The Last of May

Here it is...June is already lurking at my door and I can't even keep up anymore. There has been a lot going on at home and out of home. Saige is winding down her middle school career (scare me), JD is closing the door on grade school (double scare me), Teage keeps a constant look of your typical UFC fighter with his rough-housing antics on the daily, George thinks he has stumbled upon his back-up career plan of all-time softball player (God help me...for real), and I have been gripping with my bloody fingernails so to not fall off of the edge of sanity! You know how they say...change is good, but stressful?? Genius!! Stressful is the understatement. I'm pretty good when it comes to stress, above average while under immediate pressure...but that is because I can totally feel when I'm about to break and that allows me to "check" myself with a much needed relaxation technique, or even a good cry. The changes going on and about to go down in the Isla Casa are down right gritty and testy. I think I am holding it together ok, however with the "unknown" move vastly approaching and my kids sensing it that just = Mommy punching bag! Imagine 21 questions x 3 on the regular + a husband who just want to squeeze in as much ball time as possible before we leave. I sometimes think my personality starts splitting off into two at a moment's notice! They better watch out...

Seriously, I am fine and the kids have no idea that mommy's cuckoo right now, and George always continues doing what he does, so all is well in his eyes. I stress myself out more than anything (as most women do). SO...I decided I needed some pampering and made an appt for a cut/color/and head spa treatment today, Japanese style. It was BLISS! Just what the doctor ordered...I really needed my hair cut and touched up anyway. I went to new lady this time since my beloved hair person moved last month. She is a gem. I wish I found her sooner and not let my hair get so out of control this time around. The salon is on the beach and the ambiance was unbelievable. See what I mean...




George and the boys came too and walked the seawall while I got beautified. He took some cute pics as well.



Here are some pictures from Saige's 8th grade celebration and then some...

She's so big...(sad face)...

The FRG also had a fundraiser this past week...the age old Pie in the Face. I showed up to oversee the goings on for the BN since Amanda was gone...nothing more! BUT, Lo and Behold, my beloved friend Steve Elle decided it would be cute to put a price on a pie for me. If being the only female to receive a pie that day wasn't enough, I spent the rest of that day smelling the remnants of whipped cream in my nostrils. WRONG!!! That's ok...cause paybacks are a comin'!

Man, I am a trooper!! :o)


Tuesday my baby boy turns 3 and WOW has time flown by! We are having a little birthday party for him at his school. He's gonna be so excited...Can't wait to blog about it!! Meanwhile, Saige keeps telling me how many days it will be until she hits the big 14!! (I almost just fainted when I wrote that)! "Next year I can get my driving permit Mom"....*sigh....

Love Ya!

The New Hair and the White Party

So this post might seem a little "self-absorbed" since it's topic is my hair and how I rocked it at the White Party last night. HEE HEE!! Anyway, seriously I had to show the peeps back home and such the change and how I'm going dark for Fall. My girl and favorite hairstylist, Becky, hooked me up and took off about 3 inches, dyed it mocha brown and dun dun dun....gave me a side bang. If you know me at all, you know I have never been a bang kind of gal. But I was going for something drastic and different for me. It was a small bang though...nothing too unmanageable and hopefully I won't be pinning it back in a week. We'll see. My hair has been trained for 20 years to be bang-less!! And now my ponytail is like a nub, LOL! Anyway, here you go....

Oh and The "bang"...

Anyway, that evening we went to an opening of a martini bar nearby the house that was flavored with Latin music. We had to all wear white and the vibe was calm and best of all, we were considered VIP (that's funny in itself). So we did the dang thang with some of our peeps and made it fun. Here's Khimmy and I before I changed into my jeans that I had brought in case I got cold or felt too "white", ha-ha...

George and I looked rather cute I must say!! (Post jeans)

Here's what we were looking at from our VIP section (I love saying that)...it was pretty small there!!

And finally, the ladies of the night...in white. Khimmy, April and I!!!

It was nice to go somewhere new and have a Jamaican Margarita with some good company. When you see me, don't forget to call me VIP White Di. LOL!! (I warned you in the beginning it might be a little self-absorbed) Love ya!!

Columbus Day brings Good Times!

So it has been a hot minute since I have blogged. Honestly, last week was pretty lax and it was nice to be able to stop moving long enough to enjoy myself. I went with the girls last Sunday to get our much anticipated pedis with our "Charlie"...George's Battalion Commander, Steve. He's Sheila's husband (God I miss her)!! He gave us all a treat and took us to Cocock's (they do mind boggling nail art on the tiniest of toes). It was nice to have all us chicas in one room without being related to an FRG event. Check us out...Thanks Steve!!

Moving forward, George had a four-day weekend for Columbus Day and so he decided to take Friday and play golf with some work buds while I went to a pre-planning lunch for our Halloween party coming up in the company. But the best part of that day was that afternoon...Saige came home with a smile like no other!!! The votes came in and Woot Woot.....Saige Isla is Lester Middle's new Vice President for the 08-09 school year. I am so proud of her and I know she will do wonders for the school and her peers. I knew she had it in her. Way to go baby girl!!

Saturday, the hubby had a softball tournament during the day and once he got done we decided to go off base to the "touristy" spot they call...

That's right...American Village! It's funny because I wonder if that's the equivalent of Chinatown in New York?? Either way, we've been there several times since we have lived here but not recently. That is where the Okinawa landmark Ferris Wheel is located. Saige loves taking pictures of it, so here she is posing with it instead.

There's a Japanese movie theater in the "village" that plays movies in English as well as Japanese but for a heftier price than on base. I was intrigued by the movie poster outside advertising one of their coming attractions. The star of the movie looks totally American right? She's not...she just LOOKS it. I'm not a fan of the movie industry assuming every actress needs to look white or something. Weird...

Anyway, we ventured into a store called "American Depot" that houses all kinds of American items (new or used) and let me tell you the prices are through the roof no matter what the condition. They do sell the everyday Japanese tshirts with my favorite American phrases translated. LOL. It cracks me up to see what they think we say...

Next we went into Jusco...it's like a mini mall with a department store, grocery store and several clothing stores all in one. When we walked in, JD ran up to stand next to the display...it had Spiderman on it what can I say!!

It was a nice night and there was some good family bonding happening there.

Sunday, we headed on down to the Oktoberfest Brunch and got to listen to a German band that had flown in to perform some traditional music. JD and Teage were swinging and twirling their napkins in the air screaming "Riya Riya Riya". It was a riot. After our tummies were full, we went to burn it off at Wago Land (see one of my first posts about this place). I had to take a pic of Teage though....he was having too much fun!!

With all the family time that was had, George and I decided to take the night and do something adult-like. There is a Deal or No Deal game show they put on here by the Air Force. They do their best to re-create the actual show...down to the "Lucky Cash Ladies" who happen to be just women that are part of the military community. Not a bad gig I guess...

They run three games and in between do prize giveaways and such. It was fun...of course we didn't get called up for the actual game, but I was asked to come up and do something for a prize giveaway (not knowing what the prize was). This is what I had to do....

That's right...I had to dance in front of about 250 people the YMCA song. George missed the actual photo-op of the famous letter formations, but he did manage to get the awkward part in the middle of the chorus where I had to ad-lib some moves in a hurry. It was quite humerous and the best part of it all...here was the prize!!

A tank top and a light-up USA hat. Awesome!!

Finally, Monday was spent splitting off and doing a girl's day with Saige and George hung out with the boys. When Saige and I came home, my little man was all cleaned up with a new haircut. He looks so big all over again....

Those lashes are still as long as can be though...I could just kiss him all over.

So there's the update...sorry it took so long. P.S. Here's the proof about the over abundance of vending machines I was talking about!!

Love ya!!!