Wednesday without Words

Fam Bam Brief

I have been avoiding the blog ever since my Internet went out, because now I have a pile of things to catch everyone up on. Sooo...get comfy, grab a lemonade, and let the adventure begin LOL!

Well, as I said said, the Internet people BLOW and left us without the ability to reach out and touch someone. Now while in some aspects it was nice, being out of the loop and expanding my time for other important things, I felt like a prisoner not being able to connect with my peeps. Anyway, it wasn't that dramatic...just annoying!

During all of that, Army week on Okinawa was taking place. It's basically a week of competitions (dodgeball, chariot race, relay races, military drills, basketball, etc). It kicks off with a BBQ at the beach and so we all went and the kids finally got out their swimsuits and had some waterplay.

Teage was too cold at first to get wet....until we got to the actual beach and then he was ready to go diving in. Most of the people who know me know that I do not like play guns...any kind. Water guns are flirting with the line with me even and so this is the look he gave me when I told him to give me the gun...what a riot. (I let him keep playing with it since we were actually in the water)...


Capping off the week, George and I went to the 234th annual Army Ball and it was.....umm OK. It doesn't even come close to comparing to last year's, all my girls have left since so it was me and the dance floor when the electric slide came on. I mean there are some ladies here I like, but in all reality, not the same! Our battery on the camera died about 45 minutes in and so we had one picture of us that someone across the table took and he obviously doesn't know how to focus a camera :o). But, I heard there was someone near us that was snapping pics and I am in the process of harassing her to give em up :o) So some of those might show up in a later blog. Here is what we had..

Out in the lobby of the Ball they had giant posters on stands of various Army happenings and right there by the entrance to the bathroom (which gets tons of traffic HA HA), was my hubby in the chariot race that week. He helped win 3 events...go BOY!!

Also, we ended the school year and it was pretty emotional. My big kids are getting bigger and I'm not sure if I can handle this growing up thing. JD had his little graduation ceremony and it was awesome.


He had a grin from ear to ear the whole time. He was excited to show off his progress into middle school. I, however, was the blubbering mom in the front. He has come such a LONG way with school and we were so proud of him. They sang "World's Greatest" as a class (insert tears) and then JD was one of the chosen to announce and give a bio on a guest speaker. He did absolutely perfect. Everyone after was saying how he was the most clear with his speech and pronunciation. The funniest was that he was too short for us to really see him over the podium. It was so cute. He didn't care though and worked it!!

He received the Presidential Award for Academic Achievement...the only one in his class. He was astounded when he saw that it came with a letter from Barack Obama. He said "Mom, I got a letter from Barack Obama!!". You should have seen his face....

JD and his Teacher...Mrs Shobe!

Well, since it was a crying morning, why not make it a boo hoo night. That same night, LTC Elle had his farewell roast/dinner. We are gonna miss him greatly, but I know we will always keep in touch. He really changed the morale of the Battalion and made everyone feel like a Family. Our hat's off to him and all he has accomplished being here...I presented him with a photo book of his reign in Command and said a few words. And yes, I cried some more...

George went up and his shop presented him with a Taiko Drum. He told the story of the "nice haircut"...FUNNY!

Next thing on the agenda was Saige's birthday. The weather's been crappy here and not ideal when you want to do a get together with friends at the beach. So we decided to put the party off til later this week. Instead, we went to Round One (like a Dave and Buster's I think). One entrance fee and you can do everything. Outdoor stuff, arcades, roller skate, climbing thingys, karaoke...) It was a blast and I think she enjoyed it. Plus, her ex-boyfriend was there (he still wants to go out with her, but she had to 'let him go' because he didn't believe something she said...she has such a stronger personality than I ever did at that age and I LOVE it). She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to let go of a boy at the same time. Crucial I tell ya...what a fabulous young lady she is growing up to be. I am really proud of her. 9th grade just might kill me, but I know she is ready to handle it and can. God Love Her...


So here's fun times...


Oh, so all the rave in Japan are the sticky pictures booths. Saige goes at least once a week with her friends. They take 6 different poses of you and you can decorate, write on them, and flair them all up. Once you have done that, they print off a sheet of the pics as stickers to put on your locker, or phone, or binders, or in your room...I'm telling you they are the next best thing since sliced bread Saige says. So we decided to jump into one and do a Family sheet. (It's really strange that it is all in Japanese and Saige knows what every button means...)


We couldn't forget the cake and presents though...she loved the gifts from everyone. Thanks to Grandma, Grandpa, Popo, U Alex and A Rhea for the presents from afar. We hooked her up with money for her savings acct this year. She is too hard to shop for, and besides she has so much already...

The cake request was simple...her favorite: butter yellow with milk chocolate icing

Teage thought it was his birthday again and wanted to blow out the candles. Saige wasn't having it :o)
HAPPY 14th Saigie Baby!!!

Isla Fam Bam OUT....

Three's a Crowd

Three may really be a crowd....but when you turn three, you can sure draw a crowd :o)

My Teagie is officially 3 and I can't even stand it. He has always been "big" for his age. By big I mean smart and sassy. So turning 3 seemed most like a confirmation for his feisty self. All day Monday he kept walking around the house saying "I'm Free, I'm Free". So cute!

So we went low key this year and had a party at his lil preschool, since this will be his last month there. Not to mention most of his 'outside' friends have moved already. The day was fun and tiring. We had games (Bingo, Pin the tail...) and fun (Pinata, balloon tossing) and good eats (pizza, cupcakes and candy). Teage was the prince (or king, as he wanted to be called) and had a fab time. Some of these pics are priceless...

Ok, so Bingo is funny...

...& everytime I would show a card, he would scream out the name for it!!

"I'm Free"

Then we came home and opened gifts...thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Isla, Uncle Alex & Aunt Rhea for sending presents. He loved the cards as well (he was acting like he was reading them and then would close them up like he was done, hee hee).



After that, we had Saige's 8th grade awards ceremony (way to go Sissy)!!



Then it was off to a birthday dinner at Chili's. By then I think we all were delirious and just wanted to go home and go nite nite....That probably explains the look on Teage's face when they came out and started clapping and screaming the Happy Birthday song to him. He was completely blindsided, a little scared and loved every minute of it...you can see it in his eyes!!



I'm so glad he had a great time and that he could truly understand the whole birthday thing this year. By the end of it all he was even roaming around the house cracking jokes..."I'm five now"! Slow down Tonto....

Life is good...

Well, it's the weekend...another long one I might add. It's funny because the past 2 months seem to be filled with holiday weekends for either the guys or the kids. It has been nice even though certain things have trumped my gym plans a couple times. But no fear I am still trucking along and making up for missed time. I've lost inches for sure and am feeling strong in general. I like it!! There are some changes going on over here...a couple of our good friends are leaving within the next month or two. I really hate this part of being in the military life...saying goodbye to the people we have come to know as our second family. Farrah and Julie....I'm gonna miss them. But, we'll always have each other's backs!! These are some great girls...


As with every goodbye, there are new people that arrive to take their place (in the job or in the FRG). I always hope that there are one or two that are normal...it's like playing roulette really. Usually, I am quick to see true colors easy. On that note, we do have a new military wifey that has come to Okinawa. She is sweet and down-to-earth...thank God!! We had a little get together at the BC's house to officially greet them. Here they are...

I like her...and him, too. I look forward to getting to know her even more than we already have (that girl can sang some karaoke lol).

Here's the chaos that ensued towards the end of the night...notice the weirdo guy in the back. Had to do it Stu!!


Good Peeps...

Teage has been quite the little photog lately. He has a knack for taking pics and actually knows how to work the camera. I see a scrapbook in his future. Look at this one he took of his dad...

That is hilarious!!!

Saige has been doing well...babysitting a lot (she enjoys having her own money to buy the things I won't buy for her...which is pretty much like multiple itunes cards, junk food, etc). But she has also been saving a little from each job. She's pretty good about wanting to keep her money instead of it burn a hole in her pocket. I just went this past Tues to see her collect her honor roll certificates for the past 2 quarters. Once again, my kids are freaking awesome!!!

I'm also posting some pics from her last game...via a neighbor's camera. Look at my Saigie being a strong "base". She is the strongest girl on the squad!!

And she has mad cartwheeling skills...

Plus, she is way too cute for her own good :o)

I'm really proud of her overall and she is growing up so fast. I remember when she was just my little ball of personality...

I guess she still is....

Hope all is well with everyone!! Love Ya!!!