buy some salt! Does that count for anything? Next we visited the Yomitan Pottery Village. We were able to walk around to different buildings that displayed different pottery items and glassware. It was a beautiful day and lots of fun to just explore. Brady found a puppy behind one of the buildings, so we played with him for a little while. Saturday afternoon we just took care of some errands. Sunday morning I went to the grocery store (with Greg of course because I'm dangerous in the grocery store and can't go by myself). This is only the second time I have been since we have been here. Finally we were off to Nago for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Every source we had consulted instructed us to go to Nakijin Castle for the festival. There were very pretty views and beautiful cherry blossom trees, but no festival. Inside a building tucked in a corner of the grounds a stage was set up for some performances. The Internet said there was supposed to be a parade, but there was no parade in sight. We thought maybe the parade was the performances inside the building. We are in a different country after all. Disappointed we left and drove in to the central part of Nago. As we were driving I told Greg it seemed like there were a lot of people gathered 1 road over from where we were. It was a PARADE!! We found the real festival. The parade was awesome. All kinds of performances, including some men in drag. It would have been better if we knew what they were saying! Vendors were set up with all kinds of food and games. It was a good time. Monday morning we were up bright and early to attend a Superbowl party at Greg's office at 7:30 am. That's right I said 7:30 AM. It was o.k., but we don't watch pro football and Brady kept trying to get inside the evidence storage room. Greg is off early today so I'm not sure what this afternoon holds, but hopefully it will be entertaining!

Hairpuller vs. Bossy, Hitter, and Biter

I'm sure there can be something deep said about a children's playground. It's too early in the morning for me to think of what it is, but I know it's out there! Usually our playground consists of either just me and Brady or maybe just 1 other family. Yesterday, however, it was packed! A mistake I made was taking Brady's ball with us. I just figured that because it's usually just us it would be something different. Well, the ball was a big hit. Unfortunately, Brady was not all about sharing. While I was talking to one of the moms I heard this terrible scream. I looked over and Brady's face was bright red and he was crying. We ran over there and her little girl had bitten Brady's hand. Now, when I say a bite I mean a bite. Deep teeth marks and it was already swelling around the area a little bit. The little girl was the same age as Brady, so she got time out for a little while. He was upset for so long, it was like she ate his soul or something! Well, everything calmed down and everyone was playing nice. Next, in walks a lady with her son in a push car. That was the next big hit! All the little ones were trying to get in at the same time. The little girl that bit Brady's hand was the first to make it on. Next thing I know Brady has 2 fist fulls of her hair in his hands! He would not let go. I had to pry his fingers away! Now it's his turn to have time out. Finally, in walks the hitter. This little boy walked into the playground gate with his hand raised ready to strike! I think he successfully hit everyone on the playground. His poor mom just followed him around and tried to block the strikes. We also met Bossy. She wouldn't let anyone ride "her" horsey and she informed me that Brady WILL play tag and he WILL play hide and seek. I told her to go ahead and hide and wait for Brady to come find her! He wasn't very good at that game!

A Lazy Weekend

First, I want to ask for prayers for my mother-in-law, Monica. She has been struggling with back and hip problems for what seems like forever. It seemed like for a short time she was beginning to feel better, but in the past couple of days things have gotten worse. Please pray with us for complete healing, peace, and relief for her in the days to come.
Not much happened with us this weekend. On Friday night we went out to dinner to a Chinese restaurant with one of Greg's coworkers and family. It was fantastic! On the way home we stopped to shop and met one of the nicest shopkeepers. She was very patient with us while we picked out chopsticks, bowls, etc. We would be ready to check out and then would notice something else we wanted to buy! The whole weekend basically consisted of driving around and stopping 1 or 2 times to check out a store or park. I'm not sure what this week holds, hopefully we will venture out a little bit! Next weekend is the Cherry Blossom Festival. There are supposed to be something like 70,000 trees in bloom. That should be amazing! I'll take lots of pictures!

A Few Things I Have Learned

1) Konichiwa= Hello
2) Arigato= Thank you
3) The bathrooms here are so clean you could eat off the floor
4) The ingredient in the Soba noodles was not imitation crab, it was some type of compressed fish cake
5) It is possible to read 2 books in 2 weeks ( I really did this, incredible!)
6) It is possible to live happily in a 500 square foot room
7) It doesn't get old having cleaning people come every day
8) Greg hasn't learned anything, he apparently knew everything before we came
9) The best way to stop a wind tunnel (and extremely noisy vent) is to stuff it with hand towels
10) Greg really can drink an entire pot of coffee by himself
11) Brady can climb out of his crib. EEEKKKK!
12) It is impossible to keep quiet when your husband has to drive on the wrong side of the road and you think he may not see the car directly in front of you
13) It's normal to run red lights (isn't it?)
14) Using chopsticks to eat everything isn't always that easy
15) Brady is a rock star (teenage girls have actually squealed when he went past them)

The Long Road Home

After enjoying our time in Okuma, it was time to go home. Of course we could not just go straight back, so we had to make some stops along the way! The first stop was the Nago Pineapple Factory. That's right, an entire facility dedicated to the pineapple. We rode an electric cart around several different kind of palm trees, different varieties of pineapples, and a section where they make charcoal out of pineapple. Next along the tour was a seashell museum. I'm not really sure what this had to do with pineapple, but it was at the factory so what do I know? This didn't take very long. We walked through quickly trying to occasionally act interested in a seashell. This wasn't Greg's cup of tea. We caught up to some tour groups (this was a very popular place) and were led like cattle to the tasting room. They had everything from wine to cookies. Pineapple wine is not as good as it sounds. Managing the stroller through the crowd proved to be too much, so I held Brady as Greg carried the stroller. Brady started twisting and trying to get down, so as a distraction I started giving him cake samples. The next thing I know, he is pushing people and pulling on some shirts as he points to cake they are standing in front of. Once we safely made it outside a strange man came up to us and motioned that he wanted to take a picture of Brady. Now, I don't know about you, but it seems strange to take random children's pictures. Brady looks worlds different from the children here on the island, but how do you explain the blonde headed kid in your stack of pictures? I hope he makes up a story about how that child saved the entire pineapple factory and all of the tourists in it! A glass making store was right down the road so we stopped in to take a peek. It was very interesting watching these men make vases and cups right in front of us. We went into the store and the glassware had a sticker saying "made in Vietnam." Yeah, I thought the same thing you are thinking right now! The next thing on the list was lunch. On the way we stopped so I could get something out of the trunk. The playpen we rented from the campground was still back there...OOPS! Since we were very hungry we decided to deal with that later. We went to a place called Pizza in the Sky. When they said sky, they weren't kidding. We went up a mountain, down a dirt road (once again our directions were in question), and ended up at this restaurant tucked way up in the clouds. What a spectacular view! They put a fan on the table with a choice of different drinks and a small or large pizza. When the waitress came you point to what you want. You didn't get a choice what was on the pizza. It came out drowned in cheese with corn, yes I said corn, pepperoni, ham, onions, and peppers. It was fantastic! We have realized that you just have to go with the flow and step out of your comfort zone to have a wonderful experience. Now, back to Okuma to return the playpen! The best part about it was we were able to go straight to the weaving factory and it was open to take a tour. We walked upstairs to a room set up with a small room with a large pot of boiling water where 2 people were wetting some sort of fibers. The next room was filled with several looming machines with people working. It was a strange feeling walking around there. It was like we entered some sort of sweat shop. I'm just glad there weren't any children working there. It turns out that they make fabric called Bashofu out of a type of banana fiber. Local plants are used to dye the fabric blue or brown. Brady made friends with the cashier there and they laughed together the entire time I was shopping. We went back to the woodworking shop and it was still closed. We stopped at a bookstore on our way home. I'm not sure why seeing as how we can't read Japanese, but whatever! Finally we landed at home sweet home. While we were away I couldn't help thinking about something my mom always told me, that it's the everyday ordinary moments that make up a lifetime. Since I've begun writing down our everyday ordinary moments I have become more aware of the joy in our lives. God has truly blessed us and has provided a life that we sometimes take for granted. It is important to take in the moments and enjoy them to the fullest instead of waiting for something "great" to happen. Ordinary life can be GREAT!

We're lost and everything is closed!

Sunday began with a trip to Cape Hedo which is where the Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea meet. Once again, a breathtaking view. Next was a shopping trip at the farmers market and indulgence in some sugar cane ice cream (very, very, yummy!). The other two activities planned was a trip to a weaving workshop and a woodworking shop. Trying to find the weaving workshop turned out to be quite a problem. The first problem was misunderstanding the directions. We parked our car where we thought we were supposed to and began walking. We ventured through a neighborhood and finally found the right place to park. Greg went to get the car while Brady and I waited next to a homeless guy and his dog. With the directions in hand once again, we still couldn't find the workshop! Finally we found the small path leading up a hill to the building on the right side of the road. The workshop was closed! Next was the woodworking shop. That was easy to find because it was on the main road. That was closed too! The only logical thing to do next was eat lunch and take a nap. We went down to the beach and Brady hated the sand on his bare feet. When we tried to get him to stand, he would scream and climb all over Greg to get as far away from the ground as possible. There was a shiny gold coin next to where we were standing and it turned out to be a $1 coin. For some reason Greg trusted Brady to hold the coin, however he told Brady over and over not to lose it. 2 seconds later Brady dropped the coin in the water and it was never seen again! We played at the park and went for a family bike ride on a bicycle cart. We had to wear helmets and every time we tried to get Brady's helmet from covering his eyes, he would pull it back down over his eyes. I'm not sure what he meant when he did that! Surely we weren't scary drivers! We found a restaurant in town to eat dinner and before we could sit down we were kicked out! We couldn't understand what they were saying, but we think they didn't want Brady there. We didn't understand the guy say "sorry" as we walked out the door. Now what?? Just down the road we found a bakery. What's better to make you feel better about being rejected than some dessert! We ordered almost 1 of everything in the case! As an afterthought we asked if they served food. They did!! Greg and I had soba noodles. It is a very popular dish here in Okinawa. It is noodles in a broth with pieces of pork and imitation crab. Topped with green onions and pickled ginger it was very good. Eating soup with chopsticks is an adventure! Back in our room we ate dessert. Have I mentioned before that exercise isn't going to do much for me here?