Christmas 2010-Goodbye Okinawa

Well, it's our last Christmas on Okinawa. It's weird to think actually. I decided I needed to make new stockings for the kids considering the last ones I made were in 2004 at a Super Saturday enrichment activity in my Cleveland Branch (Ben hadn't been born yet, but I made him one anyway. Little did I know that I needed to make ones for the girls too). I like how they turned out especially since I didn't follow a pattern or anything.

The 3rd Dental Battalion Christmas Party. They had tons of crafts and pizza as usual. Here's our pic with Santa. The kids asked for 1. Legos 2. Hot Wheels and 3. Barbies. Next, Mattel donated some toys for military kids. Unbeknownst to us or them, they got 1. Legos 2. Hot Wheels and 3. Barbie. So much for downplaying the Santa thing. They thought it was totally cool that what they had JUST ASKED FOR was then what they opened.

We had the missionaries over for dinner. This was a special treat for us because they used to only be able to go over to the Japanese houses, but they can now do military houses. It was nice to have them in our home, especially since Rob's little brother Josh is on a mission in LA and it made me think of him.

I made 6 batches of cookies (because I participated in a cookie exchange). The kids and Rob were wonderful enough to help me decorate them. This is a fun tradition I have every year with the kids and they LOVE IT!



We hosted our first Christmas party with friends. The theme was an ugly sweater party and the Quackenbush's won hands down with these amazing little numbers that Alicia made. Stellar. If you must know, they are wearing reindeer antlers.



Christmas Eve--new pajamas acting out the nativity with their puppets. I made those for a Super Saturday enrichment once too.

A sweet man in the branch makes the perfect Santa. He asked if he could come around on Christmas Eve and visit a few families. We were lucky enough to be one of them. Imagine to the kids wonderment (5 minutes after we tucked them in) Santa appearing at the door (with bells). They were totally in awe. Ben was brutally honest about his behavior because you can't lie to Santa after all. They were awestruck. After he left and they went back to their rooms we caught Ben looking out his window for Santa's sleigh. We walked into his room just in time to hear him say, "What the heck! Santa's riding in a CAR?"


Christmas morning all lined up ready to run downstairs and check out the loot.

Opening their stockings. This is BEFORE it got chaotic. I think those crossbows were a hit and we got them for a dollar in China.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree....

Rob at the Japanese Stake Dance. I was just trying to get the band on video, but he steps in in usual Rob fashion.



A few days later I caught this video of Ben dancing. Like father like son, eh?

Speaking of Ben, he just turned six! My baby boy is six. Crazy. We love our loud, energetic, scientific, adorable and quirky little boy. He wanted to go to this place called Crafty Things and paint a ceramic piece. It was a WAY low key party, but he had fun. You can kinda tell in this photo, but the cake was ruined because the icing came off on the cover. Oh well. He didn't care and neither did I. We did a bunch of science experiments and he was a happy camper. I love this guy!

The folks at his party.

A video is worth a thousand words.....

Unless you are my mother or in one of these videos feel free to skip this post. It's video overload! Let's start off with a little karaoke in honor of our good friends, the Wilson's, who have left the island. Thank you for the entertainment, Joy and Scott. Actually, no one is singing in this video and, no, no one is drunk.


Next off we've got Ben playing the part of little Indian boy in the Thanksgiving turkey hunt for his class.



We went up to Oura Wan for Thanksgiving this year again with a bunch of friends. SO MUCH FUN! Here a video of the kids football game (we had a grown up one too).







Here's a long video of me trying sushi. I've tried the stuff before, but it's always been the cooked kind. Apparently that doesn't count. I'm glad I don't have to do that again.




The next three videos are of some island "exploring" that Rob and the three older kids did on the way home from Thanksgiving. I'm not sure of all the technical names of the places he went, but the Toilet Bowl and Elephant Rock are some of them.















Rob's typical commuting garb and a cute pic of Kate. She's obsessed with trying on people's shoes.


Noah won a teacher's award for basically being an all around great student. They presented it in front of all the 1st and 2nd graders (5 classes of each at his school). He's such a great kid.



Anyone who knows Rob knows he's 1)extroverted and 2)likes to dance. Combine the two and you've got some pretty dang hilarious video footage. This is a dance competition they had at his work Christmas party (for 3rd Dental Battalion). Needless to say, he won.


And here he is with his old boss getting jiggy.

Okinawa Quilt Squares

I know I've spoken about the Okinawa Memory Quilt before. The group I led is officially DONE! I've received squares from everyone and I'm so glad to be DONE! This is a long process that took 6+ months. I had to plan for about a month (ordering supplies, gathering people to be a part of the group, having a first meeting and advising people). 23 people started the group....19 finished. Most people now have 19 squares to put into their Okinawan memory quilt. I have more because I was part of another group of nearly 20 and I've joined one last group of 6. I'm hoping to narrow my squares down to 30, but it may be 35. Okay, that's a lot of numbers.

Basically, I picked a topic (American and Japanese flags this go around) and made 20 of them. Everyone else does the same. Then, 6 months later, we get together and trade them so we have one of each. Then we sew the squares together and make a quilt to remember our time here. Several groups have gone before us and I just think it's a fabulous idea. Here are the squares I've done and received.

This is the square I did in my first group. It's Mt Fuji. In retrospect I think it's kinda plain and I may try to spruce it up a little before I actually put it in my quilt. Also, unless you actually took a trip to Tokyo and climbed Fuji this isn't going to remind people of their time on Oki so I kind of feel bad for doing it. However, I'm glad I have it because it was an epic experience for me. FYI, Rob designed it.

This is the square I did for this last group....Japanese and American flags. I totally stole the layout from someone in another group. The kanji says Okinawa.

I also did this one. It's a torii gate. This is my test square for the group of 6 I formed after the last group. A torii gate graces the entrance to many places here in Oki. It's actually a religious item gracing Shinto temples. The Americans have adopted this symbol to use as signage for the bases.

Pirate Ship Park-Joy Wilson My kids love playing at this playground.

Shanshin-Haiden Grey I love hearing this twangy instrument all over Okinawa. I generally hear it played by old men in parks.

Anapan Man-Veronica Alverez This little guy is a Japanese cartoon character and, to me, symbolizes all things cartoonish in Oki. If there is a construction sign, a lawyers office or an apartment for rent, it all has a cartoon character happily appealing to you.

The Aquarium-Amie Balle I love the detail on this square and I love the aquarium here on Oki. My dream is to swim/scuba with the whale sharks before I leave so I hope this square will also be a memory of that dive.

Sushi-Carrie Stuart This is not something I have come to love about Oki, but certainly makes me think of Japan! I tried some true raw fish this weekend (tuna) and let's just say I'm glad I can check it off my "to do" list and never have to do it again.

Hibicus-Brenda Atkins These beautiful flowers are EVERYWHERE and my kids love to pick (shhhhh!) and give them to me.

Fan-Alicia Quackenbush Don't you just love this fabric? It reminds me of all things Japan.

Cocko's Nail Salon-Jeanne Downing Oh, Cocko's how I love thee! I have gone to get a pedicure here every other month for the past 2.5 years

Cherry Blossoms-Genevieve Garcia These beauties are gorgeous when they are in bloom everywhere. Unfortunately it only lasts for a few weeks, but they are beautiful when they are in full bloom.

Typhoon-RuthAnn Nixon We are in typhoon season from May-Nov and are always on alert for one to hit. We've prepared several times, but only actually been hit by two small ones. All the buildings here are concrete and built to withstand anything nature's fury can throw at them.

Island of Okinawa-Coral Fife This is the outline of our little island. So much to see, so little time.

Kimono-Leeanne Cook I love seeing the traditional Japanese dresses on all the people at festivals.

Soba-Michelle Kaneyuki Oh, how I love soba (if it's good). Our very first trip out in town was to a soba restaurant and it was so delicious.

Shuri Castle-Crystalin Trossen This is the biggest and best preserved castle on the island. It was actually mostly destroyed during WW2, but has been restored and gives us a taste of what life was like through the ages.

Geta Shoes-Rachel Veit Traditional shoes the women wear. Totally Japanesey. I love the tatami mat in the background.

American Village-Melissa Petrini This is right across the street from the base I live on. I can see the ferris wheel from my front porch. It's also where my favorite little soba restaurant is. So many memories here. Isn't this square crazy detailed?

Shisa dogs-Melissa Juaraz And another square with crazy detail. These lovely creatures (one boy and one girl) adorn every building here in Oki. The closed mouthed one keeps good spirits in while the opened mouth one wards evil spirits off.

Carp fish-Caroline Ervasti These fly everywhere for Children's Day in May. So pretty to see them flying everywhere in the wind.

That previous one is the end of the group we just did. Here are some from the first group I was part of. There was no standard set so everyone just did whatever they wanted. I will probably use some of these in my quilt, but after some tweaking to make the edges conform to the hand blanket stitch we used in my group.

This is a banyan tree. They are everywhere including one in my backyard that my kids climb on (and fall out of) all the time. They have thick "George of the Jungle" type vines that they love to swing on.

Another carp fish flag. I just love this one so I'll probably put two on my quilt so I won't have to choose between them.

Three tear symbol represents man, earth and sky and is a traditional symbol of Okinawa.

While the design on this is interesting, I love CC Lemon! I want to design a whole pop machine but if I can't I want to put this square on there to remind me of my favorite drink.

The beach (MaryAnn Anderson). What Oki quilt square could be complete without my favorite activity---the beach!

This square doesn't follow the style of the other, but I LOVE it. It's paper pieced and crazy awesome. It's a kimono again

Scuba--How how I love/loathe scuba diving. However, I do love this design how she took the international flag for scuba and turned the line into a diver. So clever.

The seawall. This wall runs along the ocean starting less than a 1/2 mile from my house and goes for a few miles. Lots of people run or walk along it. Just another happy memory.

And if you want to read an article about our group in the Oki Stars and Strips, go here:
http://okinawa.stripes.com/sites/default/files/epaper/Tue%2C%202010-08-24%2012%3A39/SO_no34_0827_10.pdf

Now all I need to do it piece it together. I plan to use about 30 squares and hang it on a wall. I'd LIKE to get it done before I move, but I doubt it. I hope you liked seeing it all.