What a Week!! (cont.)

So, as you can see I didn't get to finish my last post! Yes, it is indeed another busy week filled with lots of activities. Anyway, back to last week. After getting in late from the company Halloween party, my night was just beginning at 9:30pm. There was a Family Readiness Group fundraiser in the morning, which meant I had 25 breakfast burritos and two batches of cinnamon rolls to make. Needless to say it was a very late night and I didn't get to bed until 2am. About 4hrs later I was awake again to reheat everything and ensure that I made it to Foster by 8:15am, which also meant ensuring that all three kids were ready for school before I left. After a very successful fundraiser, which made the late night effort worth it, I ran Olivia to school, but not without what she needed to bring for her Western Day celebration. Yes, another child with another food requirement, which I managed to forget and had to run to the store to pick up which made her late for school.

After dropping Olivia off at school, I was able to come home and sit in front of the computer and try to catch up with my school work; which is keeping me very busy and glued to the computer. I was then off to see Olivia at her Western Day celebration. It was great to see her so excited about parade up the hill for all the parents to see and singing all the songs they had been learning. Duane and I actually got a preview of the singing because she was standing on our bed in front of the mirror singing, "If You're Happy and You Know it, Stomp Your Boots". After the performance and lunch it was back home we went to start on more school work and more cooking.

Yes, the oven hadn't begun to cool down before it got fired back up for baked goods and appetizers that were needed for Ryan's pack meeting for Cub Scouts. While Duane went to a Battalion Hail and Farewell, I dragged all the kids and platefuls of more food to the school to see Ryan earn another belt loop, which was for flag football that he played earlier this year. After convincing the kids that they did not need to go play at the playground in the dark and that Mom needed to go home and pass out, we headed back to the house, I shoved them into bed and sat on the couch and did nothing.

I have to say that I've never done so much cooking for so many things in such a short amount of time. I love helping wherever and however I can, but I often over commit myself and I really only have myself to blame. I fear I will never learn!

It was so much fun watching Olivia stomp her boots and yell yee-haw!

Our little cowgirl

If only Ryan were more photogenic...

What a Week!!

Wow, what a week we had last week!! I couldn't wait for Monday to come because I knew I would be obligation free for a few days. Who looks forward to Monday?! Anyway, Thursday was the company Family Readiness Group Halloween Party, which I am now co-leader of. Yes, Duane tried to have someone else fill this position to give me a break, but it didn't work out. The co-leader and I had about three days to pull this together. This meant that I needed to bake 50+ cupcakes, make a dish to share and come up with five games to keep everyone occupied. It actually turned out to be a success, which was a relief considering the time constraints. We had great participation from those in the unit and everyone seemed to have a great time.

This is the only shot of someone in our family that Duane took before our battery died.

The Halloween Party was not the only event going on that night. While the party was starting at the unit, I ran Miranda back to Kadena (Duane works on Foster, another base, which is a nightmare to get to between 5 and 6pm) for her Junior Girl Scouts redidcation ceremony. This was also a potluck and Miranda was signed up to bring enchiladas. Yes, more cooking going on in the kitchen. After the ceremony was done we rushed back to Foster for the remainder of the Halloween Party.

Miranda and the rest of her Girl Scout Troop.

Columbus Day Outing

Ok, so I'm a little behind, but I am trying to catch up with everything. We had a good day together on Columbus Day, which included a trip to the movies to see Beverly Hills Chiuaua, to the park and to Duane's favorite curry buffet.

After trying twice before, we finally found this park where the kids enjoyed playing Spiderman.

Olivia loves to make friends and even though they didn't speak the same language they both enjoyed playing together.

The parks here in Okinawa contain the most interesting playground equipment. Here is their version of a seesaw. Miranda and Ryan enjoyed trying out all of the different contraptions.

The curry buffet that we went to for dinner is located on the ocean and we enjoyed watching the sunset as we ate. I made the kids stop and pose in front of the seawall. Ryan always has this look of delight when he's forced to stop and join his sisters for a picture.

Here is the view from the restaurant. It was a beautiful sunset to a fun filled day.

It Was Too Obvious!

Well, I had my ultrasound yesterday and my intentions were to leave the room knowing the baby had everything it needed and not knowing the sex of the baby. Duane arrived late and I actually thought he wouldn't make it at all, but by then I had been on the table for about 15 minutes. We ended up having to wait 5 to 10 minutes to see if the baby would cooperate for one last important picture, which we didn't end up getting and will need to go back next week. During this time I told Duane that I thought I already knew what it was. One of the first images the tech had taken was of the eyes, which included a shot of the entire body. Well, the baby had its legs crossed, but knees open and there it was clear as day. If you haven't guess by now, it is a boy. Duane got confirmation from the tech as they conversed in Japanese and the monitor was turned away and I couldn't see it. As we walked out of the hospital he asked me if I wanted to know and I told him that he might as well confirm my suspicions of what I had already seen. I guess it wouldn't have mattered anyway because the shot that I first saw was one that she gave me and it was very obvious. So much for not wanting to know! Anyway, a huge part of me is relieved because Ryan needs a brother badly. One of his first responses was how they would get guns and go play together. Duane had to break it to him that the baby wouldn't come out being able to play right away. He is very excited to be getting a brother! So despite my intentions, it wasn't meant to be and we now know we're having another boy, due March 4th, 2009.

Our Olivia Turns Three!!

Wow, where has the time gone!! I can't believe that my baby is three. It just seems like yesterday that I was walking around the neighborhood at Ft. Bragg to speed up the labor process. She has grown so much and is the most cuddly little girl who is full of lots of hugs and kisses. Her little personality is irresistible and we don't know what we would do without her.

Olivia was so excited to bring birthday treats to her preschool class. She loved wearing the birthday hat that they gave her and didn't take it off until bedtime.

Grandma and Grandpa Coleman sent Olivia this beautiful Cinderella dress. Her face is a result of my poor camera skills. I kept getting a shadow on each picture I took. After at least half a dozen I realized that my hand was covering a portion of the flash. Although she loves posing for the camera, I guess I was making her stand still for too long.

Olivia may need to grow into this bike a little, but she sure was happy that she can now ride outside with her brother and sister.


Please don't look at the cake too closely. Due to lack of time and planning my little girl did not get the beautiful cake she deserved. I actually meant to have two layers, but put the top one on upside down so the top layer wouldn't come off and when it was left on top it cracked into three pieces. I really thought the pieces would slowly make its way to the floor. Anyway, we took the top layer off and put the pieces together and stuck the candle in the middle. Oh well, you cut it up anyway. We saved the bottom layer for my birthday a few days later.

Skoshi Warrior

While visiting an information fair I signed Miranda and Ryan up to participate in the Skoshi Warrior event here on Kadena. Skoshi means little in Japanese, so they were able to be little warriors for the day. Duane laughed when I told him about the fact that the kids would experience how the Air Force prepares for a deployment. I imagine he thinks they just sit behind a desk and that this would not be an eventful time for the kids. Anyway, I figured it was something they could do on a Saturday and it turns out that they had a great time.

I'd have to say that they are more ready for the outback here looking like Aussies, rather than American service members.

The kids were excited to see that there were Army ACUs that they could try on for size. Duane said Miranda looks like a mannequin in this picture.

Ryan couldn't wait to try on this Army gear for size. I wasn't quite sure if the weight of the vest was going to knock him over. He managed to catch his balance before he toppled over.

Olivia got in on the fun, but her favorite thing was meeting Sparky the Fire dog.