NEW BLOG ADDRESS

Now that we are settled in, I think it would be appropriate for me to start a new blog for this new chapter! Check it out http://christine-virginia.blogspot.com/

Our New Home and Puppy - Toby!

This is our new home. We are very excited to be homeowners...finally! Meet Toby, our new shorkie (shih tzu/ Yorkie).

Proud Momma

It was another great season for the Mason. He worked really hard this year and is improving every day. I really enjoyed coaching his basketball team!

Jessie's recital performance.... Blackbird

Recital 2008

Okinawa Aquarium

Tokyo slideshow

Short video of the crazy train station in Tokyo

Tokyo vacation

Due to our upcoming move, we were in a little rush to try and get some sightseeing in before we are back in the states. We decided to take a military flight up to Yokota Air Base. It's about 45km from Tokyo. The military flights are very uncomfortable; cold, loud, and unpredictable, BUT free. So, you take the good with the bad. From Yakota you can ride the train all the way into Tokyo. The kids were very excited about the train ride. The best word I can use to describe the train ride adventure.... sardines. Since it's their main mode of transportation, you can imagine how crowded and crazy it must be. The transfer station was just a fast paced flow of commuters. Matt was quite uncomfortable with all the people huddled tightly in the cars, but he survived.
Our first day took us to Disney Sea. It's the "other" Disney theme park next to Disneyland. The kids had a great time. No crowd, short lines, and cool rides made the perfect day! The kids were bummed that there were no corn dogs. We all love the Disney corn dogs!!

Day two, was rainy. We just chilled in the room resting our poor feet!

On day 3, we rode a shuttle from our hotel on Yokota to Tokyo. We walked around and took in all the local sites. We stopped by the Hard Rock Cafe and the Tokyo Tower. The kids had fun wondering the streets of Tokyo.

On day 4, we headed back to Disneyland, this time with a tour group from Yokota. Disneyland was very crowded. It is exactly like the Disneyland in California. Jessie still had a fun riding the rides regardless of the hour wait time.

On day 5, we took a tour up to Mt. Fuji, Shiraito Waterfall, and Lake Kawaguchi. Unfortunately, the weather kept us from getting too high up the mountain. We at least got our picture showing that we were there. The kids enjoyed all the snow at the 4th station. The waterfall was beautiful. The water originates from Fuji. Lake Kawaguchi was tucked in a little valley. Matt and the kids enjoyed a little paddle boat ride around the lake. We were even fortunate enough to see some of the cherry blossoms still in bloom.
We were able to get on the flight leaving the next day back to Okinawa. It was a loud, long, cold ride, but we survived!

The New Mason.....

Apparently Mason has a pretty bad vision problem. He had trouble reading the letters on the chart during his sport's physical last month. The problem only was in one eye.

He went to the eye Dr. yesterday and his right is a +5.50 prescription while his left eye is +1.25. To help strengthen his right eye he has to wear a patch periodically during the day. I guess his left eye has been doing all the work for both and the right just figured it didn't need to continue to grow strongly. Because his left eye isn't too bad he didn't really notice a vision problem. He just was seeing the world through one eye.

With all that said... he's been a pretty good ball player. He bats lefty so his right eye leads. He bats pretty good for his age. Now we wonder how good he'll do now that he can see!!!

Isn't he handsome! He told Jessie this morning (the first morning with his glasses) that she was really pretty. I guess she'd been a fuzzy figure before??

2008 Underwater Easter Egg hunt

Marty, Brandy, LaTrecia, Joe, Jessie, and Matt

My personal favorite of Matt!
My super girl!

Matt and Jessie had a great time participating in this years underwater Easter egg hunt hosted by Kadena Marina. They definately got their share of prizes. The entry fee was $40 per team. The entry fee included cool shirts for both and brunch for both. Each dive team was allowed to find 5 eggs. Each egg had a number inside. After all the divers returned, the Marina began to raffle off prizes. Each of the five numbers they found won a prize. They won a $116 Octopus (for the regulator), $125 Tusa Snorkel, fin, and mask set, an Oceanic mask and snorkel set worth $50, a $5 shot glass, and $5 bottle of aloe vera sunburn lotion. Not bad for a 45 min. dive! They are already planning to come back to Okinawa next year for this event!

Cut and paste the link to see all the great pictures!

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Jessie playing the drum part of the song

She keeps trying to show Mason how it's supposed to go. He'll figure it out.